Sonnet to George Romney, Esq. on His Picture of Me in Crayons
Romney, expert infallibly to trace
On chart of canvas, not the form alone
And semblance, but, however faintly shown,
The mind’s impression too on every face;
With strokes that time ought never to cease
Thou hast so pencilled mine, that though I own
The subject worthless, I have never known
The artist shining with superior grace.
But this I mark,—that symptoms none of woe
In thy incomparable work appear.
Well—I am satisfied it should be so,
Since, on maturer thought, the cause is clear
For in my looks what sorrow couldst thou see,
When I was Hayley’s guest, and sat to thee?
