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V.

Her tranquil eyes were brighter far
Than evening's first-born, twilight star,
And shed, amid those lustres bright,
A more celestial, heavenly light,
Which shows how much above the skies
Is love, when seen in woman's eyes.
Her cloudy lashes' velvet fringes,
Through which her spirit lightened oft,
And caught her eyelids' snowy hinges,
And made her rosy cheeks so soft;
That turned her eyes like wild gazelles,
Like dew-drops on the lily-bells;
And like the dangling muscadine
Upon the placid waters near,
Or angels over truth divine
To wipe away each falling tear,—
They languid seemed above each lid,
That kept but half their spirit hid,
And beamed beneath each silken lash,
As lightnings when they gently flash;
As her white bosom heaved beneath,
As if her sighs could conquer death!
And over which her teeth were set.
And over which her lips were met,
With heaven's celestial nectar wet.