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Pythagoras his moral Rules.
First
to immortal God thy duty pay,
Observe thy Vow, honour the Saints: obey
Thy Prince and Rulers, nor their Laws despise
Thy Parents reverence, and neer allies:
Him that is first in Vertue make thy Friend,
And with observance his kind speech attend:
Nor (to thy power) for light faults cast him by,
Thy power is neighbour to necessity.
Observe thy Vow, honour the Saints: obey
Thy Prince and Rulers, nor their Laws despise
Thy Parents reverence, and neer allies:
Him that is first in Vertue make thy Friend,
And with observance his kind speech attend:
Nor (to thy power) for light faults cast him by,
Thy power is neighbour to necessity.
These know, and with intentive care pursue;
But Anger Sloth, and Luxury subdue.
In sight of others or thy self forbear
What's Ill; but of thy self stand most in fear.
Let Justice all thy words and actions sway,
Nor from the even course of reason stray;
For know that all men are to die ordain'd,
And riches are as quickly lost as gain'd.
Crosses that happen by divine decree
(If such thy Lot) bear not impatiently.
Yet seek to remedie with all thy Care
And think the just have not the greatest share.
'Mongst men discourses good and bad are spread,
Despise not those, nor be by these misled.
If any some notorious falshood say,
Thou the report with equal judgement weigh.
Let not mens smoother promises invite,
Nor rougher threats from just resolves thee fright.
If ought thou wouldst attempt, first ponder it,
Fools only inconsiderate acts Commit.
Nor do what afterward thou may'st repent,
First learn to know the thing on which th' art bent.
Thus thou a life shalt lead with joy repleat.
But Anger Sloth, and Luxury subdue.
In sight of others or thy self forbear
What's Ill; but of thy self stand most in fear.
Let Justice all thy words and actions sway,
Nor from the even course of reason stray;
For know that all men are to die ordain'd,
And riches are as quickly lost as gain'd.
Crosses that happen by divine decree
(If such thy Lot) bear not impatiently.
Yet seek to remedie with all thy Care
And think the just have not the greatest share.
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Despise not those, nor be by these misled.
If any some notorious falshood say,
Thou the report with equal judgement weigh.
Let not mens smoother promises invite,
Nor rougher threats from just resolves thee fright.
If ought thou wouldst attempt, first ponder it,
Fools only inconsiderate acts Commit.
Nor do what afterward thou may'st repent,
First learn to know the thing on which th' art bent.
Thus thou a life shalt lead with joy repleat.
Nor must thou care of outward health forget:
Such Temperance use in exercise and diet
As may preserve thee in a setled quiet.
Meats unprohibited, not curious, chuse,
Decline what any other may accuse:
The rash expence of vanity detest,
And sordidnesse: a Mean in all is best.
Hurt not thy self; act nought thou dost not weigh;
And every businesse of the following day
As soon as by the Morn awak'd dispose,
Nor suffer sleep at night thy Eyes to close
Till thrice that Diary thou hast orerun,
How slipt? what Deeds? what duty left undone?
Thus thy account summ'd up from first to last
Grieve for the Ill, joy for what good hath past.
Such Temperance use in exercise and diet
As may preserve thee in a setled quiet.
Meats unprohibited, not curious, chuse,
Decline what any other may accuse:
The rash expence of vanity detest,
And sordidnesse: a Mean in all is best.
Hurt not thy self; act nought thou dost not weigh;
And every businesse of the following day
As soon as by the Morn awak'd dispose,
Nor suffer sleep at night thy Eyes to close
Till thrice that Diary thou hast orerun,
How slipt? what Deeds? what duty left undone?
Thus thy account summ'd up from first to last
Grieve for the Ill, joy for what good hath past.
These if thou studie, practise, and affect,
To sacred Vertue will thy steps direct.
Natures eternall Fountain I attest,
Who did the soul with fourfold power invest.
Ere thou begin pray well thy work may end,
Then shall thy knowledge to all things extend
Divine and humane; where enlarg'd, restrain'd,
How nature is by generall likenesse chain'd.
Vain hope nor ignorance shall dim thy sight,
Then shalt thou see that haplesse men invite
Their Ills, to good (though present) Deaf and Blinde,
And few the cure of their Misfortunes finde;
This only is the fate that harms and rowls
Through miseries successive, humane souls.
Within is a continual hidden fight,
Which we to shun must study, not excite;
Good God! how little trouble should we know
If thou to all men wouldst their Genius show.
To sacred Vertue will thy steps direct.
Natures eternall Fountain I attest,
Who did the soul with fourfold power invest.
Ere thou begin pray well thy work may end,
Then shall thy knowledge to all things extend
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How nature is by generall likenesse chain'd.
Vain hope nor ignorance shall dim thy sight,
Then shalt thou see that haplesse men invite
Their Ills, to good (though present) Deaf and Blinde,
And few the cure of their Misfortunes finde;
This only is the fate that harms and rowls
Through miseries successive, humane souls.
Within is a continual hidden fight,
Which we to shun must study, not excite;
Good God! how little trouble should we know
If thou to all men wouldst their Genius show.
But fear not thou; Men come of heav'nly Race,
Taught by diviner Nature what t'embrace,
Which if pursu'd, Thou all I nam'd shalt gain,
And keep thy soul cleer from thy Bodies stain;
In time of Pray'r and cleansing meats deny'd
Abstain from; Thy mindes rains let reason guide:
Then rais'd to Heaven, thou from thy Bodie free
A deathlesse Saint, no more shalt mortal be.
Taught by diviner Nature what t'embrace,
Which if pursu'd, Thou all I nam'd shalt gain,
And keep thy soul cleer from thy Bodies stain;
In time of Pray'r and cleansing meats deny'd
Abstain from; Thy mindes rains let reason guide:
Then rais'd to Heaven, thou from thy Bodie free
A deathlesse Saint, no more shalt mortal be.
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