Page:Poems Barrett.djvu/296

Love-transformed to Beauty's sheen,—
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."

But, ah me! you only see me
 In your thoughts of loving man,
Smiling soft perhaps and dreamy
 Through the wavings of my fan,—
   And unweeting
   Go repeating,
In your reverie serene,
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."

While my spirit leans and reaches
 From my body still and pale,
Fain to hear what tender speech is
 In your love, to help my bale—
   O my poet,
   Come and show it!
Come of latest love to glean
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."

O my poet, O my prophet,
 When you praised their sweetness so,
Did you think, in singing of it,
 That it might be near to go"
   Had you fancies
   From their glances,
That the grave would quickly screen
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen?"

No reply! The fountain's warble
 In the courtyard sounds alone!
As the water to the marble
 So my heart falls with a moan,
   From love-sighing
   To this dying!
Death forerunneth Love, to win
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."