Nor yet tho' Genius all his succour sends, 245
Her mimick powers tho' ready memory lends,
Presume from Nature wholly to depart,
For nature is the arbitress of art.

In Error's grove ten thousand thickets spread,
Ten thousand devious paths our steps mislead;
'Mid curves, that vary in perpetual twine, 251
Truth owns but one direct and perfect line.

S

Spread then her genuine charms o'er all the piece,

Sublime and perfect as they glow'd in Greece. Those genuine charms to seize, with zeal ex

plore

The vases, medals, statues, form'd of yore,

Nec sine teste rei natura, artisque magistra,

255

Quidlibet ingenio, memor ut tantummodo rerum, 180
Pingere posse putes errorum est plurima sylva,
Multiplicesque viæ, bene agendi terminus unus,
Linea recta velut sola est, et mille recurvæ.

Sed juxta antiquos naturam imitabere pulchram,
Qualem forma rei propria, objectumque requirit.
Non te igitur lateant antiqua numismata, gemmæ,
Vasa, typi, statuæ, cælataque marmora signis,

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XX. The Antique the Model to be copied.

t XX. Signa antiqua Naturæ modum constituunt.

Relievos high that swell the column's stem,

Speak from the marble, sparkle from the

gem;

Hence all-majestic on th' expanding soul,
In copious tide the bright ideas roll;
Fill it with radiant forms unknown before,
Forms such as demigods and heroes wore :
Here pause and pity our enervate days,
Hopeless to rival their transcendent praise.
"Peculiar toil on single forms bestow,
There let expression lend its finished glow;

There each variety of tint unite

With the full harmony of shade and light.

260

265

Quodque refert specie veterum post sæcula mentem;
Splendidior quippe ex illis assurgit imago,
Magnaque se rerum facies aperit meditanti :
Tunc nostri tenuem sæcli miserebere sortem,
Cùm
spes nulla siet redituræ æqualis in ævum.
Exquisita siet formâ, dum sola figura
Pingitur; et multis variata coloribus esto.

190

u XXI. How to paint a

single Figure.

* XXI. Sola Figura quo» modo tractanda.

Free o'er the limbs the flowing vesture cast, The light broad folds with grace majestick

placed;

270

And as each figure turns a different way,
Give the large plaits their corresponding play;

Yet devious oft and swelling from the part, The flowing robe with ease should seem to

start;

Not on the form in stiff adhesion laid,

But well reliev❜d by gentle light and shade.
Where'er a flat vacuity is seen,

There let some shadowy bending intervene,
Above, below, to lead its varied line,

275

As best may teach the distant folds to join; 280

y Lati, amplique sinus pannorum, et nobilis ordo 195 Membra sequens, subter latitantia lumine et umbrâ Exprimet; ille licet transversus sæpe feratur, Et circumfusos pannorum porrigat extra Membra sinus, non contiguos, ipsisque figuræ Partibus impressos, quasi pannus adhæreat illis; Sed modicè expressos cum lumine servet et umbris : Quæque intermissis passim sunt dissita vanis, Copulet, inductis subtérve, supérve lacernis.

* XXII. Of Drapery.

200

y XXII. Quid in Pannis observandum.

And as the limbs by few bold strokes exprest Excel in beauty so the liberal vest

In large, distinct, unwrinkled folds should fly, Beauty's best handmaid is Simplicity.

To diff'rent ranks adapt their proper

robe;

285

With ample pall let monarchs sweep the globe;
In garb succinct and coarse array the swain;
In light and silken veils the virgin train.

290

Where in black shade the deeper hollow lies, Assisting art some midway fold supplies, That gently meets the light, and gently spreads

To break the hardness of opposing shades.

205

Et membra, ut magnis, paucisque expressa lacertis,
Majestate aliis præstant, forma, atque decore:
Haud secus in pannis, quos supra optavimus amplos,
Perpaucos sinuum flexus, rugasque, striasque,
Membra super, versu faciles, inducere præstat.
Naturæque rei proprius sit pannus, abundans
Patriciis; succinctus erit, crassusque bubulcis,
Mancipiisque; levis, teneris, gracilisque puellis.
Inque cavis maculisque umbrarum aliquando tu-

mescet,

Lumen ut excipiens, operis quâ massa requirit,

Latius extendat, sublatisque aggreget umbris.

210

Each nobler symbol classick Sages use, To mark a virtue, or adorn a Muse.

Ensigns of war, of peace, or Rites divine, 295 These in thy work with dignity may shine:

* But sparingly thy earth-born stores unfold, Nor load with gems, nor lace with tawdry gold; Rare things alone are dear in custom's eye, They lose their value as they multiply.

b "Of absent forms the features to define, Prepare a model to direct thy line;

с

300

Each garb, each custom, with precision trace, Unite in strict decorum time with place;

Nobilia arma juvant Virtutum ornantque figu

ras,

Qualia Musarum, Belli, cultusque Deorum.

• Nec sit opus nimiùm gemmis auroque refertum; Rara etenim magno in pretio, sed plurima vili.

f Quæ deinde ex vero nequeant præsente videri, Prototypum prius illorum formare juvabit.

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