Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/198

 60 THE POEMS OF ANNE �At once secur'd the Mistress and the Wife. �For still CLEONE'S Beauties are the same, �And what first lighten'd, still upholds his Flame. �Fain his Compassion wou'd thy Works approve, �Were pitying thee consistent with his Love, �Or with the Taste which Italy has wrought �In his refin'd and daily heighten' d Thought, �Where Poetry, or Painting find no place, �Unless perform'd with a superior Grace. �Cou'd but my Wish some Influence infuse, 30 �Ne'er shou'd the Pencil, or the Sister-Muse �Be try'd by those who easily excuse: �But strictest Censors shou'd of either judge, �Applaud the Artist, and despise the Drudge. �Then never wou'd thy Colours have debas'd �CLEONE'S Features, and her Charms defac'd: �Nor had my Pen (more subject to their Laws) �Assay'd to vindicate her Beauty's Cause. �A rigid Fear had kept us both in Awe, �Nor I compos'd, nor thou presum'd to draw ; 40 �But in CLEONE viewing with Surprize �That Excellence, to which we ne'er cou'd rise, �By less attempts we safely might have gain'd �That humble Praise which neither has obtain'd, �Since to thy Shadowings, or my ruder Verse, �It is not giv'n to shew, or to rehearse �What Nature in CLEONE'S Face has writ, �A soft Endearment, and a chearful Wit, �That all-subduing, that enliv'ning Air �By which, a sympathizing Joy we share, 50 �For who forbears to smile, when smil'd on by the Fair? ��� �