Nature

Ausonius: Vane, quid affectas

by Richard Lovelace 1617–1657

Translated by Richard Lovelace (1659) · From Lucasta: Posthume Poems (1659)

Nature

Vain painter, why dost strive my face to draw
With busy hands? a goddesse eyes nere saw.
Daughter of air and wind, I do rejoyce
In empty shouts; (without a mind) a voice.
Within your ears shrill echo I rebound,
And, if you'l paint me like, then paint a sound.

MLA

Lovelace, Richard. “Ausonius: Vane, quid affectas.” Translated by Richard Lovelace. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lovelace/133/.

Chicago

Lovelace, Richard. “Ausonius: Vane, quid affectas.” Translated by Richard Lovelace. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lovelace/133/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Richard Lovelace