Gratiana Dancing

by Richard Lovelace

She beat the happy pavèment— By such a star made firmament,   Which now no more the roof envìes!     But swells up high, with Atlas even,     Bearing the brighter nobler heaven,   And, in her, all the deities. Each step trod out a Lover's thought, And the ambitious hopes he brought   Chain'd to her brave feet with such arts,     Such sweet command and gentle awe,     As, when she ceased, we sighing saw   The floor lay paved with broken hearts.

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