The following elegant Epistle has constantly been prefixed to all the Editions of DU FRESNOY, which have been published since JERVAS corrected the translation of DRYDEN. It is, therefore, here reprinted, in order that a Poem which does so much honour to the original Author may still accompany his work, although the Translator is but too conscious how much so masterly a piece of versification on the subject of Painting, will, by being brought thus near it, prejudice his own lines. M. THIS verse be thine, my Friend, nor thou refuse Whether thy hand strike out some free design, Smit with the love of sister arts we came, And met congenial, mingling flame with flame; * First printed in 1716. Like friendly colours found them both unite, While summer suns roll unperceiv'd away? How oft our slowly-growing works impart, How oft review; each finding like a friend, Fir'd with ideas of fair Italy. With thee, on Raffaelle's monument I mourn, ✅ Or wait inspiring dreams at Maro's urn: Match Raffaelle's grace with thy lov'd Guido's air, Paulo's free stroke, and Titian's warmth divine. How finish'd with illustrious toil appears This small, well-polish'd gem, the work of years! * Poem. Fresnoy employed above twenty years in finishing this Yet still how faint by precept is exprest Muse! at that name thy sacred sorrows shed, * In one of Dr. Warburton's editions of Pope, by which copy this has been corrected, the name is changed to Worsley. If that reading be not an error of the press, I suppose the poet altered the name after he had quarrelled with lady M. W. Montague, and being offended at her wit, thus revenged himself on ber beauty. |