Sad fate of beauty! more I see, Afflicted, lovely family! Two beauteous Nymphs, here, Painter, place, Which EMILY might yield to EVELYN's eyes. EPISTLE XII. ΤΟ SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS, PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY. You But preserve a Form. Pope. PAINTER, vain 's thy utmost art, The varied charms her features give. • When on her cheeks the smiles appear, 'Tis VENUS' better self is there; And when she looks with studious eye, Another PALLAS we descry. Painter, thy pencil well may trace A JUNO's awful, heavenly grace; Upon your canvass may be seen Chaste Beauty's fair, imperial Queen; • E'en Wisdom's Goddess may appear In all her native splendor there. But in my breast alone can be The perfect Image of the Three.' Thus did the Muse the Art defy : Thy pencil, eager to reply, Dash'd on the cloth in colors warm The semblance of MARIA's form; And soon I saw her cheeks disclose The lily mingled with the rose; And soon her beaming eyes dispense The soften'd rays of manly sense : Her graceful form, her auburn hair, All, all thy magic power declare. Loose flow'd her robe upon the ground, And many a Cupid flutter'd round. The bending branches kindly spread Their verdant beauties o'er her head, And far beyond the hills arise, And seem to mingle with the skies. At length, in all your art array'd, The canvass' spreading form display'd The beauties of my charming Maid. You shew'd the piece-I saw your pride, And thus the wayward Muse reply'd: Ah happy canvass, that dost bear • The features of my lovely Fair! · Upon thy surface, mild and clear, I see my heavenly Maid appear, With all the glories of her face, Her winning smiles, and gentle grace. -But where's the virtue of her mind, Which makes her of angelic kind? • Where is the softness of her heart, Thus, Sir, the Muse pursued her song, But frolic Nature will outdo The works of Art and Genius too : With joy the picture home I bore, And, smiling, view'd it o'er and o'er ! Gaz'd on it all the live-long day; And hop'd that there her cheeks would bloom In all their glow for years to come. Oft did the tear bedew my eye, Of future life would centre there. But as I thus enraptur'd stand Before the wonders of your hand, I see the lively tints decay, The vivid colors melt away; And ere twelve fleeting months were o'er, Her looks were haggard, and her eyes MARIA now, in Country Hall, Adorns the rude, old-fashion'd wall, And holds her venerable place 'Mid Dames and Lords of ancient race. At her the wond'ring Rustics stare, As at the oldest picture there: |