Page:The poetical works of Leigh Hunt, containing many pieces now first collected 1849.djvu/148

And as the best way to divert their abuse
(If we use them at all) is to give them right use,
I hereby ordain, that in future the word
Be confined to the masculine, vain, and absurd,
And that all real women, ev'n though they may speak
Not with Sappho's eyes only, but even her Greek,
All the flow'rs of the flock, the true breathers of sweets,
Take their name from the queen of the sylvan retreats;—
From the hue which but now had your eyes fix'd upon it,—
The Violet,—charmer of all that light on it.
"No Blue," 'twill be said, "is the she who so bears her;
She's Violet:—happy the bosom that wears her.

Here somebody happening to cough where we sat,
Phoebus threw up a frown at us none could look at,—
An eye of so sudden a flame, and tremendous,
I thought he was going to "flare up" and end us;
But seeing us all look submissive, he shone
With the former mild beams in his hair, and went on:—

"And in truth it depends on yourselves, darling creatures,
Which shade of the hue shall illustrate your natures;
For though ye set out with the right one, nay, though
I myself, as I now do, the blessing bestow,
Yet the stockings themselves, I must tell you, are fated,
And just as they 're worn, will be lov'd or get hated;—
Remaining true violet,—glimpses of heaven,—
As long as you're wise, and your tempers are even
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$But if you grow formal, or fierce, or untrue,
Alas, gentle colour! sweet ankle, adieu!
Thou art chang'd; and Love's self at the changing looks blue.