work should be done by any body else It is added also that Protogenes drew a thinner line with another colour over the said line bidding the old woman at his going forth that she should shew this unto him that had asked for him and tell him that this was the man he did looke for It fellout so Apelles returneth but being ashamed to be overcome he divided the lines with a third colour not leaving an further place for subtiltie Whereupon Protogenes confessing himselfe overcome did hastily runne to the haven seeking the stranger this same boord was left unto the following ages without any change to the astonishment of all men but of Artificers chiefly Wee have greedily viewed it before the first firing of Caesar his house in the pallace where it perished containing in a more spacious widenesse nothing else but such lines as could hardly be discerned by the eye so that this boord among the brave works of many Artificers did seeme to be emptie alluring the spectators therefore and being indeed more noble then any other worke I know well enough that many will not understand these words of Plinie after that plaine meaning the alledged place urgeth yet doe they not perswade us to take these words otherwise then of the strife of lines most subtilly drawne with a light and gentle hand But of this God willing some where else seeing it is better wee should pursue our intent by comparing that carefull diligence of the ancients with the carelesse negligence of these our times § 2. And first we thinke good not to hinder the perswasion of them who esteeme our inbred abilities to be alone sufficient to make us Artificers let them onely give way to our labours seeing nothing in our opinion can be perfect but when Nature is holpen by care * Quint. orat instit xi 3. Neither can we conceive it otherwise because we doe find that among so many rare wits none have anciently obtained the highest fame of Art but such as not contenting themselves to salute the schooles of Painters afarre off and to spend a very small time of apprentiship in them thought it rather needfull to be a great while a learning what they would afterwards teach others least they should be forced to learne any thing at the time of teaching so do we likewise perceive that the majestie of these Arts was troden under foot as soone as the love of too much ease made men neglect the care due unto the first principles of Art Such things as doe grow up without any foundation sayth Seneca * Lib. I. de Irâ cap. ultimo are subject unto ruine it is therefore a grosse error when many by a false perswasion of their teachers go about to sever this Art from the elegancy of a more grave and severe kinde of learning as if the whole exercise of Art did chiefly consist in an easie and readie practise without any further care Such as make great haste sayth Quintilian * Lib. IV. orat instit cap. 5. must needs thinke slightly of every thing that is to be done before they come to what is last Hence it is that they forsake things indeed necessary for the love of things seeming more specious yea they neglect and loath such great helps of Art as cannot be wanted not looking for any commendation of their wit from things farre remote from ostentation seeing the tops of high buildings are noted the foundations are hid sayth Quintilian * In prooemio libri Primi Besides these there are others of a more lazie arrogance despising all precepts of Art after they have spent but a little time in the schooles of Painters and seeking to gaine authoritie by the contempt of them that studie to bring to these Arts not their hand onely but all such things also as may conduce to Art These are they that doe small things with a great deale of ease sayth Quintilian * Lib. I. orat instit cap. 3. and being thus emboldened they shew instantly whatsoever they know themselves able to doe though they can doe nothing but what is neere at hand they doe not much but quickly there wanteth true force in their worke seeing it hath not taken a deepe root even as seeds cast upon the upper most ground doe spring up more readily and like blasted eares of corne make a shew of ripenesse before harvest These things compared with their yeares are pleasing at the first but the advancement afterwards being at a stay the admiration also doth decrease § 3. Whosoever therefore desireth a more compleat and absolute knowledge of these Arts must by all means beleeve that all such things doe belong unto his care which are able to perfit an Artificer and that it is not possible to attaine to the height of any thing but by the means of some fore-running beginnings yea that he may not looke for greater matters unlesse he first stoope downe to the lesser Studies have also their infancie sayth Quintilian * Lib. I. orat instit cap. 1. and as the education of such bodies as at any time shall be the strongest beginneth with milke and cradle even so doth he which may in time be a most consummat Artificer hang a great while about the first lines standing in need of a hand to lead his hand untill he use himselfe a little to the right stroke as it is impossible to attaine to the height of any thing but by some beginnings so doe the first things when the worke goeth on seeme to be the least sayth Quintilian * Lib. X. orat instit cap. 1. the height of all Arts as of trees delighteth us very much so do not the roots and yet can there be no height without the roots sayth Tullie * De Perfecto oratore unexperienced children doe first apprehend the figure and name of letters sayth Manilius * Lib. II. Astron their use is afterwards taught them by the making up of syllables words follow the force of things and the use of Art doth lastly arise out of them it maketh much for our maine end to have learned the first rudiments in order yea the preposterous labour of over-hastened precepts shall come to nothing unlesse learning be grounded upon his proper elements The ancients therefore not despising such small things although in studies nothing may be counted small that doth advance our principall intent have made these Arts great rather contenting themselves with a slow then with an uncertaine event § 4. How much doe the customes of our young men at this time differ from the sayd practise of the ancients for who is there among many thousands that confessing himselfe inferiour giveth place to the age or authoritie of a better Master sayth the younger Plinie * Lib. viii Epist 23. they are wise at one instant they are forthwith filled with all knowledge they stand in awe of no bodie they imitate no bodie they need not take example
brand these most commendable recreations with the nick-name of barren and unprofitable delights for how can that same contemplation deserve the opinion of an unfruitfull and idle exercise by whose meanes wee doe understand the true beautie of created bodies a ready way to the consideration of our glorious Creator besides that this same exercise like a most sweet Musick to the eye doth cleare up all heavinesse and sullen drowsinesse of the mind it worketh in us also by the examples of things past a perfect love of innocence it doth bridle the most violent passions of love and anger So is it that * Lib. III. Eleg. 20. Propertius propounding diverse wayes how to be rid of love maketh mention also of this same delight Plutarch likewise teacheth us that malice and revenge cannot settle their seate in such hearts as doe delight in these delicate elegancies I know well enough that there may be some who making a shew of following such harmlesse pastimes doe in the meane time under that pretence entertaine all manner of harmfull and most dangerous plottes of them I doe not speake my discourse meaneth them onely that doe not faine Looke well into them and you shall take them to be some remnant of the golden age for who is there whose heart hath been once rightly possessed with the sweet humanitie of such liberall delights that doth slavishly stoope under the tyrant love or that suffereth himselfe to be driven whither soever desperate Ambition pusheth him They envie no body they despise no body they doe not lend their eares to backbiting and slanderous tales they doe but imagine well-hung chambers and well-furnished galleries this doe they make the height of their cares the height of their wishes propounding themselves hereafter an innoxious and a happie life and if perchance they fall out with some bodie yet is there nothing so easie as to bring them instantly to a true and hearty reconciliation chiefly if they can but learne that he against whom they have a quarrell doth not altogether abhor from the love of those things they themselves doe like Polemon observed this very well for when a certaine man that spent a great deale in buying of neat seales as Plutarch reporteth * De Irâ cohibendâ fell out with him in very foule termes he answering him never a word but fixing his eyes and minde earnestly upon one of his sealing rings began to consider it most diligently Wherupon the man filled with joy left his railing and Not so Polemon sayd he but view it in a good light and you shall finde it a great deale fairer Forsooth the wit of man is softened by gentle Arts and our manners are sutable to our studies sayth Ovid * Lib. III. de Arte. Snow doth continue longer in rough and untilled grounds sayth Petronius Arbiter * In Satyrico but wheresoever the ground is tilled there doth the slender frost vanish away whilest you are yet speaking even so doth anger fix her seat in our brests occupying rude and fierce minds but passing by the learned and gentle ones Virgil when he doth describe how Aeneas after a world of miseries endured by tempest landing in Afrike came to the new Citie of Karthage hath a notable place and worth our consideration Here hath a new occasion lessened his feare giving him some hope of safetie sayth Virgil * Lib. I. Aeneid for whilest he staying for the Queene vieweth every thing in a great Temple whilest he doth also wonder at the fortune of the new Towne at the labour of the worke as also at the emulation of the workmen he seeth the whole description of the most famous Trojan warre painted in a very good order Agamemnon Priamus and A chilles terrible to them both were not wanting in that same picture Standing still therefore and weeping What place is there now O Achates sayth he what Countrey is there that is not filled with the fame of our labours Looke here is Priamus here is the reward for praise and teares also for the miseries of mortall men put away all feare this fame shall bring us some safetie Having thus spoke he fed his eyes with the represented picture fetching many a deepe grone and watering his cheekes with a large river of teares Out of these words of Virgil doth the ancient Commentator Servius inferre this lesson All Aeneas his care was about the manners of the Africans but now doth he quiet himselfe upon sight of this Picture for as many as doe paint such kinde of warres cannot but love vertues and be touched with a most lively commiseration of the grievous mis-fortunes of other men § 10. As many then as have courages equall unto their vast estate may thinke their good name well enough secured and need not feare any just reproach when they take their fill of these no lesse profitable then delectable contemplations remembring onely to moderate this same incredible delight with so much discretion as not to suffer the memorie of their owne greatnesse to be abolished by the vehemencie of their too fond affection seeing the greatest that are cannot maintaine the authoritie of a great and glorious name as long as they goe about to uphold the worthinesse of these Arts by the losse of their owne dignitie How dreadfull was the Majestie of the Romane Emperours in the whole world annd yet could not Adrian the Emperour scape the bitter censures of Apollodorus the Architect as Xiphilinus reporteth because he did applaud himselfe too much for his skill in painting of Gourds The King Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes as Polybius witnesseth * Apud Athenaeum lib. V. Deipnosoph did likewise beare the blame and receive the contempt of his immoderate love towards these Arts. Plutarch his good advice seemeth therefore to deserve golden Letters When we doe wonder at any thing done sayth he * In Periclis vitâ circa initium it doth not instantly follow that we should desire to doe the same When Philip the King heard his sonne in a banquet play very sweetly and artificially upon a musicall Instrument Are not you ashamed sayd he to play so finely for it sufficeth if a King doth shew himselfe now and then at leisure to heare Musicians and he honours the Muses enough when he is content sometimes to be a spectator of them that play for strife but the self-practising of such mean Arts bringeth to passe that our earnest endeavour about unprofitable things serveth for a witnes of our sloathfulnesse in greater matters Neither is there any generous young-man the which having seen the Jupiter consecrated at Pisa desireth to be Phydias so doth no bodie also desire to be Polycletus how ever the image of Juno consecrated at Argos pleaseth him A generous young man may very well be taken with an honest love of Poësie and yet shall he not instantly wish himselfe to be Anacreon Philemon or Archilochus for it is not necessary that when the worke delighteth us
nat hist cap. 93. doth speak and among all these I cānot but remember the royal fame of a gem that same Pyrrhus had which made warre against the Romanes for it is reported of him that he had an Agathe wherein the nine Muses and Apollo holding of a Lute were discerned the spots not by Art but by Nature so being spread over the stone that every one of the Muses had her peculiar mark Plin. nat hist lib. xxxvii cap. 1. see also Solinus cap. 12. Lovers of all kind of curious rarities use to call such a casuall painting of Nature as commeth neere unto Art by the name of Gamahè and because of late some have undertaken to gather up divers examples of these wonders of Nature I would have him that is desirous to know somthing more concerning them reade the first chapter of Gafarellus his booke published in French with the title of Curiosities unheard § 5. Although now these miracles of Nature may seem to fall out by meere chance yet can wee not think it to be a casuall kind of picture when many generations issuing forth out of one man who had a certaine marke do constantly retaine the same marke in some part of their bodies receiving it as by the succession of a most sure and perpetuall inheritance What chance I pray you could it be that Seleucus the King having had upon his thigh a compleat figure of an anchor his off-spring also should keep the same long after him and yet is this credibly reported in Appianus his Syriack History see also the xv book of Justine and Ausonius in the second of his famous cities The progenie of Pelops had such another marke and Iphigenia should never have knowne her brother Orestes if shee had not spied an Olive tree upon his right shoulder the marke of the Pelopeian race see Cedrenus Those that were at Thebes called Sparti carried also the image of a speare in their bodies as a sure marke of their linage and as many as had not that marke were esteemed to be none of them saith Dio Chrysostomus * Orat. IV. de Regno the Sparti are discerned by their speare the Pelopeians by their shoulders the great Themistius by his eloquence saith Gregory Nazianzene * In epistolâ ad Themistium see also Julianus the Emperour orat II. de rebus gest is Constantii imp and Zetzes upon Lycophron his Cassandra but above all the rest doe the words of Plutarch deserve to bee remembred here the warts moles and blemishes in the eye of parents saith hee * De iis quos divina vindicta tarde assequitur not appearing in the children do somtimes break out againe in the Nephewes and a Grecian woman being accused of adultery because had brought forth a black childe was found to be the fourth generation of an Aethiopian Python being one of the Sparti who died but a little while agoe had a sonne that brought forth in his body the figure of a speare the similitude of this same generation after an intermission of so many yeeres starting up a fresh in him as out of a deep gulfe § 6. These pictures of busie Nature might seem wonderfull if shee had rested here and not proceeded further to amore admited attempt of making statues thus is it that many high mountaines and promontories draw their name and fame from the resemblance of living and lifelesse creatures see Eustathius upon the 89. and 157. verses of Dionysius his description or circuit of the world many plants also are knowne by the name of those things whose similitude Nature represented in them as is clearely to bee perceived in that same never enough admired Mandrake see Theophrastus Dioscorides Plinie Columella yea Nature hath somtimes brought forth out of her rich bosome perfect patterns of Art if it be true what Carneades * Apud Ciceronem lib. I. de Divinat reporteth that namely in the stone-quarreys of Chios a stone being cleft in sunder there was found in it the head of a little Pan. Plinie doth also relate * Lib. xxxvi nat hist ca. 5. how in the Parian stone-quarreyes a great stone being split by the wedges of the worke-men there did appeare within an image of Silenus Tzetzes Chiliad VII Hist 144. and Chil. VIII Hist 213. speaketh of the dracontian stones CHAP. II THe earnest care of good and loving Parents did follow upon the said introduction afforded by God and Nature seeing Parents could never give any satisfaction to the tendernesse of their affection untill they saw the comfort of their life and the hope of their decaying yeeres setled into a good course of breeding so was this same duty of Parents much urged by the most grave and continent Philosopher Crates who was often wont to say as Plutarch * De Liber institutione reporteth that a man should doe very well to climbe up to the top of the most eminent places of the towne and to cry out continually unto the eares of all Foolish men what aile you that you take so much paines to possesse riches and care so little for your children unto whom you mean to leave them Diogenes therefore according to Aelian * Var. hist xii 56. Laertius lib. VI. Plut. de Amore divitiarum his relation when hee saw that the Megarians took more care for their cattell then for their children said that hee had rather bee a Megarian his ramme then his sonne The greatest part of the most polished Grecians in the meane time did mightily detest that grosse errour of the Megarians and would not only have their children throughly skilled in all kind of necessary sciences but would have them taste also these more curious Arts the Grecians for the most parte saith Aristotle * Lib. VIII Polit. cap. 3. did teach their children the Art of painting least they might be deceived in the buying and selling of vessells and houshold-stuffe or rather that they might improve themselves in the true knowledge of perfect beautie Varro likewise in his treatise of the education of children speaketh even to the same purpose shee that hath not learned to draw saith hee * Apud Nonium in Plumarium cannot be able to judge what is well painted by the embroderers or weavers in the counter points of bolsters it doth then appeare by these words of Varro that not the Grecians only but the Romanes also would have their children bred after this manner and Plutarch teacheth us in the life of Paulus Aemilius that this Noble Captain had as well sculpters and painters among the masters of his children as Sophists and Rhetoricians yet can wee not denie but that this same custome of breeding hath beene more frequent in Greece seeing it was brought to passe by the authoritie of Pamphilus saith Plinie * Lib. xxxv nat hist cap. 10. first at Sicyon and afterwards in all Greece that free-borne youths should be taught before all things a certain kind of
enjoy the fruit of his Art whereas before whilest he did paint he enjoyed the Art it selfe The youthfull yeares of our children are more beneficiall and profitable but their infancie for all that is a great deale sweeter Plutarch giveth us a lively example of the pleasure a working Artificer enjoyeth as many as love to paint sayth he * Inlibello cui titulus Non pâ—sse suaviter vivi secuÌ„dùm Epicurum are so taken with the goodly shew of their workes in hand that Nicias when he made a picture famous by the name Necya did often aske his servants whether he had dined His mind forsooth fed upon the study of his worke finding greater dainties in that contemplation then in any other banquet whatsoever I have seene Painters doe their worke sayth Libanius * Declamat VI. singing Neither doth it deserve any admiration that they should worke with so much ease seeing the workman is still refreshed and encouraged by the spirit infused into him by an unexpected successe bestirring himselfe as if the things themselves and not the images were a-doing there is every where nothing but life and motion so are also these new upgrowing things entertained with a great deale of favour and sollicitude sayth Quintilian * Lib. X. c. 1. This same favour also together with the conceived hope conducing to the fertilitie of our wit sayth Lucan carm ad Pisonem § 2. As many then as doe wonder at and deride the indefatigable and vehement fervencie great wits doe use about the workes of art have never loved any thing worth studie and care neither have they so much as understood that our better and more divine part if it be not altogether base and degenerate is nourished or rather feasted with honest and delectable labours even from our tender childhood We doe see therefore how little children themselves cannot rest sayth Tullie * Lib. V. de Finibus bon malorum and as they grow more in yeares they love so well to be alwayes in action that they can hardly be beaten from laborious and toilesome playes so doth also this desire of doing alwayes something still encrease with their ages It is then evident that we are borne to doe alwayes something see also Seneca epist 39. § 3. And in good truth what shall we say to this can there be any so great contentment in the possession of a vast and endlesse estate in the enjoying of all kinde of pleasures and delights as to see men of great places and authoritie that live in great abundance and plentie and doe not want the good will of the world assemble themselves together and make a ring about the astonished Artificer who being thus graced by most eminent persons how do all other men upon any occasion accompany him What shew doth he make in publike places what veneration doth he finde in the assemblies of men of good note how sensible is he of the joyes that doe tickle his heart when he seeth the eyes of all men with a silent admiration fixed upon him alone when he perceiveth that his name is one of the first names parents acquaint their children with when he findeth that the unlearned and carelesse multitude hath got his name and telleth it one to another at his going by country people also and strangers having heard of him in the places of their abode as soone as they come to Towne enquire for him first of all desirous to see the face of him they heard so much of any wit almost may be enflamed sayth Ovid * Lib. III. de Ponto Eleg. 4. by the applause and cheerfull favour of the people § 4. But why should I reckon up these ordinarie joyes that lie open also to the eyes of ignorant men seeing there are secret delights of greater moment felt and knowne by none but the Artificer himselfe for when he publisheth an accurat and well be laboured worke the sound and solid joy conceived out of the absolutenesse of the worke hath as well a certaine weight and durable constancie as the work it selfe when he bringeth on the contrary a sudden and halfe polished worke to the view of the world the anguish and perplexitie of his timorous minde doth commend the good successe the more unto him so that he doth most heartily embrace the pleasure of his fortunate boldnesse And how is it possible I pray you that such an Artificer should not thinke himselfe a most happie man which upon a just affiance of his vertues knoweth himselfe to be lifted up above the reach of envie where he standeth secure of his fame enjoying in this life as if he were now alreadie consecrated unto eternitie the veneration that is like to follow him after his death it is a most comfortable thing to have a fore-feeling of what we hope to attaine unto sayth the younger Plinie * Lib. IV. ep 15. so sayth also Latinus Pacatus the flitting pleasure of sudden successes sayth he * Panegyr Theodosio Aug. dicto as it taketh us so doth it leave us it is a longer felicitie when we are secure of what we expect neither have some great Masters in old times dedicated their best workes at Delphis in the temple of Apollo with any other intent but that they should in their life time preoccupie a lively feeling of an everlasting name Those that have hung up unto the Gods great donaries sayth Libanius * In Antiochico passe the rest of their time with a great deale of pleasantnesse as having now in their daily conversation some fine thing of their owne to relate yea if they had many other things to say that might make them famous yet would they goe by all the rest and boast most confidently that they doe not feare to be buried in oblivion seeing their worke remaineth in the finest place under the Sunne neither doth this confidence deceive them for whosoever doth shew the study of his minde in places of great resort procureth unto himselfe an everlasting glorie such is in my opinion the case of those Painters who have consecrated the wisdome of their hands at Delphis CHAP. VIII AS then the sweetnesse they felt in a happie expressing of that ancient simplicitie made them still to advance these Arts with an undefatigable studie so was likewise the manifold and every where obvious use of these Arts a great cause of their augmentation seeing men love alwayes to take the greatest paines about such Arts and Sciences as are in greatest request the provocations of vices have also augmented the Art it hath been pleasing to engrave wanton lusts upon the cups and to drinke in ribauldrie abominations sayth Plinie * In prooemio libri xxxiii Daedalus made a woodden Cowe to accomplish the shamefull desire of Pasiphaë withall see Higynus * Fabuia 40. But we are resolved to insist onely upon more honest causes and certainly all mankinde hath beene very much wronged by them that would goe and fetch
altered it according to truth Although now it may seeme easie to observe the decency of a convenient place and that a reasonable wit upon the least warning may doe therein well enough yet doth not the occasion of the circumstances which are to be observed in painting admit such unchangeable rules and precepts of Art as to tie all Masters to them but as in many other things so most of all in the consideration of this same occasion it falleth out very often that circumstances are changed according to the place and time represented Counsell is a maine thing in the Artificer sayth Quintilian * Lib. II cap. 13. seeing it is turned and altered diversly according to the occasions of things The same Author sayth againe in another place to the same purpose It sufficeth me to affirme sayth he * Lib. VI cap. ult that counsell is the chiefest thing in our whole life and that it is in vaine to teach other Arts without it yea that providence without doctrine is able to effect more then doctrine without providence Counsell also in my opinion doth not much differ from judgement but that judgement busieth it selfe about things that shew themselves counsell about things that lie hid and are not yet found out or at least are doubtfull and uncertaine The Art of painting requireth studious endeavours assiduous exercitations great experience deepe wisedome and a most readie counsell Precepts in the meane while helpe the Art very much if they doe propound unto us the right way and not one usually beaten track onely but when precepts doe faile our wits must supply the rest and we must warily consider what is decent and expedient Nealces was very wittie and subtill in the Art sayth Plinie * Lib. xxxv cap. 12. for when he painted a sea-fight between the Persians and the Aegyptians and would expresse that this fight was fought in the river Nile whose water resembleth the sea he declared by an historicall argument what he could not shew by Art for he made an asse drinking upon the shoare and a crocodile lying in waite to intrap him Timanthes also perceived that he was to cover something in his picture with the which he overcame Colotes judging that some circumstances might not be shewed or else that they could not be expressed as the matter did require for when in the sacrificing of Iphigenia saith Quintilian * Lib. II cap. 13. he had painted Calchas sad Ulysses sadder and had attributed unto Menelaus the greatest sorrow Art could effect having spent all his passions and not finding how to expresse her fathers countenance worthily he thought it good to cover his head and to leave the apprehension of the fathers heavinesse to the consideration of the beholders Plinie doth mention the same picture Timanthes did abound in wit sayth he * Lib. xxxv cap. 10. that same Iphigenia so much extolled by the Orators as shee stood neere the altar readie to die was his worke for having painted all them that stood by full of griefe especially her uncle when he had now consumed the whole image of sadnesse he covered her fathers face not knowing how to shew it as it was fit There are also other proofes of his wit as namely a sleeping Cyclops in little whose greatnesse when he studied to expresse he painted some Satyrs hard by measuring his thumbe with the stalke of some kinde of hearbes There is ever much more understood in his workes then there is painted and though the Art be great yet doth his wit goe beyond the Art § 14. Discretion is here also a great point but very often neglected by them that observe Truth and occasion too much for as in Tragedies so likewise in Pictures all things are not to be laid open before the eyes of the spectator Let not Medea sayth Horace * De Arte. murder her owne children in the presence of the whole people let not the villanous Atreus boile the flesh of man openly There are doubtlesse many things misbecoming them that doe professe a severe integritie of uncorrupt manners so that an Artificer had better leave them out with the losse of some part of the storie then with the losse of modestie Lucian calleth the picture of Pylades and Orestes who slew Clytemnestra and Aegisthus a most just or discreet picture adding withall the reason of such a new and unused denomination The Painter sayth he * De Domo devised a grave course for having but shewed the impious undertaking a farre off and running over it as if it were alreadie done he made the young men busie with the slaughter of the adulterer see also the description of Timomachus his Medea as we find it in the Anthologie of Greeke Epigrammes lib. IV cap. 9. They doe likewise wrong this same Discretion very much who by the wantonnesse of their workes throw the spectators headlong downe into all manner of unlawfull and filthy concupiscences and an Artificer is here also to take good heed that he do not lose the authoritie of a good and discreet man whilest he studieth to gaine the vaine and shamefull title of wit and waggerie see Propertius lib. II Eleg. 5. as also Sidon Apollinaris lib. II Epist 2. Though a man doe never so much put himselfe in minde of continence sayth A chilles Tatius * Lib. I de Clitophontis Leucippes amorib yet is he most commonly provoked by example to imitate the contrary especially if he meeteth with the example of one whom he esteemeth to be better then he thinketh himselfe to be the authoritie of a better turneth the shame of the offence into a most confident boldnesse Petronius Arbiter affoordeth us an evident proofe of what wee have sayd alreadie when he bringeth in a lustfull youth set all a fire upon the sight of some pictures containing the rape of Ganymedes the repulse of an importunate Naïs solliciting Hylas Apollo his griefe for Hyacinthus Doth Love then enter into the heart of the Gods also sayth he and upon this ground he runneth on in his way Love and Solitarinesse two bad and most forward counsellors had brought Chaerea farre enough though the picture of Danaë had not inflamed him more see Terence * Eun. Act. III Sce. 5. and Donatus maketh this observation upon it Terence sheweth here philosophically sayth he what hurt the life of man receiveth by the fabulous tales forged by Poëts when they do suggest examples of naughtinesse unto them that are readie to offend * See Clemens Alexandrinus in Protreptico Wee may very well adde to these lascivious pictures all such kinde of drinking-cups as are esteemed precious for the engravings of some infamous adulteries even as if drunkennesse were little able to kindle lust sayth Plinie * Lib. XIV cap. 22. unlesse wine should be drunke in bawdie conceits and drunkennesse should be invited by the price of such unlawfull contentments But of this abuse of Art wee have spoken alreadie
lib. II cap. 8. in the beginning of that Chapter § 15. Magnificence doth shew it selfe in a well-conceived invention and there is added a wonderfull great authoritie unto the worke when Truth Occasion and Discretion are duly observed in it for as the whole Art of painting is not much worth unlesse it be accompanied with much gravitie and doe containe all such kinde of things as are full of grace and dignitie so must shee make but a small shew of elegancie pleasantnesse and too much laboured gaynesse seeing these things doe leave in the spectators a strong suspition of affectation which doth rather lessen then augment the authoritie of an Artificer whosoever on the contrary is unskilfull and unexperienced in this most accurate Art the same doth nothing else but build castles in the aire for feare of stooping to the ground Such likewise as doe mistrust their owne wittes strive alwayes to blow and to lift themselves up even as weake and feeble persons use to be extreame in their threatnings and low men love to stand on tiptoes though now a man upon this same overstraining and forcing of his wit may seeme somtimes to obtaine the credit of a strong Invention even as an unbroken or untilled ground doth now and then bring forth goodly hearbs yet doth he not avoide the greatest danger there is in the Invention seeing he is desperate in his attempts from whence it ariseth sayth Quintilian * Lib. II cap. 12. that he who doth nothing but seeke what is excessive may by chance light upon one or other loftie conceit but that falleth out very seldome and it cannot make amends for many other faults the things therefore proceeding from such a vaine minde seeme rather to arise out of a tumultuous distemper of troubled and turbulent phantasies sayth Longinus * De sub lim oratione § 2. then to be handled after a magnificent way and if you examine every one of these things in a true light what even now was terrible shall by little and little grow contemptible so is it then much better forthwith to looke for a remedie and not to suffer that our minde aspiring to greater matters should entertaine frivolous and ridiculously swelling conceits in stead of a serious haughtie Invention and every Artificer must know that as our cattell being too full of grasse is cured by letting bloud sayth Quintilian * Li. II. c. 10 and so returneth to such fodder as may be most proper for the preservation of their strength that he likewise must lose some grease and part with his grosse humors if ever he meaneth to be healthfull and strong otherwise that same vaine swelling will betray it selfe upon the first attempt of any true worke to the end then that wee should not mistake it is worth our labour to observe out of Longinus an infallible marke of true magnificence That is great indeed sayth he * De sublimi orat § 5. which doth still returne into our thoughts which we can hardly or rather not at all put out of our minde but the memorie of it sticketh close in us and will not be rubbed out esteeme that also to be a most excellent and true magnificence which is liked alwayes and by all men for when all such men as differ in their studies course of life purposes and ages doe all agree in their opinion about one and the same thing the judgement and approbation of so many diversly minded folks must needs gain a constant and certaine estimation of the thing so much admired The yonger Pliny was likewise persuaded to hope well of the durablenesse of his workes when he found that all men generally in all places did speake well of his writings It pleaseth me well sayth hee * Li. ix ep 11. that my bookes keepe the same favour far from home which they have gotten in the city and I begin to think them compleat enough seeing several judgments in such diversity of countries judge alike of them The reason now why Artificers are more or lesse addicted to follow this same magnificent way of art proceedeth either out of their owne naturall inclination or else out of a purposed resolution agreeing with their nature Magnificent thoughts come by nature and cannot be taught sayth Longinus * de Sublimi orat § 2. yea the onely art to attaine unto the same is that Nature should fit us to high conceited and lofty things And again § 7 Great minded men are most of all given to entertain stately conceits It is then required here That an artificer bee of a magnanimous nature if not that he do at least with a purposed resolution follow after grave and marvellous things saith Dionys Halicarnass * In Isocr It seemeth that Nature did dispose Nicophanes to a high strain of invention Nicophanes was gallant and neat sayth Pliny * Li. xxxv cap. 10. so that he did paint antient workes for the eternity of things he had a most forward mind and there are very few like him he was most commended for the gorgeousnesse and gravitie of his art Pyreicus might likewise have gone a great deale higher if his intent had not beene bent another way Pyreicus was in his art inferiour to none sayth Pliny * Li. xxxv cap. 10. but I doe not know whether hee spoyled himselfe by a purposed resolution and though hee did delight in meane things yet did he deserve in them the greatest praise he painted Barbers and Coblers shops asses all maner of victuals and such like things wherefore hee was called Rhyparographus These workes of his being wonderfull pleasant sould better than the bravest pieces of other masters Such artificers therefore as long to gaine an everlasting fame must needs be of an exceeding great spirit or at least upon all occasions entertaine great thoughts and stately imaginations But seeing our minde cannot well give it self to this practise unlesse it be thorowly freed from all maner of sorbid and abject cares it is altogether requisite that we should banish the ordinary and most cumbersome troubles about the necessities of our wretched life A cheerful mind poureth forth a witty invention sayth Cassiodorus in praefat libri undecimi Variarum It is impossible that those sayth Longinus * De sublimi orat § 7. who busie the thoughts and studies of their whole life about vile and servile matters should bring forth any thing that might deserve the admiration of all ages See Juvenal Sat. 6. and T. Calphurnius Siculus Eclog. iv Protogenes was faine to wrestle a great while with want and povertie ere that he could put himselfe forth and undertake greater matters He was very poore at the beginning saith Pliny * Lib. xxxv cap. 10. and followed his art with great earnestnesse which was the reason that he was lesse fertile Some doe thinke that he painted ships till he was fifty yeares of age Whosoever therefore would willingly meet with excellent and notable inventions