Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888.
Beholding HerLuís de Camões (c. 15241580)
Translated by Robert Southey
W
Dwell on the deep enjoyment of your sight,
I give my spirit to that one delight,
And earth appears to me a Paradise:
And when I hear you speak, and see you smile,
Full satisfied, absorb’d, my center’d mind
Deems all the world’s vain hopes and joys the while
As empty as the unsubstantial wind.
Lady! I feel your charms, yet dare not raise
To that high theme the unequal song of praise,—
A power for that to language was not given;
Nor marvel I, when I those beauties view,
Lady! that He, whose power created you,
Could form the stars and yonder glorious heaven.