StoryTitle("caps", "She Was a Phantom of Delight") ?>
Was a Phantom of Delight" (by William Wordsworth, 1770-1850)
is included here because it is a picture of woman as she should be,
not made dainty by finery, but by fine ideals—
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"And not too good", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For human nature's daily food.\"", "") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "She was a Phantom of delight", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When first she gleamed upon my sight;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A lovely Apparition, sent", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To be a moment's ornament;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Like Twilight's, too, her dusky hair:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But all things else about her drawn", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From May-time and the cheerful Dawn.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A dancing Shape, an Image gay,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To haunt, to startle, and waylay.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I saw her upon nearer view,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A Spirit, yet a Woman too!", "") ?>
PagePoem(306, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Her household motions light and free,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And steps of virgin liberty;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A countenance in which did meet", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Sweet records, promises as sweet;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A Creature not too bright or good", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For human nature's daily food;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For transient sorrows, simple wiles,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now I see with eye serene", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The very pulse of the machine;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A Being breathing thoughtful breath,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A Traveller between life and death:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The reason firm, the temperate will,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A perfect Woman, nobly planned,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To warn, to comfort, and command;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And yet a Spirit still, and bright,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With something of angelic light.", "") ?>
PoemAttribution("100", SmallCapsText("William Wordsworth.")) ?>
PoemEnd() ?>