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- 1816
- ON A LEANDER GEM WHICH A YOUNG LADY GAVE THE AUTHOR
- by John Keats
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- Come hither all sweet maidens soberly,
- Down-looking, aye, and with a chasten'd light
- Hid in the fringes of your eyelids white,
- And meekly let your fair hands joined be,
- As if so gentle that ye could not see,
- Untouch'd, a victim of your beauty bright
- Sinking away to his young spirit's night,
- Sinking bewilder'd 'mid the dreary sea:
- 'Tis young Leander toiling to his death;
- Nigh swooning, he doth purse his weary lips
- For Hero's cheek, and smiles against her smile.
- O horrid dream! see how his body dips
- Dead-heavy; arms and shoulders gleam awhile:
- He's gone: up bubbles all his amorous breath!
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- THE END
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