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Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems

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<hr style="width: 65%;" />[Pg 241] <h2>PRAISE OF MY LADY</h2> <div class="cpoem25"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> MY lady seems of ivory Forehead, straight nose, and cheeks that be Hollow'd a little mournfully. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Her forehead, overshadow'd much By bows of hair, has a wave such As God was good to make for me. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Not greatly long my lady's hair, Nor yet with yellow colour fair, But thick and crispèd wonderfully: Beata mea Domina! [Pg 242]</div> <div class="stanza"> Heavy to make the pale face sad, And dark, but dead as though it had Been forged by God most wonderfully Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Of some strange metal, thread by thread, To stand out from my lady's head, Not moving much to tangle me. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Beneath her brows the lids fall slow. The lashes a clear shadow throw Where I would wish my lips to be. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Her great eyes, standing far apart, Draw up some memory from her heart, And gaze out very mournfully; Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> So beautiful and kind they are, But most times looking out afar, Waiting for something, not for me. Beata mea Domina! [Pg 243]</div> <div class="stanza"> I wonder if the lashes long Are those that do her bright eyes wrong, For always half tears seem to be Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Lurking below the underlid, Darkening the place where they lie hid: If they should rise and flow for me! Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Her full lips being made to kiss, Curl'd up and pensive each one is; This makes me faint to stand and see. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Her lips are not contented now, Because the hours pass so slow Towards a sweet time: (pray for me), Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Nay, hold thy peace! for who can tell? But this at least I know full well, Her lips are parted longingly, Beata mea Domina! [Pg 244]</div> <div class="stanza"> So passionate and swift to move, To pluck at any flying love, That I grow faint to stand and see. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Yea! there beneath them is her chin, So fine and round, it were a sin To feel no weaker when I see Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> God's dealings; for with so much care And troublous, faint lines wrought in there, He finishes her face for me. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Of her long neck what shall I say? What things about her body's sway, Like a knight's pennon or slim tree Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Set gently waving in the wind; Or her long hands that I may find On some day sweet to move o'er me? Beata mea Domina! [Pg 245]</div> <div class="stanza"> God pity me though, if I miss'd The telling, how along her wrist The veins creep, dying languidly Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> Inside her tender palm and thin. Now give me pardon, dear, wherein My voice is weak and vexes thee. Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> All men that see her any time, I charge you straightly in this rhyme, What, and wherever you may be, Beata mea Domina! </div> <div class="stanza"> To kneel before her; as for me, I choke and grow quite faint to see My lady moving graciously. Beata mea Domina! </div> </div></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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