ADescriptionofOneofthePiecesofTapistryatLong-Leat,madeafterthefamousCartonsofRaphael;inwhich,ElymastheSorcererismiraculouslystruckBlindbySt.PaulbeforeSergiusPaulus,theProconsulofAsia.InscribedtotheHonbleHENRYTHYNNE,undertheNameofTHEANOR.Henry Thynne ("Theanor") (1675-1708) married Grace Strode ("Cleone"),
the daughter and heiress of Sir George Strode and Grace FitzJames, in 1695.
THUSTapistryofold,theWallsadorn'd,ErenoblestDamestheartfulShuttlescorn'd:Arachne,then,withPallasdidcontest,Andscarceth'ImmortalWorkwasjudg'dtheBest.NorvalorousActions,then,inBooksweresought;ButalltheFame,thatfromtheFieldwasbrought,Employ'dtheLoom,wherethekindConsortwrought:WhilstsharingintheToil,sheshar'dtheFame,AndwiththeHeroesmixtherinterwovenName.Nolonger,FemalestosuchPraiseaspire,AndseldomnowWerightlydoadmire.Somuch,AllArtsarebytheMenengross'd,AndOurfewTalentsunimprov'dorcross'd;EvenI,whoonthisSubjectwou'dcompose,Whichthefam'dUrbinforhisPencilchose,(Andhere,intinctur'dWoolwenowbeholdCorrectlyfollow'dineachShade,andFold)Shou'dprudentlyfromtheAttemptwithdraw,ButInclinationprovesthestrongerLaw:Andtho'theCensuresoftheWorldpursueThesehardyFlights,whilsthisDesignsIview;Myburden'dThoughts,whichlabourforaVent,Urgemet'explaininVerse,whatbyeachFaceismeant.OfSERGIUSfirst,uponhisloftySeat,WithdueRegardourObservationstreat;Who,whilsthethenceonELYMASlooksdown,ContractshispensiveBrowintoaFrown,WithLooksinquisitiveheseekstheCauseWhyNatureactsnotstillbyNaturesLaws.'TwasbutaMoment,sincetheSorcerer'sSightReceiv'dtheDay,andblaz'dinfernalLight:Untouch'd,theOptiquesinaMomentfail'd,TheirfierceIlluminationquench'd,orveil'd;Throughoutth'ExtentionofhisampleSway,NoFact,likethis,theRomancou'dsurvey,Who,withspreadHands,invitesMankindtogaze,AndsympathizeintheprofoundAmaze.TosharehisWondereveryonecombines,Bydiff'rentAspectsshewn,anddiff'rentSigns.AcomelyFigure,neartheConsulplac'd,WithseriousMildnessandInstructiongrac'd,ToOthersseemsimpartingwhathesaw,AndshewstheWretchwithreverentialAwe:WhilstamoreeagerPersonnextwefind,ViewingtheWizardwithaSceptick'sMind;WhohisfixtEyessonearhimdo'sapply,Wethink,enliv'ningBeamsmightfromthemfly,Tore-inkindle,bysojustanAim,TheradialSparks,butlatelycheck'dandtame,AsTapersnewput-outwillcatchapproachingFlame.ButdireSurprizeth'Enquirydo'ssucceed,WhilstfullConvictioninhisFaceweread,AndHe,whoquestion'd,nowdeplorestheDeed.TosacredPAULayoungerFigureguides,WithseemingWarmth,whichstillinYouthpresides;Andpointingforward,ElderMendirects,InHim,tonotetheCauseoftheseEffects,UponwhoseBrowdo'sevidentlyshineDeputedPow'r,t'inflicttheWrathDivineWhilstsadandsolemn,suitedtotheirYears,EachvenerableCountenanceappears,Where,yetweseeAstonishmentreveal'd,Tho'bytheAgedoften'tisconceal'd;WhotheEmotionsoftheirSoulsdisguize,Lestbyadmiringtheyshou'dseemlessWise.ButtothyPortrait,ELYMAS,wecomeWhoseBlindnessalmoststrikesthePoetdumb;AndwhilstShevainlytoDescribetheeseeks,ThePenbuttraces,wherethePencilspeaks.OfDarknesstobefelt,ourScriptureswrite,ThouDarken'dseem'st,asthouwoud'stfeeltheLight;AndwithprojectedLimbs,betray'staDread,OfunseenMischiefs,levell'datthyHead.Thro'allthyFramesuchStupefactionreigns,AsNightitselfweresunkintothyVeins:NorbytheEyesalonethyLosswefind,EachLineamenthelpstoproclaimtheeBlind.AnartfulDimnessfardiffus'dwegrant,AndfailingseemallPartsthroughOneimportantWant.Oh!mightyRAPHAEL,justlysurerenown'd!SinceinthyWorkssuchExcellenceisfound;NoWonder,ifwithNatureThou'rtatstrife,WhothuscanpainttheNegativesofLife;AndDeprivationmoreexpressivemake,ThanthemostperfectDraughts,whichOtherstake.WhilsttothisChiefestFigureofthePiece,Allthatsurroundit,Heightningsdoencrease:Insome,AmazementbyExtreamsisshewn,Whoviewinghisclos'dLids,extendtheirOwn.Norcan,bythat,enoughtheirThoughtsexpress,Whichop'ningMouthsseemreadytoconfess.ThusstandtheLICTORSgazingonaDeed,Whichdo'sallhumaneChastisementsexceed;Enfeebl'dseemtheirInstrumentsofsmart,WhenkeenerWordscanswifterIllsimpart.Thou,BARNABAS,thoughLast,notleastourCare,Seem'stequallyemploy'dinPraise,andPrayer,Acknowledgingth'OmnipotentDecree,YetsoftCompassioninthyFacewesee:WhilstliftedHandsimploreakindRelief,Tho'noImpatienceanimatesthyGrief;ButmildSuspenceandCharitybenign,Doallth'excessesofthyLooksconfine.Thusfar,ourslowImaginationgoes:Wou'dthemoreskill'dTHEANORhisdisclose;ExpandtheScene,andopentoourSightWhattohisnicerJudgmentgivesDelight;WhosesoaringMinddo'stoPerfectionsclimb,NorownsaRelish,butforThingssublime:Then,wou'dthePiecefreshBeautiesstillpresent,NorLengthofTimewou'dleavetheEyecontent:AsMoments,Hours;asHourstheDayswou'dseem,Observinghere,taughttoobservebyHIM.