| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | To a Mature Beauty | | By Torquato Tasso (1544–1595) |
| | Translated by Baroness von Gilsa
IN thy young spring, like some new-budding rose | |
| Wert thou, that from the wind’s warm breathing hides | |
| In bashful maidenhood, and safe abides | |
| Within its leafy covert, soft and close; | |
| Or, since with thee may nothing vie that knows | 5 |
| The touch of Death,—like some fair dawn that glides | |
| O’er dew-impearlëd fields, and down the sides | |
| Of golden hills in new-born beauty glows. | |
| Now thy green spring is past, yet riper years | |
| Take naught from thee, nor can a lovelier one | 10 |
| In youthful gladness smile at thy decay; | |
| More beautiful the perfect flower appears | |
| In odorous prime,—more glorious is the sun | |
| That crowns the broad arch of the bright noon-day. | | | | |
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