· 2

For God delights, not to afllict the Good, / _ The Ress ning Art to various Ends apply'd, Is oft a ſure, but oft an exring Guide.

Thy Judgment therefore ſound and cool preſerve,

Nor lightly from thy Reſolution ſwerve; The dazling Pomp of Words does oft deceive, And ſweet Perſuaſion wins the Eaſy to believe. - When Fools and Liars labour to perſuade, Be dumb, and let the Bablers vainly plead. This above all, this Precept chiefly learn, 21 nealry does, and firſt, thy ſelf. concern 3 Let not Example, let no ſoothing * Prevail upon thee with a.Siren's Song. To do thy Soul's.; Immortal Eſſence wrong, Of Good and Ill by Words or Deeds expreſt, Chooſe for thy elf, and always chooſe the beſt. Let wary Thought each Enterprize forerun, And ponder on thy Tak before begun, Leſt Folly ſhou d the wretched Work deface,

And mock thy fruitlets Labours with Diſgrace; |

” SANE — e | 8 S AE bone A TEA AG YR ad EE A

AR without Thought, and thoughtleſs Words they waſte,

T ut thou, in all thou doſt, with early Cares trive to prevent at firſt a Fate like theirs;

Nor ſharp Repentance make thee Wiſe too late; Beware thy meddling Hand in ought to try,

That does beyond thy reach of Knowledge lie;

But ſeek to know, and bend thy ſerious Thought

Wiſdom ſhall crown thy Labours, and ſhall bleſs Thy Life with Pleaſure, and thy End with Peace.

Nor let the Body want its Part, but ſhare A juſt Proportion of thy tender Care:. For Health and Welfare prudently provide, And let its lawful Wants be all ſupply'd. Let ſober Dravghts refreſh, and wholſom Fare Decaying Nature's waſted Force repair; And ſprightly Exerciſe the duller Spirits chear. In all Things ſtill which to this Care belong,

Obſerve this Rule, to guard thy Soul from Wrong.

By virtuons Uſe thy Life and Manners frame,

| Manly and ſimply pure, and ſree from + =o 51 1

_ Provoke not Envy's deadly Rage, but fly”. The glancing Curſe of her malicious Eye, Scek not in needleſs Luxury to waſte

Thy Wealth and Subſtance, with a Spendthriſt* s Haſte;

Yet flying theſe, be watchful, Jeſt thy rp | Prone to Extremes, an equal Danger figo,

. The Golden Verſes of Pythagorss. 98 Diſtant alike from each, to neither lean,.' BY But ever keep the happy GoLDEN Wes

Be careful ſtill to guard thy Soul from Wrong, b And let thy Thought prevent thy Hand and Tongue, L

Let not the ſtealing God of Sleep ſurpriſe, |. Nor creep in Slumbers on thy weary Eyes, | ö Ere ev'ry Action of the former Day q Strictly thou doſt and righteouſly ſurvey. With Rev'rence at thy on Tribunal ſtand, i And anſwer juſtly to thy own Demand. | i Where have I been? In what have I tranſgreſs'd 7 l What Good or Ill has this Day's Life exprelſs'd.?? Where have I fail'd in what I ought to do? 1 In what to God, to Man, or to my felt Lowe?.. 4

Inquire ſerere what- e er from firſt to laſt, - 1 00 From Morning's Dawn, till Ex'ning's Gloom, has paſt. If Evil were thy Deeds, repenting mourn,

And let thy Soul with ſtrong Remorſe be torn. If Good, the Good with Peace of Mind repay, - + 8

And to thy ſecret Self with Pleaſure fay,,:

Rejoice, my Heart, for all went well to-day. | Theſe Thoughts and chiefly theſe thy Mind —

Theſe are the Rules which will to Virtue lead 4. 21

And teach thy Feet her heaw'nly Paths to tread.»

This by his Name I ſwear, whoſe, ſacred Lore 2

(Firſt to Mankind explain'd the MyRick FOUR, Source of Eternal Nature and Almighty Pow'r. In all thou doſt firſt. let thy Prayers aſcend, _, |.. 1 And to the Gods thy Labours firſt commend. 5 From them implore Succeſs, and hope a proſp rous 12

So ſhall thy abler Mind be taugbe te ſour, + And wiſdom at her ſecret Wiyy