Poems (Scudder)/A Princess of Egypt
A PRINCESS OF EGYPT
The sphinx-shaped crown now fallen to one side Reveals her stiffened locks of blue-black hair. Beneath her gilded mask the semblance fair Of girlhood to a leaf-brown husk hath dried. The scarab beads that row on row might hide Her slender throat, lie scattered here and there Turquoise and milky jade. Her breast doth bear The scarlet emblem of great Isis' pride. These jars of porphyry and agate tell How gracious and how fragrant was the youth Of what seems a frail horror to the sight—Of precious oils and essences they smell, Citron and myrrh—yea, she had "Oyntementes smoothe Of Lilyes in a Vase of Chrysolite."