Above the strong illumin’d skies,

The clouds in shining volumes, roll’d

Their fleecy skirts bedeckt with gold,

Half-dazzle the spectator’s eyes---

And does the real solar light

150 Flash at present on the sight?

Or, does the pencil’d radiance only flow,

And flowing with such fervour beat

That e’en with all the dog-days heat

The sultry painting now appears to glow?