Are best to art and ancient taste allied, 56 For ancient taste those forms has best applied. " 61 When first the orient rays of beauty move 65 The conscious soul, they light the lamp of love; Nôsse quid in rebus natura creârit ad artem Cognita amas, et amata cupis, sequerisq; cu pita; Passibus assequeris tandem quæ fervidus urges : 45 Love wakes those warm desires that prompt ...our chace, To follow and to fix each flying grace: But earth-born graces sparingly impart The symmetry supreme of perfect art : Yet if those charms too closely we define, Our end is lost. Not such the Master's care, 76 Curious he culls the perfect from the fair; Judge of his art, thro' beauty's realm he flies, Selects, combines, improves, diversifies; With nimble step pursues the fleeting throng, And clasps each Venus as she glides along. 80 Illa tamen quæ pulchra decent; non omnia casus Marte suo, formæ Veneres captando fugaces. Yet some there are who indiscreetly stray, Where purblind practice only points the way; Who every theoretick truth disdain, And blunder on mechanically vain. Some too there are, within whose languid breasts A lifeless heap of embryo knowledge rests, 86 When nor the pencil feels their drowzy art, Nor the skill'd hand explains the meaning heart. In chains of sloth such talents droop confin'd: 'Twas not by words Apelles charm'd mankind. Hear then the Muse; tho' perfect beauty towers Above the reach of her descriptive powers, 55 a Utque manus grandi nil nomine practica dignum Assequitur, primum arcanæ quam deficit artis Lumen, et in præceps abitura ut cæca vagatur; Siç nihil ars opera manuum privata supremtim Exequitur, sed languet iners uti vincta lacertos; Dispositumque typum non linguâ pinxit Apelles. Ergo licet tota normam haud possimus in arte Ponere, (cum nequeant quæ sunt pulcherrima dici,) II. De Speculatione et II. Of Theory and Prac Yet will she strive some leading rules to draw From sovereign Nature's universal law; Stretch her wide view o'er ancient Art's do main, Again establish Reason's legal reign, Genius again correct with science sage, 95 Right ever reigns its stated bounds between, "And taste, like morals, loves the golden e mean." 100 • Some lofty theme let judgement first supply, Supremely fraught with grace and majesty; For fancy copious, free to every charm That lines can circumscribe or colours warm; Nitimur hæc paucis, scrutati summa magistræ "Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum." f His positis, erit optandum thema, nobile, pulchrum, III. Of the Subject. f III. De Argumento. 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: 110 Thee every art, thee every grace inspires, Thee Phoebus fills with all his brightest fires. 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 75 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 Phœbi sublimior æstu. * Quærendasque inter posituras, luminis, umbræ, k |