Arts & Sciences

On the Picture of Cavalier Guarini (Sonnet)

by Philip Ayres 1638–1712

From Lyric Poems, Made in Imitation of the Italians (1687)

Arts & Sciences

YOU, who to Fam'd Guarini, now he's dead,
Your Verses consecrate, and Statues reare,
For that sweet Padan Swan your Tears have shed,
Sweetest that ever did, or will sing here.

Behold this Picture on his Fun'ral Pile,
Your mournful Spirits 'twill with Joy revive,
Tho' th'Artist cheats your Senses all the while,
For 'tis but Paint which you would swear does live.

This serves to keep our Friend in Memory,
Since Death hath robb'd us of his better Part,
And that he so might live as ne're to dye,
He drew himself too, but with diff'rent Art.

Judge, which with greatest Life and Spirit looks,
Borgianni's Painting, or Guarini's Books.

✦ ✦ ✦

Guarini, author of Il Pastor Fido, painted by the famous Borgianni and set up in his funeral pile at Rome.

MLA

Ayres, Philip. “On the Picture of Cavalier Guarini (Sonnet).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ayres/12/.

Chicago

Ayres, Philip. “On the Picture of Cavalier Guarini (Sonnet).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ayres/12/.

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