 | The Poetical Works of James Gates Percival |  |
[XIII. Morning is lightest]
Morning is lightest
Only when heaven is fair.
Beauty is brightest
Only when virtue is there.
Only when heaven is fair.
Beauty is brightest
Only when virtue is there.
Crystal of fountain,
Foam from the heart of the sea,
Snow of the mountain,
Virtue! are emblems of thee.
Foam from the heart of the sea,
Snow of the mountain,
Virtue! are emblems of thee.
Beauty! we lend thee
Blossom and gem of the mine:
Stars, too, attend thee;
Thine are the rose and the vine.
Blossom and gem of the mine:
Stars, too, attend thee;
Thine are the rose and the vine.
Flowers by the fountain,
Mirrored below in the spring;
Gems on the mountain,
Studding the snow as a ring;—
Mirrored below in the spring;
Gems on the mountain,
Studding the snow as a ring;—
Clearest and whitest
Soften by veiling their glow:
Fairest and brightest
Only are loveliest so.
Soften by veiling their glow:
Fairest and brightest
Only are loveliest so.
| The Poetical Works of James Gates Percival | |