Thus ended parle the Senior Shade. And now, as scorning to upbraid, With curving, _parabolick_ smile, Contemptuous, eying him the while, His Rival thus: 'Twere vain, my Lord, To wound a gnat by spear or sword[3]; If therefore _I_, of greater might, Would meet this _thing_ in equal fight, 'Twere fit that I in size should be As mean, diminutive, as he; Of course, disdaining to reply, I pass the wretch unheeded by. But since your Lordship deigns to know What I in my behalf may show, With due submission, I proclaim, That few on earth have borne a name More envied or esteem'd than mine, For grace, expression, and design, For manners true of every clime, And composition's art sublime. In academick lore profound, I boldly took that lofty ground, Which, as it rais'd me near the sky, Was thence for vulgar eyes too high; Or, if beheld, to them appear'd By clouds of gloomy darkness blear'd. Yet still that misty height I chose, For well I knew the world had those, Whose sight, by learning clear'd of rheum, Could pierce with ease the thickest gloom. Thus, perch'd sublime, 'mid clouds I wrought, Nor heeded what the vulgar thought. What, though with clamour coarse and rude They jested on my colours crude; Comparing with malicious grin, My drapery to bronze and tin, My flesh to brick and earthen ware, And wire of various kinds my hair; Or (if a landscape-bit they saw) My trees to pitchforks crown'd with straw; My clouds to pewter plates of thin edge, And fields to dish of eggs and spinage; Yet this, and many a grosser rub, Like fam'd Diogenes in tub, I bore with philosophic nerve, Nay, gladly bore; for, here observe, _'Twas that which gave to them offense, Did constitute my excellence._ I see, my Lord, at this you stare: Yet thus I'll prove it to a hair.-- As Mind and Body are distinct, Though long in social union link'd, And as the only power they boast, Is merely at each other's cost; If both should hold an equal station, They'd both be kings without a nation: If therefore, one would paint the Mind In partnership with Body join'd, And give to each an equal place, With each an equal truth and grace, 'Tis clear the picture could not fail To be without or head or tail. And therefore as the Mind alone I chose should fill my graphick throne, To fix her pow'r beyond dispute, I trampled Body under foot: That is, in more prosaick dress, As I the passions would express, And as they ne'er could be portray'd Without the subject Body's aid, I show'd no more of that than merely Sufficed to represent them clearly: As thus--by simple means and pure Of light and shadow, and contour: But since what mortals call complexion, Has with the mind no more connexion Than ethicks with a country dance, I left my col'ring all to chance; Which oft (as I may proudly state) With Nature war'd at such a rate, As left no mortal hue or stain Of base, corrupting flesh, to chain The Soul to Earth; but, free as light, E'en let her soar till out of sight.