Lo. sifted through the winds that blow,
Down comes the soft and silent snow,
White petals from read more

Lo. sifted through the winds that blow,
Down comes the soft and silent snow,
White petals from the flowers that grow
In the cold atmosphere.

Lawn as white as driven snow,
Cyprus black as e'er was crow,
Gloves as sweet as damask read more

Lawn as white as driven snow,
Cyprus black as e'er was crow,
Gloves as sweet as damask roses,
Masks for faces and for noses,
Bugle bracelet, necklace amber,
Perfume for a lady's chamber,
Golden quoifs and stomachers
For my lads to give their dears,
Pins and poking-sticks of steel,
What maids lack from head to heel.

The stream is always purer at its source.
[Fr., Les choses valent toujours mieux dans leur source.]

The stream is always purer at its source.
[Fr., Les choses valent toujours mieux dans leur source.]

That water which wall from some Alpine height is dashed, broken,
and will murmur loudly, but grows limpid by read more

That water which wall from some Alpine height is dashed, broken,
and will murmur loudly, but grows limpid by its fall.
[It., Quell' onda, che ruina
Dalla pendice alpina,
Balza, si frange, e mormora
Ma limpida si fa.]

The plastic virtues: purity, unity, and truth, keep nature in subjection.

The plastic virtues: purity, unity, and truth, keep nature in subjection.

The sick do not ask if the hand that smoothes their pillow is pure, nor the dying care if the read more

The sick do not ask if the hand that smoothes their pillow is pure, nor the dying care if the lips that touch their brow have known the kiss of sin.

As I saw fair Chloris walk alone,
The feather'd snow came softly down,
As Jove, descending from read more

As I saw fair Chloris walk alone,
The feather'd snow came softly down,
As Jove, descending from his tow'r
To court her in a silver show'r.
The wanton snow flew to her breast,
As little birds into their nest;
But o'ercome with whiteness there,
For grief dissolv'd into a tear.
Thence falling on her garment hem,
To deck her, froze into a gem.

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible.

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible.

Purity is the feminine, truth the masculine of honor.

Purity is the feminine, truth the masculine of honor.