Beauty had first my pride;
But now my heart she hath,
And all the whole world wide
Is Beauty's path!
By mountain, field and flood
I walked in hardihood;
But now with delicate pace
Her steps I trace.

Once did my spirit dare
In fond presumptuous dream
To make her ways more fair
That fair did seem.
But all the world became
Her ways elect, to shame
With their least lovely lot
My loftiest thought.

Her worshipful bright fire!
Ah! Whither will it lead
My burning faint desire
And feet that bleed?
Far in my failing view,
A pure and blazing gem,
She lights on earth the New