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Mr. Cooke's Original Poems

with Imitations and Translations of Several Select Passages of the Antients, In Four Parts: To which are added Proposals For perfecting the English Language

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Simonides on Human Life Paraphrased.
  
  
  
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231

Simonides on Human Life Paraphrased.

Nothing is lasting on the World's great Stage,
As sung, and wisely sung, the Chian Sage:
E'en Man, who thro the Globe extends his Sway,
Reigns but the sov'reign Creature of a Day.
One Generation comes, another goes;
Time blends the happy and the Man of Woes;
In Death the Wretch foresees his End of Pain;
The greatest dys, a Lesson to the vain.
The human Race of Life the Circle run
Like Leaves the Verdure of the summer Sun;
Some, such the Foliage of the Oak, will last
The Autumn thro, nor dread the wintry Blast;
Some early in the Year bestrew the Vale,
Unable to withstand a southern Gale;

232

If late or early from their Boughs they fall,
Their Heir, the Bud of Spring, succeeds them all:
Like these the short-liv'd Sons of Man decay;
Yet few regard the moralizing Lay.
Hope with us born, in Life the fair Decoy,
Drives them forgetful on in Search of Joy.
Behold the blooming Heir with Transport plan
Scenes of Delight to come, unthinking Man!
While from Diseases free he draws his Breath,
He nor expects old Age, nor dreams of Death:
Or now his Dome he views majestic rise
With airy Spires which seem to reach the Skys:
Pleas'd with th'enchanting Prospect now he roves
Thro his long Vistas, and sequester'd Groves:
Now for some virgin Heart the Lover dys,
Hugs the soft Chain, and burns with Ecstacys:
While the fond Slave his Idol does adore,
Death ends the Chase, and all the Farce is o'er.
Learn, O! deluded Man, before too late,
Short is the Date of Youth, of Life the Date;
Fix on the Grave, as on the Goal, your Eye;
And think each Day you live you live to dy.
 

Homer.