Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
William Wordsworth. 17701850529. Perfect Woman
SHE was a phantom of delight | |
When first she gleam’d upon my sight; | |
A lovely apparition, sent | |
To be a moment’s ornament; | |
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair; | 5 |
Like twilight’s, too, her dusky hair; | |
But all things else about her drawn | |
From May-time and the cheerful dawn; | |
A dancing shape, an image gay, | |
To haunt, to startle, and waylay. | 10 |
I saw her upon nearer view, | |
A Spirit, yet a Woman too! | |
Her household motions light and free, | |
And steps of virgin liberty; | |
A countenance in which did meet | 15 |
Sweet records, promises as sweet; | |
A creature not too bright or good | |
For human nature’s daily food; | |
For transient sorrows, simple wiles, | |
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles. | 20 |
And now I see with eye serene | |
The very pulse of the machine; | |
A being breathing thoughtful breath, | |
A traveller between life and death; | |
The reason firm, the temperate will, | 25 |
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill; | |
A perfect Woman, nobly plann’d, | |
To warn, to comfort, and command; | |
And yet a Spirit still, and bright | |
With something of angelic light. | 30 |