Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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SEEING THE
DUKE of ORMOND's
PICTURE,
AT
Sir GODFREY KNELLER's. |
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 | Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions |  |
SEEING THE DUKE of ORMOND's PICTURE, AT Sir GODFREY KNELLER's.
Out from the injur'd Canvas, Kneller, strike
These Lines too faint: the Picture is not like.
Exalt thy Thought, and try thy Toil again:
Dreadful in Arms, on Landen's glorious Plain
Place Ormond's Duke: impendent in the Air
Let His keen Sabre, Comet-like, appear,
Where-e'er it points, denouncing Death: below
Draw routed Squadrons, and the num'rous Foe
Falling beneath, or flying from His Blow:
'Till weak with Wounds, and cover'd o'er with Blood,
Which from the Patriot's Breast in Torrents flowed,
He faints: His Steed no longer hears the Rein;
But stumbles o'er the Heap, His Hand had slain.
And now exhausted, bleeding, pale He lyes;
Lovely, sad Object! in His half-clos' Eyes
Stern Vengeance yet, and Hostile Terror stand:
His Front yet threatens; and His Frowns command:
The Gallick Chiefs their Troops around Him call;
Fear to approach Him, tho' they see Him fall.—
These Lines too faint: the Picture is not like.
Exalt thy Thought, and try thy Toil again:
Dreadful in Arms, on Landen's glorious Plain
Place Ormond's Duke: impendent in the Air
Let His keen Sabre, Comet-like, appear,
31
Draw routed Squadrons, and the num'rous Foe
Falling beneath, or flying from His Blow:
'Till weak with Wounds, and cover'd o'er with Blood,
Which from the Patriot's Breast in Torrents flowed,
He faints: His Steed no longer hears the Rein;
But stumbles o'er the Heap, His Hand had slain.
And now exhausted, bleeding, pale He lyes;
Lovely, sad Object! in His half-clos' Eyes
Stern Vengeance yet, and Hostile Terror stand:
His Front yet threatens; and His Frowns command:
The Gallick Chiefs their Troops around Him call;
Fear to approach Him, tho' they see Him fall.—
O Kneller, could Thy Shades and Lights express
The perfect Hero in that glorious Dress;
Ages to come might Ormond's Picture know;
And Palms for Thee beneath His Lawrels grow:
In spight of Time Thy Work might ever shine;
Nor Homer's Colors last so long as Thine.
The perfect Hero in that glorious Dress;
Ages to come might Ormond's Picture know;
And Palms for Thee beneath His Lawrels grow:
In spight of Time Thy Work might ever shine;
Nor Homer's Colors last so long as Thine.
| Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions | |