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Title: In The Album Of Miss Daubeny
Author: Charles Lamb [
More Titles by Lamb]
I
Some poets by poetic law
Have Beauties praised, they never saw;
And sung of Kittys, and of Nancys,
Whose charms but lived in their own fancies.
So I, to keep my Muse a going,
That willingly would still be doing,
A Canzonet or two must try
In praise of--_pretty_ Daubeny.
II
But whether she indeed be comely,
Or only very good and homely,
Of my own eyes I cannot say;
I trust to Emma Isola.
But sure I think her voice is tuneful,
As smoothest birds that sing in June full;
For else would strangely disagree
The _flowing_ name of--Daubeny.
III
I hear that she a Book hath got--
As what young Damsel now hath not,
In which they scribble favorite fancies,
Copied from poems or romances?
And prettiest draughts, of her design,
About the curious Album shine;
And therefore she shall have for me
The style of--_tasteful_ Daubeny.
IV
Thus far I have taken on believing;
But well I know without deceiving,
That in her heart she keeps alive still
Old school-day likings, which survive still
In spite of absence--worldly coldness--
And thereon can my Muse take boldness
To crown her other praises three
With praise of--_friendly_ Daubeny.
[The end]
Charles Lamb's poem: In The Album Of Miss Daubeny
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