صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

But she with such delicate skill,

Her pillage so fits for her use,

That the chemist in vain with his still
Would labour the like to produce.

Then grudge not her temperate meals,
Nor a benefit blame as a theft;

Since, stole she not all that she steals,
Neither honey nor wax would be left.

DENNERI ANUS.*

DOCTUм anus artificem juste celebrata fatetur,
Denneri pinxit quam studiosa manus.

Nec stupor est oculis, fronti nec rugą severa,
Flaccida nec sulcis pendet utrinque gena.

* Diu publico fuit spectaculo egregia hæc tabula in areâ Palatina exteriori, juxta fanum Westmonasteriense.

Nil habet illepidum, morosum, aut triste tabella;
Argentum capitis præter, anile nihil.
Apparent nivei vittæ sub margine cani,
Fila colorati qualia Seres habent;
Lanugo mentum, sed quæ tenuissima, vestit,
Mollisque, et qualis Persica mala tegit.
Nulla vel e minimis fugiunt spiracula visum;
lineolis de cutis ulla latet.

At neque

Spectatum veniunt, novitas quos allicit usquam,

Quosque vel ingenii fama, vel artis amor. Adveniunt juvenes; et anus si possit amari, Dennere, agnoscunt hoc meruisse tuam.

Adveniunt hilares nymphæ; similemque senectam Tam pulchram et placidam dent sibi fata, ro

gant.

Matronæ adveniunt, vetulæque fatentur in ore

Quod nihil horrendum, ridiculumve vident. Quantus honos arti, per quam placet ipsa senectus; Quæ facit, ut nymphis invideatur anus! Pictori cedit quæ gloria, cum nec Apelli Majorem famam det Cytherea suo!

DENNER'S OLD WOMAN.

In this mimic form of a matron in years,
How plainly the pencil of Denner appears!
The matron herself, in whose old age we see
Not a trace of decline, what a wonder is she!
No dimness of eye, and no cheek hanging low,
No wrinkle, or deep-furrow'd frown on the brow!
Her forehead indeed is here circled around

With locks like the ribbon, with which they are bound;

While glossy and smooth, and as soft as the skin
Of a delicate peach, is the down of her chin;
But nothing unpleasant, or sad, or severe,

Or that indicates life in its winter-is here.
Yet all is express'd, with fidelity duc,

Nor a pimple, or freckle, conceal'd from the view.

Many fond of new sights, or who cherish a taste For the labours of art, to the spectacle haste;

The youths all agree, that could old age inspire The passion of love, hers would kindle the fire, And the matrons with pleasure confess that they

see

Ridiculous nothing or hideous in thee.

The nymphs for themselves scarcely hope a de

cline,

O wonderful woman! as placid as thine.

Strange magic of art! which the youth can

engage

To peruse, half-enamour'd, the features of age; And force from the virgin a sigh of despair, That she, when as old, shall be equally fair! How great is the glory that Denner has gain'd, Since Apelles not more for his Venus obtain❜d!

LACRYME PICTORIS.

INFANTEM audivit puerum, sua gaudia, Apelles Intempestivo fato obiisse diem.

Ille, licet tristi perculsus imagine mortis,

Proferri in medium corpus inane jubet,

Et calamum, et succos poscens,

luctus,

"Hos accipe

"Mororem hunc," dixit," nate, parentis habe!" Dixit; et, ut clausit, clausos depinxit ocellos;

Officio pariter fidus utrique pater:

Frontemque et crines, nec adhuc pallentia for

mans

Oscula, adumbravit lugubre pictor opus.
Perge parens, morendo tuos expendere luctus;
Nondum opus absolvit triste suprema manus.
Vidit adhuc molles genitor super oscula risus;
Vidit adhuc veneres irrubuisse genis,

« السابقةمتابعة »