Lines on a Picture of a Girl in the Attitude of Prayer

ON A PICTURE OF A GIRL IN THE ATTITUDE OF PRAYER, BY THE ARTIST GRUSE, IN THE POSSESSION OF LADY STEPNEY

Was man e'er doomed that beauty made
 By mimic art should haunt him?
Like Orpheus I adore a shade
 And dote upon a phantom.

Thou maid that in my inmost thought
 Art fancifully sainted,
Why liv'st thou not? why art thou nought
 But canvas sweetly painted?

Whose looks seem lifted to the skies,
 Too pure for love of mortals—
As if they drew angelic eyes
 To greet thee at heaven's portals.

Yet loveliness has here no grace,
 Abstracted or ideal;
Art ne'er but from a living face
 Drew looks so seeming real.

What wert thou, maid? thy life, thy name
 Oblivion hides in mystery;
Though from thy face my heart could frame
 A long romantic history.

Transported to thy time I seem,
 Though dust thy coffin covers,
And hear the songs in fancy's dream
 Of thy devoted lovers.

How witching must have been thy breath!
 How sweet the living charmer
Whose very semblance after death
 Can make the heart grow warmer!

Adieu the charms that vainly move
 My soul in their possession—
That prompt my lips to speak of love
 Yet rob them of expression!

Yet thee, dear picture, to have praised
 Was but a poet's duty;
And shame to him that ever gazed
 Impassive on thy beauty.
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