This discourse diverting my grief, I began to question the old gentleman about the antiquity of some pieces, the stories of others I was not acquainted with, the reason why this age don't come up to the former, and why the most excellent arts are lost, of which painting has not left the least sign of its being? "Our love of riches," reply'd he, "has been the only occasion: for in old time, when virtue was admir'd for its own sake, all liberal arts flourisht, and the only emulation among men, was to make discoveries that might profit the age. 'Twas in those times Democritus, content with poverty, found out the vertue of most herbs; and lest there might be any hidden excellence in stones and trees, spent the rest of his life in experiments about them: 'Twas then Eudoxus abandon'd the world, to live on the top of a high mountain, to discover the motions of the heavens and Crisippus, the better to qualify his mind for invention, went thrice through a course of physick. "But to return to imagery, Lysippus with that diligence imploy'd himself about one statue, that, neglecting his living, he dyed, for want: and Myron, whose brazen images of men and beasts, you might have mistaken for living ones, dy'd very poor: but our age is so wholly devoted to drinking and whoring, we're so far from inventing, that we don't acquaint our selves even with those arts that are found to our hands: But, accusing antiquity, our schools become seminaries of vice only: what's our logick? How little do we know of astronomy? Where's our philosopher? What master of eloquence could indure to hear it so murdred in a pulpit? What wise man cou'd suffer the noise? Our business in the temple is not to inform our minds, or correct our lives; but as soon as we enter the place, one out of love to his friend, being made his heir, promises a sacrifice to the gods, if they'd please to take him out of this troublesome world; another, if they'd direct him to a treasure: the like a third promises if they'd make him happy in a small estate of 300l. per an. or so: The very Senate that shou'd show an exemplary conduct, in occasions of doubtful events, have devoted mighty sums of gold to religious uses: And who wou'd not but admire, that, he is perswaded hath charms enough to make the gods themselves comply! You need not wonder why painting is lost, when gold appears more beautiful both to gods and men, than any thing Apelles or Phidias are now esteem'd madly to have spent their time about: But seeing your curiosity is wholly taken up with that piece, that shews you a contracted history of the Siege of Troy: I'll try to give you the story more at large in verse.