The folly of Men aspiring to forbidden joys. III. Thanks, gentle swain for all my woes, And thanks for this effectual close And cure of ev'ry ill! More cruelty could none express; THE PINE-APPLE AND THE BEE. THE pine-apples, in tripple row, The folly of Men aspiring to forbidden joys. But still in vain, the frame was tight, The silly unsuccessful bee. The maid who views with pensive air The show-glass fraught with glitt'ring ware, Sees watches, bracelets, rings and lockets, But sighs at thought of empty pockets; Like thine her appetite is keen, But ah, the cruel glass between ! The folly of Men aspiring to forbidden joys. Our dear delights are often such, Expos'd to view, but not to touch: The sight our foolish heart inflames, We long for pine-apples in frames: With hopeless wish one looks and lingers; One breaks the glass, and cuts his fingers; But they whom truth and wisdom lead, Can gather honey from a weed, HORACE. BOOK II. ODE X. I. RECEIVE, dear friend, the truths I teach, Of adverse fortune's pow'r; Not always tempt the distant deep, Along the treach'rous shore, The Middle State in Society, preferable to Riches. 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, Imbitt'ring all his state. III. The tallest pines feel most the pow'r Of wint'ry blasts; the loftiest tow'r Comes heaviest to the ground; The bolts, that spare the mountain's side, His cloud-cap'd eminence divide, And spread the ruin round. IV. The well-inform'd philosopher, And hopes, in spite of pain; If winter bellow from the north, Soon the sweet spring comes dancing forth, And nature laughs again. The Middle State in Society, preferable to Riches. V. What if thine heav'n be overcast, The dark appearance will not last; The God that strings the silver bow, VI. If hindrances obstruct thy way, And let thy strength be seen; AND is this all? Can reason do no more Than bid me shun the deep and dread the shore ? |