Medulla Poetarum Romanorum Or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed under proper Heads,) Of such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, as may best serve to shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker |
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Advice.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Advice.
—If Helenus has any Skill,If any Faith, and if Apollo right
Inspires his Prophet: One thing, Goddess-born,
One Thing, above the rest, I will advise,
And oft repeat it: with religious Pray'r
First Juno's Deity adore: to her
Pay willing Sacrifices, and with Vows,
Suppliant, o'erpow'r the mighty Queen of Heav'n.—
Pallas. Arachne.
The Goddess then a Matron's Form put on;
With silver Hairs her hoary Temples shone:
Prop'd by a Staff, she hobbles in her Walk,
And, tott'ring, thus begins her old Wife's Talk.
Pall.
Young Maid, attend, nor stubbornly despise
The kind Instructions of the Old and Wise:
For Age, tho' scorn'd, a ripe Experience bears,
That golden Fruit, unknown to blooming Years.
Still may remotest Fame thy Labours crown,
And all Mankind thy Skill in Weaving own:
But to the Goddess yield, and humbly meek,
A Pardon for thy bold Presumption seek:
The Goddess will forgive.—
The kind Instructions of the Old and Wise:
For Age, tho' scorn'd, a ripe Experience bears,
That golden Fruit, unknown to blooming Years.
Still may remotest Fame thy Labours crown,
And all Mankind thy Skill in Weaving own:
But to the Goddess yield, and humbly meek,
A Pardon for thy bold Presumption seek:
The Goddess will forgive.—
—At this the Maid,
With Passion fir'd, her gliding Shuttle staid:
And scarce refraining Blows, with such a Look
As high Resentment shew'd,—
To Pallas in Disguise thus fiercely spoke.
With Passion fir'd, her gliding Shuttle staid:
And scarce refraining Blows, with such a Look
As high Resentment shew'd,—
To Pallas in Disguise thus fiercely spoke.
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Thou doating Thing, whose idle babling Tongue,
But too well shews the Plague of living long;
Hence, and reprove with this your sage Advice,
Your giddy Daughter, or your awkard Neice:
Know, I despise your Counsel, and am still
A Woman, ever wedded to my Will.—
Arachne presuming to vye with Pallas in the Art of Weaving, the Goddess in Disguise comes to give her good Advice.
Now to advise you, since you want Advice:
Take heed of whom you speak, and what it is
Take heed to whom: avoid the busy Man:
Fly the Inquisitive; He'll talk again,
And tell what you have said: The leaky Ear
Can never hold what it shall chance to hear,
But out it runs: What Words you once let fall,
For ever gone, no Mortal can recall.
Praise none till well approv'd on sober Thoughts,
Lest afterwards you blush for Other's Faults:
But if you have commended, thro' Mistake,
A worthless Rascal, no Excuses make
On his Behalf, but give him up to Shame:
Yet manfully defend another's Fame,
If long Acquaintance has approv'd him true:
For the same Malice soon may slander you.
When your next Neighbour's House is all a Flame,
If you neglect it, your's will be the same.
Take heed of whom you speak, and what it is
Take heed to whom: avoid the busy Man:
Fly the Inquisitive; He'll talk again,
And tell what you have said: The leaky Ear
Can never hold what it shall chance to hear,
But out it runs: What Words you once let fall,
For ever gone, no Mortal can recall.
Praise none till well approv'd on sober Thoughts,
Lest afterwards you blush for Other's Faults:
But if you have commended, thro' Mistake,
A worthless Rascal, no Excuses make
On his Behalf, but give him up to Shame:
Yet manfully defend another's Fame,
If long Acquaintance has approv'd him true:
For the same Malice soon may slander you.
When your next Neighbour's House is all a Flame,
If you neglect it, your's will be the same.
Be never with that curious Itch possess'd,
Of tearing Secrets from Another's Breast:
But when imparting Friendship makes 'em thine,
Revere, and guard them, as a sacred Shrine,
By Frowns not frighted, nor betray'd by Wine.
Delights to which thy private Fancy bends,
Esteem, with due Submission to thy Friend's:
Nor when he calls to hunt, the Sport refuse,
And stay at Home to trifle with the Muse.
Of tearing Secrets from Another's Breast:
But when imparting Friendship makes 'em thine,
Revere, and guard them, as a sacred Shrine,
By Frowns not frighted, nor betray'd by Wine.
Delights to which thy private Fancy bends,
Esteem, with due Submission to thy Friend's:
Nor when he calls to hunt, the Sport refuse,
And stay at Home to trifle with the Muse.
Read learned Authors, study well the Wise,
And ponder all the Methods they advise,
To make thy Days in pleasing Quiet roll;
Lest carking Avarice disturb thy Soul,
Or Terrors shake, or Cares thy Mind abuse,
Or anxious Hope for Things of little Use.
Consider whether Virtue be produc'd
By Education, or from Heav'n infus'd:
What lessens Care: what makes a Man to be
His own best Friend: whence pure Tranquility
Results, from Honour, or from shining Wealth,
Or from a private Life, led as it were by Stealth.—
And ponder all the Methods they advise,
To make thy Days in pleasing Quiet roll;
Lest carking Avarice disturb thy Soul,
Or Terrors shake, or Cares thy Mind abuse,
Or anxious Hope for Things of little Use.
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By Education, or from Heav'n infus'd:
What lessens Care: what makes a Man to be
His own best Friend: whence pure Tranquility
Results, from Honour, or from shining Wealth,
Or from a private Life, led as it were by Stealth.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |