best sett in a body that is best fet in a body that is comelie though not of comely though not of delicate features, and that delicate features; and that hath rather dignitye of hath rather dignity of prefence, then beawtie of prefence, then beauty of afpect. Neither is it al- afpect. Neither is it al moft feene, that verie most feene, that verie beautifull perfons are beautiful perfons are otherwife of great vertue; otherwise of great vertue : as if nature were rather as if nature were rather bufie not to erre, then in busie not to erre, then in laboure to produce excel- labour to produce excel lencye; And therefore they lency. And therefore they prove accomplished, but proue accomplished, but not of great spiritt; And studie rather behauiour, study rather behauiour then vertue. then vertue. not of great spirit; and In beautie that of favour is more then that of collour, and that of decent and In Beautie, that of fauour is more then that of colour; and that of decent and VI. Variations in posthumous Latin Edition of 1638. 1 Of Delicate Features. Delicato, ' delicate.' 2 Presence. Aspectus,' of aspect.' 3 Aspect. Omitted in the Latin. 1625. British Museum Copy. 43. Of Beauty. Ertue is like a are eft in a Body, that is omely, though not of Delicate Features:1 And hat hath rather dignity of Prefence, then Beauty of Afpect.3 Neither is it almoft feene, that very Beautifull Perfons, otherwife of great Vertue; As if Nature, were rather Bufie not to erre, then in abour, to produce Excelency. And therefore, they proue Accomplished, but not of great Spirit; And Study rather Behauiour, hen Vertue; But this 4 æt. 65. holds not alwaies; For Auguftus Cæfar, Titus Vefpafianus, Philip le Belle of France, Edward the Fourth of England, Alcibiades of Athens, Ifmael the Sophy of Perfia, were all High and Great Spirits; And yet the moft Beautifull Men of their Times.8 In Beauty, that of Fauour,9 is more then that of Colour, And that of Decent and 4 Labour. Omitted in the Latin. 5 Accomplished. Conversationibus apti, 'fit for intercourse.' Sophy. Omitted in the Latin. High and Great Spirits. Viri prorsus magni, 'very great men.' 8 Of their Times. Omitted in the Latin. Fauour. Venustas, 'comeliness.' III. 1607-12. æt. 47-52. IV. 1612. æt. 52. That more That gracious mocion, more gratious motion, then that of favour. then that of fauour. is the best part of beauty is the best part of beauty which a picture cannott which a picture cannot exprefle, noe nor the firft expreffe: no nor the first fight of the life; and there fight of the life: and there is noe excellent Beautie, is no excellent beauty, that hath not some strange- that hath not some strangenes in the proporcions. A neffe in the proportions. A man cannot tell whether man cannot tell whether Appelles or Albert Durere Apelles or Albert Durere were the more trifler; were the more trifler. Whereof the one would Whereof one the would make a Parfonage by make a perfonage by Geometricall proporcions, Geometrical proportions, the other by takeing the the other by taking the best partes out of divers beft parts out of diuers faces to make one excel- faces, to make one excellent. Such parfonages I lent. Such perfonages I thinke would please noe thinke would please no bodye, but the painter, body, but the Painter that that made them. Not but made them. Not but I thinke a Painter may I thinke a Painter may make a better face then ever was; But he must doe it by a kinde of felicity (as a Mufition, that maketh an excellent ayre in Mufick) and not by rule. make a better face then euer was: But hee must doe it by a kinde of felicity, (as a Mufitian that maketh an excellent aire in Mufick) and not by rule. 10 Motion. Oris et Corporis motus, ' motion of the face and body. 11 Personages. Effigies, images.' 12 That made them. Omitted in the Latin. 13 Was. In vivis fuit,' was in life.' 14 Felicity. Felicitate quadam, et casu, 'by a kind of felicity and chance.' V. 1625. æt. 65. Gracious Motion,10 more then that of Fauour. That is the best Part of Beauty, which a Picture cannot expreffe; No nor the first Sight of the Life. There is no Excellent Beauty, that hath not fome Strangeneffe in the Proportion. A Man cannot tell, whether Apelles, or Albert Durer, were the more Trifler: Whereof the one would make a Perfonage by Geometricall Proportions: The other, by taking the best Parts out of diuers Faces, to make one Excellent. Such Perfonages,11 I thinke, would please no Body, but the Painter, that made them. 12 Not but I thinke a Painter, may make a better Face, then euerwas;13 But he must doe it, by a kinde of Felicity,14 (As a Musician that maketh an excellent Ayre in Muficke) 15 And not by Rule.16 A Man fhall fee Faces, that if you examine them, Part by Part, you shall finde neuer a good;17 And yet all together doe well. 15 Excellent Ayre in Musicke. Cantus, melody.' 16 Rule. Regulis Artis, rules of art.' 17 Finde neuer a good. Vix unam reperies quam separatim probes, 'you shall scarcely find one that you will approve of separately.' III. 1607-12. æt. 47-52. Yf it be true that the principall part of Beautie is in decent mocion, Certainly it is no mervaile, though perfons in yeeres feeme manie tymes more amiable. Pulchrorum Autumnus pulcher. For noe youth can be comely, but by pardon and by confidering the youth, as to make vpp the comelynes. Beautie is as fommer fruites which are easie to corrupt, and cannott laft; and for the most part it makes a diffolute youth, and an age a litle out of countenance; But yet certainlie againe if it light well, it maketh vertues fhyne, and vices blushe. IV. 1612. æt. 52. If it bee true that the prin- tumnus pulcher. For no 18 More Amiable. Junioribus amabiliores,' more amiable than younger persons.' 19 Before Pulchrorum. Secundum illud Euripidis, ' according to the saying of Euripides.' |