A Valentine

1For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,

2 Brightly expressive as the twins of Leda,

3Shall find her own sweet name, that, nestling lies

4 Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.

5Search narrowly the lines! — they hold a treasure

6 Divine — a talisman — an amulet

7That must be worn _at heart_. Search well the measure —

8 The words — the syllables! Do not forget

9The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor!

10 And yet there is in this no Gordian knot

11Which one might not undo without a sabre,

12 If one could merely comprehend the plot.

13Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peering

14 Eyes scintillating soul, there lie _perdus_

15Three eloquent words oft uttered in the hearing

16 Of poets by poets — as the name is a poet's, too.

17Its letters, although naturally lying

18 Like the knight Pinto — Mendez Ferdinando —

19Still form a synonym for Truth — Cease trying!

20 You will not read the riddle, though you do the best you _can_ do.