English Roses by F. Harald Williams [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] |
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PAINTER AND PORTRAIT. |
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 | English Roses |  |
PAINTER AND PORTRAIT.
I asked a maiden white to sit
Just for her portrait and the pose,
And that divine and darling rose
Which ere the reddening loved to flit,
And graces fine and infinite
Which to my magic would unclose.
Yet she refused—but soon relenting
To my petitions with consenting
Calm brow and softly swelling bust,
Awoke a passion like dementing
Within me; and the stormy sea
Swept from my soul its higher plea,
And only left a raging lust.
On her I lavished all my art
To make the picture meet for her,
In curve and colour
And that sweet dolour,
That breathed in beauty from her heart
Into her eyes of purple skies,
And hair of golden gossamer.
But, ah, the horror of the shape,
Then on the guilty canvas thrown;
A demon likeness would escape
The glory there, and was my own.
Just for her portrait and the pose,
And that divine and darling rose
Which ere the reddening loved to flit,
And graces fine and infinite
Which to my magic would unclose.
Yet she refused—but soon relenting
To my petitions with consenting
Calm brow and softly swelling bust,
Awoke a passion like dementing
503
Swept from my soul its higher plea,
And only left a raging lust.
On her I lavished all my art
To make the picture meet for her,
In curve and colour
And that sweet dolour,
That breathed in beauty from her heart
Into her eyes of purple skies,
And hair of golden gossamer.
But, ah, the horror of the shape,
Then on the guilty canvas thrown;
A demon likeness would escape
The glory there, and was my own.
I burnt the portrait and my shame,
I purged myself with prayers and tears
And in the bitter night of fears
Callèd unto the Holy Name;
I set the canvas on its frame,
And cried again to Him that hears.
Once more she sat, with charms elusive
And fragrance as of flowers diffusive,
Which while I reverenced it went by
As though it dreaded touch abusive;
And in the heaven of holy joy,
Crowned above earth and every toy
She lived apart in purity.
But when my spirit humbly knelt
Unto the God of both, I drew
No mortal features
But some shy creature's
Who in eternity had dwelt;
Evasive gleams
Of distant dreams,
No longer spread their wings and flew.
I fixed the fleeting gifts, and form
Soiled by no sad or common cares
In mid enchantment white and warm
And caught an Angel unawares.
I purged myself with prayers and tears
And in the bitter night of fears
Callèd unto the Holy Name;
I set the canvas on its frame,
And cried again to Him that hears.
Once more she sat, with charms elusive
And fragrance as of flowers diffusive,
Which while I reverenced it went by
As though it dreaded touch abusive;
And in the heaven of holy joy,
Crowned above earth and every toy
She lived apart in purity.
But when my spirit humbly knelt
Unto the God of both, I drew
No mortal features
But some shy creature's
Who in eternity had dwelt;
Evasive gleams
Of distant dreams,
No longer spread their wings and flew.
I fixed the fleeting gifts, and form
Soiled by no sad or common cares
In mid enchantment white and warm
And caught an Angel unawares.
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