To the Painter of an ill-drawn Picture of CLEONE, the Honorable Mrs. Thynne. Anne Finch (née Kingsmill), countess of Winchilsea Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T94539 pp. 274-5 K076314.000 Winchilsea, Anne Kingsmill Finch, Countess of, 1661-1720. Miscellany poems, on several occasions: Written by the Right Honble Anne, Countess of Winchilsea. London printed for J. B. and sold by Benj. Tooke, William Taylor, and James Round 1713 pp. 176-178. [8],390p. ; 8⁰.

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To the Painter of an ill-drawn Picture of CLEONE , the Honorable Mrs. Thynne . Henry Thynne ("Theanor") (1675-1708) married Grace Strode ("Cleone"), the daughter and heiress of Sir George Strode and Grace FitzJames, in 1695. SOoner I'd praise a Cloud which Light beguiles , Than thy rash Hand which robs this Face of Smiles ; And does that sweet and pleasing Air controul , Which to us paints the fair CLEONE's Soul . 'Tis vain to boast of Rules or labour'd Art ; I miss the Look that captivates my Heart , Attracts my Love , and tender Thoughts inspires ; Nor can my Breast be warm'd by common Fires ; Nor can ARDELIA love but where she first admires . Like Jupiter's , thy Head was sure in Pain When this Virago struggl'd in thy Brain ; And strange it is , thou hast not made her wield A mortal Dart , or penetrating Shield , Giving that Hand of disproportion'd size The Pow'r , of which thou hast disarm'd her Eyes : As if , like Amazons , she must oppose , And into Lovers force her vanquish'd Foes . Had to THEANOR thus her Form been shown To gain her Heart , he had not lost his own ; Nor , by the gentlest Bands of Human Life , At once secur'd the Mistress and the Wife . For still CLEONE's Beauties are the same , And what first lighten'd , still upholds his Flame . Fain his Compassion wou'd thy Works approve , Were pitying thee consistent with his Love , Or with the Taste which Italy has wrought In his refin'd and daily heighten'd Thought , Where Poetry , or Painting find no place , Unless perform'd with a superior Grace . Cou'd but my Wish some Influence infuse , Ne'er shou'd the Pencil , or the Sister-Muse Be try'd by those who easily excuse : But strictest Censors shou'd of either judge , Applaud the Artist , and despise the Drudge . Then never wou'd thy Colours have debas'd CLEONE's Features , and her Charms defac'd : Nor had my Pen ( more subject to their Laws ) Assay'd to vindicate her Beauty's Cause . A rigid Fear had kept us both in Awe , Nor I compos'd , nor thou presum'd to draw ; But in CLEONE viewing with Surprize That Excellence , to which we ne'er cou'd rise , By less Attempts we safely might have gain'd That humble Praise which neither has obtain'd , Since to thy Shadowings , or my ruder Verse , It is not giv'n to shew , or to rehearse What Nature in CLEONE's Face has writ , A soft Endearment , and a chearful Wit , That all-subduing , that enliv'ning Air By which , a sympathizing Joy we share , For who forbears to smile , when smil'd on by the Fair ?