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DIAMONDS IN LITERATURE 391
And all its native lustre let abroad,
Dares, as it sparkles on the fair one's breast,
With vain ambition emulate her eyes."
So also Emerson disparages its brilliancy in comparison with the human eye; he says:
" On prince or bride no diamond stone Half so gracious ever shone, As the light of enterprise Beaming from a young man's eyes."
In " Dualisms," Tennyson speaks of one of the children as:
" Summer's tanling diamond eyed."
There
is a somewhat obscure passage in " The Revolt of Islam," where Shelley,
describing the three shapes sculptured about the throne of Laone, says
of the third:
"
The third image was dressed In white wings swift as clouds in winter
skies; Beneath his feet, mongst ghastliest forms repressed Lay faith,
an obscure worm, who sought to rise, While calmly on the sun he turned
his diamond eyes."
Perhaps
one reason for the fascination which the gem possesses for most people
is that in its play of light one is unconsciously reminded of human
passions as they are expressed by the eye. Imagination does not fly far
to see in its scintillations, the hard glare of hate, the flash of
scorn, or the ardent glances which Cupid sends as arrows from his bow.
There is a compelling attraction in the fitful flashes that spring
from its polished
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