OFT we enhance our ills by discontent, And give them bulk, beyond what nature meant. A parent, brother, friend deceas'd, to cry— "He's dead indeed, but he was born to die-" Such temperate grief is suited to the size And burthen of the loss; is just and wise. But to exclaim, "Ah! wherefore was I born, "Thus to be left, for ever thus forlorn ?” Who thus laments his loss invites distress, And magnifies a wo that might be less, Through dull despondence to his lot resign'd, And leaving reason's remedy behind 26 * BY MOSCHUS. I SLEPT, when Venus enter'd: to my bed Shepherd, receive my little one! I bring How Fallas form'd the pipe of softest sound, Such were my themes; my themes nought heeded he The pangs, that mortals and immortals prove EPIGRAMS, TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN OF OWES. IN IGNORANTEM ARROGANTEM LINUM CAPTIVUM, Line, te tenet ignorantia dup'ex. ON ONE IGNORANT AND ARROGANT. THOU mayest of double ign'rance boast, PRUDENS SIMPLICITAS. Ur nulli nocuisse velis, imitare columbam : PRUDENT SIMPLICITY. THAT thou mayest injure no man, dove-like be, AD AMICUM PAUPEREM. Esr male nunc? Utinam in pejus sors omnia vertat į Succedunt summis optima sæpe malis. TO A FRIEND IN DISTRESS. I WISH thy lot, now bad, still worse, my friend; OMNIA me dum junior essem, scire putabanı : WHEN little more than boy in age, LEX TALIONIS. Majorum nunquam, Aule, legis monumenta tuorum Mirum est, posteritas si tua scripta tegat. RETALIATION. THE works of ancient bards divino, And should posterity read thine, DE ORTU ET OCCASU. SOLE oriente, tui reditus a morte memento! SUNSET AND SUNRISE. CONTEMPLATE, when the sun declines, Thy death, with deep reflection; And when again he rising shines, Thy day of resurrection ! TRANSLATIONS FROM THE FABLES OF GAY. LEPUS MULTIS AMICUS Lusus amicitia est, uni nisi dedita, ceu fit, Comis erat, mitisque, et nolle et velle paratus Et quisque innocuo, invitoque lacessere quenquam Viribus at fractis tandem se projicit ultro In media miserum semianimemque via. Vix ibi stratus, equi sonitum pedis audit, et, oh spe Quam lata adventu cor agitatur equi! Dorsum (inquit) mihi, chare, tuum concede, tuoque Auxilio nares fallere, vimque canum. |