THIRD EVENING. Wherein is Exhibited in Fair Array a Notable Gallery of Female Portraits, limned in most Excellent Fashion by Alfred Tennyson. When my passion seeks Pleasance in love-sighs, She, looking through and through me Smiling, never speaks: So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, The baby-roses in her cheeks; 3. Prythee weep, May Lilian! Gayety without eclipse When from crimson-threaded lips Prythee weep, May Lilian. 4. Praying all I can, If prayers will not hush thee, Airy Lilian, Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, Fairy Lilian. EY ISABEL. I. YES not down-dropt nor over-bright, but fed Clear, without heat, undying, tended by Pure vestal thoughts in the translucent fane Of her still spirit; locks not wide-dispread, Madonna-wise on either side her head; Sweet lips whereon perpetually did reign The summer calm of golden charity, Were fixed shadows of thy fixèd mood, Revered Isabel, the crown and head, The stately flower of female fortitude, Of perfect wifehood and pure lowlihead. 2. The intuitive decision of a bright And thorough-edged intellect to part Error from crime; a prudence to withhold; Of subtle-paced counsel in distress, A hate of gossip parlance, and of sway, 3. The mellowed reflex of a winter moon; With swifter movement and in purer light The vexed eddies of its wayward brother: A leaning and upbearing parasite, Clothing the stem, which else had fallen quite, With clustered flower-bells and ambrosial orbs Of rich fruit-bunches leaning on each otherShadow forth thee;-the world hath not another (Though all her fairest forms are types of thee, And thou of God in thy great charity) Of such a finished chastened purity. |