He spake; when, behold, the fair Geraldine's form On the canvass enchantingly glow'd; His touches--they flew like the leaves in a storm; And the pure pearly white and the carnation warm Contending in harmony flow'd;
And now did the portrait a twin-sister seem To the figure of Geraldine fair: With the same _sweet_ expression did faithfully teem Each muscle; each feature; in short not a gleam Was lost of her beautiful hair.
Twas the Fairy herself! but, alas, her blue eyes Still a pupil did ruefully lack; And who shall describe the terrifick surprise That seiz'd the PAINT-KING when, behold, he descries Not a speck on his palette of black!
"I am lost!" said the Fiend, and he shook like a leaf; When, casting his eyes to the ground, He saw the lost pupils of Ellen with grief In the jaws of a mouse, and the sly little thief Whisk away from his sight with a bound.
"I am lost!" said the Fiend, and he fell like a stone; Then rising the Fairy in ire With a touch of her finger she loosen'd her zone, (While the limbs on the wall gave a terrible groan,) And she swelled to a column of fire.
Her spear now a thunder-bolt flash'd in the air, And sulphur the vault fill'd around: She smote the grim monster; and now by the hair High-lifting, she hurl'd him in speechless despair Down the depths of the chasm profound.
Then over the picture thrice waving her spear, "Come forth!" said the good Geraldine; When, behold, from the canvass descending, appear Fair Ellen, in person more lovely than e'er, With grace more than ever divine!
_Addressed to a LADY, who lamented that she had never been in love._
"Al nuovo giorno, Pietosa man' mi sollevo."
"Ah me! how sad," Myrtilla cried, "To waste alone my years!" While o'er a streamlet's flow'ry side She pensive hung, and watch'd the tide That dimpled with her tears.
"The world, though oft to merit blind, Alas, I cannot blame; For they have oft the knee inclined. And pour'd the sigh--but, like the wind Of winter, cold it came.
"Ah no! neglect I cannot rue." Then o'er the limpid stream She cast her eyes of ether blue; Her wat'ry eyes look'd up to view Their lovelier parent's beam.
And ever as the sad lament Would thus her lips divide, Her lips, like sister roses bent By passing gales, elastick sent Their blushes from the tide.