The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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An EPISTLE to a Friend at Florence, in his Way to Rome.
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
An EPISTLE to a Friend at Florence, in his Way to Rome.
Your steady Impulse foreign Climes to view,
To study Nature, and what Art can shew,
I now approve, while my warm Fancy walks
O'er Italy, and with your Genius talks,
We trace with glowing Breast and peiercing Look
The curious Galery of th'illustrious Duke,
Where all those Masters of the Arts divine,
With Pencils, Pens, and Chizels greatly Shine,
Immortalizing the Augustan Age,
On Medals, Canvas, Stone, or writen Page.
Profiles and Busts Originals express,
And antique Scrols, old e'er we knew the Press.
For's Love to Science, and each virtuous Scot,
May Days unnumber'd be great Cosmus' Lot.
To study Nature, and what Art can shew,
I now approve, while my warm Fancy walks
O'er Italy, and with your Genius talks,
We trace with glowing Breast and peiercing Look
The curious Galery of th'illustrious Duke,
229
With Pencils, Pens, and Chizels greatly Shine,
Immortalizing the Augustan Age,
On Medals, Canvas, Stone, or writen Page.
Profiles and Busts Originals express,
And antique Scrols, old e'er we knew the Press.
For's Love to Science, and each virtuous Scot,
May Days unnumber'd be great Cosmus' Lot.
The sweet Hesperian Fields you'll next explore,
'Twixt Arnus' Banks and Tiber's fertile Shore.
Now, now I wish my Organs could keep Pace,
With my fond Muse and you these Plains to trace,
We'd enter Rome with an uncommon Taste,
And feed our Minds on every famous Waste;
Amphitheaters, Columns, Royal Tombs,
Triumphal Arches, Ruines of vast Domes,
Old aerial Aqueducts, and strong pav'd Roads,
Which seem to've been not wrought by Men but Gods.
'Twixt Arnus' Banks and Tiber's fertile Shore.
Now, now I wish my Organs could keep Pace,
With my fond Muse and you these Plains to trace,
We'd enter Rome with an uncommon Taste,
And feed our Minds on every famous Waste;
Amphitheaters, Columns, Royal Tombs,
Triumphal Arches, Ruines of vast Domes,
Old aerial Aqueducts, and strong pav'd Roads,
Which seem to've been not wrought by Men but Gods.
These view'd, we'd then survey with outmost Care
What modern Rome produces fine or rare,
Where Buildings rise with all the Strength of Art,
Proclaiming their great Architect's Desert,
Which Citron Shades surround and Jessamin,
And all the Soul of Raphael shines within:
Then we'd regale our Ears with sounding Notes,
Which warble tuneful thro' the beardless Throats,
Join'd with the vib'rating harmonious Strings,
And breathing Tubes, while the soft Eunoch sings.
What modern Rome produces fine or rare,
Where Buildings rise with all the Strength of Art,
Proclaiming their great Architect's Desert,
Which Citron Shades surround and Jessamin,
And all the Soul of Raphael shines within:
Then we'd regale our Ears with sounding Notes,
Which warble tuneful thro' the beardless Throats,
Join'd with the vib'rating harmonious Strings,
And breathing Tubes, while the soft Eunoch sings.
Of all those Dainties take a hearty Meal;
But let your Resolution still prevail,
Return before your Pleasure grow a Toil,
To longing Friends, and your own native Soil:
Preserve your Health, your Virtue still improve,
Hence you'll invite Protection from above.
But let your Resolution still prevail,
Return before your Pleasure grow a Toil,
To longing Friends, and your own native Soil:
Preserve your Health, your Virtue still improve,
Hence you'll invite Protection from above.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |