56
Epistles.
Now Truth's bright charms employ my serious thought,
In flowing eloquence by Tully taught;
Then from the shades of Tusculum I rove, 15
And studious wander in the Grecian grove,
While wonder and delight the soul engage
To sound the depths of Plato's sacred page;
Where Science in attractive fable lies,
And, veil'd, the more invites her lover's eyes. 20
Transported thence, the flow'ry heights I gain
Of Pindus, and admire the warbling train,
Whose wings the Muse in better ages prun'd,
And their sweet harps to moral airs attun'd.
As night is tedious while, in love betray'd, 25
The wakeful youth expects the faithless maid;
As weary'd hinds accuse the ling'ring sun,
And heirs impatient wish for twenty-one;
So dull to Horace[1] did the moments glide,
'Till his free Muse her sprightly force employ'd 30
To combat vice, and follies to expose,
In easy numbers near ally'd to prose:
Guilt blush'd and trembled when she heard him sing;
He smil'd reproof, and tickled with his sting.
With such a graceful negligence exprest, 35
Wit, thus apply'd, will ever stand the test:
But he who, blindly led, by whimsy strays,
And from gross images would merit praise,
In flowing eloquence by Tully taught;
Then from the shades of Tusculum I rove, 15
And studious wander in the Grecian grove,
While wonder and delight the soul engage
To sound the depths of Plato's sacred page;
Where Science in attractive fable lies,
And, veil'd, the more invites her lover's eyes. 20
Transported thence, the flow'ry heights I gain
Of Pindus, and admire the warbling train,
Whose wings the Muse in better ages prun'd,
And their sweet harps to moral airs attun'd.
As night is tedious while, in love betray'd, 25
The wakeful youth expects the faithless maid;
As weary'd hinds accuse the ling'ring sun,
And heirs impatient wish for twenty-one;
So dull to Horace[1] did the moments glide,
'Till his free Muse her sprightly force employ'd 30
To combat vice, and follies to expose,
In easy numbers near ally'd to prose:
Guilt blush'd and trembled when she heard him sing;
He smil'd reproof, and tickled with his sting.
With such a graceful negligence exprest, 35
Wit, thus apply'd, will ever stand the test:
But he who, blindly led, by whimsy strays,
And from gross images would merit praise,
- ↑ Lib. i. Epist. 1.
