THERE was a vase of odour lay For many an hour on Beauty's shrine, So sweet that Love went every day To banquet on its breath divine. And not an eye had ever seen The fragrant charm the vase conceal'd; O Love! how happy 'twould have been, If thou hadst ne'er that charm reveal'd! But Love, like every other boy, Would know the spell that lurks within; He wish'd to break the crystal toy, But Beauty murmur'd "'twas a sin!" He swore, with many a tender plea, That neither Heaven nor earth forbad it; She told him, Virtue kept the key, And look'd as if -- she wish'd he had it! He stole the key when Virtue slept (Even she can sleep, if Love but ask it) And Beauty sigh'd, and Beauty wept, While silly Love unlock'd the casket. O dulcet air that vanish'd then! Can Beauty's sigh recall thee ever? Can Love himself inhale again A breath so precious? never, never! Go, maiden, weep -- the tears of woe By Beauty to repentance given, Though bitterly on earth they flow, Shall turn to fragrant balm in heaven! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON READING -- . by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH KEATS (1) by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE THE LUNCH by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH IMITATIONS OF SHAKESPEARE: PROGNE'S DREAM by JOHN ARMSTRONG EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 14. THE POWERFUL ATTRACTION by PHILIP AYRES THE JUDGMENT by KATHARINE LEE BATES OCTAVES by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN ON THE EPICUREAN, STOIC, AND CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY by JOHN BYROM |