XXXVIII.

'Tis not rich furniture and gems
with cedar-roof and ancient stems,
nor yet a plenteous lasting flood
of gold, that makes men truly good.
Leave to enquire in what fair fields

a river runs which much gold yields,
virtue alone is the rich prize

can purchase stars and buy the skies.

Let others build with adamant,

or pillars of carved marble plant,

which rude and rough sometimes did dwell

far under earth and near to hell.

XXXVIII.

PICTA non gemmis domus et supellex purpura, sculptumque cedro lacunar,

non genus priscum neque fons perennis

divitis auri

integrum vitæ probat: amnis auro

flavus effuso quibus erret agris

mitte sectari: potiora donans

unica virtus

igneas arces Superum recludit.

Exstruant fultas adamante pilas

altius, cælentque alii recisas

rupibus illis

But richer much (from death released) shines in the fresh groves of the east the Phoenix or those fish that dwell

with silvered scales in Hiddekel.

Let others with rare various pearls
their garments dress, and in forced curls
bind up their locks, look big and high,
and shine in robes of scarlet dye.

But in my thoughts more glorious far
those native stars and sparkles are

which birds wear, or the spots which we

in leopards dispersed see.

Virtue alone and nought else can

a difference make 'twixt beast and man,

and on her wings above the spheres

to the true light his spirit bears.

H. VAUGHAN,

ripa quas olim Stygis irrepertas abdidit:-lucos Arabum per almos induit plumas mihi ditiores,

funere major,

integer Phoenix, vel Hydaspe natum

instar argenti pecus:-at superbis

induant baccis aliæ nitentem

vestis honorem,

exstruant unctos cumulentque cirros mole turrita, Tyrias trahentes

purpuras:-luxu mihi lautiore

pingitur ales,

quem suis Natura notis adornat

ceu polum stellis, variaque pardus

pelle distinctus: numero ferarum

unica virtus

eximit pennisque hominem beatis sustinet, donec super astra plaudens

evehit sinceri animam sub ipsas

luminis oras.

XXXIX.

WHEN the Crab's fierce constellation

burns with the beams of the bright sun,

then he that will go out to sow.

shall never reap where he did plough;

but instead of corn may rather

the old world's diet, acorns, gather.

Who the violet doth love,

must seek her in the flowery grove:

but never when the North's cold wind the russet fields with frost doth bind. If in the spring-time (to no end) the tender vine for grapes we bend, we shall find none, for only still Autumn doth the winepress fill.