"In all things violent: but, O! disdain, "As Thracian winds the Euxine fea moleft, "So wrath, and envy, from an human breast "Drive Halcyon peace, and banish kindly rest. "And no fecurity for joy is found, "But in a mind that's tractable and found. "For this, I early taught you how to fing, Our joys are fhort, and broken; and in vain "To conftant blifs would human race attain : "Be oft contented to be free from pain. "There is a deity ordain'd by fate, To damp our joys immoderately great, "That none on earth from forrow fhould be free, "If fortune gives, what rarely we obtain, "Which now vain fcenes of godlike pleasure shows, "And now creates imaginary woes. "When fad, your ills examine and compare, Judge of your own by what another's are. "Confider greater wretches, and the fates "Of mighty heroes, and of mighty states : "Thus real evils in their proper light 66 Appear, the falfe thus vanish out of fight. "Choose rather what you may with ease obtain. But flighting pleasures moderate and fmall, "Who quits the peaceful shore, and ploughs the main, "Let ་ Let not fuch fond ambition to be bleft, The humbler pleafures in your power moleft; *Yet cherish hope; for without hope there's none : "Taste hope; but be not fed with that alone. "Some their whole lives in expectation spend, "As life were not begun, or ne'er would end: Fondly from day to day themfelves deceive, Not living, but intending ftill to live; While they neglect the joys they might poffefs, “Let nature in your pleasures be your guide, 65 The truth of beauty is fimplicity. "Live not by imitation, fervile flate! * Submits his tafte to the fantaftick crowd, ' "As bees extract their sweets from ev'ry flow'r, "The meaneft trifles are fometimes of use. "Yet know well what you do, and when 'tis done, "Nor at all hours to ev'ry pleasure run; "But mix with art your pleasures, and your toils; Vol. I. M 66 • Thus "Thus when the earliest dawn of eastern light "Proclaims the finish'd empire of the night, "Hafte to the field, Achilles, nor difdain "To chace the foaming monster o'er the plain, "Or teach the untam'd fteed to feel the rein; "Or let your car and arms your nerves prepare, "Or for Olympick games or future war: "Then, whether arts or glory fire your mind, "Will thoughts more generous rife, or more refin'd; "Aurora to the Mufes ftill is kind. ; } } "At noon, a fimple fhort repaft be made "A fhorter flumber in the cooling shade; "What's gay and light th' unbended mind employs, "Or fports, or paft delights, or future joys. "But when the ev'ning-star begins to rise, "When Phoebus' fainting steeds forsake the skies, "Still cheerful at the well-fpread board be found, "Amidst bright friends, and with fresh garlands crown'd, "While wine, and Thais with her voice and lyre, "Banish old forrows, and new joys infpire. "Thus when from toils of empire you are free, "Nor camp, nor council claim your liberty, "The morn to labour and the Mufes give; "At noon with temperance and quiet live; "Ceres' and Bacchus' gifts at ev'ning prove; "Divide the night with Somnus, and with Love. Thus, thus, Pelides, drive your cares away, "Nor fear the evil, till the evil day. "What "What tho' on Simois' or Scamander's fhore, "Far off from home, the Greeks your death deplore? "No matter where, or when; it once muft be, And nothing can revoke the firm decree. "Tho' Thetis' fon, tho' third from mighty Jove, "Eternal monarch of the realms above, "Nor Jove, nor Thetis, can your days recal, "Or for an hour defer your deftin'd fall. "Mean while a loofer rein to pleasure give: "Time flies in hafte, be you in hafte to live : "Seize on the precious minutes, as they fleet; "Your life, however fhort, will be compleat, "If at the fatal moment you can say, "I've liv'd, and made the most of ev'ry day! "For this, remember, monarchs first were made, "But now Aurora ushers in the day, "And fond, expecting Peleus chides your stay. |