6

FIRST LECTURE.

means by which it was attained, the difficulties it hasconquered. When we fay tajle , we mean not crudelythe knowledge of what is right in art: tafte eftimatesthe degrees of excellence, and by comparifon proceedsfrom juftnefs to refinement. Our language, or ratherthofe who ufe it, generally confound, when fpeaking ofthe art, copy with imitation , though effentially differentin operation and meaning. Precifion of eye and obe-dience of hand are the requifites of the former, withoutthe leaft pretence to choice, what to fele£t what to re-ject ; whilft choice directed by judgment or tafte confti-tutes the effence of imitation, and alone can raife theraoft dextrous copyift to the noble rank of an artift.The imitation of the ancients was, ejfential , charac-teriflic-t ideal . The firft cleared nature, of accident,defeat, excrefcence ; the fecond found the ftamen whichconnedts character with the central form ; the thirdraifed the whole and the parts to the higheft degree ofunifon. Of genius I fhall fpeak with refer ve, for noword has been more indiferiminately confounded; by ge-nius I mean that power which enlarges the circle ofhuman knowledge, which difeovers new materials ofnature, or combines the known with novelty ; whilfttalent arranges, cultivates, polifhes the difeoveries ofgenius.

Guided