Page:Ethel Churchill 1.pdf/177

Rh Graces, do, certainly, round off a sentence; and the very common-place is redeemed by a fine world of olden poetry, that nothing can quite destroy. There is an exquisite vein of flattery running through our ancient masters of song: when they wished to paint their mistress's charms, all nature was compelled into the sweet services. How fine is Dryden's, How sweet Donne's parting prayer to her who would fain have companioned him, a gentle page,—

or the sea-captain's petition to his unknown mistress,—