HORACE. Book the 2d. ODE the 10th. I. RECEIVE, dear friend, the truths I teach, So fhalt thou live beyond the reach Of adverfe Fortune's power; Not always tempt the diftant deep, Nor always timorously creep Along the treacherous shore. II. He, that holds fast the golden mean, The little and the great, Feels not the wants, that pinch the poor, Nor plagues, that haunt the rich man's door, III. The tallest pines feel moft the power The bolts, that spare the mountain's fide, And spread the ruin round. IV. The well informed philosopher Soon the sweet spring comes dancing forth, V. What if thine heaven be overcaft, The God, that ftrings the filver bow, VI. If hindrances obftruct thy way, And let thy ftrength be seen ; A REFLECTION ON THE FOREGOING OPE. AND is this all? Can reafon do no more The Chriftian has an art unknown to thee. He holds no parley with unmanly fears; And, trufting in his God, surmounts them all. THE LILY AND THE ROSE, I. THE nymph muft lose her female friend, But where will fierce contention end, If flowers can disagree? II. Within the garden's peaceful scene Appeared two lovely foes, Afpiring to the rank of queen, III. The Rofe foon reddened into rage, And, fwelling with difdain, Appealed to many a poet's page To prove her right to reign. IV. The Lily's height bespoke command, She feemed defigned for Flora's hand, The fceptre of her power. V. This civil bickering and debate The pride of the parterre ; Yours is, fhe faid, the nobler hue, And, till a third furpaffes you, Let each be deemed a queen. VII. Thus, foothed and reconciled, each seeks The faireft British fair. The feat of empire is her cheeks, They reign united there. |