Protogenes and Apelles. Matthew Prior Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T075639 Prior, Matthew, 1664-1721. Poems on Several Occasions [English poems only]. London Printed for JACOB TONSON at Shakespear's-Head over against Katharine-Street in the Strand, and JOHN BARBER upon Lambeth-Hill. MDCCXVIII. 1718 pp. 291-295. [42],506,[6]p.: ill.; 2°.

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Protogenes and Apelles . When Poets wrote , and Painters drew , As Nature pointed out the View : E'er Gothic Forms were known in Greece , To spoil the well-proportion'd Piece : And in our Verse e'er Monkish Rhimes Had jangl'd their fantastic Chimes : E'er on the flow'ry Lands of Rhodes Those Knights had fix'd their dull Abodes , Who knew not much to paint or write , Nor car'd to pray , nor dar'd to fight : Protogenes , Historians note , Liv'd there , a Burgess Scot and Lot ; And , as old Pliny's Writings show , Apelles did the same at Co. Agreed these Points of Time , and Place , Proceed We in the present Case . Picqu'd by Protogenes's Fame , From Co to Rhodes , Apelles came ; To see a Rival and a Friend , Prepar'd to Censure , or Commend , Here to absolve , and there object , As Art with Candor might direct . He sails , He lands , He comes , He rings : His Servants follow with the Things : Appears the Governante of th'House : ( For such in Greece were much in use . ) If Young or Handsom , Yea or No , Concerns not Me , or Thee to know . Does 'Squire Protogenes live here ? Yes , Sir , says She with gracious Air , And Curt'sey low ; but just call'd out By Lords peculiarly devout ; Who came on purpose , Sir , to borrow Our Venus , for the Feast To-morrow , To grace the Church : 'tis Venus' Day : I hope , Sir , You intend to stay , To see our Venus : 'tis the Piece The most renown'd throughout all Greece , So like th'Original , they say : But I have no great Skill that Way . But , Sir , at Six ( 'tis now past Three ) Dromo must make my Master's Tea : At Six , Sir , if You please to come , You'll find my Master , Sir , at Home . Tea , says a Critic big with Laughter , Was found some twenty Ages after : Authors , before they write , shou'd read : 'Tis very true ; but We'll proceed . And , Sir , at present wou'd you please To leave your Name — Fair Maiden , yes : Reach me that Board . No sooner spoke But done . With one judicious Stroke , On the plain Ground Apelles drew A Circle regularly true : And will you please , Sweet-heart , said He , To shew your Master this from Me ? By it He presently will know , How Painters write their Names at Co . He gave the Pannel to the Maid . Smiling and Curt'sing , Sir , She said , I shall not fail to tell my Master : And , Sir , for fear of all Disaster , I'll keep it my own self : Safe bind , Says the old Proverb , and Safe find . So , Sir , as sure as Key or Lock — Your Servant Sir — at Six a Clock . Again at Six Apelles came ; Found the same prating civil Dame . Sir , that my Master has been here , Will by the Board it self appear . If from the perfect Line He found , He has presum'd to swell the Round , Or Colors on the Draught to lay ; 'Tis thus ( He order'd me to say ) Thus write the Painters of this Isle : Let those of Co remark the Style . She said ; and to his Hand restor'd The rival Pledge , the Missive Board . Upon the happy Line were laid Such obvious Light , and easie Shade ; That Paris' Apple stood confest , Or Leda's Egg , or Cloe's Breast . Apelles view'd the finish'd Piece ; And Live , said He , the Arts of Greece ! Howe'er Protogenes and I May in our Rival Talents vie ; Howe'er our Works may have express'd , Who truest drew , or color'd best ; When He beheld my flowing Line ; He found at least I cou'd design : And from his artful Round , I grant , That He with perfect Skill can paint . The dullest Genius cannot fail To find the Moral of my Tale : That the distinguish'd Part of Men , With Compass , Pencil , Sword , or Pen , Shou'd in Life's Visit leave their Name , In Characters , which may proclaim That They with Ardor strove to raise At once their Arts , and Countrey's Praise : And in their Working took great Care , That all was Full , and Round , and Fair .