Page:The poems of Emma Lazarus volume 1.djvu/211

See! they come,
Like a flock of serpent-throated black-plumed swans,
"With the mandoline, the viol, and the drum,
Gems afire on arms ungloved,
Fluttering fans,
Floating mantles like a great moth s streaky vans
Such as Veronese loved.

But behold
In their midst a white unruffled swan appear.
One strange barge that snowy tapestries enfold,
White its tasseled, silver prow.
Who is here ?
Prince of Love in masquerade or Prince of Fear,
Clad in glittering silken snow ?

Cheek and chin
Where the mask s edge stops are of the hoar
frost’s hue,
And no eyebeams seem to sparkle from within
Where the hollow rings have place.
Yon gay crew
Seem to fly him, he seems ever to pursue.
’T is our sport to watch the race.

At his side
Stands the goldenest of beauties ; from her glance,
From her forehead, shines the splendor of a bride,