Of a Picture Hung in Nature’s House

¹

A painter who would² draw the firmament
Did with a round plump face the same³ present.
His pencils were the beams shot from fair eyes,
Where some of them he in red blushes dyes,
Which as the morning, when the heaven’s⁴ clear,              5
Shows⁵ just so red before the sun appear.
The veins he draws for a blue azure⁶ sky,
And for the sun, a great and fair⁷ grey eye.
The rainbow like a brow he pencils⁸ out,
Which circles half a weeping eye about.                               10
From pure pale complexions, takes⁹ a white,
Mixed with a count’nance¹⁰ sad, he shades the¹¹ night.
Thus Heav’n he doth with such¹² a face present,
That¹³ is adorned with beauty excellent.

1. Of a] A Picture hung in Nature’s House. 1664; A Picture hung in Nature’s House.1668
2. who would] was to 1653
3. Did with a round plump face the same] A round plump Face the same he did 1653
4. heaven’s] Clouds are 1653
5. Shows] Shew 1664, 1668
6. The veins he draws for a blue azure] An Azure-blew from Veines he drawes a 1653
7. great and fair] faire, and great 1653
8. The rainbow like a brow he pencils] A Raine-bow like a Brow doth pencill 1653
9. pure pale complexions, takes] pale Complexions taking 1664; Pale Complexions, taking 1668
10. count’nance] Countenance 1653
11. the] a 1653
12. Heav’n he doth with such] Heaven as faire that doth 1653
13. That] Which 1653