Landon in The Literary Gazette 1823/Portrait of a Girl, by T. Stewardson
Literary Gazette, 15th March 1823, Page 171 (cont.)
Portrait of a Girl, in the British Gallery,
by T. Stewardson.
I do but give faint utterance to the thoughts
That curled her coral lip, and filled her eyes
With laughing malice.
In truth, dear Love, 'twas a fitting gift
The gift which you gave to me:
A spring-flower wreath, whose short sweet life
Is like love's life with thee.
You are a gay and a gallant love,
The wooer that woman likes best,
With a heart that roves like that eastern bird
Whose pinions are never at rest.
Never was lover more suited to me;
My heart is yet lighter than thine;
Did it change like the vane with each wind that blows,
It could not change oftener than mine.
Some Cupids have wings of the butterfly's plume,
While some have the wings of the dove;
The first is the Cupid most fitting for me—
I could not wear the willow for love.
I care not for falsehood, I can be false too;
Lose one love, there are others in plenty;
And if that my lover should dare break one vow,
To punish him I can break twenty. L. E. L.
Probably 'Portrait of a Girl' (traditionally identified as Lady Catherine Powlett, Countess of Darlington) by Thomas Stewardson.