The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-01-29
LOVES OF THE POETS.
At Their Head Stands White-Bosomeo
Azure Eyed Helen of Troy.

At Their Head Stands White-Bosomed \
Azure-Eyed Helen of Troy.
In a fair and far-off country, hidden to
none, though visited by few, dwell lit
tie band of lovely ladies, to whose youth =,
and radiance the poets have added the
browning gift of Immortality. There
thew live, with faint alluring smiles
that never fade; and at their head IS
Helen of Troy, white-bosomed, azure
eyed, to whom men forgave all things
for her beauty's sake. There, too, IS
Lesbia, fair and false; laughing at
broken heart. but holding close and ten
derby the dead sparrow
That, living, never strayed from her sweet
breast.
She kisses it's ruf1led wings and weeps,
she who had no tears to spare When
Catullus sung and sued. And there ID
Myrto, beloved by Theocritus, her naked
feet cleaning like pearls, bunch OF
Coan rushes pressed in her rosy fingers;
and the nameless girl who held in check
Anacreon's wandering heart with the
magic of dimples, and parted lips, and
thin purple floating garments. With
these are later beauties: Fiammetta the
ruddy-haired, whom death snatched from
Boccaccio's arms, and the gentle Cate
rina, raising those heavy-lidded eyes
that Camoens loved and lost; Petrarch's
Laura, robed in pale-green spotted with
violets, one golden curl escaping wan
tonly beneath her vail; the fair blue
stocking, Leonora d'Este, pale as a rain
washed rose, her dress in sweet dlsor'
der; and Beatrice, with the stiffness OF
eternity in her brooding eyes. 1t we
listen, we hear the shrill laughter OF
Mignonne, child of fifteen summers,
,, mocking at Ronsard's wooing; or we
! catch the gentler murmur of Highland
: Mary's song. She bushes a little, the
! low-born lass, and sinks her graceful
head as though abashed by the fame he1
:. peasant lover brought her. Bare-footed
t yellow-haired, she passes swiftly by
{ and with her, hand in hand, walks
Scotland's Queen, sad Jane Beaufort
. ssthe fairest younge foure" that eve
T. won the heart of royal captive and SUI
g fered the martyrdom Of love- England
sends to that far land Stella, with eye
=, like stars, and vail OF gossamer hid
is ing her delicate beauty, and Celia, an
false Lucasta, and Castara, tantalizlngl
IS discreet, in whose dimples Cupid is fai
70 to linger signing, exiled, poor froze
y god, from the
I'd Chaste nunnery of her breasts.
ID Sacharissa, too stands near, with
n shade of listlessness in her sweet eye
d. as though she wearild little OF Mastt
III Walters courtly strains. a withered ros
fit droops from her white fingers preacl
ii. ing it's mute sermon, and preaching
all in vain; for rose and lady live 10
ever, linked in each others fame. Al
by her side, casting her fragile love-
Be ness in the shade, is one of ditfere!
mold, sumptuous smiling woman,
'ly whom Sacharissa's blue eyes fall with
OF soft disdain. We know this indole
beauty by the brave vibration of her tel
lot pestuous silken robe, by the ruby care
Y net that clasps her throat, the rainbe
nd ribbon around her slender waist, t
on Jewels wedged buckle-deep on eve
ses tapering finger, and eyen-oh, vanl
of vanitics!--on one small rosy thun
ase We know her by the scented bea
pom upon her arm, and by the sweet
18th subtle odors of storax and spikenard
galbanum that breathe softly forth IT
the her brocaded bodice, and from her hal
ave dark meshes caught in golden net.
nth is she to whom the glow-worms i
the their eyes, and the elves their win
the and the stars their shooting fires, as
ems wandered through the dewy woods
otes meet her lovers steps. 1t is Herrit
hey Julia whom we see SO clearly thro'
oda- the midst of centuries, that can not
the nor dim the brightness of her prese1
;ical Agnes Repplier, in Atlantic.