ON THE CELEBRATED PICTURE BY LEONARDO DA VINCI, CALLED THE VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS <br /> <br />While young John runs to greet <br />The greater Infant's feet, <br />The Mother standing by, with trembling passion <br />Of devout admiration, <br />Beholds the engaging mystic play, and pretty adoration; <br />Nor knows as yet the full event <br />Of those so low beginnings, <br />From whence we date our winnings, <br />But wonders at the intent <br />Of those new rites, and what that strange child-worship meant. <br />But at her side <br />An angel doth abide, <br />With such a perfect joy <br />As no dim doubts alloy, <br />An intuition, <br />A glory, an amenity, <br />Passing the dark condition <br />Of blind humanity, <br />As if he surely knew <br />All the blest wonders should ensue, <br />Or he had lately left the upper sphere, <br />And had read all the sovran schemes and divine riddles there.<br /><br />Charles Lamb<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lines-29/
