Life and Phantasy by William Allingham: With frontispiece by Sir John E. Millais: A design by Arthur H. Hughes and a song for voice and piano forte |
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TO BEATA. |
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 | Life and Phantasy |  |
22
TO BEATA.
I know, I see, that you are fair,
And so do other lips declare;
I love your face, I love your form;
My eyes grow dim, my heart grows warm,
With tender joy and pure affection,
At sight of these, or recollection.
And so do other lips declare;
I love your face, I love your form;
My eyes grow dim, my heart grows warm,
With tender joy and pure affection,
At sight of these, or recollection.
And yet I could not nicely trace
From memory now your form and face;
I never sought to scrutinize
Your loveliness with curious eyes;
When with you, 'tis enough that I
So richly feel that you are nigh.
From memory now your form and face;
I never sought to scrutinize
Your loveliness with curious eyes;
When with you, 'tis enough that I
So richly feel that you are nigh.
For I adore with fondest love
The earthly shape in which you move,
As being yours—not loving you
(Though you can gain such homage too)
Because your looks do also make
The promise which so many break.
The earthly shape in which you move,
As being yours—not loving you
(Though you can gain such homage too)
Because your looks do also make
The promise which so many break.
The promise there is more than kept;
And deep love-founts, I know, have slept
In some hearts, till the power of God
In beauty's light material rod
Took shape and work'd a miracle—
But my love is a natural well.
And deep love-founts, I know, have slept
In some hearts, till the power of God
In beauty's light material rod
Took shape and work'd a miracle—
But my love is a natural well.
A natural well, a centre given
To springs of earth and show'rs of heaven;
Whose earth-transmitted tinge of clay
Subsides at once, or melts away,
And leaves its heavenly birthplace shown,
In trembling softness of its own.
To springs of earth and show'rs of heaven;
Whose earth-transmitted tinge of clay
Subsides at once, or melts away,
And leaves its heavenly birthplace shown,
In trembling softness of its own.
| Life and Phantasy | |