Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.

Philip Bourke Marston 1850–87

How My Song of Her Began

GOD made my lady lovely to behold,—

Above the painter’s dream he set her face,

And wrought her body in divinest grace;

He touch’d the brown hair with a sense of gold;

And in the perfect form He did enfold

What was alone as perfect, the sweet heart;

Knowledge most rare to her He did impart;

And fill’d with love and worship all her days.

And then God thought Him how it would be well

To give her music; and to Love He said,

“Bring thou some minstrel now that he may tell

How fair and sweet a thing My hands have made.”

Then at Love’s call I came, bow’d down my head,

And at His will my lyre grew audible.