University of Virginia Library


185

INSCRIPTION.

FOUND AT CHANTILLY, ON AN ALTAR OF WHITE MARBLE, IN THE ISLAND OF LOVE, A BEAUTIFUL SPOT IN THE GARDENS SURROUNDING THE CHATEAU, BELONGING TO THE PRINCE OF CONDE.

N'offront qu'on cœur a la beautè,
Aussi nud que LA Verite;
Sans ailes comme LA Constance
Sans armes comme l'Innocence!
Tel fut l'Amour dans le siecle d'or,
On ne le trouve plus, mais on le chercher encore.

[_]

THUS PARAPHRASED, AT THE REQUEST OF A YOUNG FRIEND.

Here at Beauty's graceful shrine,
Thy devoted heart resign,

186

Let the willing offering be
Unwinged as changeless Constancy.
Like Truth unrobed to every sense,
—Unarmed as infant Innocence.
Such by fabling bards wer'e told,
Love appeared in age of gold,
Such no more—the God, we find,
Always courted—never kind.
For now the wanton child is seen,
With veiling vesture, fraudful mien,
Around his philtered arrow flings,
And cleaves the air with truant wings.