The tears that flow adown her cheek,
Than gems are brighter things;
For these an earthly Monarch seek,
But those the KING of Kings.
This seems to have been the author's thought, if he thought
_chastely_.--Shall I try again?
The pearls and gems her beauty's arms,
See sad VALLIERE foregoes:
Yet still those tears have other charms,
Superior far to those:
With those she gained an earthly Monarch's love:
With these she wins the KING of Kings above.
Yet, after all, I do suspect, that the author meant more than even _to
sneer_ a little at _poor Madam Valliere_; but, as I dislike common-place
poetry, (and poetry, as you see, dislikes _me_) I will endeavour to give
you the literal meaning, according to my conception, and then you will
see whether our _joint wits_ jump together.
While MAGDALENE throws by her bracelets, adorned with gems and pearls,
and (thus) disarms her beauty: while tears confound her countenance and
eyes,
With wonder mark the stratagems of love,
With this she captivates the GOD above.
The impious insinuation of the Latin lines, is the reason, I suppose,
why they were omitted under the more modern impression of this fine
print, and very middling French poetry superseding them.