The Temple of Death, Art of Poetry, Duel of the Stags, etc (1695)/The Picture, in Imitation of Anacreon's Bathillus

THE

PICTURE.

In Imitation of

By the Earl of Mulgrave.

Thou Flatterer of all the Fair,
Come, with all your skill, and care,
Draw me such a Shape, and Face,
As your Flatt'ry would disgrace.
Wish not that she would appear,
'Tis well for you She is not here,
Scarce can you with safety see
All her Charms describ'd by me,
Who, alas, have found too well
What a power does in them dwell;
I, alas, the danger know,
I, alas, have felt the Blow;
Mourn, as lost, my former Days,
That did not sing of Celia's praise;

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And those few that are behind
I shall blest, or wretched find,
Only just as she is kind.

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With her tempting Eyes begin,
Eyes that might draw Angels in
To a second sweeter sin.
Oh, those wanton rowling Eyes!
At each glance a Lover dies:
Make them bright, yet make them willing,
Let them look both kind and killing.

Next, draw her Forehead, then her Nose,
And Lips just opening, which disclose
Teeth so white, and Breath so sweet,
So much Beauty, so much Wit,
To our very Soul they strike,
All our Senses pleas'd alike;

But so pure a white and red
Never never can be said;
What are words in such a case?
What is paint to such a Face?
How should either Art avail us?
Fancy here it self will fail us.

In her Looks, and in her Meen
Such a graceful Air is seen,
That if you with all your Art
Can but reach the smallest part,
Next to her, the Matchless She,
We shall wonder most at Thee.
Then, her Neck, and Breasts, and Hair,
And her ——— but my Charming Fair
Does in a thousand things excel,
Which I must not, dare not tell.

How go on then? Oh, I see
A Lovely Venus drawn by Thee;
Oh how fair she does appear!
Touch it only here and there;
Make her yet seem more Divine,
Your Venus then may look like mine,
Whose bright form, if once you saw,
You by her would Venus draw.