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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THE PAINTER, TO DRAW HIM A PICTURE by ROBERT HERRICK

Poet Analysis

First Line: COME, SKILFULL LUPO, NOW, AND TAKE
Last Line: SHO'D BY HIS BREATHING, POYSON THEE.
Subject(s): PAINTINGS & PAINTERS;
Come, skilfull Lupo, now, and take
Thy Bice, thy Umber, Pink, and Lake;
And let it be thy Pensils strife,
To paint a Bridgeman to the life:
Draw him as like too, as you can,
An old, poore, lying, flatt'ring man:
His cheeks be-pimpled, red and blue;
His nose and lips of mulbrie hiew.
Then for an easie fansie; place
A Burling iron for his face:
Next, make his cheeks with breath to swell,
And for to speak, if possible:
But do not so; for feare, lest he
Sho'd by his breathing, poyson thee.



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