Her father lessons me I at times am hard, Chiding a moment's fault as too grave ill, And let some little blot my vision fill, Scanning her with a narrow near regard. True. Love's unresting gaze is self-debarred From all sweet ignorance, and learns a skill, Not painless, of such signs as hurt love's will, That would not have its prize one tittle marred. Alas! Who rears and loves a dawning rose Starts at a speck upon one petal's rim: Who sees a dusk creep in the shrined pearl's glows, Is ruined at once: "My jewel growing dim!" I watch one bud that on my bosom blows, I watch one treasured pearl for me and him. |