And while each present form the Fancy warms, Swift on thy tablets fix its fleeting charms, 666 To Temperance all our liveliest powers we :owe, She bids the Judgement wake, the Fancy flow; d Mox quod cumque mari, terris, et in aëre pulchrum Contigerit, chartis propera mandare paratis, Dum præsens animo species tibi fervet hianti. Non epulis nimis indulget Pictura, meroque Parcit: Amicorum nisi cum sermone benigno Exhaustam reparet mentem recreata; sed inde Litibus, et curis, in cœlibe libera vita, Secessus procul à turba, strepituque remotos, Villarum, rurisque beata silentia quærit : Namque recollecto, totâ incumbente Minervâ, • LXIX. Of the Table 475 480 Book, LXIX. Non desint pu gillares. There calmly seated in his village bower, 680 He gives to noblest themes the studious hour, fines; Hence ceaseless toil, devotion to his art, Ingenio, rerum species præsentior extat ; Commodiusque operis compagem amplectitur om nem. Infami tibi non potior sit avara peculi Cura, aurique fames, modicâ quam sorte beato, s Nominis æterni, et laudis pruritus habendæ, Condignæ pulchrorum operum mercedis in ævum. Judicium, docile ingenium, cor nobile, sensus Sublimes, firmum corpus, florensque juventa, Commoda res, labor, artis amor, doctusque magister Blest with the bloom of youth, the nerves of health, And competence, a better boon than wealth. Great blessings, these! yet will not these em power His tints to charm at every labouring hour: All have their brilliant moments, when alone 695 They paint as if some star propitious shone. Yet then, e'en then, the hand but ill conveys The bolder grace that in the fancy plays: Hence, candid Criticks, this sad truth confest, Accept what least is bad, and deem it best; 700 Lament the soul in errour's thraldom held, Compare life's span with art's extensive field; Know that, ere perfect taste matures the mind, Or perfect practice to that taste be join'd, Et quamcumque voles occasio porrigat ansam, 491 496 Comes age, comes sickness, comes contracting pain, 705 And chills the warmth of youth in every vein. Rise then, ye youths, while yet that warmth inspires, While yet nor years impair, nor labour tires, While health, while strength are yours, while that mild ray Which shone auspicious on your natal day, 710 716 Incipimus, doctamque manum gravat ægra senectus; Nec gelidis fervet juvenilis in artibus ardor. Quare agite, O Juvenes, placido quos sydere natoş Paciferæ studia allectant tranquilla Minervæ; Quosque suo fovet igne, sibique optavit alumnos ! Eja agite, atque animis ingentem ingentibus artem Exercete alacres, dum strenua corda juventus Viribus exstimulat vegetis, patiensque laborum est; While new to beauty's charms, your eager soul Drinks copious draughts of the delicious whole, And Memory on her soft, yet lasting page, Stamps the fresh image which shall charm 7 thro' age. 720 • When duly taught each geometrick rule, Approach with awful step the Grecian school, The sculptur'd reliques of her skill survey, Muse on by night, and imitate by day ; No rest, no pause, till, all her graces graces known, A happy habit makes each grace your own. 726 As years advance, to modern masters come, Gaze on their glories in majestick ROME; Dum vacua errorum, nulloque imbuta sapore. In geometrali prius arte parumpèr adulti 510 Mox, ubi judicium emensis adoleverit annis, Singula, quæ celebrant primæ exemplaria classis, 55 f LXX. The Method of Studies for a young Painter. f LXX. Ordo Studiorum. |