Classic Poem

Laura, the eddying power name
Which body unto body binds.
What is the magic which can tame
And knit together kindred minds?

It guides the planets on their way
And bids them circle round the sun,
As children round their mother play
And in their merry gambols run.

The stars of heaven as they roll
Drink thirstily the golden rain,
Draw vigour from its fiery bowl,
As limbs are quickened by the brain.

Atom with atom truly pairs
In balanced and harmonious blend;
In Love combine the very Spheres,
Whole Systems on that Love depend.

From Nature's clockwork Love withdrawn,
In wreck and ruin crumbles all,
And round your worlds shall Chaos yawn;
Weep, Newton, o'er that giant fall.

From spirit world that grace remove,
And what remains must shrink and die
Returning Spring relies on Love;
Loveless, how worship God on high?

How is it that my Laura's kiss
Brings to the cheek a rosy flood,
Quickens the heart with gathering bliss,
And madly stirs my fevered blood?

Each nerve beyond its tension springs,
The bursting veins would overflow,
Body to body frenzied clings,
And souls expire in amorous glow.

Supreme o'er all the hidden powers
At work in dead Creation's womb,
Love close to gentle Nature cowers
In sensuous Arachne's loom.

See, Laura, how in warm embrace
Joy throws her kindly arms o'er Grief,
How blank Despair, nestling its face
On Hope's warm breast, can find relief.

Love's sister, Pleasure, can dispel
Dull night's too melancholy dreams;
The golden tear-drops upward well,
And forth the sunny radiance streams.

Does not an awful Sympathy
The very haunts of Evil leaven?
In love with Hell our vices sigh,
But bear an angry grudge toward Heaven.

Round Sin foul serpent-coils entwine
— The Furies, Shame and dull Remorse —
And Danger slinks to undermine
True greatness in its lofty course.

Ruin delights to toy with Pride,
And Fortune writhes in Envy's grip,
While sister Lust. with wanton stride,
Hastens her brother Death to trip.

On Love's light wings the Future sails,
And seeks a refuge in the Past.
The brideless Saturn's quest prevails
To find Eternity at last.

And when — thus Oracles declare —
Saturn his shrinking bride has found,
The World as wedding torch shall flare
Time with Eternity be bound.

And now a fairer morning pours
Its light upon our sweet alcove.
As long as lasted their amours,
So long, my Laura, let us love.