Had Sacharissa lived when mortals made <br />Choice of their deities, this sacred shade <br />Had held an alter to her power, that gave <br />The peace and glory which these alleys have; <br />Embroidered so with flowers where she stood, <br />That it became a garden of a wood. <br />Her presence has such more than human grace <br />That it can civilize the rudest place; <br />And beauty too, and order, can impart, <br />Where nature ne'er intended it, nor art. <br />The plants acknowledge this, and her admire <br />No less than those of old did Orpheus' lyre; <br />If she sit down, with tops all towards her bowed, <br />They round about her into arbors crowd; <br />Or if she walk, in even ranks they stand, <br />Like some well marshaled and obsequious band. <br />Amphion so made stones and timber leap <br />Into fair figures from a confused heap; <br />And in the symmetry of her parts is found <br />A power like that of harmony in sound. <br /> <br />Ye lofty beeches, tell this matchless dame <br />That if together ye fed all one flame, <br />It could not equalize the hundredth part <br />Of what her eyes have kindled in my heart! <br />Go, boy, and carve this passion on the bark <br />Of yonder tree, which stands the sacred mark <br />Of noble Sidney's birth; when such benign, <br />Such more than mortal-making stars did shine, <br />That there they cannot but forever prove <br />The monument and pledge of humble love; <br />His humble love whose hopes shall ne'er rise higher <br />Than for a pardon that he dares admire.<br /><br />Edmund Waller<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-penshurst/
