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Francis Thompson on Beauty

1859–1907 England

← All quotes by Francis Thompson

3 quotes

Whose form is as a grove
Hushed with the cooing of an unseen dove.

Whose body other ladies well might bear
As soul,—yea, which it profanation were
For all but you to take as fleshy woof,
Being spirit truest proof.

How should I gauge what beauty is her dole,
Who cannot see her countenance for her soul,
As birds see not the casement for the sky?
And as 'tis check they prove its presence by,
I know not of her body till I find
My flight debarred the heaven of her mind.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Francis Thompson (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.