THE ART OF PAINTING. 5 TRUE Poetry the Painter's power displays ; page with speaking picture charm. IO DE ARTE GRAPHICA. par quæque sororem, Alternantque vices et nomina; muta Poesis Dicitur hæc, Pictura loquens solet illa vocari. Quod fuit auditu gratum cecinere Poetæ ; Quod pulchrum aspectu Pictores pingere curant : Quæque Poetarum numeris indigna fuêre, Non eadem Pictorum operam studiumq; merentur : ز 16 From you, blest Pair! Religion deigns to claim you your soaring flight, Then round this globe on joint pursuit yestray, Time's ample annals studiously survey ; And from the eddies of Oblivion's stream Propitious 'snatch each memorable theme. Thus' to çach form, in heaven, and earth, 20 and sea, 25 That wins with grace, or awes with dignity, Ainbæ quippe sacros ad religionis honores Sydercos superant igncs, aulanıque tonantis Ingressæ, Divům aspectu, alloquioque fruuntur; Oraque ¡nagņa Deûm, et dicta observata reportant, Coelestemque suoruin opcrum mortalibus ignem. Iode per bunc Orbem studiis coëuntibus errant, Carpentes quæ digna sui, revolutaque lustrant Tempora, quærendis consortibus argumentis. Denique quæcunq; in cælo, terrâque, marique Longius in tempus durare, ut pulchra merentur, 15 To each exalted deed, which dares to claim state, Fate. belong But here I pause, nor ask Pieria's train, Nor Phæbus self to elevate the strain : Vain is the flow'ry verse, when reasoning sage And sober precept fill the studied page; 35 20 Nobilitate sua, claroque insignia casu, candus, 25 Enough if there the fluent numbers please, With native clearness, and instructive ease. 48 Nor shall my rules the Artist's hand confine, Whom practice gives to strike the free design ; Or banish Fancy from her fairy plains, Or fetter Genius in didactick chains : No, 'tis their liberal purpose to convey 45 That scientifick skill which wins its way On docile nature, and transmits to youth, Talents to reach, and taste to relish truth; While inborn Genius from their aid receives Each supplemental art that practice gives. 50 • 'Tis Painting's first chief business to explore, What lovelier forms in Nature's boundless store Cum nitida tantum et facili digesta loquela, Nec mihi mens animusve fuit constringere nodos o b Præcipua imprimis artisque potissima pars est, * 1. Of the Beautiful.. I. De Pulchro. 35 |