ii8 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



decline. Then carnellans, and ftones of an inferior clafs, were 

 introduced. Of this order and fpecies are the intaglios, found 

 at our Roman ftations, hardly worthy of a dcfcription, having 

 neither erudition, good workmanfhip, beauty and politure, 

 which conftitute the merit of antiques, and recommend them to 

 the notice and eftecm of the curious. 



The Greek mailers excelled the Romans in the art of fculpture 

 and engraving, who refigned their genius more to occonomical 

 and political refinements. This is allowed by a great Roman. 



Excudent alii fpirantia mollius sera, 

 Credo equidcm ; vivos ducent de marmore vultus ; 

 Orabunt caufas melius ; cacique meatus 

 Defcribent radio, et furgentia fidera dicent. 

 Tu regere imperio populos, Romans, memento; 

 HLC tibi crunt artes, pacifque imponere morem, 

 .Parcerc fubjecStis, et debellare fuperbos_ 



Virg. jEn. vi. ver. 847, Sec. 



The fubject nations with a happier grace, 

 From the rude ftone may call the mimic face, 

 Or with new life inform the breathing brafs : 

 Shine at the bar, defcribe the ftars on high, 

 The motions, laws, and regions of the fky : 



-*% 



Be this your nobler praife, in times to come, 



Thefe your imperial arts, ye fons of Rome ! 



O'erdiftant nations to flretch your awful fwey, 



To bid thofe nations tremble and obey. 



To crufli the proud, the fuppliant foe to rear, 



To give mankind a peace, or make the world with war, 



Pitt. 



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