AS painters, men of knowledge in their art, Tint votive-tablets to a rich design, And blend the various colours, quick to hand, In harmonizing hues, now more, now less, A mimic world, born at their touch appearing -- Trees in their likeness, man and womankind, Beasts and birds, fish in the waters living, And long-enduring gods, more great than all -- So too, -- let not deceit but truth prevail -- The generation of all mortal things Born visible, a countless host, sprang forth From elements compounded, less and more. So be assured: the Muse declared my tale. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CORN SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE WRECK OF THE DEUTSCHLAND by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS MY PICTURE LEFT IN SCOTLAND by BEN JONSON THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE DEATH OF LYON by HENRY PETERSON DELIVERANCE by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 1. TO WILLIAM, EARL OF PEMBROKE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |