Nor laft, nor leaft, O Sculpture! was thy claim,
Delightful minifter of deathlefs fame!
E'en at this day, when Time's illufive cloud
Enwraps departed empire like a shroud,
Rending Oblivion's veil in Fancy's fight,
Thy Grecian fons my willing praise invite.
Thy Myron, first of that accomplish'd race
Who gave to ruder forms true vital grace;
See him with smiles his brazen cow carefs,
While herds applaufive round the sculptor prefs!
His work they hail with fond amazement wild,
And deem their kindred ftatue Nature's child:
A numerous train of rival bards rehearfe
His brazen heifer's praise in partial verse.
But not to brutes was his pure art confin'd;
Myron in nobler forms infus'd a mind.
'Twas his in Bacchus' fane that god to place,
With fuch commanding and fuch cheerful grace,
That the pleas'd eye, of potent form the test,
Gladly the joy-infpiring power confeft.
'Twas his with genius, in pofition rare,
To fhow the labouring limbs with learned care.
His keen Difcobolos in every part
Spoke toiling Nature trac'd by patient Art;
And his fleet Ladas, train'd for Piza's prize,
Hope in his heart, impatience in his eyes,
Through all his fhape exprefs'd his eager foul,
A thirst for praise, and panting for the goal *.
Of higher studies and superior note,
See Polycletus his ftrong mind devote,
To frame for ftudious youth inftruction's plan,
And found his precepts on his faultless man!
The model, fam'd through long-fucceeding time,
Display'd young Vigor in his martial prime.
Nor did thy female forms with weaker claim,
Accomplish'd artist! at perfection aim :
Witness Ephefian Dian's ample fane,
Fill'd with her active Amazonian train.
By many a sculptor, emulously keen,
These rival nymphs, high-wrought, enrich'd the scene. 50 There, where the judges of thy art declare
Which figure they pronounce fupremely fair,
How great the triumph of thy chafte design!
The Amazon of Phidias yields to thine*!
But as low vallies to the mountain grove,
As humble deities to awful Jove,
Such, in his time, was every fam'd compeer
With Phidias match'd in Art's fublimeft fphere;
Where the rapt mind, to Heaven itself convey'd,
Imbibes celestial form by Fancy's aid,
And gives adoring mortals to survey
Features that indicate Almighty fway.
Genius of ancient Greece! whofe influence ran
Through every talent that ennobles man ;
O'er bright ideas taught the mind to brood,
And feast on glory, as its native food;
Bear me, in vifion bear me, to that ground
Where Honor's fervent spirit breath'd around;
Where gay Diftinction held the garland high,
And thy prime wonders gladden'd every eye!
Thy favourite precincts at my wifh appear,
Where hymns of triumph fill the raptur'd ear;
My eager feet have pass'd thy olive grove,
And touch the threshold of Olympian Jove!
Lo, in calm pomp, with Art's profusion bright,
Whose blended glories fascinate the fight,
Sits the dread power! Around his awful head
The facred foliage of the olive spread,
Declares that in his sovereign mind alone
Peace ever fhines, and has for ever fhone.
The temple's fpacious precincts fcarce enfold
The grand quiescent form of ivory and gold.
The fymbols of his sway, on either hand,
Delight and reverence at once command.
Behold his right fweet Vict'ry's image bear,
Form'd, like his own, elaborately fair :
His left a fceptre with rich light invests,
And tranquil on its point his eagle rests;
His fandals are of gold; a golden robe
Proclaims his empire o'er the living globe :
For earth's mute creatures, on his veft are seen
With flowers, and firft the lily as their queen.
The rich compartments of the throne enfold
Ivory with ebony, and gems with gold:
Adorn'd with images, four maffive feet
Sustain the radiance of the regal feat.
Around each foot four joyous forms advance,
Four Vict❜ries, weaving a triumphant dance.
The throne's high fummit fhapes more lovely ftill
With animation and with beauty fill:
The Graces here upon their parent wait ;
His filial Seasons there, and both in triple ftate.
The labouring eye, with admiration fmit,
Labours in vain each figure to admit,
That blended arts confpiring toil'd to raife
On this grand spectacle, furpaffing praise.
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