Poems and Plays By William Hayley ... in Six Volumes. A New Edition |
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SONNET
ON
ROMNEY's Picture of Cassandra. |
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 | Poems and Plays |  |
169
SONNET ON ROMNEY's Picture of Cassandra.
Ye fond idolaters of antient art,Who near Parthenope, with curious toil,
Forcing the rude sulphureous rocks to part,
Draw from the greedy earth her buried spoil
Of antique tablature; and from the soil
Of time, restoring some fair form, acquire
A fancied jewel, know, 'tis but a foil
To this superior gem, of richer fire!
In Romney's tints behold the Trojan maid!
See beauty blazing in prophetic ire!
From palaces engulph'd could earth retire,
And shew thy works, Apelles, undecay'd,
E'en thy Campaspe would not dare to vie
With the wild splendor of Cassandra's eye.
| Poems and Plays | |