Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/366

 EPIGRAMS

i

Advice of the Popes who succeeded the Age of Rafael

Degrade first the Arts if you'd Mankind Degrade, Hire Idiots to Paint with cold light & hot shade, Give high Price for the worst, leave the best in disgrace, And with Labours of Ignorance fill every place.

Reynolds, vol. i, written at foot of title-page. Gil. i. 257, EY ii. 318 (reading ' to the popes who succeeded to the age of Rafail '). 1 you'd] you would Gil. 2 hot] not EY. 4 Labours of Ignorance] labour of idleness Gil. ii

Some look to see the sweet Outlines, And beauteous Forms that Love does wear ; Some look to find out Patches, Paint, Bracelets & Stays & Powder'd Hair.

Reynolds, vol. i, p. xv. Blake's comment on Sir Joshua Reynolds' account of his disappointment at his first impressions of Raphael. The prose passage preceding these lines runs : — ' Men who have been Educated with Works of Venetian Artists under their Eyes Cannot see Rafael, unless they are born with Determinate Organs. I am happy I cannot say that Rafael Ever was from my Earliest Childhood hidden from Me. I saw & I knew immediately the difference between Rafael & Rubens.' Gil. i. 259, WMR (' Epig. ' iii), EY ii. 320.