University of Virginia Library

XII
[THE MARGINALIA]

Advice of the Popes who succeeded the Age of Rafael

Degrade first the Arts if you'd Mankind degrade,
Hire Idiots to Paint with cold light & hot shade:
Give high Price for the worst, leave the best in disgrace,
And with Labours of Ignorance fill every place.

[Some look. to see the sweet Outlines]

Some look. to see the sweet Outlines
And beauteous Forms that Love does wear
Some look. to find out Patches. Paint.
Bracelets & Stays & Powderd Hair

[When Sr Joshua Reynolds died]

When Sr Joshua Reynolds died
All Nature was degraded
The King dropd a tear into the Queens Ear;
And all his Pictures Faded.

[When Nations grow Old. The Arts grow Cold]

When Nations grow Old. The Arts grow Cold
And Commerce settles on every Tree
And the Poor & the Old can live upon Gold
For all are Born Poor. Aged Sixty three

On the Venetian Painter

He makes the Lame to walk we all agree
But then he strives to blind those who can see.

[A Pair of Stays to mend the Shape]

A Pair of Stays to mend the Shape
Of crooked Humpy Woman:
Put on O Venus! now thou art,
Quite a Venetian Roman.

[Venetian; all thy Colouring is no more]

Venetian; all thy Colouring is no more
Than Boulsterd Plasters on a Crooked Whore.

[O Reader behold the Philosophers Grave.]

O Reader behold the Philosophers Grave.
He was born quite a Fool: but he died quite a Knave