VILLA TASCA

If Love could build a place for pure delight

’Twould be like this—pink marble, stone-white lace,

Within a garden grave and gay, kind both to bird and flower,

With friendly paths, curved, perfume-bordered ways,

And plaintive settles princely lover chose;

With water-mirrors, with the fountain’s spray.

Some lovely, ancient land like Sicily,

Since centuries alone make gardens rich—

Caprices, memories—royal death—and love.