Adelaida or, Letters, &c. of Madame Von Regenburg. To which are added, Poems. By Lady E. S. Wortley |
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THE PEARL LILY.
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 | Adelaida |  |
320
THE PEARL LILY.
ADDRESSED TO MISS LOUISA H. SHERIDAN, ON HER RECEIVING FROM HER FEMALE FRIENDS A BEAUTIFUL REPRESENTATION OF A LILY IN PEARLS, “AS A TRIBUTE TO HER TALENTS AND VIRTUES.”
I
When the crown'd Lily over the Waters leaning,Sheds o'er their restlessness, its sweet repose,
Its Shadow hath, a motion and a meaning,
And charms the unquiet current, as it flows.
II
The soul of Beauty, from its urn ascending,Seems to reach Heaven with linkèd lengths of light!—
While that clear Shadow to the waves is lending,
The Heaven-touched glory—spiritually bright!
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III
Thus, fair Louisa, o'er Life's troubled waters,Such souls as Thine, shed Angel-light and peace;
Inspired One!—'midst the Sun's proud laurell'd daughters,
At thy pure glance, the unholy tumults cease.
IV
The snow-white Lily!—sweetly and serenely,That Pearl of Earth may type thee, Bright and Fair!
Thou soft of Feeling,—though in Spirit queenly,
The worth and whiteness of thy soul are there.
V
Dear Lady of the Pearly Lily!—surely,No flower, more meet to grace thy beauty, blows;
Yet All we fling thee,—thou, entwining purely,
The poet's amaranth, with the woman's rose!
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