Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 3.pdf/76

54

Or question, and before him stood

The five all unadorned and nude

As Venus’ self, that he in them

Might seek to spy defect or wem,

Whether of body, limbs, or skin.

And signally he failed therein,

As all may read in Tully’s book

Of rhetoric, who care to look

Within its pages. Zeuxis nought

Could equal these whenso he sought,

Though in the art of painting he

To no man ever bowed the knee,

So deft is Nature’s subtle skill,

Who doth the earth with fairness fill.

Zeuxis, nor any other who

Hath e’er been born could reach thereto.

How well soe’er they understood

All Nature’s loveliness, and would

Employ their hands to imitate

Her works—thereof enamorate.

For God alone it is who can

Such glories work, not puny man.

Most gladly would I, dared I hope.

Such matters stood within my scope,

Describe all Nature unto you,

But power of words would lack thereto,

Though to that task, surhuman I,

Addressed my spirit earnestly

A hundred times: nay, nay, far more

Than I shall e’er gain credit for;

Presumption were it most extreme

That I should ever dare to dream