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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  345. Gratiana Dancing

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Richard Lovelace. 1618–1658

345. Gratiana Dancing

SHE beat the happy pavèment— 
By such a star made firmament, 
  Which now no more the roof envìes! 
    But swells up high, with Atlas even, 
    Bearing the brighter nobler heaven,         5
  And, in her, all the deities. 
 
Each step trod out a Lover’s thought, 
And the ambitious hopes he brought 
  Chain’d to her brave feet with such arts, 
    Such sweet command and gentle awe,  10
    As, when she ceased, we sighing saw 
  The floor lay paved with broken hearts.