THESELF-ENCHANTED

theself-enchanted

(1833)

ihadasenseindreamsofabeautyrare,

whomfatehadspell-bound,androotedthere,

stooping,likesomeenchantedtheme,

overthemargeofthatcrystalstream,

wherethebloominggreek,toechoblind,

withself-lovefond,hadtowaterspined.

ageshadwaked,andagesslept,

andthatbendingposturestillshekept:

forhereyesshemaynotturnaway,

'tillafairerobjectshallpassthatway—

'tillanimagemorebeauteousthisworldcanshow,

thanherownwhichsheseesinthemirrorbelow.

poreon,faircreature!foreverpore,

nordreamtobedisenchantedmore;

forvainisexpectance,andwishisvain,

'tillanewnarcissuscancomeagain.