Yet other names, and not a scanty band! On Thee, whom Art, thy patroness and pride, Taught both the pencil and the pen to guide; 320 325 Whofe generous zeal and modest truth have known To blazon others' fkill, not boaft thy own; On thee, VASARI, let my verfe bestow Tho' many fhine in thy elaborate page, * Ver. 323. See NOTE XXVI. 330 335 Το TO ROME and FLORENCE, in Expreffion ftrong, 341 On her pure Style fee mild BOLOGNA claim * Her faireft right to fecondary fame; Tho' prouder VENICE would ufurp that praise, Upon the fplendid force of TITIAN's golden rays. † But ill they know the value of their art, 346 Who, flattering the eye, neglect the heart. Tho' matchlefs tints a lafting name fecure, Or Fame, misguided, muft invert her course, 350 And RAPHAEL'S Grace muft yield to REMBRANDT's Force; + Fancy's bold thought to Labour's patient touch, And Rome's exalted genius to the Dutch. Yet, HOLLAND, thy unwearied labours raise § A perfect title to peculiar praise : Thy hum'rous pencil fhuns the epic field, The blazing falchion, and the fanguine fhield; * Ver. 342. + Ver. 345. See NOTE XXVII. See NOTE XXVIII. Ver. 353. See NOTE XXIX. Ver. 356. See NOTE XXX. 355 But hap❜ly marks the group of rural Mirth, To the gay gambols of the village feast : 360 While Nature fmiles her very faults to view, Trac'd with a skill fo exquifitely true. 365 Thefe faults, O REMBRANDT, 'twas thy praife to hide! New pow'rs of ART thy fertile mind supplied; With dazzling force thy gorgeous colouring glows, And o'er each scene an air of grandeur throws: 370 From thy contrafted light, and magic gloom. These strong illufions are fupremely thine, And laugh at Imitation's vague defign : So near to blemishes thy beauties run, Those who affect thy fplendor are undone : 375 Neglect of Nature is the bane of Art. Proud of the praife by RUBENS' pencil won, 380 * Ver. 380. See NOTE XXXI. Whose 385 Whose glowing hues magnificently shine * 389 ́Painting shall tell, with many a grateful thought, Tho' charm'd by ITALY's alluring views, (Where sumptuous LEO courted every Muse, † 395 And lovely Science grew the public care) She fix'd the glories of her empire there ; There in her zenith foon fhe ceas'd to fhine, With talents flowing in free Nature's course, O'er his wild rocks, at her command, he throws A favage grandeur, and fublime repose; Or gives th' hiftoric scene a charm as strong Exprefs'd with vigour, tho' conceiv d in hafte, Before flow judgment their defects can find, 405 410 Nor could one art, with various beauty fraught, 415 Engrofs the ardor of his active thought: His pencil paufing, with fatiric fire He ftruck the chords of the congenial lyre; The meaner artist from each abject aim. 420 • Ver. 405. See NOTE XXXV. There, |