THE HAPPY MAN.

How happy is he born or taught,
That serveth not another's will;
Whose armour is his honest thought,
And simple truth his highest skill:

Whose passions not his masters are ;
Whose soul is still prepar'd for death,
Not tied unto the world with care

Of princes' ear, or vulgar breath:

Who hath his life from rumours freed;
Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
Whose state can neither flatterers feed,
Nor ruin makes oppressors great:

Who envies none, whom chance doth raise,
Or vice; who never understood
How deepest wounds are given with praise;
Nor rules of state, but rules of good:

Who God doth late and early pray,
More of his grace than gifts to lend;
And entertains the harmless day

With a well-chosen book or friend.

This man is freed from servile bands
Of hope to rise, or fear to fall;
Lord of himself, though not of lands;
And having nothing, yet hath all.

Sir Henry Wotton.

THE CHOICE OF HERCULES.

Now had the son of Jove mature, attain'd
The joyful prime, when youth, elate and gay,
Steps into life, and follows unrestrain'd

Where passion leads, or prudence points the way. In the pure mind, at those ambiguous years,

Or vice, rank weed, first strikes her pois'nous Or haply virtue's op'ning bud appears

[root; By just degrees; fair bloom of fairest fruit: For, if on youth's untainted thought impress'd, The gen'rous purpose still shall warm the manly breast.

As on a day, reflecting on his age

For highest deeds now ripe, Alcides sought
Retirement; nurse of contemplation sage;
Step following step, and thought succeeding
thought:

Musing, with steady pace the youth pursu'd
His walk, and lost in meditation stray'd
Far in a lonely vale, with solitude

Conversing; while intent the mind survey'd The dubious path of life: before him lay [way. Here Virtue's rough ascent, there Pleasure's flow'ry Much did the view divide his wavering mind: Now glow'd his breast with generous thirst of fame;

Now love of ease to softer thoughts inclin'd
His yielding soul, and quench'd the rising flame.
When, lo! far off two female forms he 'spies;
Direct to him their steps they seem to bear;
Both large and tall, exceeding human size;
Both, far exceeding human beauty, fair.

Graceful, yet each with different grace, they move: This, striking sacred awe; that softer, winning love.

The first, in native dignity surpass'd;

Artless and unadorn'd she pleas'd the more: Health o'er her looks a genuine lustre cast;

A vest, more white than new-fall'n snow, she
August she trod, yet modest was her air: [wore.
Serene her eye, yet darting heav'nly fire.
Still she drew near; and nearer still more fair,
More mild appear'd; `yet such as might inspire
Pleasure corrected with an awful fear;
Majestically sweet, and amiably severe.

The other dame seem'd ev'n of fairer hue;
But bold her mien: unguarded rov'd her eye:
And her flush'd cheeks confess'd at nearer view
The borrow'd blushes of an artful dye.
All soft and delicate, with airy swim

Lightly she danc'd along; her robe betray'd
Through the clear texture every tender limb,
Height'ning the charms it only seem'd to shade:
And as it flow'd adown, so loose and thin,
Her stature show'd more tall; more snowy-white,
her skin.

Oft with a smile she view'd herself askance;
Ev'n on her shade a conscious look she threw:
Then all around her cast a careless glance,
To mark what gazing eyes her beauty drew.
As they came near, before that other maid
Approaching decent, eagerly she press'd
With hasty step; nor of repulse afraid, [dress'd;

With freedom bland the wond'ring youth ad

With winning fondness on his neck she hung; Sweet as the honey-dew flow'd her enchanting tongue.

'Dear Hercules, whence this unkind delay? Dear youth, what doubts can thus distract thy. mind?

Securely follow, where I lead the way;

And range through wilds of pleasure unconfin'd. With me retire, from noise, and pain, and care; Embath'd in bliss, and wrapt in endless ease: Rongh is the road to fame, through blood and war; Smooth is my way, and all my paths are peace.› With me retire, from toils and perils free; Leave honour to the wretch! pleasures were made for thee.

"Then will I grant thee all thy soul's desire;
All that may charm thine ear, and please thy
sight:

All that thy thought can frame, or wish require,
To steep thy ravish'd senses in delight.
The sumptuous feast, enhanc'd with music's sound;
Fittest to tune the melting soul to love:
Rich odours, breathing choicest sweets around;
The fragrant bow'r, cool fountain, shady grove:
Fresh flowers, to strew thy couch, and crown thy
[thy bed.
Joy shall attend thy steps, and ease shall smooth

head;

"These will I freely, constantly supply;

[woe :

Pleasures, not earn'd with toil, nor mix'd with

Far from thy rest repining want shall fly;
Nor labour bathe in sweat thy careful brow.

Mature the copious harvest shall be thine;

Let the laborious hind subdue the soil: Leave the rash soldier spoils of war to win;

Won by the soldier thou shalt share the spoil: These softer cares my blest allies employ, New pleasures to invent; to wish, and to eujoy.'

Her winning voice the youth attentive caught: He gaz'd impatient on the smiling maid; Still gaz'd, and listen'd: then her name besought: 'My name, fair youth, is Happiness,' she said. 'Well can my friends this envy'd truth maintain: They share my bliss; they best can speak my

praise:

Though slander call me Sloth-detraction vain!
Heed not what slander, vain detractor, says:
Slander, still prompt true merit to defame;
To blot the brightest worth, and blast the fairest
name.'

By this arriv'd the fair majestic maid :

(She all the while, with the same modest pace, Compos'd advanc'd.) 'Know, Hercules,' she said With manly tone, thy birth of heav'nly race; Thy tender age that lov'd instruction's voice, Promis'd thee generous, patient, brave, and wise;

When manhood should confirm thy glorious choice:

Now expectation waits to see thee rise: Rise, youth! exalt thyself, and me: approve Thy high descent from Heav'n; and dare be worthy Jove.