Which may serve as an emblem of a young girl
Who has flashed
Across these later days of my life.
Is she a jasmine, blossom sister of the violet,
And, like it, hiding
From profane gaze of the vulgar?
Is she Modesty, insensible to the allurements of flattery?
Is she the spirit of cheerfulness?
Is she angel of the fireside?
Is she sunshine?
Is she perfume?
Alas, I know not!
In vain I question my soul;
Neither in one image
Nor in all.
Can I find the counterpart of Maria Alfaro."
I close with an occasional stanza or two from longer poems:—
"TO MARIA AUBERT Y DUPONT.
"If, mid the shades on high.
They should meet, nor know her name,
'Beatrice!' would Dante exclaim,
'Leonora!' would Tasso sigh."
"TO ROSARIO[1] BARREDA.
"Many a beautiful brown girl, splendid,
With eyes of the night and morning blended,
Springs from the soil of Vera Cruz;
- ↑ The same word, "Rosario," is at once the name of a girl and a rosary.
