Vain wish, in Lethe's gulf, by Tafte abhorr'd,
The literary fculptor's kind record:

Of works his judgment knew fo well to prize,
Untimely funk, and never more to rise.

But here let gratitude your merit speak,

Thou learned Roman, and thou faithful Greek !
Who 'mid the wrecks of time confpicuous ftand,
Still holding light with a benignant hand,

To guide those fond advent'rers on their way
Who would the wafted scenes of ancient art furvey. 410
Pliny whose active, comprehenfive mind

The richest map of Nature's realms design'd,
Well haft thou mingled in thy mighty plan
Sketches of arts that foften favage man!
Thy ftudies on thy country's rugged breast
Enlighten'd paffion for those arts impress'd.
Though modern arrogance, with envious aim,
Has toil'd to undermine thy folid fame,

Nature and Truth may yet, in thee, commend

Their lively eulogift, their liberal friend;

U

420

And Tafte with grateful joy thy page explore

For rich Antiquity's recover'd ftore."

There her loft wonders seem again to live, ⠀ildo..
There fresh delight to Fancy's eye they give

Like phantoms, rais'd in magic's ample bower,
With all the fplendor of departed power *.

To one, less apt with warm applause to speak,
Minutely faithful, though a rambling Greek,
To thee, Paufanias! let me juftly raise
A column, deck'd with plenitude of praise
Proportion'd to ineftimable aid,

And copious light with modeft care display'd!
Tafte, by thy guidance, ftill has power to rove
Through ancient Sculpture's confecrated grove.
Delightful traveller through Talent's clime !
'Twas not thy lot to view its graceful prime :
Yet, nobly careful of its glories past,

'Twas thy brave aim to make its glories last;

430

* See NOTE XXII.

And Time shall honour, as his years increase,
Thy Panorama of enchanting Greece *.

And you, ye moderns! whofe fond toils difplay
Art's ancient powers in Learning's bright array-
You, whofe enlighten'd minds affift my lays,
Friends of my verfe! accept its friendly praise !
Sage Palatine! whofe foul of temp'rate fire
No toils could daunt, and no researches tire:
Accomplish'd Junius! who, in Britain's ifle,
Wer't pleas'd to bask in bright Protection's smile;
And noble Arundel's regard to share

440

With those fine Arts that boaft his lib'ral care.

450

With Erudition's ample aid, 'twas thine

To form a portrait of antique defign,

Bright as the image of elaborate skill,
Where blended ftones the fine mofaic fill;
Where richest marbles all their tints unite, 1
And varied splendor fascinates the fight.

See NOTE XXIII.

In thy vaft work rare proof of patient toil, soc Fee That glean'd from every age, its fpotlefs spoil,

There breathes a warm benignity of soul,

And moral beauty decorates the whole

Of kindred spirit, in a later age,

See gentle Guafco, in a friendly page,

To touch a brother's heart with tender joy,

On Sculpture's powers his penfive mind employ !

As April drops foon thicken to a shower,

The sprightly comment of a vacant hour

Grew a rich work, where truth and tafte have shown
How life deriv'd from Art ́a nobler tone';

Where lovely Sculpture shines benignly bright
In mild Philosophy's endearing light.
Alas! while Fame expects the volume penn'd
By high-foul'd Montefquieu's attractive friend,
Calamity, that strikes Ambition 'mute,
Obftructs the writer in his dear pursuit !

460

470

See NOTE XXIV.

His injur❜d eyes in cruel quiet close,

And fink from glorious toil to dark repose

While Art deplor'd her fuffering friend's retreat,

Griev'd to refign an eulogist so sweet,

Her lofs fee Learning haften to repay

With richer floods of intellectual day!

She, potent guide of each aspiring mind

That aims to please and benefit mankind
She, in a petty cell of German dust,
Taught youthful Genius in her aid to trust ;
Break his just way through Poverty's base bar,
And vault victorious into Glory's car.
Yes, fervid Winkelman! this praise is thine,
Thou bold enthusiast of a heart benign!
Nature exults to mark thy happier course,

And the fair triumph of thy mental force;

Though Fortune blended thy rare lot to fill,

As for the Grecian bard, extremes of good and ill.

480

490

See NOTE XXV.