Yet there are many who enjoy it intensely and continuously: Mr. Saintsbury says, courageously, that it is the only long poem he honestly wishes were longer. It is certainly full of idealism; it is full of sweet fancies; it is rich in dragonly horrors; it is crammed with exquisite harmonies. But--its tenderer heroines are so shadowy, you cannot bind them to your heart; nay, you can scarce follow them with your eyes: Now, you catch a strain which seems to carry a sweet womanly image of flesh and blood--of heartiness and warmth. But--at the turning of a page--his wealth of words so enwraps her in glowing epithets, that she fades on your vision to a mere iridescence and a creature of Cloud-land. “Her face so faire, as flesh it seemèd not, But Heavenly Portrait of bright angels hew, Clear as the skye, withouten blame or blot Thro’ goodly mixture of Complexion’s dew! And in her cheeks, the Vermeil red did shew, Like Roses in a bed of Lillies shed, The which ambrosial odors from them threw, And gazers sense, with double pleasure fed, Hable to heal the sick, and to revive the dead! “In her faire eyes two living lamps did flame Kindled above at the Heavenly Makers Light, And darted fiery beams out of the same So passing persant and so wondrous bright, That quite bereaved the rash beholders sight. In them the blinded God--his lustful fire To kindle--oft assay’d, but had no might, For with dred Majesty, and awful ire She broke his wanton darts, and quenchèd base desire! “Upon her eyelids many Graces sate Under the shadow of her even brows, Working Belgardes and amorous Retrate, And everie one her with a grace endows, And everie one, with meekness to her bowes; So glorious mirror of Celestial Grace And soveraigne moniment of mortal vowes, How shall frail pen describe her Heavenly face For feare--thro’ want of skill, her beauty to disgrace? “So faire, and thousand times more faire She seem’d--when she, presented was, to sight. And was y-clad, for heat of scorching aire All in a silken _Camus_, lilly white, Purfled upon, with many a folded plight Which all above besprinkled was throughout With golden Aygulets, that glistered bright Like twinckling starres, and all the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe, …”