| Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867. | | | | II. To M. W., on Her Birthday | | By James Russell Lowell (1819–1891) |
| | | MAIDEN! when such a soul as thine is born, | |
| The morning stars their ancient music make, | |
| And, joyful, once again their song awake, | |
| Long silent now with melancholy scorn; | |
| And thou, not mindless of so blest a morn, | 5 |
| By no least deed its harmony shalt break, | |
| But shalt to that high chime thy footsteps take, | |
| Through life’s most darksome passes unforlorn: | |
| Therefore from thy pure faith thou shalt not fall, | |
| Therefore shalt thou be ever fair and free, | 10 |
| And in thine every motion musical | |
| As summer-air, majestic as the sea, | |
| A mystery to those who creep and crawl | |
| Through Time, and part it from Eternity! | | | | |
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