O strange sweet loveliness! O tender grace,

That in the light of passion’s day-spring threw

Soft splendour on a fair familiar face,

Changing it, yet unchanged, and old, yet new!

Perfect the portrait in my heart, and true,

Which traced the smile about that flower-like mouth,

And those gray eyes with just a doubt of blue,

Yet darkened with the passion of the South,

And the white arch of thoughtful forehead, crowned

With meeting waves of hair:—but still I found