Jove varnishes to sight the specious skin,

Nor keenest glance may pierce the rottenness within.

In man, nor woman, trust the friend sincere,
Till thou hast proved them, as we prove the steer.
Conjecture aids not, as when seasons smile,
But empty shows of things allure thee to beguile.

ARGUMENT FOR SOCIAL ENJOYMENT

FROM THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE.

MAY Peace, may Plenty bless our happy state,
And social feast; for evil war I hate.
Sky-dwelling Jove! above our city stand,
And o'er her safety spread thy guardian hand.
Smile, every God; and Phoebus, thou, dispense
The mind of wit, the tongue of eloquence:
Let harp and pipe in sacred song combine,
And, with libations of the sprinkled wine
Appeasing heaven, let converse blithe be ours,
And goblets, dreadless of the Median powers.
So is it best to trifle life away,

Our minds with care unburthen'd, light, and

gay:

So from dark ills of fate our thoughts defend,
From age pernicious, and our mortal end.

In youth I blithesome sport; for soon shall fly
My spirit; and my body deep shall lie
Beneath th' eternal ground; while years roll on
Laid motionless, and speechless as a stone.

Yes I shall leave the pleasant sun; nor more, Though virtuous, look on all that pleas'd before. Now, then, my soul! take pleasure: other eyes Shall view the sun, and other men arise: While I am lying cold, and stark, and dead, With dusty blackness of the earth o'erspread. Still leaps my heart, when, breathing on my ear, The lovely voice of murm'ring flutes I hear: The goblet cheers: the minstrels joyance bring: And my own hands touch, glad, the thrilling string: There breathes not mortal, on whose head the ground

Has closed, whom hell's dark chambers compass

round,

That hears the minstrel, listens to the lyre,

Or feels the rosy gifts of wine inspire.

My soul! the thought shall pleasure's counsel speak; Ere the head tremble, ere the knees are weak.

Anacreon.

ANACREON.

Bef. Ch. 532.

ODES.

English Translators:

STANLEY, FAWKES, MOORE,

ANACREON was born at Teos, a sea-port of Ionia. When Harpagus, the general of Cyrus the elder, invaded the Ionian cities, Anacreon migrated to Abdera in Thrace; and afterwards repaired to the court of Polycrates, monarch of Samos: whencé he was invited to Athens by Hipparchus, who sent a galley of fifty oars to convey him across the Ægean sea. When Hipparchus was slain, in the