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THE GOLDEN VERSES OF PYTHAGORAS.
165
Yet, while thine acts to useful limits tend,
Let not light foibles scare thee from a friend;
From wise forbearance all thy strength must rise,—
Know, Need and Power are ever close allies.
Learn then, those things so good for all to know,
For all who walk life's rugged path below;
And turn thy thoughts, and ply thy strength amain,
Each headlong grovelling passion to restrain.
[1]Let foul Debauch a stern subjection own,[2]
And Sleep's domain, with Sloth's rank weeds o'ergrown;
Lust's foul desires should stoop to stern control,
And Anger's breath, that shakes the troubled soul;
- ↑ Here the poet counsels against four of the most fearful vices of our Nature.—Lust, Anger, Gluttony, and Sloth. The Scriptures denounce them on various occasions, as, My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thine ear to my prudence. That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman. For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dripping, and her throat is smoother then oil, &c. Prov., 5 ch., 1, 2, etc., ver. A fool immediately sheweth his anger; but he that dissembleth injuries is wise. Prov., 12 ch., 16 ver. Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated. Ecclesiasticus, 31 ch., 19 ver. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou rise out of thy sleep? Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy arms a little to sleep: And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee. Prov., 6 ch., 9-11 ver.
- ↑ See note B, page 172.
