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1823–1896

II.— BEAUTY.

Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore

‘ Beauty deludes.’ O shaft well shot, To strike the mark's true opposite! That ugly good is scorn'd proves not ‘ Tis beauty lies, but lack of it.

By Heaven's law the Jew might take A slave to wife, if she was fair; So strong a plea does beauty make That, where‘ tis seen, discretion's there.

If, by a monstrous chance, we learn That this illustrious vaunt's a lie, Our minds, by which the eyes discern, See hideous contrariety.

And laugh at Nature's wanton mood, Which, thus a swinish thing to flout, Though haply in its gross way good, Hangs such a jewel in its snout.

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II.— BEAUTY. · Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore · Poetry Cove