Out from the injured canvas, Kneller, strike <br />These lines too faint; the picture is not like. <br />Exalt thy thought, and try thy toil again: <br />Dreadful in arms, on Landen's glorious plain <br />Place Ormond's Duke: impendent in the air <br />Let his keen sabre, comet-like, appear, <br />Where'er it points denouncing death: below <br />Draw routed squadrons, and the numerous foe <br />Falling beneath, or flying from his blow; <br />Till weak with wounds, and cover'd o'er with blood, <br />Which from the patriot's breast in torrents flow'd, <br />He faints: he steed no longer hears the rein, <br />But stumbles o'er the heap his hand had slain. <br />And now exhausted, bleeding, pale he lies, <br />Lovely, sad object! in his half-closed eyes <br />Stern Vengeance yet and hostile Terror stand: <br />His front yet threatens, and his frowns command. <br />The Gallic chiefs their troops around him call, <br />Fear to approach him, though they see him fall. <br /> <br />O Kneller! could thy shades and lights express <br />The perfect hero in that glorious dress, <br />Ages to come might Ormond's picture know, <br />And palms for thee beneath his laurels grow; <br />In spite of time thy work might ever thine, <br />Nor Homer's colours last so long as thine.<br /><br />Matthew Prior<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/seeing-the-duke-of-ormond-s-picture-at-sir-godfrey-kneller-s/
