 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Fair with all the gifts of nature,
Perfect in each royal part
Of the wondrous legislature,
Chanted by the priests of art;
Sweet with every charm, that story
Gives the children of its choice,
Born in purple, to the glory
Thundered by a people's voice;
Delicate in features, moulded
By the spell of ages' flight,
Leaf and fruitage richly folded
In one marvel of delight;
Dainty figure, finely swaying
At the impulse of the mood,
Drawing life from earth, and staying
Sun and moon to furnish food;
But with passion fiercely mated,
Limping from the lustful feast,
Sad and sick and yet unsated;—
Is it Beauty? Is it Beast?
Perfect in each royal part
Of the wondrous legislature,
Chanted by the priests of art;
Sweet with every charm, that story
Gives the children of its choice,
Born in purple, to the glory
Thundered by a people's voice;
Delicate in features, moulded
By the spell of ages' flight,
Leaf and fruitage richly folded
In one marvel of delight;
Dainty figure, finely swaying
At the impulse of the mood,
Drawing life from earth, and staying
Sun and moon to furnish food;
But with passion fiercely mated,
Limping from the lustful feast,
Sad and sick and yet unsated;—
Is it Beauty? Is it Beast?
Splendid with the light of ages,
Written in each lofty look,
With a face like dazzling pages,
Out of Empire's mighty book;
Gathering to herself the lustre,
Of a dozen noble lines—
All that highest rank may muster,
All that from refinement shines;
Hoar romance in annals tragic,
Dew and fragrance of the flower,
Bud and blossom's mingled magic,
Offer unto her their power;
Loveliness puts on its vesture,
Proud distinction sets a seal,
To each queenly tone and gesture
Beggar rags could not conceal;
But she hears no trump of Duty,
Sounding solemn through the night;
Is it Beast, or is it Beauty
Fooled by pleasure's harlot sight?
Written in each lofty look,
With a face like dazzling pages,
Out of Empire's mighty book;
Gathering to herself the lustre,
Of a dozen noble lines—
All that highest rank may muster,
All that from refinement shines;
Hoar romance in annals tragic,
Dew and fragrance of the flower,
Bud and blossom's mingled magic,
Offer unto her their power;
Loveliness puts on its vesture,
Proud distinction sets a seal,
To each queenly tone and gesture
Beggar rags could not conceal;
But she hears no trump of Duty,
Sounding solemn through the night;
Is it Beast, or is it Beauty
Fooled by pleasure's harlot sight?
Pure and polished but in manner,
That a world might render slave,
And is just a fairy banner,
Flaunting over woman's grave;
Hiding, under gloss of culture,
Fancy's glamour, glow of wit,
Taste more loathsome than a vulture
Which on secret corpse has lit;
Feeding, with the garb of fashion,
Off the pastures black and vile,
Decked by draping of compassion,
Tricked in tonder jest and smile;
Turning seat of service holy,
To an idle passing toy,
If by wanderings dim and lowly
She may suck some lawless joy;
Ah, it were the God asserted,
Grace that glimmers in the least,
Had not lie, and lust perverted;—
It is Beauty and the Beast.
That a world might render slave,
And is just a fairy banner,
Flaunting over woman's grave;
Hiding, under gloss of culture,
Fancy's glamour, glow of wit,
Taste more loathsome than a vulture
Which on secret corpse has lit;
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Off the pastures black and vile,
Decked by draping of compassion,
Tricked in tonder jest and smile;
Turning seat of service holy,
To an idle passing toy,
If by wanderings dim and lowly
She may suck some lawless joy;
Ah, it were the God asserted,
Grace that glimmers in the least,
Had not lie, and lust perverted;—
It is Beauty and the Beast.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |