O! born to sooth distress, and lighten care; Lively as soft, and innocent as fair; Blest with that sweet simplicity of thought So rarely found, and never to be taught; Of winning speech, endearing, artless, kind, The loveliest pattern of a female mind; Like some fair spirit from the realms of rest With all her native heaven within her breast; So pure, so good, she scarce can guess at sin, But thinks the world without like that within; Such melting tenderness, so fond to bless, Her charity almost becomes excess. Wealth may be courted, wisdom be rever'd, And beauty prais'd, and brutal strength be fear'd; But goodness only can affection move; And love must owe its origin to love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SECOND BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 3 by GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS THE ILIAD: ACHILLES OVER THE TRENCH by HOMER ON PLAYWRIGHT (1) by BEN JONSON MILK FOR THE CAT by HAROLD MONRO THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL by PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS A FORSAKEN GARDEN by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE IDYLLS OF THE KING: DEDICATION by ALFRED TENNYSON |