The Sun.
London, England, 1809-07-10 00:00:00

_BRITISH REnEtp.

Fic-T.lents of Art, a Poem, i❑ Six Cantos, with NOtes and a
Pir:lkce, including Su-le-tures on the State Of titz. Arts,
Criticism, Pltronage, and Public Taste. -131
.N:l4 R T IN
ARCHER SHEE,

If a multiplicity of temporary Mattet-s had not
precluded us from a regular continuation of this de-
part 171'': it of our Miscellany, we should have been in-
daced by a regard • for those Arts which do honour
to otir Country and to mankind, to haVe noticed the
Work before'Us. The former publication by the
same author, entitled " RHYMES ON AitT," was cha-
raCteriztd by such an extent of knowledge, such
,solid judgment, and such a fertile imagination, and
was enriched, byi such a variety of new and striking
images, that it placed' him very high itYdZied among
the best-Poets of this Country. H. had 'd bold' and
arduous task to perform in venturing-upon'thesame
traa, as.he seemed almost to have exhausted his
subj,,,tt., Rut such are the Powers of imagination
and geitins, that he has not only sustained the high
reputation which he bad acquired as a Critic and a
Poet, btit lia,s offered Superior claims to admiration
in his present Work. It breathes throughout a spirit
that be'tongs to the first order of poetic genius, and
is illustrated by such an abundance 'and variety of
knowledge, as are seldom found to accompany that
faculty of the mind, , which rather delights in inven-
tion'than acquirement. It is difficult to seleet any
passage amidst such a varied treasure of beauties,
but we are'persuaded that our Readers will find a
high gratification in the following lines, descriptive
of some of those celebrat ed Remains of Ancient Sculp •
ture which bade defiance -to the emulative talents
of every succeeding age.

. Lo 1-first, where dazzling fair, as poets feign
The sea-born GotideSs blushing from the Main,
li/hen ravish'd Ocean saw the visionrise,
Stole his last kiss, and gave her to the skies,
Love's Queen appears; all hearts her sway confess,
And powerful• Monarchs plunder, to:osset:s
The vulgar trophies of the sword despise;
And claim a triumph for their Parian prize.
Unrivall'd form I beyona-t.trcasia's boast
Or yet the brighter Fair of Albion's coast •
To thee 'the Bard, as cram on Ida's hill
like Paris, would present the apple still ;
-His partial eye tho' Painting's glories warm, '
And jealous Nature take Olyuthia's form.
- With modest mien the sov'reign Beauty stands,
.And seeks to shun the homage she comthinds,
Averts her face with such.a timid
The marble seems toburn in bltishei there
While grace and ease in every limb unfold,
The l'aphian fair that fired the world of okl.
Each charm divine that Nature's stores supply,
To fire the Poet's thought or Painter's eye ;
Whateer of Love's elysium Fancy views,
Or Heaven unfolds in vision to the'Muse,
The curious Artist caught, with care combined,
.Fix'ti as he found, and as he wrought refined,

Till:apt, the wave's proud offspring he outvies,
-And iiids a rival front the rock arise.
When Nature, watchful of the process, view'd
..t- C.rtn SO loVtly, horn a mass so rude;
Wher4 in the wond'rous work, she saw her own,
By Art outdone, and e'en ce11:c1 in Ernie,
Arnaz'd, she paused—cuni'ess'd the conquering fair,
'Set her bright seal, and starnp'd perfedion therc.
Yet, while we vlew thos::be.autjes wit ch mightmove
Imtno!tal breas4,,r.nd wai in a wkirid to love, -

No coarsi (Amiens rise, no vulgar fires,
Profane the sacr&ll•passion she ihspires ;
Each sense refined to rapture-as we gaze;
Like heav'n's ptrre angels, finds, its bliss in praise.
But see where Taste extends her brightest crown,
• Unclann'd amid the contests of renown ! ,
Lost, in the darkest night of time, his narri 1
By envious fate, defrauded of his faine,
Tiie hand divine•! to whose h OWC
The noblest image of a God below !
Bright as on Pindus,crown'd by all the Nine,
Behold A polio ! Pythian viaor, shine!
With holy. zeal, in Delphic splendour placed:,
And still revered•—an oracle of Taste !
He owns full tribute to his godhead given,
And finds on earth the homage feign'd in heav'n.
Not with more awful grace, as sung of pare,
The God himself his golden quiver-bOte;
When, o'er the Grecian host, in sltafiS of fire,
fie pour'd swift vengeance at his priest's'doi re ;
E rea his mien, With easeohe
Has just let fly its terrors'on the foe';" • -
.While,with'triumphant step, and 'eag?!teye, .
'lle forward moves to see the monster die.
Majestic rising from its ample base,
The polish'd neck uniting strength and grace,
Rats the bright head aloft, and Seems..to shine, ;
The column of a capital divine,!
•
In each light limb elastic vigour provef, r
A power immortal, and in marble moves;.
A forni divine, to heav'n's proportions-just!
In gra:Jleur graceful, as in grace august !
By Taste restored, on some celestial plan,
Drawn from the great original of man:
--A cast recover'd of that mould divine,
That Stimp'd heav'n's image strong in evei'y line, .
When first as earth recciv'd him and revered,
The " paragon of animas" appear'd!

Great,shadeof Genius ! still decreed to raise-.
Our pride and wonder, yet elude our praise!
Say, from the'skies, where'er by l'hidias placed,
Thou tamest high station 'inonisrthe soils of Taste,
While seraphs rottn.i, celestial wreath;li'ciStO'ckt,
. Say, dost thou, pleas'd, from heav'n's immortal bowers,
. Behold on earth the triumph of thy powers?
Thy toil enshrined in Gldry's temple view,
Through every age the idol of Vira?
-How oft as o'er the waste of ages cast,
The light of learning seem'd to spew the past
Has pious zeal explciring sought to raise
Thy reverend image to our mental gaze ;
To rescue froM 6blivion's tide thy nanto;:-.
And stamp it radiant on the rolls of name
But vain the' search, thou like a go,dclost shine,
On earth unknown, but in thy work divine.