Explore "Phyllis Lee" by Oliver Herford on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Beside a Primrose 'broider'd Rill / Sat Phyllis Lee in Silken Dress / Whilst Lucius limn'd with loving skill / Her likeness, as a Shepherdess. / Yet tho' he strove with loving skill / His Brush refused to work his Will.
"Dear Maid, unless you close your Eyes / I can not paint to-day," he said; / "Their Brightness shames the very Skies / And turns their Turquoise into Lead. " / Quoth Phyllis, then, "To save the Skies / And speed your Brush, I'll shut my Eyes."
Now when her Eyes were closed, the Dear, / Not dreaming of such Treachery, / Felt a Soft Whisper in her Ear, / "Without the Light, how can one See? " / "If you are _sure_ that none can see / I'll keep them shut," said Phyllis Lee.