The Works of Hildebrand Jacob ... Containing Poems on Various Subjects, and Occasions; With the Fatal Constancy, a Tragedy; and Several Pieces in Prose. The Greatest Part Never Before Publish'd |
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 | The Works of Hildebrand Jacob |  |
133
Chiron to Achilles.
—Res est sever a Voluptas.
Old
Chiron to his Pupil thus began,
When he beheld him rip'ning into Man.
Accomplish'd Youth! well worthy of my Pains,
You now are free, and guide your self the Reins:
Yet hear, Achilles, hear, before we part,
A few, short Precepts from a faithful Heart.
When he beheld him rip'ning into Man.
Accomplish'd Youth! well worthy of my Pains,
You now are free, and guide your self the Reins:
Yet hear, Achilles, hear, before we part,
A few, short Precepts from a faithful Heart.
What tho' the Gods a Nestor's Age deny?
Let Management a longer Life supply,
And learn, at least, to live, before you die.
A little Tract well Till'd, more Profit yields
Than Realms of wild, uncultivated Fields.
'Tis not from length of Years our Pleasures flow,
Nor to the Gods alone our Bliss we owe;
Our Happiness, and Pain depend on us:
Man's his own good or evil Genius.
Great Ills by Art we lighten or remove,
And Art our meanest Pleasures may improve:
Much to our selves is due, tho' much to Jove.
Let Management a longer Life supply,
And learn, at least, to live, before you die.
A little Tract well Till'd, more Profit yields
Than Realms of wild, uncultivated Fields.
'Tis not from length of Years our Pleasures flow,
Nor to the Gods alone our Bliss we owe;
134
Man's his own good or evil Genius.
Great Ills by Art we lighten or remove,
And Art our meanest Pleasures may improve:
Much to our selves is due, tho' much to Jove.
Think not, young Prince, your elevated State,
Birth, Honours, or the empty Name of Great,
Can fix your Joys! they're ill secur'd, unless
You know your self, to form your Happiness,
Which in the Shepherd's humble Hut is found,
While Palaces with Discord still resound.
Fortune to Industry is ever kind,
And, tho' by the blind Vulgar painted blind,
Is still more equal than the Croud suppose,
Who judge of Happiness by outward Shows;
She smiles on all Conditions, each may be
A Man of Pleasure in his own Degree.
Birth, Honours, or the empty Name of Great,
Can fix your Joys! they're ill secur'd, unless
You know your self, to form your Happiness,
Which in the Shepherd's humble Hut is found,
While Palaces with Discord still resound.
Fortune to Industry is ever kind,
And, tho' by the blind Vulgar painted blind,
Is still more equal than the Croud suppose,
Who judge of Happiness by outward Shows;
She smiles on all Conditions, each may be
A Man of Pleasure in his own Degree.
Yet few with Art their Happiness pursue,
Tho' all Mankind have Happiness in view,
And ev'ry Sense seems made by Nature's Skill
For giving Pleasure, and avoiding Ill.
Nature, our common Mother, has been kind,
And for a Race of Joy her Sons design'd,
Who long to reach the Goal, yet lazy lag behind;
Or wholly blind, or doubtful how t'advance,
They leave the Work of Industry to Chance,
And of those few who with more active Strife
Pursue this great, important End of Life,
Some too impatient, know not how to wait;
Or aim at things beyond their Humane State:
These last thro' too much Delicacy fall
And, by refining, rob themselves of all.
Tho' all Mankind have Happiness in view,
135
For giving Pleasure, and avoiding Ill.
Nature, our common Mother, has been kind,
And for a Race of Joy her Sons design'd,
Who long to reach the Goal, yet lazy lag behind;
Or wholly blind, or doubtful how t'advance,
They leave the Work of Industry to Chance,
And of those few who with more active Strife
Pursue this great, important End of Life,
Some too impatient, know not how to wait;
Or aim at things beyond their Humane State:
These last thro' too much Delicacy fall
And, by refining, rob themselves of all.
Shun then, Achilles, shun the Faults of such,
Who still propose too little, or too much.
Stretch not your Hopes too far, nor yet despair;
But above all, of Indolence beware.
Attend to what you do, or Life will seem
But a meer Vision, or fantastick Dream,
Pass'd in Ideas of Delight at best,
While real Pleasure's lost in doubtful Rest.
In short, learn when, and how to bear; in vain
He Pleasure seeks, who is afraid of Pain;
Pleasure's a serious Thing, and cheaply bought
By Labour, Patience, Management, and Thought.
Who still propose too little, or too much.
Stretch not your Hopes too far, nor yet despair;
But above all, of Indolence beware.
Attend to what you do, or Life will seem
But a meer Vision, or fantastick Dream,
136
While real Pleasure's lost in doubtful Rest.
In short, learn when, and how to bear; in vain
He Pleasure seeks, who is afraid of Pain;
Pleasure's a serious Thing, and cheaply bought
By Labour, Patience, Management, and Thought.
But you, aspiring Youth, by Nature seem
Addicted to an opposite Extreme,
Impetuous, and restless, soon inflam'd,
And, like a gen'rous Courser, hardly tam'd;
In all things violent: but, O! disdain,
Brave Prince to let usurping Passion reign,
In one rash Moment sacrificing more
Than Years of sad Repentance may restore.
Addicted to an opposite Extreme,
Impetuous, and restless, soon inflam'd,
And, like a gen'rous Courser, hardly tam'd;
In all things violent: but, O! disdain,
Brave Prince to let usurping Passion reign,
In one rash Moment sacrificing more
Than Years of sad Repentance may restore.
As Thracian Winds the Euxine Sea molest,
So Wrath, and Envy, from a Humane Breast
Drive Halcyon Peace, and banish kindly Rest.
And no Security for Joy is found,
But in a Mind that's tractable, and sound.
So Wrath, and Envy, from a Humane Breast
Drive Halcyon Peace, and banish kindly Rest.
And no Security for Joy is found,
But in a Mind that's tractable, and sound.
137
Suppress the first Emotions of your Ire,
And smother in its Birth the kindling Fire.
Ere Anger yet possesses all your Soul,
Ere yet your Bosom heaves, and Eyeballs roll,
Think on the useful Precepts, I have taught,
And meet the rising Heat with wholsom Thought.
And smother in its Birth the kindling Fire.
Ere Anger yet possesses all your Soul,
Ere yet your Bosom heaves, and Eyeballs roll,
Think on the useful Precepts, I have taught,
And meet the rising Heat with wholsom Thought.
Or seek the sacred Muses with your Lyre,
Who with sweet Peace to lonely Shades retire,
Gods, and the Sons of Gods, the Heroes sing,
While Hills and Vallies with their Praises ring,
These learn to imitate, and Those adore,
And sweetly to your Self, your Self restore;
Music, and Verse, and Solitude controul
Impetuous Fury, and compose the Soul.
Who with sweet Peace to lonely Shades retire,
Gods, and the Sons of Gods, the Heroes sing,
While Hills and Vallies with their Praises ring,
These learn to imitate, and Those adore,
And sweetly to your Self, your Self restore;
Music, and Verse, and Solitude controul
Impetuous Fury, and compose the Soul.
For this, I early taught you how to sing,
And form'd your Fingers to the trembling String;
For 'tis not all sweet Pleasure's Paths to show,
The Arts of Consolation Man shou'd know:
Our Joys are short, and broken; and in vain
To constant Bliss wou'd Humane Race attain:
Be oft' contented to be free from Pain.
And form'd your Fingers to the trembling String;
For 'tis not all sweet Pleasure's Paths to show,
The Arts of Consolation Man shou'd know:
138
To constant Bliss wou'd Humane Race attain:
Be oft' contented to be free from Pain.
There is a Deity ordain'd by Fate
To damp our Joys immoderately great,
That none on Earth from Sorrow shou'd be free,
But ev'n our Blessings taste of Misery.
To damp our Joys immoderately great,
That none on Earth from Sorrow shou'd be free,
But ev'n our Blessings taste of Misery.
If Fortune gives, what rarely we obtain,
An equal Share of Pleasure, and of Pain,
Our Portion is o'er paid, the rest you'll find
But fond Ideas of the wanton Mind,
Which now vain Scenes of Godlike Pleasure shows,
And now creates imaginary Woes.
An equal Share of Pleasure, and of Pain,
Our Portion is o'er paid, the rest you'll find
But fond Ideas of the wanton Mind,
Which now vain Scenes of Godlike Pleasure shows,
And now creates imaginary Woes.
When sad, your Ills examine, and compare,
Judge of your own by what another's are.
Consider greater Wretches, and the Fates
Of mighty Heroes, and of mighty States;
Thus real Evils in their proper Light
Appear, the false thus vanish out of Sight.
Nor aim at Pleasures difficult to gain,
Choose rather such you may with Ease obtain.
Who scorns to trifle, is by Pride abus'd:
I pity him, who ne'er can be amus'd,
But, slighting Pleasures moderate, and small,
Must live in Rapture, or not live at all.
Great Pleasures still are near ally'd to Pain:
Who quits the peaceful Shore, and ploughs the main,
Big Waves, and mighty Tempests must sustain.
Judge of your own by what another's are.
Consider greater Wretches, and the Fates
Of mighty Heroes, and of mighty States;
Thus real Evils in their proper Light
Appear, the false thus vanish out of Sight.
139
Choose rather such you may with Ease obtain.
Who scorns to trifle, is by Pride abus'd:
I pity him, who ne'er can be amus'd,
But, slighting Pleasures moderate, and small,
Must live in Rapture, or not live at all.
Great Pleasures still are near ally'd to Pain:
Who quits the peaceful Shore, and ploughs the main,
Big Waves, and mighty Tempests must sustain.
Let not such fond Ambition to be blest,
The humbler Pleasures in your Pow'r molest;
Yet cherish Hope; for without Hope there's none:
Taste Hope! but be not fed with that alone.
The humbler Pleasures in your Pow'r molest;
Yet cherish Hope; for without Hope there's none:
Taste Hope! but be not fed with that alone.
Some their whole Lives in Expectation spend,
As Life were not begun, or ne'er wou'd end,
Fondly from Day to Day themselves deceive,
Not living, but intending still to live,
While they neglect the Joys, they might possess,
For empty Dreams of future Happiness.
As Life were not begun, or ne'er wou'd end,
Fondly from Day to Day themselves deceive,
Not living, but intending still to live,
While they neglect the Joys, they might possess,
For empty Dreams of future Happiness.
140
Let Nature in your Pleasures be your Guide,
Nor suffer Art her genuine Charms to hide:
Her Beauties with unweary'd Eyes we see;
The Truth of Beauty is Simplicity.
Nor suffer Art her genuine Charms to hide:
Her Beauties with unweary'd Eyes we see;
The Truth of Beauty is Simplicity.
Live not by Imitation, servile State!
Nor on the Fashion for your Pleasures wait,
Man otherwise so selfish, and so proud,
Submits his Taste to the fantastic Croud,
And lives not for himself: do you pursue
Your own Desires, and to your self be true.
Nor on the Fashion for your Pleasures wait,
Man otherwise so selfish, and so proud,
Submits his Taste to the fantastic Croud,
And lives not for himself: do you pursue
Your own Desires, and to your self be true.
As Bees extract their Sweets from ev'ry Flow'r,
So you your Joys, from all things in your Pow'r,
With Industry and Management produce:
The meanest Trifles are sometimes of use.
So you your Joys, from all things in your Pow'r,
With Industry and Management produce:
The meanest Trifles are sometimes of use.
Yet know well what you do, and when 'tis done,
Nor at all Hours to ev'ry Pleasure run;
But mix with Art your Pleasures, and your Toils.
For Pleasures have their Seasons, and their Foils
Nor at all Hours to ev'ry Pleasure run;
But mix with Art your Pleasures, and your Toils.
For Pleasures have their Seasons, and their Foils
Thus when the earliest dawn of Eastern Light
Proclaims the finish'd Empire of the Night,
Haste to the Field, Achilles, nor disdain,
To chace the foaming Monster o'er the Plain,
Or teach the untam'd Steed to feel the Rein;
Or let your Car, and Arms your Nerves prepare,
Or for Olympic Games, or future War:
Then whether Arts, or Glory fire your Mind
With Thoughts more generous, or more refin'd,
Aurora to the Muses still is kind.
Proclaims the finish'd Empire of the Night,
141
To chace the foaming Monster o'er the Plain,
Or teach the untam'd Steed to feel the Rein;
Or let your Car, and Arms your Nerves prepare,
Or for Olympic Games, or future War:
Then whether Arts, or Glory fire your Mind
With Thoughts more generous, or more refin'd,
Aurora to the Muses still is kind.
At Noon, a simple short Repast be made;
A shorter Slumber in the cooling Shade:
What's gay and light, th' unbended Mind employ,
Or Sports, or past Delights, or future Joy.
A shorter Slumber in the cooling Shade:
What's gay and light, th' unbended Mind employ,
Or Sports, or past Delights, or future Joy.
But when the Ev'ning-Star begins to rise,
When Phœbus' fainting Steeds forsake the Skies,
Still chearful at the well-spread Board be found,
Amidst bright Friends, and with fresh Garlands crown'd,
While Wine, and Thais with her Voice and Lyre,
Banish old Sorrows, and new Joys inspire.
When Phœbus' fainting Steeds forsake the Skies,
Still chearful at the well-spread Board be found,
Amidst bright Friends, and with fresh Garlands crown'd,
While Wine, and Thais with her Voice and Lyre,
Banish old Sorrows, and new Joys inspire.
142
Thus when from Toils of Empire you are free,
Nor Camp, nor Council claim your Liberty,
The Morn to Labour, and the Muses give;
At Noon with Temperance, and Quiet live;
Ceres', and Bacchus' Gifts at Ev'ning prove:
Divide the Night with Somnus, and with Love.
Nor Camp, nor Council claim your Liberty,
The Morn to Labour, and the Muses give;
At Noon with Temperance, and Quiet live;
Ceres', and Bacchus' Gifts at Ev'ning prove:
Divide the Night with Somnus, and with Love.
Thus, thus, Pelides, drive your Cares away,
Nor feel the Evil, till the evil Day.
What tho' on Simois, or Scamander's Shore,
Far off from Home, the Greeks your Death deplore?
No matter where, or when; it once must be,
And nothing can revoke the firm Decree.
Tho' Thetis' Son, tho' third from mighty Jove,
Eternal Monarch of the Realms above,
Nor Jove, nor Thetis, can your Days recall,
Or for an Hour defer your destin'd Fall.
Nor feel the Evil, till the evil Day.
What tho' on Simois, or Scamander's Shore,
Far off from Home, the Greeks your Death deplore?
No matter where, or when; it once must be,
And nothing can revoke the firm Decree.
Tho' Thetis' Son, tho' third from mighty Jove,
Eternal Monarch of the Realms above,
Nor Jove, nor Thetis, can your Days recall,
Or for an Hour defer your destin'd Fall.
Mean while, a looser Rein to Pleasure give;
Time flies in haste, be you in haste to live:
Seize on the precious Minutes, as they fleet;
Your Life, however short, will be compleat,
If at the fatal Moment you can say,
I've liv'd, and made the most of ev'ry Day!
Time flies in haste, be you in haste to live:
Seize on the precious Minutes, as they fleet;
Your Life, however short, will be compleat,
143
I've liv'd, and made the most of ev'ry Day!
One Precept more I fain wou'd recommend,
And then old Chiron's tedious Lessons end.
And then old Chiron's tedious Lessons end.
Learn, gen'rous Prince, what's little understood,
The Godlike Happiness of doing good.
How glorious to defend, and to bestow!
From nobler Springs can Humane Pleasure flow?
A solid Good, which nothing can destroy,
The best Prerogative the Great enjoy.
For this remember, Monarchs first were made,
For this, young Prince, be lov'd, and be obey'd,
At once your self, and mighty Nations bless,
And make Humanity your Happiness.
The Godlike Happiness of doing good.
How glorious to defend, and to bestow!
From nobler Springs can Humane Pleasure flow?
A solid Good, which nothing can destroy,
The best Prerogative the Great enjoy.
For this remember, Monarchs first were made,
For this, young Prince, be lov'd, and be obey'd,
At once your self, and mighty Nations bless,
And make Humanity your Happiness.
But now Aurora ushers in the Day,
And fond, expecting Peleus chides your Stay.
Go then, brave Youth, where'er the Fates may call;
Live with Design, and fearless wait thy Fall.
Whatever Space of Life the Gods decree,
Thy Name is still immortal; for I see
More than another Peleus rise in thee.
Thy Fame the Prince of sacred Bards shall fire,
Thy Deeds the Conquest of the World inspire.
And fond, expecting Peleus chides your Stay.
Go then, brave Youth, where'er the Fates may call;
Live with Design, and fearless wait thy Fall.
144
Thy Name is still immortal; for I see
More than another Peleus rise in thee.
Thy Fame the Prince of sacred Bards shall fire,
Thy Deeds the Conquest of the World inspire.
| The Works of Hildebrand Jacob | |