Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/253

Rh The Florentines said ' 'Tis a Dutch-English bore, Michael Angelo's Name writ on Rembrandt's door.' The Florentines call it an English fetch, For Michael Angelo never did sketch — Every line of his has Meaning, And needs neither Suckling nor Weaning. 'Tis the trading English- Venetian cant To speak Michael Angelo, and act Rembrandt, It will set his Dutch friends all in a roar To write ' Mich. Ang.' on Rembrandt's door ; But you must not bring in your hand a Lie If you mean that the Florentines should buy. Ghiotto's Circle or Apelles' Line Were not the Work of Sketchers drunk with Wine ; Nor of the City Clock's running. . . fashion ; Nor of Sir Isaac Newton's calculation.

lxxiii

A Pitiful Case

The Villain at the Gallows tree, When he is doom'd to die, To assuage his misery In virtue's praise does cry.

MS. Book, p. 33. Only in EY i. 216. This epigram refers to the concluding words of the last Discourse delivered by Reynolds at the Royal P 2