A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus With The Appendix of Gudius, And an accurate Edition of the Original on the opposite Page. To which is added, A Parsing Index For the Use of Learners. By Christopher Smart |
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 | A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus |  |
FABLE XIII. The Pilot and Sailors.
On hearing a poor man lament
His worldly thoughts in discontent,
Esop this tale began to write,
For consolation and delight.
His worldly thoughts in discontent,
Esop this tale began to write,
For consolation and delight.
The ship by furious tempests tost,
The Mariners gave all for lost;
But midst their tears and dread, the scene
Is chang'd at once, and all serene.
The wind is fair, the vessel speeds,
The Sailors boist'rous joy exceeds:
The Pilot then by peril wise,
Was prompted to philosophize.
“'Tis right to put a due restraint
“On joy, and to retard complaint;
“Because alternate hope and fright
“Make up our lives of black and white.”
The Mariners gave all for lost;
But midst their tears and dread, the scene
Is chang'd at once, and all serene.
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The Sailors boist'rous joy exceeds:
The Pilot then by peril wise,
Was prompted to philosophize.
“'Tis right to put a due restraint
“On joy, and to retard complaint;
“Because alternate hope and fright
“Make up our lives of black and white.”
| A Poetical Translation Of The Fables of Phaedrus | |