| Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903. | | | | Poems: 1713–17 | | Extemporaneous Lines |
| | On a Portrait of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Painted by Kneller |
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THE PLAYFUL smiles around the dimpled mouth, | |
| That happy air of majesty and truth, | |
| So would I draw (but oh! ’t is vain to try; | |
| My narrow Genius does the power deny;) | |
| The equal lustre of the heav’nly mind, | 5 |
| Where ev’ry grace with ev’ry virtue’s join’d; | |
| Learning not vain, and Wisdom not severe, | |
| With Greatness easy, and with Wit sincere; | |
| With just description show the work divine, | |
| And the whole Princess in my work should shine. | 10 | | |
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