Folly the spring of his pursuit, And disappointment all the fruit. While Cynthio ogles, as she passes, The nymph between two chariot glasses, 20 She is the pineapple, and he The silly unsuccessful bee. The maid, who views with pensive air Sees watches, bracelets, rings, and lockets, Our dear delights are often such, But they whom truth and wisdom lead, Can gather honey from a weed. 30 36 HORACE. BOOK II. ODE X. RECEIVE, dear friend, the truths I teach, So shalt thou live beyond the reach Along the treach'rous shore. He that holds fast the golden mean, The little and the great, Feels not the wants that pinch the poor, 10 Nor plagues that haunt the rich man's door, Imbitt'ring all his state. The tallest pines feel most the pow'r Of wintry blasts; the loftiest tow'r The bolts, that spare the mountain's side, And spread the ruin round. The well inform'd philosopher And hopes, in spite of pain; If Winter bellow from the north, 20 Soon the sweet Spring comes dancing forth, And Nature laughs again. What if thine Heav'n be overcast, The dark appearance will not last; Expect a brighter sky. The God, that strings the silver bow, Awakes sometimes the muses too, And lays his arrows by. 30 If hindrances obstruct thy way, And let thy strength be seen; But O! if Fortune fill thy sail With more than a propitious gale, A REFLECTION ON THE FOREGOING ODE. AND is this all? Can Reason do no more, Than bid me shun the deep, and dread the shore? And, trusting in his God, surmounts them all. 336 IDEM LATINE REDDITUM. HEU inimicitias quoties parit æmula forma, Quam raro pulchræ pulchra placere potest! Sed fines ultra solitos discordia tendit, Cum flores ipsos bilis et ira movent. Hortus ubi dulces præbet tacitosque recessus, Ira Rosam et meritis quæsita superbia tangunt, Multaque ferventi vix cohibenda sinu, 10 Dum sibi fautorum ciet undique nomina vatum, Jusque suum, multo carmine fulta, probat. |