In all things, violent: but, O! difdain, Brave prince, to let ufurping passion reign, ›› c't "In one rash moment facrificing more "Than years of fad repentance may restore. "As Thracian winds the Euxine fea moleft, "So wrath, and envy, from an human breast " Drive Halcyon peace, and banish kindly rest, nuk "And no fecurity for joy is found, "But in a mind that's tractable and found. } Suppress the first emotions of your ire, "And fmother in its birth the kindling fire. "Ere anger yet poffeffes all your foul, "Ere yet your bofom heaves, and eyeballs roll, "Think on the ufeful precepts, I have taught, "And meet the rifing heat with wholfome thought. "Or feek the facred Mufes with your lyre, "Who with fweet peace to lonely fhades retire; "Gods, and the fons of gods, the heroes, fing, "While hills and valleys with their praises ring; "Thefe learn to imitate, and those adore, 1071 "And fweetly to yourself, yourself reftore; "Mufick, and verfe, and folitude controul "Impetuous fury, and compofe the foul. "For this, I early taught you how to fing, And form'd your fingers to the trembling ftring; "For 'tis not all sweet pleasure's path to show "The art of confolation man should know: ~ . Our "Our joys are short, and broken; and in vain "If fortune gives, what rarely we obtain, "Our portion is o'er-paid, the reft you'll find "But fond ideas of the wanton mind; "Which now vain scenes of godlike pleasure shows, "And now creates imaginary woes. i "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 "Appear, the false thus vanish out of fight. "Nor aim at pleafures difficult to gain, "Choose rather what you may with ease obtain. "Who fcorns to trifle, is by pride abus'd: "I pity him who ne'er can be amus'd; "But flighting pleasures moderate and small, "Muft live in rapture, or not live at all. << Great pleasures still are near ally'd to pain "Who quits the peaceful fhore, and ploughs the main, "Big waves and mighty tempefts muft fuftain. 1 " Let "Let not fuch fond ambition to be blest, "The humbler pleasures 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 themselves deceive, "Not living, but intending ftill to live; "While they neglect the joys they might poffefs, "For empty dreams of future happiness. "Let nature in your pleasures be your guide, "Nor fuffer art her genuine charms to hide : "Her beauties with unwearied eyes we fee; "The truth of beauty is fimplicity. "Live not by imitation, fervile state! "Nor on the fashion for your pleasures wait. "Submits his tafte to the fantastick crowd, "As bees extract their fweets from ev'ry flow'r, "So you your joys from all things in your pow'r, "With industry and management produce; "The meaneft trifles are fometimes of use. "Yet know well what you do, and when 'tis done, • Nor at all hours to every pleasure run; "But mix with art your pleasures, and your toils; "For pleasures have their seasons, and their foils. VOL. I. M « Thus "Thus when the earliest dawn of eastern light "Proclaims the finish'd empire of the night, "Hafte to the field, Achilles, nor disdain "To chace the foaming monfter o'er the plain, "Or teach the untam'd steed 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 short repafst be made; "A shorter flumber in the cooling shade } "What's gay and light th' unbended mind employs, "Or sports, or past delights, or future joys. "But when the ev’ning-star begins to rise, "When Phœbus' fainting steeds forsake the skies, "Still cheerful at the well-fpread board be found, "Amidft 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 shore, "Far off from home the Greeks your death deplore "No matter where, or when; it once must 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 you destin'd fall. "Mean while a loofer rein to pleasure give : «‹ Time flies in haste, 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! "One precept more I fain would recommend, "And then old Chiron's tedious leffons end. "Learn, gen'rous prince, what's little understood, "The godlike happiness of doing good. "How glorious to defend, and to beftow! "From nobler springs can human pleasure flow "A folid good which nothing can destroy, "The best prerogative the great enjoy. "For this, remember, monarchs firft were made, "For this, young prince, be lov'd, and be obey'd, "At once your self, and mighty nations bless, "And make humanity your happiness. "But now Aurora ufhers in the day, "And fond, expecting Peleus chides your stay. |