Ariana Malthaner
This week’s original poem comes from the autograph book of Eliza McDonald and appears to be rather romantic in nature. The initials of the author, much like significant other parts of the poem, are difficult to make out. The handwriting is cramped and often illegible, and thus the transcription here is a best attempt.
To Eliza
To thee gentle creature I dedicate these lines
Of my wandering thoughts in measure
Since all that nature of art forms aligns
To thee is devoted with greatest pleasure
And as time doth seem at first consigned
That sweetest of tasks to…
The moons which so happily should be entwined
With the fair lady’s of this season
With enraptured thoughts there attempt to describe
All the graces allotted these fair…
Best alas, my greatest ever came but friendly…
The half of those charms given thee dearest Mademoiselle
Oh Eliza, since nature to these has thus been so abundantly lovesick
Let all thy most noble, exalted and glorious thoughts ever…
To guard the immortal part…lately free from all blemish
And thus a crown of beauty never fading secure to thee shall be
Jul 6 1854