 | Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love |  |
160
EULALIE.
I.
Her rich cascade of hair,Around her swan-like throat,
Down on her bosom bare,
In wavy gold doth float.
II.
Her lily-lidded eyes,Burning in their own light,
Seem melted from the skies,
They are so Heavenly bright.
III.
Her hands are rosy-white,Like lilies in the sun;
Her countenance makes bright
All that she smiles upon.
IV.
Her words are soft as dewDropt on some flower at even,
As if, (though known to few,)
She spoke the tongue of Heaven.
V.
As when the summer SouthA rose-bud doth dispart,
The lips of her sweet mouth
Seem opened by her heart.
161
VI.
As perfume from the rose,Just opening, from her tongue
The soul of fragrance flows
Out of her heart in song.
VII.
Her breath is like the sweetPerfume of flowers at even,
When all the rarest meet,
And every one is Heaven.
VIII.
As joyful hearts of birdsHigh overflow in song,
Her innocent heart in words
Flows golden from her tongue.
IX.
All things to her seem pure,Because her heart is so;
Ah! how can she endure
The real truth to know?
X.
Sweeter than harp or luteIs her sweet song to me;
Softer than Dorian flute
Her Lydian melody.
XI.
As Pæans of wild blissThe birds pour forth in Spring,
So, Heaven the Thesis is
Of all that she doth sing
162
XII.
Ah! how my soul doth loveTo hear her sing at even—
Singing, on earth, above
Sweet Israfel in Heaven.
XIII.
Mild as some breeze at noon—Soft as the pale cold light
Rained from the full-orbed moon
Upon the down of night.
XIV.
For when her song doth moveHer trembling lips apart,
The joys of Heaven above
Seem poured into my heart.
XV.
Sweet as the fragrance smellsOf lily-bells at even,
Is that sweet song which tells,
On earth, the joys of Heaven
XVI.
Sweeter than voice of swanUpon some Summer sea,
Piling to Heaven, at dawn,
His clarion melody.
XVII.
For when she sings at night,The stars appear to me
To burn more Heavenly bright
In her sweet symphony.
163
XVIII.
Soft words from off the eavesOf her sweet lips now fall,
Like dew drops from the leaves
Of roses—rhythmical.
XIX.
For as the rose-lipped shellThe riches of the sea;
So does her song now tell
Her heart's deep love for me.
XX.
Star of my life's dark night!Thou wert to me first given—
Bright Vesper of delight!
To lead my soul to Heaven.
| Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love | |