Poems on several occasions By William Broome ... The second edition, With large Alterations and Additions |
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To the Honourable Mrs. Elizabeth Townshend,
Now Lady CORNWALLIS, On her Picture, at Rainham
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 | Poems on several occasions |  |
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To the Honourable Mrs. Elizabeth Townshend, Now Lady CORNWALLIS, On her Picture, at Rainham .
------ περι εσσι γυναικων
Ειδος τ' ιδε φρενας.
Lib. 18. Odyssey.
Ειδος τ' ιδε φρενας.
Lib. 18. Odyssey.
Ah! cruel Hand, that could such Pow'r employ
To teach the pictur'd Beauty to destroy!
Singly she charm'd before, but by his Skill
The living Beauty and her Likeness kill;
Thus when in parts the broken Mirrours fall,
A Face in all is seen, and Charms in all!
To teach the pictur'd Beauty to destroy!
Singly she charm'd before, but by his Skill
The living Beauty and her Likeness kill;
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A Face in all is seen, and Charms in all!
Think then, O fairest, of the fairer Race,
What fatal Beauties arm thy heav'nly Face,
Whose very Shadow can such Flames inspire;
We see 'tis Paint, and yet we feel 'tis Fire.
What fatal Beauties arm thy heav'nly Face,
Whose very Shadow can such Flames inspire;
We see 'tis Paint, and yet we feel 'tis Fire.
See! with false Life the lovely Image glows,
And every wond'rous Grace transplanted shows;
Fatally fair the new Creation reigns,
Charms in her Shape, and multiplies our Pains;
Hence the fond Youth, that ease by absence found,
Views the dear Form, and bleeds at every Wound;
Thus the bright Venus, tho' to Heav'n she soar'd,
Reign'd in her Image, by the World ador'd.
And every wond'rous Grace transplanted shows;
Fatally fair the new Creation reigns,
Charms in her Shape, and multiplies our Pains;
Hence the fond Youth, that ease by absence found,
Views the dear Form, and bleeds at every Wound;
Thus the bright Venus, tho' to Heav'n she soar'd,
Reign'd in her Image, by the World ador'd.
O! wond'rous Pow'r of mingled Light and Shades!
Where Beauty with dumb Eloquence persuades,
Where Passions are beheld in Picture wrought,
And animated Colours look a Thought:
Rare Art! on whose Command all Nature waits!
It copies all Omnipotence creates;
Here crown'd with Mountains Earth expanded lies,
There the proud Seas with all their Billows rise;
If Life be drawn, responsive to the Thought
The breathing Figures live throughout the Draught;
The mimic Bird in Skies fictitious moves,
Or fancy'd Beasts in imitated Groves:
Ev'n Heav'n it climbs; and from the forming Hands
An Angel here, and there a Townshend stands.
Where Beauty with dumb Eloquence persuades,
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And animated Colours look a Thought:
Rare Art! on whose Command all Nature waits!
It copies all Omnipotence creates;
Here crown'd with Mountains Earth expanded lies,
There the proud Seas with all their Billows rise;
If Life be drawn, responsive to the Thought
The breathing Figures live throughout the Draught;
The mimic Bird in Skies fictitious moves,
Or fancy'd Beasts in imitated Groves:
Ev'n Heav'n it climbs; and from the forming Hands
An Angel here, and there a Townshend stands.
Yet, Painter, yet, tho' Art with Nature strive,
Tho' ev'n the lovely Phantom seem alive,
Submit thy vanquish'd Art! and own the Draught
Tho' fair, defective, and a beauteous Fault;
Charms, such as hers, inimitably great,
He only can express, that can create.
Cou'dst thou extract the Whiteness of the Snow,
Or of its Colours rob the heav'nly Bow,
Yet would her Beauty triumph o'er thy Skill,
Lovely in thee, herself more lovely still!
Tho' ev'n the lovely Phantom seem alive,
Submit thy vanquish'd Art! and own the Draught
Tho' fair, defective, and a beauteous Fault;
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He only can express, that can create.
Cou'dst thou extract the Whiteness of the Snow,
Or of its Colours rob the heav'nly Bow,
Yet would her Beauty triumph o'er thy Skill,
Lovely in thee, herself more lovely still!
Thus in the limpid Fountain we descry
The faint Resemblance of the glitt'ring Sky;
Another Sun displays his lessen'd Beams,
Another Heav'n adorns th'enlightned Streams;
But tho' the Scene be fair, yet high above
Th'exalted Skies in nobler Beauties move;
There the true Heav'n's eternal Lamps display
A Deluge of inimitable Day.
The faint Resemblance of the glitt'ring Sky;
Another Sun displays his lessen'd Beams,
Another Heav'n adorns th'enlightned Streams;
But tho' the Scene be fair, yet high above
Th'exalted Skies in nobler Beauties move;
There the true Heav'n's eternal Lamps display
A Deluge of inimitable Day.
| Poems on several occasions | |