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| O GODDESS of that Grecian isle | |
| Whose shore the blue Ægean laves, | |
| Whose cliffs repeat with answering smile | |
| Their features in its sun-kissed waves,— | |
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| An exile from thy native place, | 5 |
| We view thee in a northern clime, | |
| Yet mark on thy majestic face | |
| A glory still undimmed by time. | |
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| Through those calm lips, proud Goddess, speak! | |
| Portray to us thy gorgeous fane, | 10 |
| Where Melian suitors thronged to seek | |
| Thine aid, love’s paradise to gain; | |
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| Where, oft as in the saffron east | |
| Day’s jewelled gates were open flung, | |
| With stately pomp the attendant priest | 15 |
| Drew back the veil before thee hung; | |
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| And as the daring kiss of morn, | |
| Empurpling, made thy charms more fair, | |
| Sweet strains, from unseen minstrels born, | |
| Awoke from dreams the perfumed air. | 20 |
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| Vouchsafe at least our minds to free | |
| From doubts pertaining to thy charms; | |
| The meaning of thy bended knee, | |
| The secret of thy vanished arms! | |
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| Wast thou in truth conjoined with Mars? | 25 |
| Did thy fair hands his shield embrace, | |
| The surface of whose golden bars | |
| Grew lovely from thy mirrored face? | |
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| Or was it some bright scroll of fame | |
| Thus poised on thine extended knee, | 30 |
| Upon which thou didst trace the name | |
| Of that fierce god so dear to thee? | |
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| Whate’er thou hadst, no mere delight | |
| Was thine, the glittering prize to hold; | |
| Not thine the form which met thy sight | 35 |
| Replying from the burnished gold! | |
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| Unmindful what thy hands retained, | |
| Thy gaze was fixed beyond, above; | |
| Some dearer object held enchained | |
| The goddess of immortal love! | 40 |
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| We mark the motion of thine eyes | |
| And smile,—for heldst thou shield or scroll, | |
| A tender love-glance we surprise | |
| Which tells the secret of thy soul! | |
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