Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/185

Rh A DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE PIECES OF TAPISTRY AT LONG-LEAT, made after the famous Cartons of Raphael; in which, Elymas the Sorcerer is miraculously struck blind by St. Paul before Sergius Paulus, the Proconsul of Asia

Inscribed to the Honble Henry Thynne, under the name of Theanor Thus Tapistry of old, the Walls adorn'd, Ere noblest Dames the artful Shuttle scorn'd: Arachne, then, with Pallas did contest, And scarce th' Immortal Work was judg'd the Best. Nor valorous Actions, then, in Books were fought ; But all the Fame, that from the Field was brought, Employ'd the Loom, where the kind Consort wrought: Whilst sharing in the Toil, she shar'd the Fame, And with the Heroes mixt her interwoven Name. No longer, Females to such Praise aspire, And seldom now We rightly do admire. So much, All Arts are by the Men engross'd, And Our few Talents unimprov'd or cross'd; Even I, who on this Subject wou'd compose, Which the fam'd Urbin for his Pencil chose, (And here, in tinctur'd Wool we now behold Correctly follow'd in each Shade, and Fold) Shou'd prudently from the Attempt withdraw, But Inclination proves the stronger Law: And tho' the Censures of the World pursue These hardy Flights, whilst his Designs I view; My burden'd Thoughts, which labour for a Vent, Urge me t'explain in Verse, what by each Face is meant.


 * Of first, upon his lofty Seat,

With due Regard our Observations treat; Who, whilst he thence on looks down,