Page 69, line 6. Read ancient books, or dream inspiring dreams; Before I begin to write, says Bossuet, I always read a little of Homer; for I love to light my lamp at the sun. The reader will here remember that passage of Horace, Nunc veterum libris, nunc somno, &c. which was inscribed by Lord Chesterfield on the frieze of his library. Page 69, line 7. And, when a sage's bust arrests thee there, Siquidem non solum ex auro argentove, aut certe ex ære in bibliothecis dicantur illi, quorum immortales animæ in iisdem locis ibi loquuntur: quinimo etiam quæ non sunt, finguntur, pariuntque desideria non traditi vultus, sicut in Homero evenit. Quo majus (ut equidem arbitror) nullum est felicitatis specimen, quam semper omnes scire cupere, qualis fuerit aliquis.—PLIN. NAT. HIST. Cicero, in the dialogue entitled Brutus, represents Brutus and Atticus as sitting down with him in his garden at Rome by the statue of Plato; and with what delight does he speak of a little seat under Aristotle in the library of Atticus! "Literis sustentor et recreor; maloque in illa tua sedecula, quam habes sub imagine Aristotelis, sedere, quàm in istorum sella curuli!"—Ep. ad Att. iv. 10. Nor should we forget that Dryden drew inspiration from the "majestic face" of Shakspeare; and that a portrait of Newton was the only ornament of the closet of Buffon-Ep. to Kneller. Voyage à Montbart. In the chamber of a man of genius we Write all down: Such and such pictures;—there the window ; Why, such and such. Page 69, line 11. Which gathers round the Wise of every Tongue, Quis tantis non gaudeat et glorietur hospitibus, exclaims Petrarch.-Spectare, etsi nihil aliud, certè juvat. -Homerus apud me mutus, imò verò ego apud illum surdus sum. Gaudeo tamen vel aspectû solo, et sæpe illum amplexus ac suspirans dico: O magne vir, &c.— Epist. Var. lib. 20. Page 70, line 4. As ker fair self reflected seems to rise! After line 4, in a former edition. But hence away! yon rocky cave beware! Wild Winter ministers his dread controul Page 70, line 7. These eyelids open to the rising ray, Your bed-chamber, and also your library, says Vitruvius, should have an eastern aspect; usus enim matutinum postulat lumen. Not so the picture-gallery: which requires a north light, uti colores in ope, propter constantiam luminis, immutata permaneant qualitate. This disposition accords with his plan of a Grecian house. 33. Page 71, line 1. Like those blest Youths, See the Legend of the Seven Sleepers.-GIBBON, C. Page 71, line 10. with knowledge health; Milton " was up and stirring, ere the sound of any bell awaked men to labour or to devotion;" and it is related of two Students in a suburb of Paris, who were opposite neighbours, and were called the morning-star and the evening-star-the former appearing just as the latter withdrew-that the morning-star continued to shine on, when the evening-star was gone out for ever. Page 71, line 18. Catch the blest accents of the wise and great. Mr. Pope delights in enumerating his illustrious guests. Nor is this an exclusive privilege of the Poet. The Medici Palace at Florence exhibits a long and im G posing catalogue. "Semper hi parietes columnæque eruditis vocibus resonuerunt." Page 73, line 6. Sheds, like an evening-stur, its ray serene, At a Roman supper statues were sometimes employed to hold the lamps. -aurea sunt juvenum simulacra per ædes, LUCR. ii. 24. A fashion as old as Homer!-Odyss. vii. 100. On the proper degree and distribution of light we may consult a great master of effect. Il lume grande, ed alto, e non troppo potente, sarà quello, che renderà le particole de' corpi molto grate.-Tratt. della Pittura di LIONARDO DA VINCI, c. xli. Hence every artist requires a broad and high light. Michael Angelo used to work with a candle fixed in his hat.-Condivi. Vita di Michelagnolo.-Hence also, in a banquet-scene, the most picturesque of all poets has thrown his light from the ceiling.-Æn. i. 726. And hence the " starry lamps" of Milton, that from the arched roof Pendent by subtle magic, yielded light As from a sky. Page 73, line 16. Beyond the triumphs of a Loriot's art. At the petits soupés of Choisy were first introduced those admirable pieces of mechanism, afterwards carried to perfection by Loriot, the Confidente and the Servante; a table and a side-board, which descended, and rose again covered with viands and wines. And thus the most luxurious Court in Europe, after all its boasted refinements, was glad to return at last, by this singular contrivance, to the quiet and privacy of humble life.— Vie privée de Louis XV. ii. 43. Between line 16 and line 17 were these lines, since omitted: Hail, sweet Society! in crowds unknown, Though the vain world would claim thee for its own. When in retreat Fox lays his thunder by, And Wit and Taste their mingled charms supply; |