There, in the arms of ROMAN fcience nurs'd, 425
In every work of ancient genius vers❜d,

The fage POUSSIN, with pureft fancy fraught, *
Portray'd the claffic scene, as Learning taught:
But Nature, jealous of her sacred right,
And piqu'd that his idolatry should flight
Her glowing graces, and her living air,
To worship marble with a fonder care,
Denied his pencil, in its mimic ftrife,

The bloom of beauty, and the warmth of life.

430

Then rofe LE BRUN, his fcholar, and his friend, †

Thy dawn, LE SUEUR, announc'd a happier taste, ‡

With fancy glowing, and with judgment chafte :

But Art, who gloried in thy rifing bloom,
Shed fruitless tears upon thy early tomb.

* Ver. 427. See NOTE XXXVI.
† Ver. 435. See NOTE XXXVII.
↑ Ver. 441. See NOTE XXXVIII.

་

These lights withdrawn, Confufion and Misrule

Seize the vain pencil of the Gallic school:

Tho' FRESNOY teaches, in Horatian fong,
The laws and limits that to Art belong;
In vain he strives, with Attic judgment chaste,
To crush the monsters of corrupted taste :
With ineffectual fire the poet fings,

446

450

Prolific ftill the wounded Hydra springs :

Gods roll'd on gods encumber every hall,

And faints, convulfive, o'er the chapel sprawl.

Bombaft is Grandeur, Affectation Grace,

455

Beauty's soft smile is turn'd to pert grimace;

Loaded with dress, fupremely fine advance

Old HOMER's heroes, with the airs of FRANCE.

Indignant Art disclaim'd the motley crew,
Refign'd their empire, and to BRITAIN flew.

* Ver. 447. See NOTE XXXIX.

END OF THE FIRST EPISTLE,

460

EPISTLE

EPISTLE

THE SECOND.

1

ARGUMENT

OF THE SECOND EPISTLE.

The rife of Painting in England, and the reafons for its happening fo late.-The rapidity of its improvement. -A flight fketch of the most eminent living Artifts in England. The author's wish to fee his friend among the first of that number-His reafons for hoping it. -The reputation of a Painter in fome degree owing to a happy choice of subjects—A few recommended from national events—and from Milton and Shakespeare. -Conclufion.-Author's wishes for his friend's fuc

cess.

AN

ESSAY

ON

PAINTING.

EPISTLE II.

NGENUOUS ROMNEY, whom thy merits raise

IN

To the pure fummits of unclouded praise;
Whom Art has chofen, with fuccessful hand,
To fpread her empire o'er this honour'd land;
Thy Progrefs Friendship with delight furveys,
And this pure Homage to thy Goddess pays.
Hail! heavenly Visitant! whose cheering powers
E'en to the happy give still happier hours!
O! next to Freedom, and the Muse, defign'd
To raife, ennoble, and adorn mankind!

At length we view thee in this favor'd Ifle,

That greets thy presence, and deserves thy smile:
This favor'd Ifle, in native Freedom bold,

And rich in Spirit as thy Greeks of old.

5

10.