XII. As if "instinct with living spirits," sing Would e'en the painter's shrewdest ken confuse. Those who despise dear Nature's charms ;) and see As the boughs stir-the birds all join in harmony. XIII. Wealth, inexhaustible as Danaë's shower, That Innocence within her hair might weave Cherish these deep-sown feelings, ye shall reap A harvest of delight, when Pride in dust shall sleep! XIV. Not that I scorn this fête unparagon'd: What cynic would destroy love's rosy bands? Why marvel, then, that Youth their influence dreads, And basks him in the rays the sun of beauty sheds ? April, 1824. NOTES ON "THE QUEEN OF GOLCONDA'S FETE." P. 233, 1. 7. Zamorim's palace is as a twinkling star. See the seventh book of Camoëns' Lusiad. P. 235, 1. 20. Robed in all colours that the Pavone owns. And wings it had with sondry colours dight, More sondry colours than the proud Pavone Bears in his boasted fan, or Iris bright; When her discolour'd bow she bends through Heaven's height. P. 236, 1. 3. Like hues just caught from fair Ausonia's skies. Largior hic campos æther et lumine vestit SPENSER. "The setting sun produced the richest variety of tints in the opposite sky; among them was a lovely violet glow, rarely, if ever seen, in England."-DALLAWAY's Constantinople. P. 236, 1. 15. Even Fatima in pomp of beauty. The following splendid description of the beauty and attractive manners of the "fair Fatima," is from Lady Mary Wortley Montague's Letters. "She stood up to receive me, saluting me after their fashion, putting her hand to her heart with a sweetness full of majesty, that no courtbreeding could ever give. She ordered cushions to be given me, and took care to place me in the corner, which is the place of honour. I confess, though the Greek lady had before given me a great opinion of her beauty, I was so struck with admiration, that I could not for some time speak to her, being wholly taken up in gazing. That surprising harmony of features! that charming result of the whole! that exact proportion of body! that lovely bloom of complexion unsullied by art! the unutterable enchantment of her smile!--But her eyes!-large and black, with all the soft languishment of the blue! every turn of her face discovering some new grace. "After my first surprise was over, I endeavoured, by nicely examining her face, to find out some imperfection, without any fruit of my search, but my being clearly convinced of the error of that vulgar notion, that a face exactly proportioned, and perfectly beautiful, would not be agreeable; nature having done for her, with more success, what Apelles is said to have essayed, by a collection of the most exact features to form a perfect face. Add to all this a behaviour so full of grace and sweetness, such easy motions, with an air so majestic, yet free from stiffness or affectation, that I am persuaded, could she be suddenly transported upon the most polite throne of Europe, nobody would think her other than born and bred to be a queen, though educated in a country we call barbarous. say all in a word, our most celebrated To English beauties would vanish near her. "She was dressed in a caftan of gold brocade, flowered with silver, very well fitted to her shape, and showing to admiration the beauty of her bosom, only shaded by the thin gauze of her shift. Her drawers were pale pink, her waistcoat green and silver, her slippers white satin, finely embroidered her lovely arms adorned with bracelets of diamonds, and her broad girdle set round with diamonds; upon her head a rich Turkish handkerchief of pink and silver, her own fine black hair hanging a great length in various tresses, and on one side of her head some bodkins of jewels. I am afraid you will accuse me of extravagance in this description. I think I have read somewhere that women always speak in rapture when they speak of beauty, and I R cannot imagine why they should not be allowed to do so. I rather think it a virtue to be able to admire without any mixture of desire or envy. The gravest writers have spoken with great warmth of some celebrated pictures and statues: the workmanship of Heaven certainly excels all our weak imitations, and, I think, has a much better claim to our praise. For my part, I am not ashamed to own I took more pleasure in looking on the beauteous Fatima, than the finest piece of sculpture could have given me." 66 P. 238, 1. 9. As the boughs stir-the birds all join in harmony. Among other spectacles of rare and stupendous luxury was a tree of gold and silver, spreading into eighteen large branches, on which, and on the lesser boughs, sat a variety of birds made of the same precious metals, as well as the leaves of the tree. While the machinery effected spontaneous motions, the several birds warbled their natural harmony." -GIBBON'S Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. x. p. 38, 8vo. edit. |