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26
Introductory.
[Lect. I.

not only to himself, but to his fellows, to convert his looks intuitively into looks of gladness, his works into works of beauty.

This is only to be done by practically studying the Fine Arts after an earnest and systematic fashion. Do you only your best, and permit me to assure you that so long as I have the honour to occupy this Chair, such assistance as a Slade Professor may be enabled to give you shall never be wanting on my part.

Let me, before we separate upon this our first meeting, urge upon you as strongly as my poor words may suffice to do, that we should, and shall, but ill study human arts if we fail to be raised by such studies to stretch forward to a higher and more extended apprehension of the perfection of "Heavenly Beauty." All will no doubt be right with us, if we can but bring to our studies the fervour and humility of the true Poet, and devout Christian, the worshipper alike of Nature and of Art, the sweet-voiced Spenser, the spirit of whose most apt supplication in his Hymn to Heavenly Beauty, I cannot do better than commend for your admiration and adoption. Let each one of you, say with him—

"Vouchsafe then, O, thou most almighty spright,From whom all gifts of wit and knowledge flow,To shed into my breast some sparkling lightOf thine eternal truth; that I may showSome little beams to mortal eyes belowOf that immortal beauty, there with thee,Which in my weak distraughted mind I see.That with the glory of so goodly sightThe hearts of men, which fondly here admireFair-seeming shews, and feed on vain delight,Transported with celestial desireOf those fair forms, may lift themselves up higher, And learn to love with zealous humble duty, Th' eternal fountain of that heavenly beauty."
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