Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SEEING THE DUKE OF ORMOND'S PICTURE, by MATTHEW PRIOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SEEING THE DUKE OF ORMOND'S PICTURE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Out from the injured canvas, kneller, strike
Last Line: Nor homer's colours last so long as thine.
Subject(s): Art & Artists; Faces; Paintings And Painters


OUT from the injured 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'er it points, denouncing death. Below
Draw routed squadrons, and the numerous foe
Falling beneath, or flying from his blow;
Till weak with wounds, and covered o'er with blood,
Which from the patriot's breast in torrents flowed,
He faints; his steed no longer feels the rein,
But stumbles o'er the heap his hand had slain.
And now exhausted, bleeding, pale he lies;
Lovely, sad object! In his half-closed eyes
Stern vengeance yet, and hostile terror stand;
His front yet threatens, and his frowns command;
The Gallic chiefs their troops around him call;
Fear to approach him, though 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 laurels grow;
In spite of Time thy work might ever shine,
Nor Homer's colours last so long as thine.





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