Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MY WORTHY FRIEND MR. PETER LELY, by RICHARD LOVELACE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MY WORTHY FRIEND MR. PETER LELY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: See! What a clouded majesty, and eyes
Last Line: None but my lely ever drew a mind.
Subject(s): Art & Artists; Charles I, King Of England (1600-1649); Lely, Sir Peter (1618-1680); Portraits


SEE! what a clouded majesty, and eyes
Whose glory through their mist doth brighter rise!
See! what an humble bravery doth shine,
And grief triumphant breaking through each line!
How it commands the face! so sweet a scorn
Never did happy misery adorn!
So sacred a contempt, that others show,
To this, o' th' height of all the wheel, below;
That mightiest monarchs by this shaded book
May copy out their proudest, richest look.
Whilst the true eaglet this quick lustre spies,
And by his sun's enlightens his own eyes;
He cares his cares, his burthen feels, then straight
Joys that so lightly he can bear such weight;
Whilst either either's passion doth borrow,
And both do grieve the same victorious sorrow.

These, my best Lely, with so bold a spirit
And soft a grace as if thou didst inherit
For that time all their greatness, and didst draw
With those brave eyes your royal sitters saw,---
Not as of old, when a rough hand did speak
A strong aspect, and a fair face a weak;
When only a black beard cri'd villain, and
By hieroglyphics we could understand;
When crystal typifi'd in a white spot,
And the bright ruby was but one red blot;---
thou dost the things orientally the same,
Not only paint'st its colour, but its flame:
Thou sorrow canst design without a tear,
And with the man his very hope or fear;
So that th' amazed world shall henceforth find
None but my Lely ever drew a mind.





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