as given, and craved no more,
Whate'er the scene presented to her view.
That was the best, to that she was attuned
By her benign simplicity of life,
... God delights
In such a being; for her common thoughts
Are piety, her life is gratitude.

_The Prelude._

Sweet girl, a very shower
Of beauty is thy earthly dower!...
Never saw I mien, or face,
In which more plainly I could trace
Benignity and homebred sense
Ripening in perfect innocence.
* * * * *
A face with gladness overspread!
Soft smiles, by human kindness bred!
And seemliness complete, that sways
Thy courtesies, about three plays.

_To A Highland Girl._

A maiden ...
Lovely as spring's first note ... Pure
As beautiful, and gentle and benign.
* * * * *
A Flower....
Fairest of all flowers was she....
She hath an eye that smiles into all hearts,
* * * * *
Soon would her gentle words make peace.

_The Borderers._

Yes! thou art fair, yet be not moved
To scorn the declaration,
That sometimes I in thee have loved
My fancy's own creation.

Imagination needs must stir;
Dear Maid, this truth believe,
Minds that have nothing to confer,
Find little to perceive.

Be pleased that Nature made thee fit
To feed my heart's devotion,
By laws to which all forms submit
In sky, air, earth, and ocean.

_Poems of the Affections, 16._

THOMAS CARLYLE.

Clearly a superior woman.--That is the way with female intellects
when they are good; nothing equals their acuteness, and their
rapidity is almost excessive.--_Frederick the Great._

Perfection of housekeeping was her clear and speedy attainment in
that new scene. Strange how she made the desert blossom for herself
and me there; what a fairy palace she had made of that wild
moorland home of the poor man! From the baking of a loaf, or the
darning of a stocking, up to comporting herself in the highest
scenes or most intricate emergencies, all was insight, veracity,
graceful success (if you could judge it), fidelity to insight of
the fact given.--_Reminiscences._

Meek and retiring by the softness of her nature, yet glowing w