To The Right Honourable The Countess Dowager Of Devonshire, On A Piece Of Wiessen's Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCDCDEEDDDDFFFGGH IJJKLDDMMDDNNDDDOPQR RRQRDDSSTTDDUVUDDWW| Wiessen and nature held a long contest | A |
| If she created or he painted best | A |
| With pleasing thought the wondrous combat grew | B |
| She still form'd fairer he still liker drew | B |
| In these seven brethren they contended last | C |
| With art increased their utmost skill they tried | D |
| And both well pleased they had themselves surpass'd | C |
| The goddess triumph'd and the painter died | D |
| That both their skill to this vast height did raise | E |
| Be ours the wonder and be yours the praise | E |
| For here as in some glass is well descried | D |
| Only yourself thus often multiply'd | D |
| When heaven had you and gracious Anna made | D |
| What more exalted beauty could it add | D |
| Having no nobler images in store | F |
| It but kept up to these nor could do more | F |
| Than copy well what it had framed before | F |
| If in dear Burghley's generous face we see | G |
| Obliging truth and handsome honesty | G |
| With all that world of charms which soon will move | H |
| Reverence in men and in the fair ones love | I |
| His every grace his fair descent assures | J |
| He has his mother's beauty she has yours | J |
| If every Cecil's face had every charm | K |
| That thought can fancy or that heaven can form | L |
| Their beauties all become your beauty's due | D |
| They are all fair because they're all like you | D |
| If every Ca'ndish great and charming look | M |
| From you that air from you the charms they took | M |
| In their each limb your image is exprest | D |
| But on their brow firm courage stands confest | D |
| There their great father by a strong increase | N |
| Adds strength to beauty and completes the piece | N |
| Thus still your beauty in your sons we view | D |
| Wiessen seven times one great perfection drew | D |
| Whoever sat the picture still is you | D |
| So when the parent sun with genial beams | O |
| Has animated many goodly gems | P |
| He sees himself improved while every stone | Q |
| With a resembling light reflects a sun | R |
| So when great Rhea many births had given | R |
| Such as might govern earth and people heaven | R |
| Her glory grew diffused and fuller known | Q |
| She saw the Deity in every son | R |
| And to what god soe'er men altars raised | D |
| Honouring the offspring they the mother praised | D |
| In short lived charms let others place their joys | S |
| Which sickness blasts and certain age destroys | S |
| Your stronger beauty time can ne'er deface | T |
| 'Tis still renew'd and stamp'd in all your race | T |
| Ah Wiessen had thy art been so refined | D |
| As with their beauty to have drawn their mind | D |
| Through circling years thy labours would survive | U |
| And living rules to fairest virtue give | V |
| To men unborn and ages yet to live | U |
| T'would still be wonderful and still be new | D |
| Against what time or spite or fate could do | D |
| Till thine confused with nature's pieces lie | W |
| And Ca'ndish's name and Cecil's honour die | W |
Matthew Prior
(1)
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