And Grace, the first attendant of her train, 125 What thoughts are borrow'd in his perfect scene, Teach but thy tranfient tints no more to fly, * Thy manly spirit glories to impart The leading Principles of lib'ral Art; † 135 To youthful Genius points what course to run, And mark'd, to guide them in their bold Career, Thy Hand enforces what thy Precept taught, 145 Thy nervous Pencil on the canvass throws The tragic ftory of fublimeft woes: The wretched Sons, whom Grief and Famine tear, The Parent petrified with blank Defpair, 150 Thy UGOLINO gives the heart to thrill, With Pity's tender throbs, and Horror's icy chill. Tho' but fome few years paft, this barren coaft 155 Of various form, where'er we turn our eyes, With ftrong and rapid growth new wonders rise; Have wifely carried to fome kindred foil, 160 Which, fhooting quick and vig'rous in their birth, Speak the fond bounty of the virgin Earth: The Land o'erjoy'd a fairer fruit to see Adopts, with glad furprize, the alien Tree. Now Art exults, with annual Triumphs gay, † 165 And BRITAIN glories in her rich display; * Ver. 151. See NOTE XLIX. Ver. 165 See NOTE L. 2 Merit, Merit, who unaffifted, and unknown, 170 O lovely Painting, to whose charms I bow, "And breathe my willing verfe with fuppliant vow," Forgive me, if by undiscerning Praife, Or groundless Cenfure, which falfe Judgment fways, Supremely skill'd the varied group to place, 175 180 Thro' wandering throngs the patriot Chief to guide, The fhame of CARTHAGE, as of ROME the pride; Or, while the bleeding Victor yields his breath, Give the bright leffon of heroic Death. Such are thy Merits, WEST: by Virtue's hand 185 Built on the human heart thy praise shall stand, While dear to Glory, in her guardian Fane, The names of REGULUS and WOLFE remain. With kindred power a rival hand fucceeds, For whofe juft fame expiring CHATHAM pleads; 190 Like CHATHAM's language, luminous and bold, In patriot cares employ'd his parting breath, 195 200 TO DANCE's pencil, in Precifion ftrong, Transcendent Force, and Truth of Line belong. Not GARRICK'S felf, to SHAKESPEARE'S fpirit true, Display'd that spirit clearer to our view, Than DANCE expreffes, in its fiercest flame, The Poet's Genius in the Actor's Frame. 205 From GARRICK's features, with diftraction fraught, He copies every trace of troubled thought; And paints, while back the waves of Battle roll, The rapid MORTIMER, of Spirit wild, Imagination's dear and daring Child, 210 Marks the fierce Ruffian, in the Dungeon's gloom, Stung with remorfe, and fhudd'ring at his doom. Yet Yet ftill to nobler heights his Genius fprings, 215 Where JOHN, proud Monarch, baffled on his throne, Hears the brave Chief his lawless pow'r difown, 220 And, for an injur'd Nation, nobly claim The glorious CHARTER of immortal Fame! But fee far off the modest WRIGHT retire ! Alone he rules his Element of Fire: Like Meteors darting through the gloom of Night, His sparkles flash upon the dazzled fight; Our eyes with momentary anguish smart, And Nature trembles at the power of Art. 226 May thy bold colours, claiming endless praise, 230 And when the fierce VESUVIO burns no more, May his red deluge down thy canvass pour ! Art with no common gifts her GAINS B'ROUGH grac'd, Two different Pencils in his hand she plac'd; This fhall command, fhe faid, with certain aim, 235 |