Come faithful Siren! chaste seducer! say,

What laws controul thee, and what powers obey. Know first, that light displays and shade

destroys

Refulgent Nature's variegated dyes.

Thus bodies near the light distinctly shine With rays direct, and as it fades decline.

365

Thus to the eye oppos'd with stronger light They meet its orb, for distance dims the sight. 'Learn hence to paint the parts that meet

the view

In spherick forms, of bright and equal hue;

371

Dedecori fuit unquam; illi sed semper honori, 265 Laudibus et meretis; hanc ergo nosse juvabit.

Lux varium, vivumque dabit, nullum umbra, colorem.

Quo magis adversum est corpus, lucique propin

quum.

Clarius est lumen; nam debilitatur eundo.

Quo magis est corpus directum, oculisque propin

quum,

Conspicitur melius; nam visus hebescit eundo.

u

Ergo in corporibus, quæ visa adversa, rotundis,

t XXXI. The conduct of

270

u XXXI. Tonorum Lu

the Tints of Light and Sha- minum et Umbrarum ratio.

While, from the light receding or the eye,
The sinking outlines take a fainter dye.
Lost and confus'd progressively they fade, 375
Not fall precipitate from light to shade.
This Nature dictates, and this taste pursues,
Studious in gradual gloom her lights to lose;
The various whole with soft'ning tints to fill,
As if one single head employ'd her skill.
Thus if bold fancy plan some proud design,
Where many various groups divide or join,

380

(Tho' sure from more than three confusion

springs,)

385

One globe of light and shade o'er all she flings;
Yet skill'd the separate masses to dispose,
Where'er, in front, the fuller radiance glows,
Behind, a calm reposing gloom she spreads,
Relieving shades with light, and light with
shades.

Integra sunt, extrema abscedant perdita signis
Confusis, non præcipiti labentur in umbram

Clara gradu, nec adumbrata in clara alta repentè 275
Prorumpant; sed erit sensim hinc atque inde meatus
Lucis et umbrarum; capitisque unius ad instar,
Totum opus, ex multis quanquam sit partibus, unus
Luminis umbrarumque globus tantummodo fiet,
Sive duas, vel tres ad summum, ubi grandius esset 280
Divisum pegma in partes statione remotas.

12

390

And as the centre of some convex glass,
Draws to a point the congregated mass
Of dazzling rays, that, more than nature bright,
Reflect each image in an orb of light,
While from that point the scatter'd beams retire,
Sink to the verge, and there in shade expire;
So strongly near, so softly distant throw
On all thy rounded groups the circling glow.

395

As is the Sculptor's, such the Painter's aim, Their labour different, but their end the same; What from the marble the rude chissel breaks, The softer pencil from the canvass takes:

400

Sintque ita discreti inter se, ratione colorum,

Luminis, umbrarumque, antrorsum ut corpora clara Obscura umbrarum requies spectanda relinquat;

Claroque exiliant umbrata atque aspera campo.

285

Ac veluti in speculis convexis, eminet ante
Asperior reipsâ vigor, et vis aucta colorum
Partibus adversis; magis et fuga rupta retrorsum
Illorum est, (ut visa minùs vergentibus oris,)
Corporibus dabimus formas hoc more rotundas.

290

Mente modoque igitur plastes, et pictor, eodem Dispositum tractabit opus; quæ sculptor in orbem Atterit, hæc rupto procul abscedente colore Assequitur pictor, fugientiaque illa retrorsum

404

And skill'd remoter distances to keep,
Surrounds the outline pale in shadows deep;
While on the front the sparkling lustre plays,
And meets the eye in full meridian blaze.
True Colouring thus, in plastick power excells,
Fair to the visual point her forms she swells,
And lifts them from their flat aërial ground,

Warm as the life, and as the statue round.

X

* In silver clouds in ether's blue domain,

Or the clear mirrour of the watʼry plain,
If chance some solid substance claim a place,
Firm and opaque amid the lucid space,

410

Jam signata minùs confusa coloribus aufert:
Anteriora quidem directè adversa, colore
Integra vivaci, summo cum lumine et umbra
Antrorsum distincta refert, velut aspera visu;
Sicque super planum inducit leucoma colores,
Hos velut ex ipsâ naturâ immotus eodem
Intuitu circum statuas daret inde rotundas.

y Densa figurarum solidis quæ corpora formis Subdita sunt tactu, non translucent, sed opaca

295

300

* XXXII. Dense and op- y XXXII. Corpora densa aque bodies with translucent et opaca translucentibus.

ones.

Rough let it swell and boldly meet the sight, Mark'd with peculiar strength of shade and

light;

There blend each earthly tint of heaviest sort, 415
At once to give consistence and support,
While the bright wave, soft cloud, or azure

sky,

Light and pellucid from that substance fly.

* Permit not two conspicuous lights to shine With rival radiance in the same design;

But yield to one alone the power to blaze

And spread the extensive vigour of its rays,

420

In translucendi spatio ut super aëra, nubes,

Limpida stagna undarum, et inania cætera debent 305
Asperiora illis prope circumstantibus esse;

Ut distincta magis firmo cum lumine et umbra,
Et gravioribus ut sustenta coloribus, inter
Aërias species subsistant semper opaca :
Sed contra, procul abscedant prelucida densis,
Corporibus leviora; uti nubes, aër, et undæ.
* Non poterunt diversa locis duo lumina eâdem
In tabulâ paria admitti, aut æqualia pingi :

Z XXXIII. There must not be two equal Lights in the

310

a XXXIII. Non duo ex cœlo Lumina in tabulam æ