The high humility whose chosen shrine
    Was that fair prison whence she now is free? 
    Which held, erewhile, her gentle spirit, when
    So in my conscious heart her power began. 
    That, instantly, I ran,
    —­Alike o’ th’ year and me ’twas April then—­
    From these gay meadows round sweet flowers to bind,
    Hoping rich pleasure at her eyes to find.

    The walls were alabaster, the roof gold,
    Ivory the doors, the sapphire windows lent
    Whence on my heart of old
    Its earliest sigh, as shall my last, was sent;
    In arrowy jets of fire thence came and went
    Arm’d messengers of love, whereof to think
    As then they were, with awe
    —­Though now for them with laurel crown’d—­I shrink
    Of one rare diamond, square, without a flaw,
    High in the midst a stately throne was placed
    Where sat the lovely lady all alone: 
    In front a column shone
    Of crystal, and thereon each thought was traced
    In characters so clear, and quick, and true,
    By turns it gladden’d me and grieved to view.

    To weapons such as these, sharp, burning, bright,
    To the green glorious banner waved above,
    —­’Gainst which would fail in fight
    Mars, Polypheme, Apollo, mighty Jove—­
    While still my sorrow fresh and verdant throve,
    I stood defenceless, doom’d; her easy prey
    She led me as she chose
    Whence to escape I knew nor art nor way;
    But, as a friend, who, haply, grieves yet goes,
    Sees something still to lure his eyes and heart,
    Just so on her, for whom I am in thrall,
    Sole perfect work of all
    That graced her age, unable to depart,
    With such desire my rapt regards I set,
    As soon myself and misery to forget.

    On earth myself, my heart in Eden dwelt,
    Lost in sweet Lethe every other care,
    As my live frame I felt
    To marble turn, watching that wonder rare;
    When old in years, but youthful still in air,
    A lady briefly, quietly drew nigh,
    And thus beholding me,
    With reverent aspect and admiring eye,
    Kind offer made my counsellor to be: 
    “My power,” she said, “is more than mortals know—­
    Lighter than air, I, in an instant, make
    Their hearts exult or ache,
    I loose and bind whate’er is seen below;
    Thine eyes, upon that sun, as eagles’, bend,
    But to my words with willing ears attend.

    “The day when she was born, the stars that win
    Prosperity for man shone bright above;
    Their high glad homes within
    Each on the other smiled with gratulant love;
    Fair Venus, and, with gentle aspect, Jove
    The beautiful and lordly mansions held: 
    Seem’d as each adverse light
    Throughout all heaven was darken’d and dispell’d,
    The sun ne’er look’d upon a day so bright;