shaft Suddenly falls on him. A moment warmed, He scarcely feels its loveliness before The light departing leaves his saddened soul More cold than ere it came. Thus love once shone And blessed my life: so vanished into gloom. p. 28 p. 29I. MY BEAUTIFUL LADY. p. 29 I love My Lady; she is very fair; Her brow is wan, and bound by simple hair: Her spirit sits aloof, and high, But glances from her tender eye In sweetness droopingly. As a young forest while the wind drives through, My life is stirred when she breaks on my view; Her beauty grants my will no choice But silent awe, till she rejoice My longing with her voice. Her warbling voice, though ever low and mild, Oft makes me feel as strong wine would a child: p. 30And though her hand be airy light Of touch, it moves me with its might, As would a sudden fright. p. 30 A hawk high poised in air, whose nerved wing-tips Tremble with might suppressed, before he dips, In vigilance, hangs less intense Than I, when her voice holds my sense Contented in suspense. Her mention of a thing, august or poor, Makes it far nobler than it was before: As where the sun strikes life will gush, And what is pale receive a flush, Rich hues, a richer blush. My Lady’s name, when I hear strangers use, Not meaning her, sounds to me lax misuse; I love none but My Lady’s name; Maud, Grace, Rose, Marian, all the same, Are harsh, or blank and tame. p. 31My Lady walks as I have seen a swan Swim where a glory on the water shone: There ends of willow branches ride, Quivering in the flowing tide, By the deep river’s side. p. 31 Fresh beauties, howsoe’er she moves, are stirred: As the sunned bosom of a humming bird At each pant lifts some fiery hue, Fierce gold, bewildering green or blue; The same, yet ever new. What time she walks beneath the flowering May, Quite sure am I the scented blossoms say, “O Lady with the sunlit hair! Stay and drink our odorous air, The incense that we bear: “Thy beauty, Lady, we would ever shade; For near to thee, our sweetness might not fade.” p. 32And
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