| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | Beholding Her | | By Luís de Camões (c. 1524–1580) |
| | Translated by Robert Southey
WHEN I behold you, Lady! when my eyes | |
| Dwell on the deep enjoyment of your sight, | |
| I give my spirit to that one delight, | |
| And earth appears to me a Paradise: | |
| And when I hear you speak, and see you smile, | 5 |
| Full satisfied, absorb’d, my center’d mind | |
| Deems all the world’s vain hopes and joys the while | |
| As empty as the unsubstantial wind. | |
| Lady! I feel your charms, yet dare not raise | |
| To that high theme the unequal song of praise,— | 10 |
| A power for that to language was not given; | |
| Nor marvel I, when I those beauties view, | |
| Lady! that He, whose power created you, | |
| Could form the stars and yonder glorious heaven. | | | | |
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