To My Wife (With A Set Of Roman Pearls)

(See Note 12) Pray, take these pearls!—and my thanks for them You lavished, the home of my youth to gem! The thousands of hours of peaceful luster Your spirit has filled, are pearls that cluster With beauty blest On my happy breast, And softly shining My brow are entwining With thoughts whence the truth gleams: Thus gave his wife, Who jeweled with tenderest love his life!