Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/180

176 The vision haunted me! and soon became
 * A part of every thought and hope in life—

And I forgot the mockery of fame—
 * Its followers, its bitterness, its strife—

And went forth with a wildly thrilling heart
 * To seek, and find, and wed my spirit-love,

Whose sweet face of ray dreaming was a part.
 * Whose spiritual grace seemed stolen from above.

I went abroad—and wandered far and long
 * In search of her—my blessed spirit-bride;

I mingled in full many a brilliant throng,
 * Where were assembled loveliness and pride.

Bewildering eyes looked softly into mine—
 * Bright lips breathed low, sweet music on the air;

Rich tresses their luxuriant wealth did twine
 * Around young brows most eloquently fair.

And peerless forms with gliding steps went by;
 * And softer beauty stole behind the while;

And dazzling haughtiness before my eye
 * Melted its cunning lip into a smile.

Bewildering sweetness slept like a still dream
 * Upon pure foreheads stainless as the snow;

And deep, dark eyes looked out with dewy gleam
 * From timid lashes lifted soft and slow.

But not the breathing charm of glowing lips,
 * Nor the magnificence of midnight eyes,

Nor brows which did the pearls they wore eclipse.,
 * Nor the mute eloquence which sometimes lies

Within a smile, nor the exquisite grace
 * Of tiny feet upon rich carpets prest,

Could take away the beautiful yung face
 * Whose holy sweetness lay within my breast.

Wearied with searching for its owner there,
 * Amid such haunts of splendor and of pride,