Days and Hours :: :: University of Virginia Library

O Adelaida, gentle, fair, and true;
Did Nature, when she cast thy perfect heart
In the pure sanctuary of her Art,
Take Diamond, and dissolve it to a dew?

II

Did she take fixed Lightning in her hand,
And with it bathe thy pure Intelligence,
Thy nimble Fancy, and thy subtle Sense,
A linked armour nothing may withstand?

III

Did she rob Zephyrus of his long soft hair
To plait thy locks for thee? and in thine eyes
Pour the clear essence of the glad blue skies,
And cut thy gleaming forehead from a star?

162

IV

Fair Creature, art thou of Mortality,
With that great Spirit bound in slender frame,
Whose quenchless, and unconquerable flame
Makes weakness strong, and frailty brave in thee?

V

My days were dark before I saw thee shine,
But they are daily brighter since that day;
And, should thy flower of beauty pass away,
Still would thy winged heart rule over mine!

VI

Thy locks are fairy-fine, thy limbs are slight,
But in thy Spirit Strength and Beauty lie,
As on the magic mirror of the eye
The Sun can shape an image of his might.

VII

Not iron hosts could dazzle thy calm eyes,
Nor mighty thunders stay that little hand
Arm'd with the force of right, as with a wand,
And bent on victory, or self-sacrifice.

163

VIII

The tender beauty of a moon-lit night,
The glory of the Earth on Summer-days,
The lovely spirit of a human face
Do stir thy heart, or melt it with delight;

IX

The lofty deeds of Men—the starry ways
Of Knowledge—linked troubles flung in vain
O'er godlike souls that arm themselves in pain,
Do move thy love, thy wonder, and thy praise.

X

To thee Despair's dim countenance is known,
And Hunger with its palsied steps; thy tears
Will flow when others' sorrow fills thine ears,
Altho' thou rarely weepest for thine own.

XI

When thine own griefs thy blissful eyes o'er-cloud,
Let but another's for their solace pine,
And they will cease to weep—Oh! they will shine
Like Hope's own phantom bursting thro' her shroud!

164

XII

Thou hast a heart attuned to all things fair—
Thou hast blue eyes of joy—a merry voice—
But canst yield up the World, and all thy joys,
And do for Love what Pride would never dare;

XIII

Thou couldst in darkness, and a dungeon be,
Far from the sounds of Life, and songs of Youth,
With none but me to watch thee, and to soothe,
So that I love thee as thou lovest me!