TOACELEBRATEDFEMALEPERFORMERINTHE"BLINDBOY"

toacelebratedfemaleperformerinthe"blindboy"

(1819)

rareartist!whowithhalfthytools,ornone,

canstexecutewitheasethycuriousart,

andpressthypowerful'stmeaningsontheheart,

unaidedbytheeye,expression'sthrone!

whileeachblindsense,intelligentialgrown

beyonditssphere,performstheeffectofsight:

thoseorbsalone,wantingtheirpropermight,

allmotionlessandsilentseemtomoan

theunseemlynegligenceofnature'shand,

thatleftthemsoforlorn.whatpraiseisthine,

omistressofthepassions;artistfine!

whodostoursoulsagainstoursensecommand,

pluckingthehorrorfromasightlessface,

lendingtoblankdeformityagrace.