'TWAS in the fair Aspasia's bower, That Love and Learning, many an hour, In dalliance met, and Learning smiled With rapture on the playful child, Who wanton stole, to find his nest Within a fold of Learning's vest! There, as the listening statesman hung In transport on Aspasia's tongue, The destinies of Athens took Their colour from Aspasia's look. Oh, happy time! when laws of state, When all that ruled the country's fate, Its glory, quiet, or alarms, Was plann'd between two snowy arms! Sweet times! you could not always last -- And yet, oh! yet, you @3are@1 not past; Though we have lost the sacred mould, In which their men were cast of old, Woman, dear woman, still the same, While lips are balm and looks are flame, While man possesses heart or eyes, Woman's bright empire never dies! Fanny, my love, they ne'er shall say, That beauty's charm hath pass'd away; No -- give the universe a soul Attuned to woman's soft control, And Fanny hath the charm, the skill To wield a universe at will! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOD'S GARDEN by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON THE SONG OF HIAWATHA: PICTURE-WRITING by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW LUCY (4) by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH SPRING IN NEW ENGLAND by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE DEAD DRUMMER; A LEGEND OF SALISBURY PLAIN by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |