RARE
)
I WALKED ALONG A STREAM FOR PURENESS RARE,
BRIGHTER THAN SUNSHINE, FOR IT DID ACQUAINT
THE DULLEST SIGHT WITH ALL THE GLORIOUS PREY,
THAT IN THE PEBBLE PAVED CHANNEL LAY.
NO MOLTEN CRYSTAL, BUT A RICHER MINE,
EVEN NATURE'S RAREST ALCHEMY RAN THERE,
DIAMONDS RESOLVED, AND SUBSTANCE MORE DIVINE,
THROUGH WHOSE BRIGHT GLIDING CURRENT MIGHT APPEAR
A THOUSAND NAKED NYMPHS, WHOSE IVORY SHINE,
ENAMELING THE BANKS, MADE THEM MORE DEAR
THAN EVER WAS THAT GLORIOUS PALLAS' GATE,
WHERE THE DAY-SHINING SUN IN TRIUMPH SATE.
UPON THIS BRIM THE EGLANTINE AND ROSE
THE TAMORISK, OLIVE AND THE ALMOND TREE,
AS KIND COMPANIONS IN ONE UNION GROWS,
FOLDING THEIR TWINDRING ARMS AS OFT WE SEE
TURTLE-TAUGHT LOVERS EITHER OTHER CLOSE,
LENDING TO DULLNESS FEELING SYMPATHY.
AND AS A COSTLY VALANCE O'ER A BED,
SO DID THEIR GARLAND TOPS THE BROOK O'ERSPREAD:
THEIR LEAVES THAT DIFFERED BOTH IN SHAPE AND SHOW,
(THOUGH ALL WERE GREEN) YET DIFFERENCE SUCH IN GREEN,
LIKE . . .
