Et teneras raptim veneres, blandosque lepores, Et tacitos risus transtulit in tabulam. Pingendo desiste tuum signare dolorem ; Filioli longum vivet imago tui; Vivet, et æternâ vives tu laude, nec arte THE TEARS OF A PAINTER. APELLES, hearing that his boy Had just expir'd-his only joy! Although the sight with anguish tore him, ('Tis all that I can now bestow,) "This tribute of a father's wo!" Then, faithful to the two-fold part, Thus far is well. But view again The cause of thy paternal pain! Thy melancholy task fulfil! It needs the last, last touches still. Again his pencil's powers he tries, For on his lips a smile he spies: And still his cheek unfaded shows The deepest damask of the rose. Then, heedful to the finish'd whole, With fondest eagerness he stole, Till scarce himself distinctly knew The cherub copied from the true. Now, painter, cease! Thy task is done. Or of thy labour, or thy love. SPE FINIS. AD dextram, ad lævam, porro, retro, itque re ditque, Deprensum in laqueo quem labyrinthus habet, Et legit et relegit gressus, sese explicet unde, Perplexum quærens unde revolvat iter. Sta modò, respira paulum, simul accipe filum; Sic te, sic solum, expedies errore; viarum THE MAZE. FROM right to left, and to and fro, And turn, and turn, and turn again, To solve the myst'ry, but in vain; A clew, that soon shall set you free! Herself could serve you with a better. And make, with ease, your exit there! NEMO MISER NISI COMPARATUS. "QUIS fuit infelix adeò! quis perditus æque!" Conqueritur moesto carmine tristis amans. Non novus hic. questus, rarove auditus; amantes Deserti et spreti mille queruntur idem. Fatum decantas quod tu miserabile, multus Deplorat, multo cum Corydone, Strephon. Si tua cum reliquis confertur amica puellis, Non ea vel sola est ferrea, tuve miser. NO SORROW PECULIAR TO THE SUFFERER. THE lover, in melodious verses; His singular distress rehearses, Still closing with a rueful cry, "Was ever such a wretch as I?" Too deaf to hear, too hard to feel; Nor thou alone hast lost thy wits. |