 | Poems upon various subjects |  |
96
ON DESIGN AND BEAUTY.
AN EPISTLE.
Highmore, you grant, that in the painter's art,
Though perspective and colours claim a part,
Yet, the more noble skill and more divine,
Are proper Characters and just Design;
Design, that particle of heavenly flame,
Soul of all Beauty, through all Arts the same.
Though perspective and colours claim a part,
Yet, the more noble skill and more divine,
Are proper Characters and just Design;
Design, that particle of heavenly flame,
Soul of all Beauty, through all Arts the same.
This to the stately dome its grandeur gives,
Strikes in the picture, in the statue lives;
Persuades in Tully's, or in Talbot's tongue;
And tunes the lyre, and builds the lofty song.
Strikes in the picture, in the statue lives;
Persuades in Tully's, or in Talbot's tongue;
And tunes the lyre, and builds the lofty song.
The love of Order, sure from Nature springs,
Our taste adapted to the frame of things:
Nature the pow'rs of harmony displays,
And Truth and Order animate the mass.
Who that this ample theatre beholds,
Where fair Proportion all her charms unfolds;
This sun, and these the stars that roll above,
Measuring alternate seasons as they move;
Who, but admires a fabric so compleat;
And from admiring, aims to imitate?
Our taste adapted to the frame of things:
Nature the pow'rs of harmony displays,
And Truth and Order animate the mass.
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Where fair Proportion all her charms unfolds;
This sun, and these the stars that roll above,
Measuring alternate seasons as they move;
Who, but admires a fabric so compleat;
And from admiring, aims to imitate?
Hence various Arts proceed; for human wit
But imitates the plan by Nature set;
Truth of Design, which Nature's works impart,
Alike extends to every work of Art,
To compass this, both skill and genius meet,
Genius to bring materials, skill to fit;
Where both conspire, is Beauty; which depends
On the fair aptitude of means to ends:
Parts corresponding, if devoid of this,
Are affectation all and emptiness.
If Cloacina's cell with cumbrous state
Appear superb, and as a palace great,
We laugh at the superfluous pomp, unfit,
As Cibber's odes to Handel's music set.
Reverse of this, the true Sublime attains
The noblest purpose by the simplest means;
More perfect, as more wide its branches shoot,
While all are nourish'd by one common root.
And such, if man Immensity could pierce,
Such are the beauties of the Universe;
The various movements of this great machine
All are directed by one Pow'r within;
One Genius, as in human frame the Soul,
Rules, and pervades, and animates the Whole.
But imitates the plan by Nature set;
Truth of Design, which Nature's works impart,
Alike extends to every work of Art,
To compass this, both skill and genius meet,
Genius to bring materials, skill to fit;
Where both conspire, is Beauty; which depends
On the fair aptitude of means to ends:
Parts corresponding, if devoid of this,
Are affectation all and emptiness.
If Cloacina's cell with cumbrous state
Appear superb, and as a palace great,
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As Cibber's odes to Handel's music set.
Reverse of this, the true Sublime attains
The noblest purpose by the simplest means;
More perfect, as more wide its branches shoot,
While all are nourish'd by one common root.
And such, if man Immensity could pierce,
Such are the beauties of the Universe;
The various movements of this great machine
All are directed by one Pow'r within;
One Genius, as in human frame the Soul,
Rules, and pervades, and animates the Whole.
Alike on Art Simplicity bestows
An awful stillness and sublime repose;
Great without pomp, and finish'd without toil;
Such as the plans of Angelo or Boyle.
An awful stillness and sublime repose;
Great without pomp, and finish'd without toil;
Such as the plans of Angelo or Boyle.
Yet here, unless due boundaries be plac'd,
Oft will the Simple spread into the Vast;
Vast, where the symmetry of parts a-kin
Lies too remote, and is but dimly seen.
In Nature's wondrous frame if ought appear
Vast, or mishapen, or irregular,
'Tis, that the mighty structure was design'd
A Whole proportion'd to the all-seeing Mind.
But Art is bounded by perception still,
And aims not to oppress the mind, but fill.
All beyond this are like his project vain,
Who meant to form mount Athos into man.
Oft will the Simple spread into the Vast;
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Lies too remote, and is but dimly seen.
In Nature's wondrous frame if ought appear
Vast, or mishapen, or irregular,
'Tis, that the mighty structure was design'd
A Whole proportion'd to the all-seeing Mind.
But Art is bounded by perception still,
And aims not to oppress the mind, but fill.
All beyond this are like his project vain,
Who meant to form mount Athos into man.
Nor less their fault, who shunning this extreme
Grow circumstantial, and but croud the scheme.
Beauty, when best discern'd, is most compleat,
But all is Gothic which is intricate:
Conformity of parts, if too minute,
Is lost, before the senses trace it out;
And contrasts which in modern style abound,
Sever ideas, till they quite confound;
Fops are distinguish'd by this little taste,
But if a genius err, his error is the Vast.
Grow circumstantial, and but croud the scheme.
Beauty, when best discern'd, is most compleat,
But all is Gothic which is intricate:
Conformity of parts, if too minute,
Is lost, before the senses trace it out;
And contrasts which in modern style abound,
Sever ideas, till they quite confound;
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But if a genius err, his error is the Vast.
On trifles ne'er let Art her strength exhaust,
There is a littleness in lavish cost:
Who read thee, Swift, so frugal is thy skill,
Think they supply, when they but comment still.
True elegance appears with mild restraint,
Decent, discreet, and proper, yet not quaint.
Some works are made too accurate to please;
But graceful those, that seem perform'd with ease:
It profits oft to play the careless part,
As tumblers trip but to conceal their Art;
Nature alone can move: the pow'rs of wit
Her shape assuming, charm but while they cheat.
Be thou not formal, yet with method free;
Sole fountain this, of perspicuity:
'Tis lucid Order will the parts unite,
Like parts to like, opposing opposite.
In sound, 'tis Harmony that charms the ear,
Yet discords intermingled here and there,
Still make the sweet similitude appear.
Each by its opposite a lustre gains,
As hills the vales assist, and woods the plains;
Grateful variety! so fair Design
Loves to distinguish where it cannot join;
Yet then, to Truth and Nature ever just,
Nor joins, nor separates, but when it must.
Fondly some authors deck the dainty piece
With false resemblance, false antithesis;
Fantastic apes of Beauty, who beget
Romance in science, quaint conceits in wit;
Such phantoms, when we think the substance near,
Mock our embrace, and vanish into air.
There is a littleness in lavish cost:
Who read thee, Swift, so frugal is thy skill,
Think they supply, when they but comment still.
True elegance appears with mild restraint,
Decent, discreet, and proper, yet not quaint.
Some works are made too accurate to please;
But graceful those, that seem perform'd with ease:
It profits oft to play the careless part,
As tumblers trip but to conceal their Art;
Nature alone can move: the pow'rs of wit
Her shape assuming, charm but while they cheat.
Be thou not formal, yet with method free;
Sole fountain this, of perspicuity:
'Tis lucid Order will the parts unite,
Like parts to like, opposing opposite.
101
Yet discords intermingled here and there,
Still make the sweet similitude appear.
Each by its opposite a lustre gains,
As hills the vales assist, and woods the plains;
Grateful variety! so fair Design
Loves to distinguish where it cannot join;
Yet then, to Truth and Nature ever just,
Nor joins, nor separates, but when it must.
Fondly some authors deck the dainty piece
With false resemblance, false antithesis;
Fantastic apes of Beauty, who beget
Romance in science, quaint conceits in wit;
Such phantoms, when we think the substance near,
Mock our embrace, and vanish into air.
Of all, which late posterity will own,
Truth is the basis, lasting Truth alone.
For what can symmetry of parts avail,
T'uphold a building, of materials frail?
To reach perfection then, whoe'er aspires,
Extent of knowledge adds to native fires.
Truth is the basis, lasting Truth alone.
For what can symmetry of parts avail,
T'uphold a building, of materials frail?
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Extent of knowledge adds to native fires.
He, not content the shallow shore to keep,
Dauntless expatiates in the boundless deep,
Ranging through earth, and air, and sea, and sky,
Where'er the scatter'd seeds of Beauty lye;
Surveys all Nature, and together brings
The wide-dispers'd dependency of things.
Hence those enlarg'd ideas which impart
The common sympathies of Art with Art;
Hence Order built on Order seems to rise
A comely series, till it touch the skies.
Dauntless expatiates in the boundless deep,
Ranging through earth, and air, and sea, and sky,
Where'er the scatter'd seeds of Beauty lye;
Surveys all Nature, and together brings
The wide-dispers'd dependency of things.
Hence those enlarg'd ideas which impart
The common sympathies of Art with Art;
Hence Order built on Order seems to rise
A comely series, till it touch the skies.
At length when searching thought, and ceaseless toil,
Have gather'd and secur'd the noble spoil;
Well may the learned Artist then Design,
His fancy teeming, fraught his magazine;
Thence draw materials, next, in order range,
Compare, distinguish, raise, diminish, change,
Aggroupe the figures here, and there oppose,
To these a lustre give, a shade to those:
Till each with each consenting form a Whole,
Firm as a phalanx, as a concert, full.
Have gather'd and secur'd the noble spoil;
Well may the learned Artist then Design,
His fancy teeming, fraught his magazine;
Thence draw materials, next, in order range,
Compare, distinguish, raise, diminish, change,
103
To these a lustre give, a shade to those:
Till each with each consenting form a Whole,
Firm as a phalanx, as a concert, full.
Such charms the pow'rs of symmetry dispense,
Bright Emanation of Intelligence!
From Mind alone delightful Order springs,
She tempers and adjusts the mass of things;
From darkness calls forth light, design from chance,
And bids each atom into form advance.
But if the workmanship of Mind appear
So lovely to behold, Herself how fair!
Thus though in Nature endless beauties shine,
Loveliest she seems, in human face divine;
Her other works a calm delight impart,
Those charm the genius, this allures the heart:
Can outward form the tender passion move,
A lifeless statue, wake the soul to love?
'Tis not exteriour Harmony we call
Beauty, or sure such Beauty means not all;
But something more exalted, more refin'd;
Beauty that warms, is Harmony of Mind;
Height'ning each air, improving ev'ry grace,
The Mind looks out and lightens in the face:
And when the Mind informs a lovely mein,
Herself more lovely, then, is Beauty seen
Attractive, and shines forth apparent Queen.
Bright Emanation of Intelligence!
From Mind alone delightful Order springs,
She tempers and adjusts the mass of things;
From darkness calls forth light, design from chance,
And bids each atom into form advance.
But if the workmanship of Mind appear
So lovely to behold, Herself how fair!
Thus though in Nature endless beauties shine,
Loveliest she seems, in human face divine;
Her other works a calm delight impart,
Those charm the genius, this allures the heart:
Can outward form the tender passion move,
A lifeless statue, wake the soul to love?
104
Beauty, or sure such Beauty means not all;
But something more exalted, more refin'd;
Beauty that warms, is Harmony of Mind;
Height'ning each air, improving ev'ry grace,
The Mind looks out and lightens in the face:
And when the Mind informs a lovely mein,
Herself more lovely, then, is Beauty seen
Attractive, and shines forth apparent Queen.
How sweet the task! these lineaments to trace,
And each in lively portraiture express!
Such, Highmore, thine; thy comprehensive draught
To the fair outside joins the charms of thought.
And each in lively portraiture express!
Such, Highmore, thine; thy comprehensive draught
To the fair outside joins the charms of thought.
Search then Perfection, Beauty search, around
Through all her forms, fairest in Virtue found.
Else could the memory of each ancient sage,
Themselves unknown, delight a distant age?
Ancients, who life enrich'd with Arts, and Laws;
Or fell, or conquer'd, in their country's cause:
What shrines, what altars to their ashes rear'd,
As heroes honour'd, and as Gods rever'd;
And Godlike They, whose virtues unconfin'd
Bless latest times, and dignify mankind;
Not with low duties fill a private space,
But are the guardian pow'rs of human race.
Through all her forms, fairest in Virtue found.
Else could the memory of each ancient sage,
Themselves unknown, delight a distant age?
105
Or fell, or conquer'd, in their country's cause:
What shrines, what altars to their ashes rear'd,
As heroes honour'd, and as Gods rever'd;
And Godlike They, whose virtues unconfin'd
Bless latest times, and dignify mankind;
Not with low duties fill a private space,
But are the guardian pow'rs of human race.
Virtue, the more diffus'd, the fairer shows;
Fairest, That only which no limits knows,
Hail sov'reign Good! unmixt, unfading Good!
Beauty, whose essence fills infinitude!
Whate'er of fair and excellent is found
Through earth, through heav'n, above, beneath, around,
All that in Art, and Nature can invite,
Are but faint beamings of thy perfect light.
Fairest, That only which no limits knows,
Hail sov'reign Good! unmixt, unfading Good!
Beauty, whose essence fills infinitude!
Whate'er of fair and excellent is found
Through earth, through heav'n, above, beneath, around,
All that in Art, and Nature can invite,
Are but faint beamings of thy perfect light.
Bear me some God to groves of Academe!
There, let eternal Wisdom be my theme.
Or Thou, whom erst by contemplation led
Plato discover'd in the silent shade,
Urania! thee, the Sire delighted view'd,
Holy, divine, pure, amiable and good.
They too, thy sweet attractive influence feel,
They chiefly, who in liberal Arts excel;
Scorning delights that lull the vulgar throng,
The cups of Circe and the Siren's song;
Nor less th'allurements of wealth, honours, pow'r,
The gaze of fools, the pageant of an hour;
They, from irradiance of thy genial beam
Prolific, with immortal offspring teem.
There, let eternal Wisdom be my theme.
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Plato discover'd in the silent shade,
Urania! thee, the Sire delighted view'd,
Holy, divine, pure, amiable and good.
They too, thy sweet attractive influence feel,
They chiefly, who in liberal Arts excel;
Scorning delights that lull the vulgar throng,
The cups of Circe and the Siren's song;
Nor less th'allurements of wealth, honours, pow'r,
The gaze of fools, the pageant of an hour;
They, from irradiance of thy genial beam
Prolific, with immortal offspring teem.
Such Poets once, while Deity possest
With sacred fires the muse-enamour'd breast;
Divine enthusiasts! born in happier times,
E'er Gothic laws prevail'd, and servile rhimes;
Now, quaint expression, or an easy line,
Is all the claim to Phœbus and the Nine.
Not so the Attic hive, and bards of Rome;
Ranging industrious they, from Nature's bloom
Gather'd variety of sweets, and thence
Distill'd a pure ætherial quintessence,
Hence the fair fictions of the Muse excel
What sages dictate, or historians tell;
With living lessons, rules unmixt and pure
Her aim to teach, and teaching, to allure.
All Arts their tribute bring, her numbers move
Harmonious, as angelic choirs above;
Immortal colours in her pictures glow;
Her speech the rhetoric of the Gods below.
With sacred fires the muse-enamour'd breast;
Divine enthusiasts! born in happier times,
E'er Gothic laws prevail'd, and servile rhimes;
Now, quaint expression, or an easy line,
Is all the claim to Phœbus and the Nine.
107
Ranging industrious they, from Nature's bloom
Gather'd variety of sweets, and thence
Distill'd a pure ætherial quintessence,
Hence the fair fictions of the Muse excel
What sages dictate, or historians tell;
With living lessons, rules unmixt and pure
Her aim to teach, and teaching, to allure.
All Arts their tribute bring, her numbers move
Harmonious, as angelic choirs above;
Immortal colours in her pictures glow;
Her speech the rhetoric of the Gods below.
True Poets are themselves a Poem, each
A pattern of the lovely rules they teach;
Those fair ideas that their fancy charm,
Inspire their lives, and every action warm;
And when they chaunt the praise of high desert,
They but transcribe the dictates of their heart.
Thus is Apollo's laureat priest endow'd,
Himself a temple worthy of the God.
Such, Homer, Solon, Phineus are enroll'd;
Sages, and lawgivers, and prophets old:
All Poets, all inspir'd; an awful train,
Seated on Pindus' head, apart from the profane.
A pattern of the lovely rules they teach;
Those fair ideas that their fancy charm,
Inspire their lives, and every action warm;
And when they chaunt the praise of high desert,
They but transcribe the dictates of their heart.
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Himself a temple worthy of the God.
Such, Homer, Solon, Phineus are enroll'd;
Sages, and lawgivers, and prophets old:
All Poets, all inspir'd; an awful train,
Seated on Pindus' head, apart from the profane.
| Poems upon various subjects | |