Dear Howard, from the soft assaults of love <br />Poets and painters never are secure; <br />Can I untouch'd the fair one's passions move, <br />Or thou draw beauty, and not feel its power? <br /> <br />To great Appelles when young Ammon brought <br />The darling idol of his captive heart; <br />And the pleased nymph with kind attention sat, <br />To have her charms recorded by his art: <br /> <br />The amorous master own'd her potent eyes: <br />Sigh'd when he look'd, and trembled as he drew: <br />Each flowing line confirm'd his first surprise, <br />And, as the piece advanced, the passion grew. <br /> <br />While Philip's son, while Venus' son, was near, <br />What different tortures does his bosom feel? <br />Great was the rival, and the god severe: <br />Nor could he hide his flame, nor durst reveal. <br /> <br />The prince, renown'd in bounty as in arms, <br />With pity saw the ill-conceal'd distress; <br />Quitted his title to Campaspe's charms, <br />And gave the fair one to the friend's embrace. <br /> <br />Thus the more beauteous Cloe sat to thee, <br />Good Howard, emulous of the Grecian art: <br />But happy thou, from Cupid's arrow free, <br />And flames that pierced thy predecessor's heart! <br /> <br />Had thy poor breast received an equal pain; <br />Had I been vested with the monarch's power; <br />Thou must have sigh'd, unlucky youth, in vain; <br />Nor from my bounty hadst thou found a cure. <br /> <br />Though, to convince thee that the friend did feel <br />A kind concern for thy ill-fated care, <br />I would have sooth'd thy flame I could not heal; <br />Given thee the world; though I withheld the fair.<br /><br />Matthew Prior<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-ode-to-mr-howard/
