Old as I am, for ladies' love unfit,
The power of beauty I remember yet,
Which once read more

Old as I am, for ladies' love unfit,
The power of beauty I remember yet,
Which once inflam'd my soul, and still inspires my wit.

Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.

Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.

Exceeding fair she was not; and yet fair
In that she never studied to be fairer
Than read more

Exceeding fair she was not; and yet fair
In that she never studied to be fairer
Than Nature made her; her beauty cost her nothing,
Her virtues were so rare.

Beauty is ten, nine of which is dressing.

Beauty is ten, nine of which is dressing.

I pour into the world the eternal streams
Wan prophets tent beside, and dream their dreams.

I pour into the world the eternal streams
Wan prophets tent beside, and dream their dreams.

Truth exists for the wise, beauty for the feeling heart.

Truth exists for the wise, beauty for the feeling heart.

In places where this beauty has already disappeared, we will reconstruct it.

In places where this beauty has already disappeared, we will reconstruct it.

The light of love, the purity of grace,
The mind, the Music breathing from her face,
The read more

The light of love, the purity of grace,
The mind, the Music breathing from her face,
The heart whose softness harmonized the whole,
And, oh! the eye was in itself a Soul!

Ye Gods! but she is wondrous fair!
For me her constant flame appears;
The garland she hath read more

Ye Gods! but she is wondrous fair!
For me her constant flame appears;
The garland she hath culled, I wear
On brows bald since my thirty years.
Ye veils that deck my loved one rare,
Fall, for the crowning triumph's nigh.
Ye Gods! but she is wondrous fair!
And I, so plain a man am I!