THE PEARL WEARER.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 1, 2 August 1842, Page 3

THE PEARL WEARER.

BY BARRY CORNWALL.

[lt is- recorded of a pearl-diver, that he died: (from over-exention or some other cause) immediately after he j had reached die land or boat from which he had. plunged; anti that, amongst the 1 shells which he brought up, was oise that contained a pearl of surpassing size and beauty.] Within the midnight of her hair,. Hall-hidden in. its deepest deeps,. A single peerless, priceless pearl, (All filmy-cyed, for ever sleeps. Without the diamond's sparkling eyes, The ruby's blushes—there it lies, Modest as the tender dawn,. When her purple veil’s withdrawn, The flower of gems, a lily cold and. pale !. Yet, —what doth all avail ? All its beauty, all its grace ?■ All the honours of its place ?- He who plucked it from its bed In the far blue Indian ocean, Lielh, without life or motion, In his earthy .dwelling,—dead ! And his children, one by one, When they look upon the sun, Curse the toil, by which he drew The treasure from its bed.of blue.. Gentle bride, no longer wear, In thy niglit-blaclc odorous hair,. Such a spoil. It is not fit That a. tender soul should sit Under such accursed gem !: What need’st thou a diadem ?<— Thou, within whose Eastern eyes, Thought (a starry genius !) lies ? Thou* whom beauty has arrayed ? Thou, whom Love and Truth have madeBeautiful, —in whom we trace Woman’s softness—angel’s grace— All we hope for—all Unit streams Upon us, in our haunted dreams ? O sweet Lady ! east aside, With a, gentle, nolde pride, All to sin or pain allied ! Let the wildreyed conqueror wear The bloody laurel in his hair ! Let the black and snaky vine ’Round, the drinker's temples twine !' Let the slave-begotten gold Weigh on bosoms hard and cold ! Butbc THOU for ever known • By thy natural light alone !