University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Poems

By John Moultrie. New ed
Moultrie, John (1799-1874)

collapse sectionI. 
[VOLUME I]
expand sectionI. 
PART I.
collapse sectionII. 
PART II.
expand section 
POEMS OF RIPER YEARS.
collapse section 
[section]
collapse section 
THE DREAM OF LIFE.
 I. 
BOOK I. CHILDHOOD.
 II. 
BOOK II. BOYHOOD.
 III. 
BOOK III. YOUTH.
 IV. 
BOOK IV. MANHOOD.
expand sectionII. 
[VOLUME II]

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Poems
next section

SONNET XVI.

[_]

(CONTINUED.)

Said I thou wast not beautiful? in sooth,
If that I did, shame blister my false tongue
For calumny most foul upon thee flung:
For what is beauty? Eye, cheek, hair, lip, tooth,
258

Forehead and form, in bloom of radiant youth
And faultless symmetry? Such bards have sung,
And painters over such enamour'd hung,
And such have coxcombs praised with flatteries smooth;
But more than such doth heartfelt love demand,
And more than such, beloved girl, is thine:
Thought, sympathy, affection soft and bland,
Sense, feeling, goodness in thy sweet eyes shine:
Is not this beauty which all understand?
Which sways all hearts with power and grace divine?
previous section Poems
next section