 | Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy |  |
114
IN BUTTERFLY-LAND
ST. BEATENBERG
It seemed as if all butterflies that flew,
By some attractive fragrance in the air
Too subtle for man's finding, settled there;
The scarlet-ounced Apollo came to view
His mate more beauteous in her bridal hue;
Thither fritillaries floated large and fair
Like burnished bronze, and wings shone every-where,
That made the grass to blossom violet-blue.
By some attractive fragrance in the air
Too subtle for man's finding, settled there;
The scarlet-ounced Apollo came to view
His mate more beauteous in her bridal hue;
Thither fritillaries floated large and fair
Like burnished bronze, and wings shone every-where,
That made the grass to blossom violet-blue.
And thither golden-green the beetles came,
With fragile things of emerald gauze and light,
That rested till some sudden ecstasy
Caught them and cast them sunward;—ah! thought I,
These all are lovers, followers of one flame,
Their day how brief, how glad, they fear no night!
With fragile things of emerald gauze and light,
That rested till some sudden ecstasy
Caught them and cast them sunward;—ah! thought I,
These all are lovers, followers of one flame,
Their day how brief, how glad, they fear no night!
| Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy | |