Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (18331908). An American Anthology, 17871900. 1900. |
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622. Laus Veneris |
| A Picture by Burne Jones |
| By Louise Chandler Moulton |
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PALLID with too much longing, | |
White with passion and prayer, | |
Goddess of love and beauty, | |
She sits in the picture there, | |
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Sits with her dark eyes seeking | 5 |
Something more subtle still | |
Than the old delights of loving | |
Her measureless days to fill. | |
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She has loved and been loved so often | |
In her long, immortal years, | 10 |
That she tires of the worn-out rapture, | |
Sickens of hopes and fears. | |
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No joys or sorrows move her, | |
Done with her ancient pride; | |
For her head she found too heavy | 15 |
The crown she has cast aside. | |
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Clothed in her scarlet splendor, | |
Bright with her glory of hair, | |
Sad that she is not mortal, | |
Eternally sad and fair, | 20 |
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Longing for joys she knows not, | |
Athirst with a vain desire, | |
There she sits in the picture, | |
Daughter of foam and fire. | |
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