TO B. R. HAYDON, ON SEEING HIS PICTURE OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE ON THE ISLAND OF ST. HELENA
HAYDON! let worthier judges praise the skill Here by thy pencil shown in truth of lines And charm of colours; ‘I’ applaud those signs Of thought, that give the true poetic thrill; That unencumbered whole of blank and still Sky without cloud–ocean without a wave; And the one Man that laboured to enslave The World, sole-standing high on the bare hill– Back turned, arms folded, the unapparent face Tinged, we may fancy, in this dreary place, 10 With light reflected from the invisible sun Set, like his fortunes; but not set for aye Like them. The unguilty Power pursues his way, And before ‘him’ doth dawn perpetual run. 1832.