Stately was she, as the mountain pine tree

Stately was she, as the mountain pine tree; White and rosy-colour intermingled Were her cheeks, as she had kiss’d the dawning; Dark and flashing, like two noble jewels, Were her eyes; and over them were eyebrows, Thin and black, like leeches from the fountain; Dark the lashes too; although the ringlets Hung above in clusters rich and golden. Softer were her eyelids than the pinions Of the swallow on the breeze reposing; Sweeter were the maiden’s lips than honey; White her teeth, as pearls in ocean ripen’d; White her breasts, two little panting wild doves; Soft her speaking, as the wild dove’s murmur; Bright her smiling, as the burst of sunshine.

{29a} In Bosnia, on the river Una.

{29b} A town on the frontiers of Dalmatia.