Poems (Southey)/Volume 1/To Mary Wollstonecraft
The lily cheek, the "purple light of love,"The liquid lustre of the melting eye,—Mary! of these the Poet sung, for theseDid Woman triumph! with no angry frownView this degrading conquest. At that ageNo Maid of Arc had snatch'd from coward manThe heaven-blest sword of Liberty; thy sexCould boast no female Roland's martyrdom;No Corde's angel and avenging armHad sanctified again the Murderer's nameAs erst when Cæsar perish'd: yet some strainsMay even adorn this theme, befitting meTo offer, nor unworthy thy regard.ROBERT SOUTHEY.