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. line; THIS verse be thine, my friend, nor thou refuse Smit with the love of Sister-Arts we came * First printed in 1716. How oft review; each finding like a friend, With thee, o'er Raffaelle's monument I mourn, Here thy well-study'd marbles fix our eye; This small, well-polished gem, the work of years! * Muse! at that name thy sacred sorrows shed, * Fresnoy employed above twenty years in finishing this poem. Yet still her charms in breathing paint engage: Oh! lasting as those colours may they shine, * 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 her beauty. M. |