For one verse, the creative power, and the presiding criticism in the mind of the poet, are confounded together under the freshly suggested name--ART.
"Art from that fund each just supply provides."
That is to say, "Art," as the inventive power in the poet, draws from the sole "fund," nature, its abundant "supplies." Art, as the critical power in the poet, takes care that precisely the "just" supply be drawn.
In the next line, this same art, signifies this presiding criticism only.
"Works without show, and without pomp presides."
Clearly, the intent, inostensive, virtuous faculty of criticism alone, influencing, guarding, leading, and ruling.
Then out of the four lines, which elaborate an excellent simile, due in propriety to the presiding criticism, two are chequered with a lingering recollection of the creative power--
"In some fair body thus the informing soul With spirit feeds, with vigour fills the whole, Each motion guides, and every nerve sustains; Itself unseen, but in th' effect remains."
What feeds? What fills? You cannot help looking back to that provision of "supplies;" and yet a profounder truth would be disclosed, another brilliancy imparted, and an unperplexed significancy given to the fine image, if Criticism alone might be the informing soul--if the delicate Reason of Art in the accomplished poetical spirit, had been boldly and frankly represented as inspiriting and invigorating, no less than as guiding and supporting; for criticism is the virtue of art, ruling the passions, and surely neither orator, nor poet, nor philosopher, will pause in answering, that virtue "feeds" with "spirits," and "fills with vigour." That which, itself unseen, remains in its effect, is clearly that authorized criticism which genius, in the poet's soul, obeys.
In the next verse wit signifies the creative power alone.
"Some to whom Heaven in wit has been profuse."
In the next, wit is the presiding criticism alone.
"Want as much more to turn it to its use."
In the two following, wit is the creative power only, and judgment is the presiding criticism.
"For wit and judgment often are at strife, Though meant each other's aid, like man and wife."
The four closing verses, which deservedly ring in every ear, and grace every tongue--lucid and vigorous--born of the true poetical self-understanding--extol duly the presiding criticism, of which only they speak.