Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/262

220 xciii

A Pretty Epigram for the encourage- ment of those Who have paid great sums in the Venetian and Flemish ooze

Nature and Art in this together suit: What is Most Grand is always most Minute. Rubens thinks Tables, Chairs and Stools are Grand, But Rafael thinks a Head, a foot, a hand.

MS. Book, p. 38, where the original title (del.) read 'a Pretty Epigram for those who have given high Prices for Bad Pictures.' WMR prints this, xcv and xcvi, as a single poem with the title ' Raphael and Rubens ' (' Epig.' xii), EY i. 220, omitting ' paid ' in 1. 2 of title.

xciv

These are the Idiots' chiefest arts: To blend and not define the parts. The Swallow sings, in Courts of Kings, That Fools have their high finishings.

MS. Book, p. 38. The correct position of the lines is indicated by prefixed arable numerals, 11. 7, 8 being a marginal addition. Only in EY i. 221, who arrange as two stanzas made up of 11. i, 2, 7, 8, and 3. 4, 5, 6. Cp. Descriptive Catalogue (1809), pp. 26, 27 : ' The character and expression in this picture [Blake's 'Canterbury Pilgrims'] could never have been produced with Rubens' light and shadow, or with Rembrandt's, or any thing Venetian or Flemish. The Venetian and Flemish practice is broken lines, broken masses, and broken colours. Mr. B.'s practice is unbroken lines, unbroken masses, and unbroken colours. Their art is to lose form : his art is to find form and to keep it. His arts are opposite to theirs in all things.' Also Notes in Blake's copy of Reynolds' Works, p. xcviii : ' To Generalize is to be an Idiot. To Particularize is the Alone Distinction of Merit. General Knowledges are those Knowledges that Idiots possess.' I the] EY omit. 3 The Swallow sings] Let it be told MS. Book 1st rdg. del. ; EY read ' known ' for 'told.' 4 That. . . finishings]