Page:Landon in The New Monthly 1825.pdf/7



but happy looking face, the mouth Seem'd a rose opening to the pleasant south, Giving sweets, stealing sunshine; it was gay As it could smile e'en sorrow's self away; The curls were all thrown back as not allow'd To shed o'er that young brow, the slightest cloud; From the fair forehead's height, they downward roll'd A sunny stream, floating with waves of gold; A wreath of vine-leaves bound it, but the wind Kiss'd the stray ringlets it had not confined. Too beautiful for earth, the sky had given Her eye and cheek the colouring of heaven, Blue, the clear blue upon an April sky, Red, the first red the morning blushes dye: Her downcast look at times wore pensiveness, But tender more than sorrowful, as less She had known than dreamed woe, as her chief grief Had been a fading flower, a falling leaf. Her song was as the red wine sparkling up, Gaily o'erflowing from a festal cup. Her step was light as wont to move along To the gay cymbal and the choral song; Her laugh was glad as one who rather chose To dwell upon life's pleasures, than life's woes. And this was she whom Theseus left to pine, And mingle with her salt tears the salt brine; Her face was all too bright for tears, she gave Sighs to the wind, and weeping to the wave, And left a lesson unto after-times, Too little dwelt upon in minstrel rhymes, A lesson how inconstancy should be Repaid again by like inconstancy.