With scorn discard. When squares or angles join,
When flows in tedious parallel the line,
Acute, obtuse, whene'er the shapes appear,
Or take a formal geometric air,

235

These all displease, and the disgusted eye
Nauseates the tame and irksome symmetry.
Mark then our former rule ;* with contrast strong
And mode transverse the leading lines prolong;
For these in each design, if well exprest,
Give value, force, and lustre to the rest.

+ Nor yet to Nature such strict homage pay, As not to quit when Genius leads the way;

241

170

Membra sub ingrato, motusque, actusque coactos;
Quodque refert signis, rectos quodammodo tractus,
Sive parallelos plures simul, et vel acutas,
Vel geometrales (ut quadra, triangula) formas ;
Ingratamque pari signorum exordine quandam.
Symmetriam: sed præcipua in contraria semper
Şigna volunt duci transversa, ut diximus anté, *
Summa igitur ratio signorum habeatur in omni 175
Composito; dat enim reliquis pretium, atque vi-
gorem.

Non ita naturæ astanti sis cuique revinctus, Hanc præter nihil ut genio studioque relinquas;

Nor yet, though Genius all his succour sends, 245 Her mimic powers though ready memory lends, Presume from Nature wholly to depart,

For nature is the arbitress of art.

In Error's grove ten thousand thickets spread, Ten thousand devious paths our steps mislead; 250 'Mid curves, that vary in perpetual twine,

Truth owns but one direct and perfect line. *Spread then her genuine charms o'er all the piece,

Sublime and perfect as they glow'd in Greece. Those genuine charms to seize, with zeal ex

plore

The vases, medals, statues, form'd of yore,

255

Nec sine teste rei natura, artisque magistra,
Quidlibet ingenio, memor ut tantummodo rerum,
Pingere posse putes errorum est plurima sylva,
Multiplicesque viæ, bene agendi terminus unus,
Linea recta velut sola est, et mille recurvæ.

180

+ Sed juxta antiquos naturam imitabere pulchram, Qualem forma rei propria, objectumque requirit. 185 Non te igitur lateant antiqua numistata, gemmæ, Vasa, typi, statuæ, cælataque marmora signis,

* XX. The Antique the Model to be copied.

+ XX. Signa antiqua Naturæ modum constituunt.

Relievos high that swell the column's stem,
Speak from the marble, sparkle from the gem;
Hence all-majestic on th' expanding soul,
In copious tide the bright ideas roll;
Fill it with radiant forms unknown before,
Forms such as demigods and heroes wore :
Here pause and pity our enervate days,
Hopeless to rival their transcendent praise.

Peculiar toil on single forms bestow,
There let expression lend its finish'd głow ;
There each variety of tint unite
With the full harmony of shade and light.

260

265

Quodque refert specie veterum post sæcula men

tem;

Splendidior quippe ex illis assurgit imago,
Magnaque se rerum facies aperit meditanti :
Tunc nostri tenuem sæcli miserebere sortem,
Cùm
spes nulla siet redituræ æqualis in ævum.
+ Exquisita siet formâ, dum sola figura
Pingitur; et multis variata coloribus esto.

190

* XXI. How to paint a single Figure.

+ XXI. Sola Figura quomodo tractanda.

* Free o'er the limbs the flowing vesture cast, The light broad folds with grace majestic plac'd, 270 And as each figure turns a different way, Give the large plaits their corresponding play;

275

Yet, devious oft, and swelling from the part,
The flowing robe with ease should seem to start;
Not on the form in stiff adhesion laid,
But well reliev'd by gentle light and shade.
Where'er a flat vacuity is seen,

There let some shadowy bending intervene,
Above, below, to lead its varied line,

As best may teach the distant folds to join;

280

+ Lati, amplique sinus pannorum, et nobilis ordo 195 Membra sequens, subter latitantia lumine et umbrâ Exprimet; ille licet transversus sæpe feratur, Et circumfusos pannorum porrigat extra Membra sinus, non contiguos, ipsisque figuræ Partibus impressos, quasi pannus adhæreatillis; 200 Sed modicè expressos cum lumine servet et umbris: Quæque intermissis passim sunt dissita vanis, Copulet, inductis subtérve, supérve lacernis.

* XXII. Of Drapery.

+ XXII. Quid in Pannis observandum.

And as the limbs by few bold strokes exprest
Excel in beauty, so the liberal vest

In large, distinct, unwrinkl'd folds should fly;
Beauty's best handmaid is Simplicity.

To diff'rent ranks adapt their proper robe; 285
With ample pall let monarchs sweep the globe;
In garb succinct and coarse array the swain ;
In light and silken veils the virgin train.

Where in black shade the deeper hollow lies,
Assisting art some midway folds supplies,
That gently meets the light, and gently spreads
To break the hardness of opposing shades.

290

Et membra, ut magnis, paucisque expressa lacertis, Majestate aliis præstant, forma, atque decore: 205 Haud secus in pannis, quos supra optavimus amplos, Perpaucos sinuum flexus, rugasque, striasque, Membra super, versu faciles, inducere præstat.

Naturæque rei proprius sit pannus, abundans Patriciis; succinctus erit, crassusque bubulcis, 210 Mancipiisque; levis, teneris, gracilisque puellis. Inque cavis maculisque umbrarum aliquando tumescet,

Lumen ut excipiens, operis quà massa requirit,
Latius extendat, sublatisque aggreget umbris.