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ISABEL.
7
Were fixéd shadows of thy fixed mood,
Revered Isabel, the crown and head,
The stately flower of female fortitude,
Of perfect wifehood and pure lowlihead.
Revered Isabel, the crown and head,
The stately flower of female fortitude,
Of perfect wifehood and pure lowlihead.
The intuitive decision of a bright
And thoroughedgéd intellect to part
Error from crime—a prudence to withhold—
The laws of wifehood charactered in gold
Upon the blenched tablets of her heart—
A love still burning upward giving light
To read those laws—an accent very low
In blandishment, but a most silver flow
Of subtlepacéd counsel in distress,
Right to the heart and brain, though undescried,
Winning its way with extreme gentleness
Through all the outworks of suspicious pride—
A courage to endure and to obey—
A hate of gossip parlance, and of sway,
Crowned Isabel, through all her placid life
The queen of marriage, a most perfect wife.
And thoroughedgéd intellect to part
Error from crime—a prudence to withhold—
The laws of wifehood charactered in gold
Upon the blenched tablets of her heart—
A love still burning upward giving light
To read those laws—an accent very low
In blandishment, but a most silver flow
Of subtlepacéd counsel in distress,
Right to the heart and brain, though undescried,
Winning its way with extreme gentleness
Through all the outworks of suspicious pride—
A courage to endure and to obey—
A hate of gossip parlance, and of sway,
Crowned Isabel, through all her placid life
The queen of marriage, a most perfect wife.
