APPENDIX. 145 



In the mean-time, I beg the reader's pardon for entertaining 

 him fo long with myfelf: It is an ufual part of ill manners in 

 all Authors, and almoft in all mankind, to trouble others 

 with their bulinefs; and I was fo feniible of it beforehand, 

 that I had not now committed it, unlefs fome concernments 

 of the readers had been interwoven with my own. But I 

 know not, while I am atoning for one error, if I am not fall- 

 ing into another : For I have been importuned to fay fome- 

 thing farther of this art; and to make fome obfervations on it, 

 in relation to the Hkenefs and agreement which it has with 

 Poetry its Sifter. But before I proceed, it will not be amifs, 

 if I copy from Bellori (a mod ingenious author) fome part of 

 his idea of a Painter, which cannot be unpleafing, at leaft to 

 fuch who are converfant in the philofophy of Plato ; and to 

 avoid tedioufnefs, I will not tranflate the whole difcourfe, but 

 take and leave, as I find occafion. 



" God Almighty, in the fabric of the univerfe, firft con- 

 templated himfelf, and reflected on his own excellencies; from 

 which he drew and conftituted thofe firft forms, which are 

 called Ideas : So that every fpccies which was afterwards ex- 

 purled, was produced from that firft Idea, forming that won- 

 derful contexture of all created Beings. But the celeflial 

 Bodies above the moon being incorruptible, and not fubject to 

 change, remained for ever fair, and in perpetual order. On the 

 contrary, all things which arefublunary, arefubject to change, 

 to deformity, and to decay; and though Nature always in- 

 tends a confummate beauty in her productions, yet, through 

 the inequality of the matter, the forms are altered; and in 

 particular, human beauty fufFers alteration for the worfe, as 

 we fee to our mortification, in the deformities and difpropor- 

 tions which are in us. For which reafon, the artful Painter, 

 and the Sculptor, imitating the Divine Maker, form to them- 



T felves, 



