Fromoffahillwhoseconcavewombreworded
Aplaintfulstoryfromasist\'ringvale，
Myspiritst\'attendthisdoublevoiceaccorded，
AnddownIlaidtolistthesad—tunedtale，
Erelongespiedaficklemaidfullpale，
Tearingofpapers，breakingringsatwain，
Stormingherworldwithsorrow\'swindandrain。
Uponherheadaplattedhiveofstraw，
Whichfortifiedhervisagefromthesun，
Whereonthethoughtmightthinksometimeitsaw
Thecarcaseofabeautyspentanddone。
Timehadnotscythedallthatyouthbegun，
Noryouthallquit，butspiteofheaven\'sfellrage
Somebeautypeepedthroughlatticeofsearedage。
Oftdidsheheavehernapkintohereyne，
Whichonithadconceitedcharacters，
Laund\'ringthesilkenfiguresinthebrine
Thatseasonedwoehadpelletedintears，
Andoftenreadingwhatcontentsitbears;
Asoftenshriekingundistinguishedwoe，
Inclamoursofallsize，bothhighandlow。
Sometimesherlevelledeyestheircarriageride，
Astheydidbatt\'rytothespheresintend;
Sometimedivertedtheirpoorballsaretied
Toth\'orbedearth;sometimestheydoextend
Theirviewrighton;anontheirgazeslend
Toeveryplaceatonce，andnowherefixed，
Themindandsightdistractedlycommixed。
Herhair，norloosenortiedinformalplat，
Proclaimedinheracarelesshandofpride;
Forsome，untucked，descendedhersheavedhat，
Hangingherpaleandpinedcheekbeside;
Someinherthreadenfilletstilldidbide，
And，truetobondage，wouldnotbreakfromthence，
Thoughslacklybraidedinloosenegligence。
Athousandfavoursfromamaundshedrew
Ofamber，crystal，andofbeadedjet，
Whichonebyonesheinariverthrew，
Uponwhoseweepingmargentshewasset;
Likeusuryapplyingwettowet，
Ormonarchs\'handsthatletsnotbountyfall
Wherewantcriessome，butwhereexcessbegsall。
Offoldedscheduleshadshemanyaone，
Whichsheperused，sighed，tore，andgavetheflood;
Crackedmanyaringofposiedgoldandbone，
Biddingthemfindtheirsepulchresinmud;
Foundyetmoeletterssadlypennedinblood，
Withsleidedsilkfeatandaffectedly
Enswathedandsealedtocurioussecrecy。
Theseoftenbathedsheinherfluxiveeyes，
Andoftenkissed，andoften\'gantotear;
Cried，\'Ofalseblood，thouregisteroflies，
Whatunapprovedwitnessdostthoubear!
Inkwouldhaveseemedmoreblackanddamnedhere!
Thissaid，intopofragethelinessherents，
Bigdiscontentssobreakingtheircontents。
Areverendmanthatgrazedhiscattlenigh，
Sometimeablustererthattheruffleknew
Ofcourt，ofcity，andhadletgoby
Theswiftesthoursobservedastheyflew，
Towardsthisafflictedfancyfastlydrew;
And，privilegedbyage，desirestoknow
Inbriefthegroundsandmotivesofherwoe。
Soslideshedownuponhisgrainedbat，
Andcomelydistantsitshebyherside;
Whenheagaindesiresher，beingsat，
Hergrievancewithhishearingtodivide。
Ifthatfromhimtheremaybeaughtapplied
Whichmayhersufferingecstasyassuage，
\'Tispromisedinthecharityofage。
\'Father，\'shesays，\'thoughinmeyoubehold
Theinjuryofmanyablastinghour，
LetitnottellyourjudgementIamold：
Notage，butsorrow，overmehathpower。
Imightasyethavebeenaspreadingflower，
Freshtomyself，ifIhadself—applied
Lovetomyself，andtonolovebeside。
\'Butwoeisme!tooearlyIattended
Ayouthfulsuit—itwastogainmygrace—
O，onebynature\'soutwardssocommended
Thatmaidens\'eyesstuckoverallhisface。
Lovelackedadwellingandmadehimherplace;
Andwheninhisfairpartsshedidabide，
Shewasnewlodgedandnewlydeified。
\'Hisbrownylocksdidhangincrookedcurls;
Andeverylightoccasionofthewind
Uponhislipstheirsilkenparcelshurls。
What\'ssweettodo，todowillaptlyfind：
Eacheyethatsawhimdidenchantthemind;
Foronhisvisagewasinlittledrawn
WhatlargenessthinksinParadisewassawn。
\'Smallshowofmanwasyetuponhischin;
Hisphoenixdownbeganbuttoappear，
Likeunshornvelvet，onthattermlessskin，
Whosebareout—braggedthewebitseemedtowear：
Yetshowedhisvisagebythatcostmoredear;
Andniceaffectionswaveringstoodindoubt
Ifbestwereasitwas，orbestwithout。
\'Hisqualitieswerebeauteousashisform，
Formaiden—tonguedhewas，andthereoffree;
Yetifmenmovedhim，washesuchastorm
Asoft\'twixtMayandAprilistosee，
Whenwindsbreathesweet，unrulythoughtheybe。
Hisrudenesssowithhisauthorizedyouth
Didliveryfalsenessinaprideoftruth。
\'Wellcouldheride，andoftenmenwouldsay，
\"Thathorsehismettlefromhisridertakes：
Proudofsubjection，noblebythesway，
Whatrounds，whatbounds，whatcourse，whatstophemakes!\"
Andcontroversyhenceaquestiontakes
Whetherthehorsebyhimbecamehisdeed，
Orhehismanagebyth\'well—doingsteed。
\'Butquicklyonthissidetheverdictwent：
Hisrealhabitudegavelifeandgrace
Toappertainingsandtoornament，
Accomplishedinhimself，notinhiscase，
Allaids，themselvesmadefairerbytheirplace，
Cameforadditions;yettheirpurposedtrim
Piercednothisgrace，butwereallgracedbyhim。
\'Soonthetipofhissubduingtongue
Allkindofargumentsandquestiondeep，
Allreplicationprompt，andreasonstrong，
Forhisadvantagestilldidwakeandsleep。
