To Plumina

Communicated by Miss Denman

To Plumina, or the Mistaken Fair One

In Plato’s time while sages pour
The sacred philosophic lore,
To illustrate the Ideal line
Zeuxis give the form divine,
This mental light no longer given,
Fair painting’s charms return to heaven.

But Homer’s feats, his deeds of arms,
His wily crafts, and dread alarms,
Impieties, and murderous plan,
Live in the evil heart of man.

Pencilina