 | My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays |  |
210
CHARACTERISTIC PORTRAIT.
DELINEATED FROM THE LIFE BY AN INVISIBLE SPIRIT, FOR A MAN OF WORTH AND GENIUS, INSCRIBED TO THE SAME.
The above delineation was intended for a diplomatic
character, recently returned to the retirement of his own
country, with a determination, it was said, not again to employ
his splendid talents in her public service, either at home
or abroad.
It is also proper to add, even as it is true—that though
originally intended for the public papers, this was never printed
until now. The possible impropriety which might have
been attached to the motives of the author, had she been
traced and discovered, restraining her temerity.
The above delineation was intended for a diplomatic character, recently returned to the retirement of his own country, with a determination, it was said, not again to employ his splendid talents in her public service, either at home or abroad.
It is also proper to add, even as it is true—that though originally intended for the public papers, this was never printed until now. The possible impropriety which might have been attached to the motives of the author, had she been traced and discovered, restraining her temerity.
In vain thy worth would every praise disclaim,
And live unhallowed by the voice of fame,
With graces that might folly's self disarm,
With sense to give deformity a charm,
With science, in such simple garb arrayed,
It seems of reason but the softening shade.
And live unhallowed by the voice of fame,
With graces that might folly's self disarm,
With sense to give deformity a charm,
With science, in such simple garb arrayed,
It seems of reason but the softening shade.
Of noble nature, generous, just and bold,
Unbribed by pleasure, unallured by gold.
Firm—but yet feeling. With a voice whose strain
Flows as it falls, and cannot flow in vain;
Since the fine cadence of expression seems,
Warmed by the speaking eye's electric beams,
Unbribed by pleasure, unallured by gold.
Firm—but yet feeling. With a voice whose strain
Flows as it falls, and cannot flow in vain;
Since the fine cadence of expression seems,
Warmed by the speaking eye's electric beams,
211
That eye, whose varying powers such truth convey,
So dark, yet brilliant, so serene, yet gay.
Its glance so gentle, with such strength combined,
It seems the moving index of the mind,
Where all the meeting rays of genius shine,
And touch the lips to eloquence divine.
So dark, yet brilliant, so serene, yet gay.
Its glance so gentle, with such strength combined,
It seems the moving index of the mind,
Where all the meeting rays of genius shine,
And touch the lips to eloquence divine.
With every grace and every worth thy own,
To thee—unconscious of those gifts—alone,
The tribute of this humble lay will seem,
As the charm'd fiction of a poet's dream.
Or careless read, and thrown with ease aside,
Ne'er to thy generous self in thought applied.
To thee—unconscious of those gifts—alone,
The tribute of this humble lay will seem,
As the charm'd fiction of a poet's dream.
Or careless read, and thrown with ease aside,
Ne'er to thy generous self in thought applied.
Nor would the artist, rising round thy name,
Snatch the vain homage of a transient fame.
Ne'er wilt thou know what timid hand essays,
To sketch thy features, and reflect their praise.
Enough for me, that every glowing line,
Trace the bright semblance of a form like thine!
True to the life thy modest merit give,
Then rest unhonoured, and unnoticed live.
Snatch the vain homage of a transient fame.
Ne'er wilt thou know what timid hand essays,
To sketch thy features, and reflect their praise.
Enough for me, that every glowing line,
Trace the bright semblance of a form like thine!
True to the life thy modest merit give,
Then rest unhonoured, and unnoticed live.
Thee, fame will follow, nor with scorn repay,
The growing honours of thy future day.
Nor yet to shades with stealing step retire,
To veil those powers which bid A WORLD admire.
The growing honours of thy future day.
Nor yet to shades with stealing step retire,
To veil those powers which bid A WORLD admire.
| My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays | |