C.Mosley Sculp.

Jam. Wale Delin

Old as he was, and void of Eye-sight too, What coud alas! a helpless Husband do.

Jan: & May.

JANUARY

AND

M

A Y.

T

HERE liv'd in Lombardy, as authors write,

In days of old, a wife and worthy knight;

Of gentle manners, as of gen'rous race,

Bleft with much sense, more riches, and fome grace.

Yet led aftray by Venus' foft delights,

He scarce could rule fome idle appetites :
For long ago, let Priests say what they cou'd,
Weak finful laymen were but flesh and blood.

But in due time, when fixty years were o'er, He vow'd to lead this vitious life no more;

Whether pure holiness inspir'd his mind,

Or dotage turn'd his brain, is hard to find; But his high courage prick'd him forth to wed, the pleasures of a lawful bed.

And try

NOTES.

5

ΙΟ

JANUARY AND MAY.] This Translation was done at fixteen or seventeen years of Age. P.

This was his nightly dream, his daily care,

And to the heav'nly pow'rs his constant pray'r,
Once, ere he dy'd, to taste the blissful life
Of a kind husband and a loving wife.

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These thoughts he fortify'd with reasons still, (For none want reafons to confirm their will.) 20. Grave authors fay, and witty poets fing,

appears,

That honest wedlock is a glorious thing:
But depth of judgment most in him
Who wifely weds in his maturer years.
Then let him chuse a damsel young and fair,
To blefs his age, and bring a worthy heir;

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To footh his cares, and, free from noise and ftrife,
Conduct him gently to the verge of life.
Let finful batchelors their woes deplore,

Full well they merit all they feel, and more: 30
Unaw'd by precepts, human or divine,
Like birds and beafts, promifcuously they join:
Nor know to make the present bleffing laft,
To hope the future, or esteem the past:
But vainly boast the joys they never try'd,
And find divulg'd the fecrets they would hide.
The marry'd man may bear his yoke with ease,
Secure at once himself and heav'n to please;

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