* When small the space, or pure the ambient air, Each form is seen in bright precision clear; But if thick clouds that purity deface, If far extend that intervening space, There all confus'd the objects faintly rise, As if prepar'd to vanish from our eyes.

475

+ Give then each foremost part a touch so bright,

That o'er the rest its domineering light

May much prevail; yet, relative in all,
Let greater parts advance before the small.

480

‡ Qua minus est spatii aërei, aut quâ purior aër, Cuncta magis distincta patent, speciesque reser

vant :

350

Quâque magis densus nebulis, aut plurimus aër § Amplum inter fuerit spatium porrectus, in auras Confundet rerum species, et perdet inanes.

Anteriora magis semper finita, remotis Incertis dominentur et abscedentibus, idque More relativo, ut majora minoribus extent.

355

* XXXVIII. Of the Interposition of Air.

+ XXXIX. The Relation of Distances,

+ XXXVIIL Aër interpo

situs.

§ XXXIX. Distantiarum Relatio.

* Minuter forms, when distantly we trace,
Are mingled all in one compacted mass;
Such the light leaves that clothe remoter woods,
And such the waves on wide-extended floods.

+ Let each contiguous part be firm allied,
Nor labour less the separate to divide ;
Yet so divide that to th' approving eye
They both at small and pleasing distance lie.
Forbid two hostile colours close to meet,

485

And win with middle tints their union sweet; 490

§ Cuncta minuta procul massam densantur in unam; Ut folia arboribus sylvarum, et in æquore fluctus. Contigua inter se coëant, sed dissita distent, Distabuntque tamen grato, et discrimine parvo. 360 ¶ Extrema extremis contraria jungere noli; Sed medio sint usque gradu sociata coloris.

* XL. Of Bodies which are distanced.

+ XLI. Of contiguous and separated Bodies.

+ XLII. Colours very opposite to each other never to be joined.

f XL. Corpora procul distantia.

|| XLI. Contigua et Dissita.

¶ XLII. Contraria extrema fugienda.

Yet varying all thý tones, let some aspire *Fiercely in front, some tenderly retire.

495

+ Vain is the hope by colouring to display The bright effulgence of the noon-tide ray, Or paint the full-orb'd Ruler of the skies With pencils dipp'd in dull terrestrial dyes : But when mild Evening sheds her golden light; When Morn appears array'd in modest white; When soft suffusion of the vernal shower Dims the pale sun; or, at the thund'ring hour, 500 When wrapt in crimson clouds, he hides his head, Then catch the glow, and on the canvass spread.

Corporum erit tonus atque color variatus ubique ; Quærat amicitiam retro; ferus emicet ante.

§ Supremum in tabulis lumen captare diei, 365 Insanus labor artificum; cùm attingere tantum Non pigmenta queant: auream sed vespere lucem, Seu modicum mane albentem; sive ætheris actam Post hyemem nimbis transfuso sole caducam; Seu nebulis fultam accipient, tonitruque rubentem, 370

* XLIII. Diversity of Tints and Colours.

+ XLIV. The Choice of Light.

XLIII. Tonus et Color

varii.

§ XLIV. Luminis delectus.

Bodies of polish'd or transparent tone, Of metal, crystal, iv'ry, wood, or stone;

And all whose rough unequal parts are rear'd, 505
The shaggy fleece, thick fur, or bristly beard ;
The liquid too; the sadly melting eye,

510

The well-comb'd locks that wave with glossy dye;
Plumage and silks; a floating form that take,
Fair nature's mirror, the extended lake;
With what immers'd thro' its calm medium shines
By reflex light, or to its surface joins ;-
These first with thin and even shades pourtray,
Then, on their flatness strike th' enlivening ray,
Bright and distinct,-and last, with strict review,
Restore to every form its outline true.

516

Lævia quæ lucent, veluti crystalla, metalla, Ligna, ossa, et lapides; villosa, ut vellera, pelles, Barbæ, aqueique oculi, crines, holoserica, plumæ ; Et liquida, ut stagnans aqua, reflexæque sub undis Corporeæ species, et aquis contermina cuncta, 375 Subter ad extremum liquidè sint picta, superque Luminibus percussa suis, signisque repostis.

* XLV. Of certain Things relating to the practical part.

VOL. III.

F

+ XLV. Quædam circa Praxim

*By mellowing skill thy ground at distance

cast,

Free as the air and transient as its blast;
There all thy liquid colours sweetly blend,
There all the treasures of thy palette spend,
And every form retiring to that ground
Of hue congenial to itself compound.

520

+ The hand that colours well must colour bright; Hope not that praise to gain by sickly white; + But amply heap in front each splendid dye, Then thin and light withdraw them from the eye,

525

380

§ Area, vel campus tabulæ vagus esto, levisque Abscedat latus, liquidèque bene unctus amicis Tota ex mole coloribus, unâ sive patellâ ; Quæque cadunt retro in campum, confinia campo. || Vividus esto color, nimio non pallidus albo ; Adversisque locis ingestus plurimus, ardens: Sed levitèr parcèque datus vergentibus oris. Cuncta labore simul coëant, velut umbrâ in eâdem,

385

* XLVI. The Field of the Picture.

+ XLVII. Of the Vivacity of Colours.

# XLVIII. Of Shadows.

§ XLVI. Campus Tabulæ.

|| XLVII. Colour vividus, non tamen pallidus. ¶ XLVIII. Umbra.