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TO - by EDWARD MOXON

First Line: AND WHAT WAS STELLA BUT A HAUGHTY DAME
Last Line: COMPARED WITH WHICH, THEIRS WERE BUT BEAUTY'S SHADE.
Subject(s): BEAUTY;

AND what was Stella but a haughty dame?
Or Geraldine, whom noble Surrey sought?
Or Sacharissa, she who proudly taugh
The courtly Waller statelier verse to frame?
Or Beatrice, whom Dante deified?
Or she of whom all Italy once rung,
Compared with thee, who art our age's pride,
And the sweet theme of many a poet's tongue?
There is a nobleness that dwells within,
Fairer by far than any outward feature;
A grace, a wit to gentleness akin,
That would subdue the most unloving creature.
These beauties rare are thine, most matchless maid,
Compared with which, theirs were but beauty's shade.



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