Still happier, if that artful theme dispense 105 A poignant moral and instructive sense. 8 Then let the virgin canvas smooth expand, To claim the sketch and tempt the Artist's hand: Then, bold INVENTION, all the powers diffuse, Of all thy sisters thou the noblest Muse: Thee every art, thee every grace inspires, Thee Phoebus fills with all his brightest fires. 1 Choose such judicious force of shade and light As suits the theme, and satisfies the sight;. Quodque venustatum, circa formam atque colorem, Sponte capax, amplam emeritæ mox præbeat Arti Materiam, retegens aliquid salis et documenti. 70 i Tandem opus aggredior; primoq; occurrit in albo Disponenda typi, concepta potente Minervâ, Machina, quæ nostris INVENTIO dicitur oris Illa quidem priùs ingenuis instructa sororum Artibus Aonidum', et Phoebi sublimior æstu. Quærendasque inter posituras, luminis, umbræ, k Weigh part with part, and with prophetick eye 115 The future power of all thy tints descry; age; 120 Nor paint conspicuous on the foremost plain Whate'er is false, impertinent, or vain; But like the Tragick Muse, thy lustre throw, Where the chief action claims its warmest glow. Atque futurorum jam præsentire colorum Par erit harmoniam, captando ab utrisque ve n nustum. Sit thematis genuina ac viva expressio, juxtà. Textum antiquorum, propriis cum tempore formis. Nec quod inane, nihil facit ad rem, sive videtur Improprium, miniméque urgens, potiora tenebit Ornamenta operis; Tragicæ sed lege sororis, Summa ubi res agitur, vis summa requiritur Artis. 85 V. Fidelitas Argumenti. • VI. Inane rejiciendum. This rare, this arduous task no rules can teach, 125 No skill'd preceptor point, no practice reach; 'Tis taste, 'tis genius, 'tis the heav'nly ray Prometheus ravish'd from the car of day. In Egypt first the infant art appear'd, Rude and unform'd; but when to Greece she steer'd 130 Her prosperous course, fair Fancy met the Maid; Wit, Reason, Judgment, lent their powerful aid; Till all complete the gradual wonder shone, And vanquish'd Nature own'd herself outdone. Ista labore gravi, studio, monitisque magistri Ardua pars nequit addisci: rarissima namque, Ni priùs æthereo rapuit quod ab axe Prometheus Sit jubar infusum menti cum flamine vitæ. Mortali haud cuivis divina hæc munera dantur ; Non uti Dædaleam licet omnibus ire Corinthum. Ægypto informis quondam pictura reperta, Græcorum studiis, et mentis acumine crevit : Egregiis tandem illustrata et adulta magistris, Naturam visa est miro superare labore. 24 ૦૬ 'Twas there the Goddess fix'd her blest abodes, 135 There reign'd in Corinth, Athens, Sicyon, Rhodes, Her various vot'ries various talents crown'd, P Learn then from Greece, ye youths, Pro- Inform'd by her, cach just POSITION draw 145 Quos inter, Graphidos Gymnasia prima fuêre Portus Athenarum, Sicyon, Rhodos, atque Corinthus, Disparia inter se modicùm rationc laboris ; Ut patet ex veterum Statuis, formæ atque decoris Archetypis; queis posterior nil protulit ætas Condignum, et non inferius longè, arte modoque. 99 Horum igitur vera ad normam positura legetur: P VII. Design or Position, the second part of Painting. VII. Graphis seu Positnra secunda Picturæ pars. Skilful to range each large unequal part, 150 But chief from her that flowing outline take, Which floats, in wavy windings, like the snake, Or lambent flame; which, ample, broad, and long, Reliev'd not swell'd, at once both light and strong, Glides thro' the graceful whole. divine Her art Cuts not, in parts minute, the tame design, Grandia, inæqualis, formosaque partibus amplis 155 Membrorumque sinus ignis flammantis ad instar, Serpenti undantes flexu; sed lævia, plana, Magnaque signa, quasi sine tubere subdita tactu, Ex longo deducta fluant, non secta minutim, Insertisque toris sint nota ligamina, juxta Compagem anatomes, et membrificatio Græco 105 |