Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/23

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DEDICATORY EPISTLE.
vii

The bright refulgence of its golden plumes.
Sylph of the earth!—the sky!—and oh! as fair
And beauteous as her sisters of the air.
In that sweet form what varied graces meet,
Love in her eye, and music in her feet.
Light as the bounding fawn along the lea,
Or lithe bird glancing on the summer tree,
Light as the foam when Venus leaves the wave,
Or blossoms fluttering over April's grave.
Mark on yon rose lights the celestial tread,
The trembling stalk but just declines its head.
Sweet Ariel floats above her as she springs.
And wafts the flying fair, and lends her wings.
Now wreath'd in radiant smiles she seems to glide,
With buoyant footstep, like Favonius' bride,
Or Psyche, zephyr-borne to Cupid's blushing side.
Her light symar in lucid beauty streams,
Of woven air, so thin the texture seems;
Round her small waist the zone young Iris binds,
And gives the sandals that command the winds;
A thousand voices challenge Music's throne.
Daughter of Air! this empire is thine own,
Here Taglioni reigns unrivall'd and alone.

Now either park invites—to deck yon plain,
See all Palladio's skill revived again.
There the bright palace rears its regal state,
The sculptur'd column and the trophied gate,