Living

In tabulam eximii pictoris B. Haydoni

by Charles Lamb 1775–1834

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, IV: Poems and Plays, ed. E. V. Lucas

Living

Quid vult iste equitans? et quid oclit ista virorum
Palmifera ingens turba, et vox tremebunda Hosanna,
Hosanna Christo semper semperque canamus.

Palma fuit Senior pictor celeberrimus olim;
Sed palmam cedat, modò si foret ille superstes,
Palma, Haydone, tibi: tu palmas omnibus aufers.

Palma negata macrum, donataque reddit opimum.
Si simul incipiat cum famâ increscere corpus,
Tu citò pinguesces, fies et, amicule, obesus.

Affectat lauros pictores atque poetae
Sin laurum invideant (sed quis tibi?) laurigerentes,
Pro lauro palmâ viridante tempora cingas.

MLA

Lamb, Charles. “In tabulam eximii pictoris B. Haydoni.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lamb/96/.

Chicago

Lamb, Charles. “In tabulam eximii pictoris B. Haydoni.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lamb/96/.

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