Theophrastus Such - George Eliot

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ...or in rest, Was worthiest watching, and his face once seen Gave tc the promise of his royal mien Such rich fulfillment as the opened eyes Of a loved sleeper, or the long-watched rise Of vernal day, whose joy o'er stream and meadow flies. But of the maiden forms that thick enwreathed The broad piazza and sweet witchery breathed, With innocent faces budding all arow From balconies and windows high and low, Who was it felt the deep mysterious glow. The impregnation with supernal fire Of young ideal love--transformed desire, Whose passion is but worship of that Best Taught by the many-mingled creed of each young breast? 'Twas gentle Lisa, of no noble line, Child of Bernardo, a rich Florentine, Who from his merchant-city hither came To trade in drugs; yet kept an honest fame, And had the virtue not to try and sell Drugs that had none. He loved his riches well, But loved them chiefly for his Lisa's sake, Whom with a father's care he sought to make The bride of some true honorable man: --Of Perdicone (so the rumor ran), Whose birth was higher than his fortunes were; For still your trader likes a mixture fair Of blood that hurries to some higher strain Than reckoning money's loss and money's gain. And of such mixture good may surely come: Lords' scions so may learn to cast a sum, A trader's grandson bear a well-set head, And have less conscious manners, better bred; 'Nor, when he tries to be polite, be rude instead. Twas Perdicone's friends made overtures To good Bernardo: so one dame assures Her neighbor dame who notices the youth Fixing his eyes on Lisa; and in truth Eyes that could see her on this summer day Might find it hard to turn another way. She had a pensive beauty, yet not sad; Rather, like minor cadences that glad The hearts of little..