OH! brighter than the brightest star,
That glimmers through the haze of night,
When the blue vault of heaven afar,
Is studded o'er with silver light;
And brighter than that brilliant sky,
May be the glance of woman's eye.
Oh! lovely as the golden ray
Of sunshine sleeping on the glade,
When morning brightens into day,
And in its radiance melts the shade;
And lovelier than that gorgeous sun,
May be the smile from woman won.
But beauty does not deign to shine,
In brightness from a woman's eye;
Nor does she in a smile recline,
Blooming, as flowerets do, to die;
All earth-born charms shall fade in death:
Nor change nor ruin beauty hath.
She dwells but in the pious mind,
Apart for ever from decay;
Where lives the light of heavenly kind,
That shines "unto the perfect day;"
Where Faith and Hope their joy impart—
Her home is in the virtuous heart.