 | Verses of a life time |  |
212
THE COUNTERFEIT.
Off with that stain! Rather would I behold
The ghastly whiteness of death's bleaching hand
Than see thee thus, a painted show, a cheat,
To lure the eye, to lure all eyes—for she
Who stains the velvet softness of her cheek
Does it for all—for vanity, not love.
The ghastly whiteness of death's bleaching hand
Than see thee thus, a painted show, a cheat,
To lure the eye, to lure all eyes—for she
Who stains the velvet softness of her cheek
Does it for all—for vanity, not love.
O, once methought it would be next to heaven
To lay my cheek by thine; (at least in dreams,
For love respectful ventures not so near
Its idol;) but away—Truth is my idol,
And she thou art not, for her cheek is pure.
Yes; sooner would I taste that faithless fruit,
With looks enticing while encasing dust,
Than kiss thy cheek, thou roseate lie! Give me
To press the paleness of the lily's leaf,
And I will nourish it, and my true love
Shall pour upon its petals fair a glow
Richer than thou canst draw from falsehood's store!
To lay my cheek by thine; (at least in dreams,
For love respectful ventures not so near
Its idol;) but away—Truth is my idol,
And she thou art not, for her cheek is pure.
Yes; sooner would I taste that faithless fruit,
With looks enticing while encasing dust,
Than kiss thy cheek, thou roseate lie! Give me
To press the paleness of the lily's leaf,
And I will nourish it, and my true love
Shall pour upon its petals fair a glow
Richer than thou canst draw from falsehood's store!
213
Lips, too? Must they be ting'd by art, and lose
The odorous, balmy dew of nature? Nay,
Speak not. Thy words, like founts once pure, become
Over those poisonous beds defiled! Go back
To holy nature, lady, and a heart
That longs to trust thee will pour out its love,
And kneel with thee, once more, before Truth's shrine.
The odorous, balmy dew of nature? Nay,
Speak not. Thy words, like founts once pure, become
Over those poisonous beds defiled! Go back
To holy nature, lady, and a heart
That longs to trust thee will pour out its love,
And kneel with thee, once more, before Truth's shrine.
| Verses of a life time | |