The History of Philosophy :: :: University of Virginia Library

Sprung from Mnemosyne and Joves great line,
Pierian Muses, to my prayer encline,
Grant that my life and actions may call down
Blessings from heaven, and raise on earth renown:
Sweet to my friends, and bitter to my foes,
To these my sight bring terror, joy to those.
Riches I wish, not riches that are plac't
In unjust means, for vengeance comes at last.
Riches dispenc'd by heavens more bounteous hand,
A base on which we may unshaken stand.
But that which men by injuries obtain,

That which by arts and deeds unjust they gain
Comes slowly, swiftly by reveng'd pursued,
And miserie like a close spark include,
Which soon to a devouring flame dilates,
Wrong is a weak foundation for effates.
Jove doth the end of every thing survey:
As sodain vernall blasts chase clouds away.
Ransack the bottom of the roaring main,
Then swiftly overrun the fervile plain,
Ruffling the wealthy ears; at last they rise
To Joves high seat, a calm then smooths the skies.
The Sun's rich lustre mildly gilds the green
Enamell of the meads, no clouds are seen,
Such is Joves heavie anger diff'ring far
From men, whose every trifle leads to war:
They are not hid for ever, who offend
In secret, judgment finds them in the end.
Some in the act are punisht, others late,
Even he who thinks he hath deluded fate;
At last resents it in just miseries,
Which Nephewes for their Ancestors chastise.
We think it fares alike with good and bad;
Glory and selfe-conceit our fancies glad
Till suffering comes, then their griev'd spirits bleed,
Who did before their soules with vain hope feed.
He whom incurable diseases seize,
Sooths his deluded thoughts, with hopes of ease.
The coward's valiant in his own esteem,
And to themselves, faire the deformed seem.
They who want means, by poverty opprest
Beleeve themselves of full estates possest.
All is attempted, some new seas explore
To bring home riches from a forraign shore:
Seas, on whose boisterous back secur'd they ride,
And in the mercy of the winds confide:
Others to crooked ploughes their Oxen yoke,
And Autumn with their plants and setts provoke.
Some Vulcan's and Minerva's arts admire,
And by their hands, their livelyhoods acquire.
Others the fair Olympian muses trace,
And lovely learning studiously embrace.
One by Apollo is prophetick made,
And tells what mischiefs others shall invade:
With him the Gods converse, but all the skill
In birds or victimes cannot hinder ill.
Some to Peonian knowledge are inclin'd,
Nor is the power of simples unconfin'd.

The smallest hurts sometimes increase and rage,
More then all art of physick can asswage;
Sometimes the fury of the worst disease,
The hand by gentle stroking will appease.
Thus good or bad arives as fates design,
Man cannot what the Gods dispenc'd decline.
All actions are uncertain, no man knowes
When he begins a work, how it shall close.
Some, who their businesse weigh with prudent care,
Oft of the issue intercepted are:
Whilst others who have rashly ought design'd,
An end successfull of their labours find.
There is no bound to those who wealth acquire,
For they who are possest of most, desire
As much again, and who can all content,
Even those full blessings which the Gods have lent,
Man variously to his own harm applies,
Whom Jove by means as various doth chastice.