BLES The travell'd Artift to his native fhore ! His mind enlighten'd, and his fancy fraught With finest forms by ancient genius wrought; Whose magic beauty charm'd, with fpell fublime, 5 Models of grace fo exquifitely fair. While you, whom Painting thus infpir'd to roam, Bring these rich ftores of ripen'd judgment home; 10 While now, attending my accomplish'd friend, - Let the fond Mufe, tho' with a tranfient view, The progress of her sister art pursue ; B. 2 Eager Eager in tracing from remotest time The steps of Painting through each favour'd clime, 15 20 Painting, fweet Nymph! now leaves in lifeless trance Exhaufted Italy and tinfel France, And fees in Britain, with exulting eyes, Her vot❜ries profper, and her glories rise. Yet tho', my friend, thy art is thus careft, 25 And with the homage of the public bleft, Bids him from Fancy's region turn afide, And quit the magic of her scene, to trace The vacant lines of some unmeaning face: E'en in this work his wifhes ftill are croft, 35 And all the efforts of his art are lost ; For when the canvas, with the mirror's truth, Reflects the perfect form of age or youth, The The fond affections of the partial mind The And give new spirit to her booby boy; 40 45 Mourns the loft likeness which he once had hit, 50 And, doom'd to groundless cenfure, bears alone The grievous load of errors not his own. Nor is it Pride, or Folly's vain command, The hoop extended with enormous fize, The stays of deadly fteel, in whose embrace Her free positions, and her light attire! This brilliant plan with more extensive view, A lafting charm to make the portrait live; Make history to life new value lend *, 65 70 75 Most fair device!" but, ah! what foes to fenfe, 89 The ftrange pretenfions of each age and fex * Ver. 77. See NOTE I. For For male and female, to themselves unknown, Demand a character unlike their own, 85 Till oft the painter to this quaint distress And sprightly damfels are inclin'd to borrow The garb of penitence, and tears of forrow: ၄၁ While awkward pride, tho' fafe from war's alarms, And, from an honeft juftice of the peace, Too firm of heart by ridicule to fall, The finish'd hero crowns his country hall, The lumber-garret of his wifer heir. Arofe the portrait of coloffal fize : eyes Twice fifty feet th' enormous sheet was spread, 95 100 105 Think |