No. XXI. Hic manus, ob patriam pugnando vulnera passi; VIRGIL, Here patriots live, who, for their country's good, DRYDEN. THE subject of this day's paper is the second part of Psychostatics, the weighing of true merit; which (to pursue the allegory) is to be represented in picture, on the walls of the inner and more retired room. As poetry and painting are sister arts; so there is a particular affinity between history painting and epic poetry. This will justify my taking the whole design of the imagery from.a passage in the sixth book of the Eneid: the place is, where the poet peoples his Elysium with a colony of inhabitants worthy of those blissful regions. His sentiments are noble and delicate; and he has, with the nicest judgment, here shadowed out the distinct kinds of true merit and excellency, which justly entitle men to superior degrees of esteem and glory. I have taken part of the verses in the original for my present motto: and, as in the entire passage, Virgil specifies five kinds of great merit; answerable to his division, I shall distribute this second part of psychostatical experiments into five history-pieces: two of which shall be the entertainment of this day. room. The first piece is much the largest, and fills the whole fronting wall at the upper end of the Here we see a prospect of the sea; and far off, on one side, is extended a flat coast, full of shoals, and fenced with dykes; behind which appears (in perspective) a level country; in which thick spread cities rise, many of them surrounded with water, and the streets adorned with trees and canals. On the shore of this country stand crowds of the inhabitants, with tears in their eyes, looking on a numerous fleet, which sails from them; and seems to direct its course towards a large neighbouring island. This island rises out of the sea, encompassed with white rocks, on which swarms a mixt multitude, of every rank and condition: by their countenances, and the spying-glasses which several of them use, it may be guessed that they wait for the arrival of the fleet, with no less concern than the opposite nation laments its departure. The face of the island is agreeably diversified with cities, towns, villages, hills, rivers, woods, green meadows, and corn-fields; and the very mountains are clothed with grass. On the level top of one of the mountains is erected a large balance: in the ascending scale hangs, tottering, a tall person, of a long, dejected visage, with a crown falling from his head, and a male infant in his arms. Below him, on the ground, stands a huge monster (like that by which the poets represent Faction) with a multiplicity of heads and hands: some of the hands tug at the cords of the scale, endeavouring to pull it downwards; others appear open, with heaps of French pistoles in the palms. The weightier scale descends as low as possible; and in it sits, on a throne, a princely figure: his look is majestic, wise, resolute, and honest; with an high forehead, and piercing eye. On the right and left side of this scale are placed two portraitures, that seem attentive to every motion of the prince. The figure on the right discovers in his aspect great penetration and affability; a golden mace lies by him, and he holds in one hand a large embroidered purse with the arms of England embossed upon it; in the other, a baron's coronet, with this device, "Prodesse quam conspici." On the left is the figure of a person much younger: in his face appears a lively bloom, with an uncommon mixture of fire and judgment; to which is added a dignity, that declares him to be of noble birta: he is arrayed in a robe of black silk, adorned with loops and buttons of gold; and the whole figure seems to be the original of a picture I have seen (at full length) in Trinity College library, at Cambridge. ance. At a distance stand three females of importThe first is a grave, beautiful matron; in whose face may be remarkably discerned meekness, humility, devotion, and sweetness: her dress is plain and decent; and her head is bound with a white fillet, in which is woven in red characters, "The Protestant Religion." The charms of the second are of another kind: her limbs shew an unusual vigour; her complexion is fair and bright; her eye lively and sparkling; but, though her air is free and cheerful, yet it is modest, and not discomposed her garb, which sits easy, but not loose, is a silver brocade; on which the various emblems of " Liberty" are wrought in needle-work of gold. The beauty of the third fills the eye: and she bears a smiling contented countenance; her drapery is of the finest woollen manufacture; a chaplet of ears of wheat wreathes her temples; and she holds in one hand a mariner's compass, and in the other a golden coin, on which is stamped " Property." These three ladies fix their eyes on the Prince in the prevailing scale, looking up to him as their patron and defender. The four remaining psychostatical pieces are set in distinct pannels on a side wall of the room. In the first pannel, an angel,with wings expanded, holds an azure beam, that poises two scales: in the weighty scale is represented a person attired in a black satin robe, with sleeves of the finest lawn: his countenance is ingenuous, goodnatured, and pious; he holds a bible open in his hands, and seems speaking to an attentive audience struck with concern: at his feet are placed three folio volumes; the uppermost lies open, and the title at the top of the page is "The Rule of Faith." It is amazing to see the mounting scale seemingly so loaded, and yet in effect so light: it is filled with a massy triple crown, golden crosiers, silver crucifixes, keys, dead men's bones, scourges, beads, wafers, and one velvet embroidered slipper. FREE-THINKER, No. 157, Sept. 21, 1719. |