Poetical works of Robert Bridges : excluding the eight dramas / [Robert Seymour Bridges].
- Robert Bridges
- Date:
- 1913
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Poetical works of Robert Bridges : excluding the eight dramas / [Robert Seymour Bridges]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![In his dishevel’d fury wantoning Beyond belief . . . Some are four-leaved : this poppy Will have but four. He, like a hurried thief, Stuffs his rich silks into too small a bag— 280 I think he watch’d a summer-butterfly Creep out all crumpled from his winter-case, Trusting the sun to smooth his tender tissue And sleek the velvet of his painted wings :— And so doth he.—Between such different schemes, Such widely varied loveliness, how choose ? Yet loving all, one should be most belov’d, Most intimately mine; to mortal men My emblem: tho’ I never find in one The sum of all distinctions.—Rose were best: 290 But she is passion’s darling, and unkind To handle—set her by.—Choosing for odour, The violet were mine—men call her modest, Because she hides, and when in company Lacks manner and the assertive style of worth :— While this narcissus here scorns modesty, Will stand up what she is, tho’ something prim : Her scent, a saturation of one tone, Like her plain symmetry, leaves nought to fancy:— Whereas this iris,—she outvieth man’s 300 Excellent artistry ; elaboration Confounded with simplicity, till none Can tell which sprang of which. Coud I but find A scented iris, I should be content: Yet men would call me proud: Iris is Pride.— To-day I’ll favour thee, sweet violet; Thou canst live in my bosom. I’ll not wrong thee Wearing thee in Olympus.—Help ! help ! Ay me ! [.Persephone rises to her feet, and amidst a contrivance of confused darkless Hades is seen rushing from behind. He seizes her and drags her backward. Her basket is thrown up and the flowers scattered.] (6°)](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31357222_0076.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
