The Loveliness of Love by George Darley
b'Darley read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\\nGiving voice to the poetry of the past.\\n\\n---------------------------------------------\\n\\n The Loveliness of Love\\nby George Darley (1795\\u20131846)\\n\\nIt is not Beauty I demand, \\n A crystal brow, the moon\\u2019s despair, \\nNor the snow\\u2019s daughter, a white hand, \\n Nor mermaid\\u2019s yellow pride of hair: \\n \\nTell me not of your starry eyes, \\n Your lips that seem on roses fed, \\nYour breasts, where Cupid tumbling lies \\n Nor sleeps for kissing of his bed:\\u2014 \\n \\nA bloomy pair of vermeil cheeks \\n Like Hebe\\u2019s in her ruddiest hours, \\nA breath that softer music speaks \\n Than summer winds a-wooing flowers, \\n \\nThese are but gauds; nay, what are lips: \\n Coral beneath the ocean-stream, \\nWhose brink when your adventurer slips \\n Full oft he perisheth on them. \\n \\nAnd what are cheeks but ensigns oft \\n That wave hot youth to fields of blood? \\nDid Helen\\u2019s breast, though ne\\u2019er so soft, \\n Do Greece or Ilium any good? \\n \\nEyes can with baleful ardour burn; \\n Poison can breathe, than erst perfumed; \\nThere\\u2019s many a white hand holds an urn \\n With lovers\\u2019 hearts to dust consumed. \\n \\nFor crystal brows there\\u2019s nought within; \\n They are but empty cells for pride; \\nHe who the Syren\\u2019s hair would win \\n Is mostly strangled in the tide. \\n \\nGive me, instead of Beauty\\u2019s bust, \\n A tender heart, a loyal mind \\nWhich with temptation I would trust, \\n Yet never link\\u2019d with error find,\\u2014 \\n \\nOne in whose gentle bosom I \\n Could pour my secret heart of woes, \\nLike the case-burthen\\u2019d honey-fly \\n That hides his murmurs in the rose\\u2014 \\n \\nMy earthly Comforter! whose love \\n So indefeasible might be \\nThat, when my spirit wonn\\u2019d above \\n Hers could not stay, for sympathy.'