The Vanity of Beauty

The Vanity of Beauty

Oh! beauty, where now is that grace,

Of which, thou so vainly did'st boast;

Where now is that beautiful face,

That the beaux delighted to toast?

Where now is that form you admired,

And anxiously sought to adorn;

The bosom that cheerfulness fired;

Oh! say, are they now left forlorn!

Those tresses, that gracefully fell,

Adorning thy beautiful brow;

Beauty - ingenuously - tell?

Oh! say, where, ah! where are they now!

And where now is that a sparkling eye,

Come beauty, be honest and speak;

And where is the bright crimson dye,

That painted thy beautiful cheek?

What! sickness assailed thy form!

What! has it thy beauty effac'd!

Alas! has its withering storm,

Laid all thy loveliness waste?

Cease, oh cease, for lost beauty to sigh,

Does virtue thy bosom imbue?

Reflect, that tho' beauty must die,

That virtue is all, all to you.

Imlac

2:20, p.

1828.08.08