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On Moderation in all Things.
305
Good by laborious search must here be sought,
Success by industry alone is bought.
Behold Lucullus critic in nice fare,
To supper from the opera repair,
Pleasure in luxury he hopes to find,
But vapors still o'ercast his clouded mind.
His soul o'erwhelmed, no rays of light pervade,
He sleeps supine in dark oblivion's shade;
He grasps at joy, to rapture he aspires
In vain; he's dead to pleasure and desires.
Caressed by ease, officious and o'erkind
Pleasure long since on sloth's soft lap reclined:
Love, music, poetry, no more could please,
Man was enslaved by indolence and ease.
But God in pity to man's helpless kind
Labor with pleasure, joy with pain's combined.
Awaked by fear, man strives his bliss to gain;
Toil ever follows in fair pleasure's train.
Success by industry alone is bought.
Behold Lucullus critic in nice fare,
To supper from the opera repair,
Pleasure in luxury he hopes to find,
But vapors still o'ercast his clouded mind.
His soul o'erwhelmed, no rays of light pervade,
He sleeps supine in dark oblivion's shade;
He grasps at joy, to rapture he aspires
In vain; he's dead to pleasure and desires.
Caressed by ease, officious and o'erkind
Pleasure long since on sloth's soft lap reclined:
Love, music, poetry, no more could please,
Man was enslaved by indolence and ease.
But God in pity to man's helpless kind
Labor with pleasure, joy with pain's combined.
Awaked by fear, man strives his bliss to gain;
Toil ever follows in fair pleasure's train.
