Kavyalankarasarasamgraha 7.41

7.41

nanu nirguṇe 'pi kāvye alaṅkārāṇāṃ guṇavacchobhāvidhāyitvaṃ kasmānneṣyate /
aparadṛṣṭatvāt /
na khalu nirguṇe kāvye nibadhyamānānāmalaṅkārāṇāṃ jaradyoṣidalaṅkāravacchobhāvidhāyitvaṃ dṛśyate /

Objection: Why is it not admitted that ornaments produce beauty like qualities even in poetry devoid of qualities?
Answer: Because that has not been observed elsewhere.
For ornaments placed in poetry devoid of qualities are certainly not observed to produce beauty, just like ornaments on an old woman.