NOTES. 119 



With regard to precepts about moderation, and avoiding ex- 

 tremes, little is to be drawn from them : The rule would be 

 too minute that had any exadnefs at all : a multiplicity of ex- 

 ceptions would arife, fo that the teacher would be for ever 

 faying too much, and yet never enough : When a ftudent is 

 inftructed to mark with precifion every part of his figure, 

 whether it be naked, or in drapery, he probably becomes 

 hard ; if, on the contrary, he is told to paint the moft tenderly, 

 poffibly he becomes infipid. But among extremes fome are 

 more tolerable than others -, of the two extremes I have jufl 

 mentioned, the hard manner is the moft pardonable, as it 

 carries with it an air of learning, as if the Artifl knew with 

 precifion the true form of Nature, though he had rendered it 

 with too heavy a hand. 



. In every part of the human figure, when not fpoiled by too 

 great corpulency, will be found this diftinclnefs, the parts 

 never appearing uncertain or confufed, or, as a Muiician 

 would fay, flurred ; and all thefe fmaller parts which are com- 

 prehended in the larger compartment are flill to be there, 

 however tenderly marked. 



To conclude. In all minute, detailed, and practical excel- 

 lence, general precepts mufr. be either deficient or unnecefTary: 

 For the rule is not known, nor is it indeed to any purpofe a 

 rule, if it be necefTary to inculcate it on every occafion. R. 



NOTE LVII. VERSE 772.. 

 Whence Art, by Prafiice, to Perfection foars. 

 After this the Poet fays, that he pafTes over in filence many 

 things which will be more amply treated in his Commentary. 



" Multa fuperfileo qus Commentaria dicent." 

 But as he never lived to write that Commentary, his tranflator 

 has taken the liberty to pafs over this line in filence alfo. 



'M. 

 NOTE 



