Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1823.pdf/30

29 Literary Gazette, 15th March 1823, Page 171

ORIGINAL POETRY.

POETICAL CATALOGUE OF PICTURES. [To be continued occasionally.] Vandyke consulting his Mistress on a Picture in Cooke's Exhibition. Beautiful Art! my worship is for thee— The heart's entire devotion. When I look Upon thy radiant wonders, every pulse Is thrill'd as in the presence of divinity. Pictures, bright pictures, oh! they are to me A world for thought to revel in. I love To give a history to every face, to think— As I thought with the painter—as I knew What his high communing had been.

Yes, he is seeking in those eyes His light, his fame, his own heart prize! How vain to that idolater Is this world's praise, if wanting her Sweet seal, a smile. His lofty brow Has almost woman's softness now; And that dark cheek, and darker eye Where lightning-gleams of genius lie, And that so haughty lip's proud curl, Are mild before that fair young girl, As if that delicate slight hand Had magic like a fairy wand, As if those deep blue eyes had power Like sunshine in a stormy hour. It was an almost childish face, Yet in its first soft spring of grace— A rosebud, ere the sun has set Which saw it bloom; a violet, Or ere the tears of morning melt— The first dew-fall it ever felt. Yet was it pale, as with excess Of overmuch fond tenderness. Her mouth—a very mine of bliss, A blossom fresh from the bee's kiss,— Was near to his, as if to steal But one breath from him was to feel The air of paradise;—her arm Was round his neck;—and oh the charm