University of Virginia Library

Indeed, he ev'ry gift could boast
But the three gifts he valued most—
Wealth to pet beauty, beauty's self,
Won for his own sake, not for pelf,
And laurels of a poet: he
Enough had tasted of all three
To thirst for more. To many a maid
His fancy'd for a moment stray'd;
Blue eyes and hazel, grey and brown,
Had answer'd frankly to his own;
Auburn and flaxen, black and gold,
Had mesh'd his heart in glossy fold;
But ever came an undertone
Of something wanting in each one.
The lady of his choice should be
Sublime in her simplicity,
Of lowly mind and high estate,
And fairy-light in grace and gait;
One who would try to understand
Whate'er he wrote, whate'er he plann'd;
With fitful anger for defence
Against abus'd obedience,
And just sufficient patience
To obviate unjust offence;
With beauty intellectual,
The rarest witchery of all,
And curly clustering wealth of hair
Indented by a forehead fair,
And broad and creamy; thoughtful eyes,
Open in innocent surprise,
Melting in pity, fired in wrath,
Pouring the soul's whole secret forth
In love, not unacquaint with tears.
She must have tender girlish fears,
And a soft voice, with elfin mirth,
And presence equal to her birth;
She must be coy—the more they cost
More dear they are, the dearest most;
But when she yields let her confess
With all the gentler tenderness,
And hungry kiss and hot caress.
Passion and love walk hand in hand:
Content is imitation bland
For widowers and second wives,
And men whose ledgers are their lives;
Youth's passion-flow'r is delicate
And, blighted, blossoms not till late.