1920 ( MAUBERLEY )

Turned from the “eau-forte

Par Jaquemart”

To the strait head

Of Messalina:

“His true Penelope

Was Flaubert,”

And his tool

The engraver’ s.

Firmness,

Not the full smile,

His art, but an art

In profile;

Colourless

Pier Francesca,

Pisanello lacking the skill

To forge Achaia.