Conceive your soul's leap, Gerard de Lairesse!

How were it could I mingle false with true,

Boast, with the sights I see, your vision too?

Advantage would it prove or detriment

If I saw double? Could I gaze intent

On Dryope plucking the blossoms red,

As you, whereat her lote-tree writhed and bled!

Yet lose no gain, no hard fast wide-awake

Having and holding nature for the sake

Of nature only—nymph and lote-tree thus