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ROWE.

From a Bult in Weftminster Abbey.

JM Delar feulp

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TO THE READER.

HOPE the reader will forgive the liberty I have -taken in translating thefe Verfes fomewhat at large, without which it would have been almoft impoffible to have given any kind of turn in English poetry to so dry a subje&. The fense of the Author is, I hope, no where mistaken; and if there feems in fome places to be fome additions in the English verfes to the Greek text, they are only fuch as may be juftified from Hierocles's Commentary, and delivered by him as the larger and explained fenfe of the Author's fhort precept. I have in fome few places ventured to differ from the learned Mr. Dacier's French interpretation, as those that shall give themselves the trouble of a ftrict comparison will find. How far I am in the right, is left to the reader to determine.

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IRST to the gods thy humble homage pay;

FIRS

The greatest this, and first of laws, obey:
Perform thy vows, obferve thy plighted troth,
And let religion bind thee to thy oath.

The heroes next demand thy just regard,
Renown'd on earth, and to the stars preferr'd,
To light and endless life, their virtue's fure reward.
Due rites perform and honours to the dead,
To every wife, to every pious fhade.
With lowly duty to thy parents bow,
And grace and favour to thy kindred show:
For what concerns the rest of human kind,
Choofe out the man to virtue best inclin'd;
Him to thy arms receive, him to thy bofom bind.
Poffeft of fuch a friend, preserve him still;
Nor thwart his counfels with thy ftubborn will ;
Pliant to all his admonitions prove,

And yield to all his offices of love:

Him from thy heart, fo true, so justly dear,
Let no rath word nor light offences tear.

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Bear all thou canft, ftill with his failings ftrive,

And to the utmost still, and still forgive;

For ftrong neceffity alone explores

The fecret vigour of our latent powers,
Rouzes and urges on the lazy heart,

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Force, to itself unknown before, t'exert.
By use thy stronger appetites affwage,

Thy gluttony, thy floth, thy luft, thy rage:
From each dishoneft act of fhame forbear;

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