Page:Blanchard on L. E. L.pdf/123

Rh fortune to please in an especial degree her who was the subject of them; and it is not, of course, be cause the writer presumes such a trifle to be worth reprinting, but solely because she used to quote a verse or two as the "most fanciful of all the compliments" paid to her, that he indulges himself with copying them here:—

"Is this the face that fired a thousand ships, And burned the topless towers of Ilium! Sweet Helen!"—.

"Ah, no! not Helen, Hel—e—n   Of old—but L. E. L., Those letters which the spellbound pen     Have vainly sought to spell.

"Not Helen, who so long ago    Set Paris in a blaze; But one who laid proud London low,     And lit up later days.

"Is this your meaning, mystic Three!    Hand-writing on Fame's wall! Ye thrice fair letters, can ye be     A lady, after all?

"How have I wonder'd what ye meant,    Ye alphabetic Graces! And so you really represent     One of dear Nature's faces!

"How, how I've guessed! your meaning rare,    No guessing seemed to touch; Ye riddles! the weird sisters ne'er     Bewitch'd me half so much.

"One knows the power of D. C. L.,    The grandeur of K. G.; And F. R. S. will science spell,     And valour G. C. B.