 | Translations and Poems Written on Several Subjects |  |
88
To the SAME,
On his leaving the Vniversity. Anno 1722.
Reddes incolumem, precor,
Et serves animæ dimidiurn meæ.
Hor.
Et serves animæ dimidiurn meæ.
Hor.
For thee once more the Muse her Pinions tries,
And seeks again on daring Wings to rise:
Nor with a rigid Eye her Faults attend,
But lose the Poct, as you view the Friend;
To thee does the well-natur'd Task belong
To judge with Candor of Octavio's Song:
His trembling Muse by you was first inspir'd,
She long'd to copy what she so admir'd;
The fond Ambition from your Lays she drew,
And owns the Autbor of her Verse in you.
And seeks again on daring Wings to rise:
Nor with a rigid Eye her Faults attend,
But lose the Poct, as you view the Friend;
To thee does the well-natur'd Task belong
To judge with Candor of Octavio's Song:
His trembling Muse by you was first inspir'd,
She long'd to copy what she so admir'd;
The fond Ambition from your Lays she drew,
And owns the Autbor of her Verse in you.
But oh, what pow'rful Numbers shall she find
To tell the Language of her grateful Mind!
Here failing Words the wild Expression break —
And what she feels the most — she least can speak.
To tell the Language of her grateful Mind!
89
And what she feels the most — she least can speak.
Our kindred Souls at first Acquaintance join'd,
And with a secret Sympathy combin'd;
E'er since thy faithful Partnership I've prov'd,
And found by many an Instance how you lov'd,
In every Turn of Life an honest Guide,
The same unwearied Friend, tho' often try'd;
In each Affliction still you bore a Part,
Smil'd at my Joys, and gave me half your Heart:
Calm and impartial and advising well,
Tender the Faults of wand'ring Youth to heal;
Well skill'd alike to counsel, or improve,
Thy Converse Wisdom, and thy Bosom Love.
And with a secret Sympathy combin'd;
E'er since thy faithful Partnership I've prov'd,
And found by many an Instance how you lov'd,
In every Turn of Life an honest Guide,
The same unwearied Friend, tho' often try'd;
In each Affliction still you bore a Part,
Smil'd at my Joys, and gave me half your Heart:
Calm and impartial and advising well,
Tender the Faults of wand'ring Youth to heal;
Well skill'd alike to counsel, or improve,
Thy Converse Wisdom, and thy Bosom Love.
Short are the Joys, my Friend, that Man can boast,
And soon our fancy'd Dreams of Bliss are lost;
Does any Good exceed the Pain it brings?
Leaves not each fleeting Joy its secret Stings?
Our largest Hopes produce proportion'd Fears,
Blessings obtain'd but propagate new Cares;
The Wish possess'd ne'er satisfies the Heart,
But ev'ry Anguish leaves a double Smart.
And soon our fancy'd Dreams of Bliss are lost;
Does any Good exceed the Pain it brings?
Leaves not each fleeting Joy its secret Stings?
90
Blessings obtain'd but propagate new Cares;
The Wish possess'd ne'er satisfies the Heart,
But ev'ry Anguish leaves a double Smart.
What is Ambition but a gilded Cheat?
A desp'rate Hazard for uncertain Fate!
What mighty Honour but a well wrought Charm
To keep the Cowa'rds unwilling Courage warm?
A Real Mischief lurks beneath the Name,
To purchase which we venture Life and Fame!
Do Heaps of Treasure fill with Joy the Heart,
Or save their wretched Lord from Pain or Smart?
Even that great Bliss whose Pow'r all Mankind prove,
That dear, deceitful, transient Pleasure, Love!
No equal Satisfaction can bestow,
To ballance all its Train of secret Woe.
A desp'rate Hazard for uncertain Fate!
What mighty Honour but a well wrought Charm
To keep the Cowa'rds unwilling Courage warm?
A Real Mischief lurks beneath the Name,
To purchase which we venture Life and Fame!
Do Heaps of Treasure fill with Joy the Heart,
Or save their wretched Lord from Pain or Smart?
Even that great Bliss whose Pow'r all Mankind prove,
That dear, deceitful, transient Pleasure, Love!
No equal Satisfaction can bestow,
To ballance all its Train of secret Woe.
So in some desert unfrequented Wild,
The 'nighted Traveller lies in Sleep beguil'd;
And while his wearied Limbs are sunk in Rest,
Imaginary Visions sooth his Breast;
Wondring he sees the beauteous Prospects rise,
And op'ning Vistas court his ravish'd Eyes;
Short is the Bliss — at Morn when he awakes,
In fleeting Air the fair Illusion breaks; —
And the deluded Eye surveys around,
Th' extended Forest and the naked Ground.
The 'nighted Traveller lies in Sleep beguil'd;
91
Imaginary Visions sooth his Breast;
Wondring he sees the beauteous Prospects rise,
And op'ning Vistas court his ravish'd Eyes;
Short is the Bliss — at Morn when he awakes,
In fleeting Air the fair Illusion breaks; —
And the deluded Eye surveys around,
Th' extended Forest and the naked Ground.
These Truths, my Friend, let sad Experience tell,
A Mistress ever sure to dictate well:
By whom convinc'd, Life's erring Steps we find,
And seel her Sov'reign Influence o'er the Mind.
Well has she taught, my Thyrsis, you and I,
And bid us lay our former Follies by;
Her happy Dictates may we both obey,
And yield submissive to her gentle Sway!
A Mistress ever sure to dictate well:
By whom convinc'd, Life's erring Steps we find,
And seel her Sov'reign Influence o'er the Mind.
Well has she taught, my Thyrsis, you and I,
And bid us lay our former Follies by;
Her happy Dictates may we both obey,
And yield submissive to her gentle Sway!
Then when our Woes hereafter shall be o'er
And Beauty have the Pow'r to charm no more!
Then shalt thou recollect thy ancient Friend,
And to Octavio kindly greeting send;
The tender Commerce once again renew,
And prove in Absence, Friendship ever true;
While on some low, sequestred, chearful Stage,
We gently pass our slow declining Age;
Pleas'd and contented with our humble State,
Compos'd within, behold approaching Fate;
With patient Thought its near Advances view,
And learn with Peace to bid the World adieu!
And Beauty have the Pow'r to charm no more!
92
And to Octavio kindly greeting send;
The tender Commerce once again renew,
And prove in Absence, Friendship ever true;
While on some low, sequestred, chearful Stage,
We gently pass our slow declining Age;
Pleas'd and contented with our humble State,
Compos'd within, behold approaching Fate;
With patient Thought its near Advances view,
And learn with Peace to bid the World adieu!
Great Scipio found in such a blest Retreat,
That to be Happy, was not to be Great;
In that divine Retirement found more Charms,
Than e'er he prov'd amidst his conquering Arms.
Such was the Lot immortal Cowley chose,
Here met with Fortitude the last of Foes;
Here like the Swan his dying Notes he sung,
And the last Numbers falter'd on his Tongue.
Thy fav'rite Waller too here found his Ease,
And sought in Peace to spend his Ev'ning-Days;
Here for the Follies of his Youth he mourn'd
And griev'd the hopeless Flames in which he burn'd,
No more the Groves with Sacharissa rung,
Immortal Happiness inspir'd his Song.
That to be Happy, was not to be Great;
In that divine Retirement found more Charms,
Than e'er he prov'd amidst his conquering Arms.
Such was the Lot immortal Cowley chose,
Here met with Fortitude the last of Foes;
Here like the Swan his dying Notes he sung,
And the last Numbers falter'd on his Tongue.
93
And sought in Peace to spend his Ev'ning-Days;
Here for the Follies of his Youth he mourn'd
And griev'd the hopeless Flames in which he burn'd,
No more the Groves with Sacharissa rung,
Immortal Happiness inspir'd his Song.
Grant, gentle Heav'n, like theirs may be my Lot!
Lost to the World, unenvied, and forgot.
With Virtue blest, and Health and inward Peace,
Divine Companions! would I spend my Days.
And thou bright Goddess, Liberty divine!
Oft would I grateful offer at thy Shrine,
Whose smiling Presence would my Wish complete,
And crown the Blessings of my humble State.
Blessings, Death might suspend, but not destroy,
Death could not taint the Source of such a Joy.
Lost to the World, unenvied, and forgot.
With Virtue blest, and Health and inward Peace,
Divine Companions! would I spend my Days.
And thou bright Goddess, Liberty divine!
Oft would I grateful offer at thy Shrine,
Whose smiling Presence would my Wish complete,
And crown the Blessings of my humble State.
Blessings, Death might suspend, but not destroy,
Death could not taint the Source of such a Joy.
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