Tailpiece for The Campagna of Florence drawn by Thomas Stothard RA and engraved by David Allen. 1830. Steel engraving, 8 x 5.3 cm. From Italy, a Poem, p. 120. by Samuel Rogers. Click on image to enlarge it.

Passage illustrated

At morn, at the ninth hour,
A noble Dame in weeds of widow-hood,
Weeds to be worn hereafter by so many,
Stood at her door; and, like a sorceress, flung
* Her dazzling spell. Subtle she was, and rich,
Rich in a hidden pearl of heavenly light,
Her daughter's beauty; and too well she knew
Its virtue! Patiently she stood and watched ;
Nor stood alone— but spoke not — In her breast
Her purpose lay ; and, as a Youth passed by,
Clad for the nuptial rite, she smiled and said,
Lifting a corner of the maiden's veil,
“This had I treasured up in secret for thee.
This hast thou lost!” He gazed and was undone! [120-21]

Image scan and text by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

Bibliography

Rogers, Samuel. London: T. Cadell and E. Moxon, 1830.


Last modified 6 February 2018