A PORTRAIT.
293
Death hath boldness
Besides coldness,
If unworthy tears demean
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."
Besides coldness,
If unworthy tears demean
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."
I will look out to his future—
I will bless it till it shine!
Should he ever be a suitor
Unto sweeter eyes than mine,
Sunshine gild them,
Angels shield them,
Whatsoever eyes terrene
Be the sweetest his have seen!
I will bless it till it shine!
Should he ever be a suitor
Unto sweeter eyes than mine,
Sunshine gild them,
Angels shield them,
Whatsoever eyes terrene
Be the sweetest his have seen!
A Portrait.
"One name is Elizabeth."—Ben Jonson.
I will paint her as I see her!
Ten times have the lilies blown
Since she looked upon the sun.
Ten times have the lilies blown
Since she looked upon the sun.
And her face is lily-clear—
Lily-shaped, and drooped in duty
To the law of its own beauty.
Lily-shaped, and drooped in duty
To the law of its own beauty.
Oval cheeks, encoloured faintly,
Which a trail of golden hair
Keeps from fading off to air!
Which a trail of golden hair
Keeps from fading off to air!
And a forehead fair and saintly,
Which two blue eyes undershine,
Like meek prayers before a shrine.
Which two blue eyes undershine,
Like meek prayers before a shrine.
Face and figure of a child,—
Though too calm, you think, and tender,
For the childhood you would lend her.
Though too calm, you think, and tender,
For the childhood you would lend her.
