Page:Finden's Gallery.pdf/4



young Olympia!—On her face the dyes Were yet warm with the dance's exercise, The laugh upon her full red lip yet hung, And, arrow-like, flash'd light words from her tongue. She had more loveliness than beauty; hers Was that enchantment which the heart confers; A mouth sweet from its smiles, a glancing eye, Which had o'er all expression mastery: Laughing its orb, but the long dark lash made Somewhat of sadness with its twilight shade, And suiting well the upcast look which seem'd At times as it of melancholy dream'd; Her cheek was as a rainbow, it so chang'd, As each emotion on its surface rang’d; And every word had its companion blush, But evanescent as the crimson flush That tints the day-break; and her step was light As the gale passing o'er the leaves at night; In truth those snow feet were too like the wind, Too slight to leave a single trace behind. She lean'd against a pillar, and one hand Smooth'd back the curls that had escap'd the band Of wreath'd white pearls—a soft and fitting chain In bondage such bright prisoners to retain. The other was from the white marble known But by the clasping of its emerald zone;