Pride of the sight, and pleasure of the tongue.
Dearly we pay for such immoderate light,
Beauty's, like Love, severely exquisite ;
Our souls are wound to that excessive height,
We suffer, not enjoy, the vast delight.

Nor less renown'd in charms the HERVEYS stand: How fair they seem! how fashion'd for command: Each of herself might singly challenge praise, One were a tempting task for endless lays, Did not Another and Another shine, Splendid alike, and equally divine,

As if imperial Beauty meant no more

To reign at large, and spread her mighty power;
But with unequal favor would confine

Her numerous treasures to that darling Line.

Can SMITH unnoted pass, so fram'd for praise ?
Ev'n Britain's court grows brighter with her rays.
Oh lovely conflict of her varying hue!

Lily and Rose by grateful turns subdue.
Promiscuous charms our ravish'd senses greet,
Here April's bloom, and August's ripeness meet;
Delights, which seem but to salute the year,
Eternally reside, and florish here;

Who can express which season cheers him most?
How gay the minutes fly, when she's the toast!

Bright as the stone, with which the glass we wound, Inspiring as the juice, which with the glass is

crown'd.

Oh, WILKINSON! who can of beauty sing, And not an offering to thy altar bring?

Who can describe the young, the sweet, the fair, And not thy charms, thy wondrous charms declare? Unsullied lustre dwells upon thy face,

Nor eye can find a stain, nor fancy mend a grace.

One pleasure more, indulgent Muse, afford, Pleasure supreme, when FORRESTER's the word! Desert so vast commands thy utmost lays, And sure 'tis almost impious not to praise; Praise dare I call it, when each boldest line Shows like weak twilight to meridian shine? Lo! mien, complexion, features, voice, conspire, Perfection's brands, to set the world on fire; Oh she's all wonders! Heaven's whole excellence Meets in her frame, and fills our every sense; That grace, which most ennobles who can name, Where all 's divinely great, entitled all to fame ? As well the man, who travels all the day Scorch'd with the sun, might tell the fiercest ray; He knows the lucid author of his flames,

But with his parching heat alike he charges all the beams.

Ye numerous CHARMERS, who remain unsung,
Forgive th' unequal tribute of my tongue,
Not that your conquests fail, my strains expire,
I own your pow'rs and feel a silent fire;

No more my present raptures can pursue,

But when my Muse takes breath, I'll soar and sing of you.

EPISTLE XI.

THE

BEAUTIES.

ΤΟ

MR. ECKARDT,

The Fanter.

BY THE HONORABLE
HORACE WALPOLE.

DESPONDING Artist, talk no more
Of Beauties of the days of yore,
Of Goddesses, renown'd in Greece,
And ZEUXIS' composition-piece,

Where ev'ry nymph that could at most

Some single grace or feature boast,

Contributed her favorite charin

To perfect the ideal form.

'Twas CYNTHIA's brow, 'twas LESBIA's eye,

'Twas CLOE's cheeks' vermilion dye,

ROXANA lent the noble air,

Dishevell'd flow'd ASPASIA's hair,

And CUPID much too fondly press'd
His mimic mother THAIS' breast.

Antiquity how poor thy use!

A single Venus to produce!

Friend Eckardt, ancient story quit,
Nor mind whatever Pliny writ;
Felibien and Fresnoy declaim,

Who talk of Raphael's matchless fame.
Of Titian's tints, Corregio's grace,
And Carlo's each Madonna face,
As if no Beauties now were made,
But Nature had forgot her trade.
'Twas Beauty guided Raphael's line
From heavenly women, styl'd divine;
They warm'd old Titian's fancy too,
And what he could not taste he drew :
Think you Devotion warm'd his breast
When Carlo with such looks express'd
His virgins, that her vot'ries feel
Emotions-not, I'm sure, of zeal?
In Britain's isle observe the Fair,
And curious choose your models there;
Such patterns as shall raise your name
To rival sweet Corregio's fame :
Each single piece shall be a test,

And Zeuxis' patchwork be a jest;

Who ransack'd Greece, and cull'd the age To bring one Goddess on the stage:

On your each canvass we 'll admire

The charms of the whole heav'nly choir.

Majestic Juno shall be seen

In HARVEY'S glorious aweful mien.