 | A sheaf of verse bound for the fair |  |
37
CLEOPATRA'S PEARL.
How bravely plunged the diver low, upon his weary quest,
And struggled long amid the waves, at royalty's behest!
The deep resigned its cherished gift, enchanting queen, to thee,
And yielded Egypt's diadem the tribute of the sea!
And struggled long amid the waves, at royalty's behest!
The deep resigned its cherished gift, enchanting queen, to thee,
And yielded Egypt's diadem the tribute of the sea!
Awhile it decked thy olive brow, or graced thine arm of snow,
Or proudly fluttered on thy breast with the warm heart below,
And then the pure and matchless gem, nursed by the crystal brine,
Was in a golden vase dissolved, and quaffed with ruddy wine.
Or proudly fluttered on thy breast with the warm heart below,
And then the pure and matchless gem, nursed by the crystal brine,
Was in a golden vase dissolved, and quaffed with ruddy wine.
As the heart's pledge that costly prize was wildly offered up,
By Beauty's fond caprice decreed to melt in Pleasure's cup;
Ah, sweeter lips saluted thee than sea-shell's rosy curl,
No jewel of the deep is famed like Cleopatra's pearl!
By Beauty's fond caprice decreed to melt in Pleasure's cup;
Ah, sweeter lips saluted thee than sea-shell's rosy curl,
No jewel of the deep is famed like Cleopatra's pearl!
Alas! as rare a pearl—thy love, proud queen, as swiftly flew
In Luxury's base goblet drained—too sparkling to be true;
While cold beneath a serpent's fangs thy bosom ceased its strife,
And in Despair's dark chalice fled the jewel of thy life.
In Luxury's base goblet drained—too sparkling to be true;
While cold beneath a serpent's fangs thy bosom ceased its strife,
And in Despair's dark chalice fled the jewel of thy life.
38
At the world's banquet, thus we pledge our dearest gems away,
And make the jewels of the soul anticipate decay—
Cherished awhile, then one by one swept off in Passion's whirl,
Or melted in the cup of Time, like Cleopatra's pearl!
And make the jewels of the soul anticipate decay—
Cherished awhile, then one by one swept off in Passion's whirl,
Or melted in the cup of Time, like Cleopatra's pearl!
| A sheaf of verse bound for the fair | |