This page has been validated.
304
On Moderation in all Things.
Even bards sometimes urged on by Phœbus' flame,
Have been deluded by that phantom fame,
Plato was Dionysius' humble guest,
Louis Racine turned Jansenist caressed.
Horace, in loose and prostituted lays,
Sang Glycera and sold Octavius praise.
At court these pawned integrity for gain,
But opulence and ease made light their chain;
Horace, the sage, with affluence lived blessed,
Who grasps at all, is sure to be distressed.
You who have introduced in Gallia's court
All Sybaris' luxury and wanton sport,
Who even on the down of ease reclined,
To luxury dedicate the vacant mind,
You frantic men, who vainly bliss pursue,
Learn to enjoy it, and to know it too;
Pleasure's the God from whom we claim our birth.
Starved 'midst the weeds and brambles of the earth.
Pleasures are various in each varied stage
Of life, and some we taste when chilled by age.
But prudently the soul should feast on joy,
Pleasures are always transient soon they cloy.
Present not to your senses when they fail,
All the perfumes which Flora can exhale;
Let us not strive of all joys to partake,
But let us pleasure quit, for pleasure's sake;
Who labors hard true pleasure still obtains,
I pity him whom indolence enchains.
True wisdom yields true happiness below,
On earth no harvests without culture grow:
Have been deluded by that phantom fame,
Plato was Dionysius' humble guest,
Louis Racine turned Jansenist caressed.
Horace, in loose and prostituted lays,
Sang Glycera and sold Octavius praise.
At court these pawned integrity for gain,
But opulence and ease made light their chain;
Horace, the sage, with affluence lived blessed,
Who grasps at all, is sure to be distressed.
You who have introduced in Gallia's court
All Sybaris' luxury and wanton sport,
Who even on the down of ease reclined,
To luxury dedicate the vacant mind,
You frantic men, who vainly bliss pursue,
Learn to enjoy it, and to know it too;
Pleasure's the God from whom we claim our birth.
Starved 'midst the weeds and brambles of the earth.
Pleasures are various in each varied stage
Of life, and some we taste when chilled by age.
But prudently the soul should feast on joy,
Pleasures are always transient soon they cloy.
Present not to your senses when they fail,
All the perfumes which Flora can exhale;
Let us not strive of all joys to partake,
But let us pleasure quit, for pleasure's sake;
Who labors hard true pleasure still obtains,
I pity him whom indolence enchains.
True wisdom yields true happiness below,
On earth no harvests without culture grow:
