Flammeolo, Tyriusque palam genialis in hortis Hæc tu fecreta, & paucis commiffa putabas : Orandum eft, ut fit mens fana in corpore fano. To blank defpair and moping madness drove When Shame and Hatred in one bofom dwells, "Shall then no wish from lab'ring bosoms rise, "And shoot on trembling pinions* to the skies ?" No 'tis thy wisdom to the Powers above, 465 Of fway omnipotent and boundless love, 470 To truft the conduct of thy ftation here; Still to those Powers, than to thyself, more dear. They, with infufion due, will mix thy bowl, Harfh to the tafte, but healing to the soul. We fondly with, by fightless paffion led, 475 The spouse endearing and prolific bed: 'Tis their's alone to know, if child and wife Will prove the bane, or bleifing, of our life. If ftill fome lurking wifh corrode thy reft, And aspiration heave thy ft uggling breast; If doating zeal fome hallow'd rites require, The victin-blood,+ and facrificial fire; Then fay, "Kind Heaven! a healthful frame impart, "A brain unclouded, and a spotlefs heart: 480 "Nerves, that shall ftem Misfortune's rougheft tide, 485 "Uncheck'd by fears, by death unterrified: * ETEα πlegoEvτα, wirged words: Hemer; from the velocity with which found is communicated. + More properly "The victim-fine." See my note on the Eumenides of Afchylus, ver. 283. Fortem pofce animum, & mortis terrore carentem; Qui fpatium vitæ extremum inter munera ponat Nos facimus, Fortuna, Deam, coloque locamus, «To greet, ferene and firm, life's evening close, "As Nature's kind provision for repose. May no vain with my tranquil thoughts controul, "Nor Rage pour out his tempeft on my foul! "Give ftrength, Herculean toils to undergo, "And run with Temp'rance the career of woe; "Left foft feductive Pleasure's Syren-strains "Melt the frail heart, and thrill the throbbing veins: 490 "To fpurn th' enjoyments brute sensations bring; 495 "The down, the banquets, of Affyria's king.* One bleffing on ourselves we may bestow; 'Tis peace: and Virtue is our peace below. No power haft thou where Wisdom's altars rife; We, Fortune! build thee fhrines, we station in the skies. * Sardanapalus. Q. HORATII FLACCI CARMINUM LIBER I. AD MECENATEM. ODE I. MACENAS, atavis edite regibus, O & præfidium et dulce decus meum! Terrarum dominos evehit ad Deos. |