The Virginia Gazette

The CHOICE of Hercules.

This Fable was composed by Prodicus, and is related by Xenophon in his memorable Things of Socrates. As it has been admired by all good Judges for upwards of two thousand Years, and is one of those plain, yet elegant Compositions that will please for ever; it is here cloath'd in a new Dress by a very eminent Hand, and retains all the native Elegance and Simplicity of the Prose Original, heighten'd with all the Graces of Poetical Ornament.

I.

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 Root
Or haply Virtue's op'ning Bud appears
By just Degrees; fair Bloom of fairest Fruit:

II.
As on a Day, reflecting on his Age
For highest Deeds now ripe, Alcides fought
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 his Mind survey'd
The dubious Path of Life: before him lay
Here Virtue's rough Ascent, there Pleasure's flow'ry Way

III.
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

IV.
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 Vail, more white than new-fall'n Snow she wore
Aust the trod, yet modest was her Air;
Serene her Eye, yet darting heav'nly Fire,
Still he drew near; and nearer till more fair.
More mild appear'd; yet such as might inspire
Pleasure corrected with an awful Fear;
Majestically sweet, and amiably severe.

V
The other Dame Seem'd ev'n of fairer Hue:
But bold her Mien; unguarded rov'd her Eye:
And her flush'd Checks 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
Thro' the clear Texture every tender Limb,
Height'ning the Charms it only seem'd to hide:
And as it flow'd adown, o loose and thin,
Her Stature shew'd more tall; more snowy-white her Skin

VI.
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't
With hasty Step: nor of Repulse afraid.
With Freedom bland the wond'ring Youth address'd:
With winning Fondness on his Neck she hung;
Sweet as the Honey-Dew flow'd her enchanting Tongue.

VII.
Dear Hercules, whence this unkind Delay?
Dear Youth, what Doubts can thus distract thy Mind?
Securely follow, where I lead the Way;
And range thro' Wilds of Pleasure unconfin'd.
With me retire, from Noise, and Pain, and Care;
Imbath'd in Bliss, and wrapt in endless Ease:
Rough is the Road to Fame, thro' 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

VIII.
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 keep 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 Head;
Joy shall attend thy Steps, and Ease Shall smooth thy Bed.

IX.
These will I freely, constantly supply;
Pleasures, nor earn'd with Toil, nor mix'd with Woe:
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:
Let the rash Soldier Spoils of War to win:
Won by the Soldier thou shalt Share the Spoil:
These Softer Cares my best Allies employ,
New Pleasures to invent; to wish, and to enjoy."

X.
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:
Tho' Slander call me Sloth—Detraction vain!
Heed not what Slander, vain Detractor, says:
Slander, till prompt true Merit to defame;
To gloss the brighter Worth, and black the fairest Name."

(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 shou'd 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.

XII.
But what Truth prompts, my Tongue shall not disguise;
The steep Ascent must be with Toil subdu'd:
Watchings and Cares must win the lofty Prize.
Propos'd by Heav'n; true Bliss, and real Good.
Honour rewards the Brave and Bold alone:
She spurns the Timorous, Indolent, and Base:
Danger and Toil stand stern before her Throne
And guard, (so Jove commands) the sacred Place.
Who seeks her must the mighty Conquest gain,
And pay the Price of Fame; Labour, and Care, and Pain

XIII.
Wou'dst thou engage the Gods peculiar Care?
O Hercules, th' immortal Powers adore!
With a pure Heart, with Sacrifice and Pray'r
Attend their Altars; and their Aid implore.
Or would'st thou gain thy Country's loud Applause
Lov'd as her Father, as her God ador'd!
Be thou the bold Asserter of her Cause
Her Voice, in Council; in the Fight, her Sword.
In Peace, in War, pursue thy Country's Good:
Far better bare thy bold Breast; and pour thy generous Blood

XIV.
Wou'dst thou, to quell the Proud and lift th' Opprest
In Arts of War and matchless Strength excel
First conquer thou thyself. To Ease, to Rest,
To each soft Thought of Pleasure, bid farewell
The Night alternate, due to sweet Repose,
In Watches wake; in painful March, the Day:
Congeal'd, amidst the rigorous Winter's Snows,
Scorch'd, by the Summer's thirst-inflaming Ray.
Thy harden'd Limbs shall boast superior Might:
Vigour shall brace thine Arm, resistless in the Fight

Hear'st thou, what Monsters then thou must engage
What Dangers, gentle Youth, she bids thee prove!
(Abrupt says Sloth:) " ill fit thy tender Age
Tumult and Wars; the Age, for Joy and Love.
Turn, gentle Youth, to me, to Love and
To these I lead: No Monsters here shall
Thine easy Course; no Cares thy Peace a
, I lead to Bliss. a nearer, smoother Way.
Short.is my Way a fair, easy, smooth, and plain
Turn, gentle Youth! with one eternal Pleasures reign

XVI.
What Pleasures, vain mistaken Wretch, are thine
Virtue with Scorn reply'd: ) Who sleep'st in Ease
Insensate; whose soft Limbs the Toil decline
That fashions Bliss, and makes Enjoyment please
Draining the copious Bowl, ere Thirst require
Feasting, ere Hunger to the Feast invite:
Whose tasteless Joys anticipate Desire;
Whom Luxury supplies with Appetite:
Yet Nature loaths; and you employ in vain
Variety and Art to conquer her Disdain.

XVII
The sparkling Nectar, cool'd with Summer Snow
The dainty Board, with choicest Viands spread
To thee are tasteless all! sincere Repose
Flies from thy flow'ry Couch, and downy Bed.
For thou art only tir'd with Idleness:
Nor is thy Sleep with Toil and Labour bought
Th' imperfect Sleep, that lulls thy languid Sense
In dull oblivious Interval of Thought:
That kindly steals th' inactive Hours away
From the long, ling'ring Space, that lengthens out the Day

XVIII.
From bounteous Nature's unexhausted Stores
Flows the pure Fountain of sincere Delights:
Averse to her, you waste the joyless Hours;
Sleep drowns thy Days, and Riot rules thy Nights.
Immortal tho' thou art, indignam Jove
Hurl'd thee from Heaven, th'Immortals blisful Place
For ever banish'd from the Realms above,
To dwell on Earth, with Man's degenerate Race a
Fitter Abode! on Earth alike disgrac'd;
Rejected by the Wise, and by the Fool embrac'd.

XIX.
Fond Wretch, that vainly weenest all Delight
To gratify the Sense reserv'd for thee!
Yet the most pleasing Object to the Sight,
Thine own fair Action, never didst thou see.
Tho' lull'd with soft Sounds thou liest along
Soft Music, warbling Voices, melting Lays:
Ne'er didst thou hear, more sweet than sweetest Sons
Charming the Soul, thou ne'er didst hear thy Praise!
No to thy Revels let the Fool repair:
To such, go smooth thy Speech; and spread thy tempting Snares

XX.
Vain Happiness enjoy thy gay Allies!
A young, yet generous; old, yet never wife;
The Vice wastes their Vigour, and their Mind impairs
Vain, idle, delicate, in thoughtless Ease.
Reserving Woes for Age, their Prime they spend;
All wretched, hopeless, in the evil Days,
With Sorrow to the Verge of Life they tend.
Griev'd with the Present; of the Past asham'd ;
They live, and are despis'd : They die, nor more are ham'd.

XXI.
But with the Gods, and God-like Men, I dwell:
Me, his Supreme Delight, th'Almighty Sire
Regards well-pleas'd : Whatever Works excel.
All or Divine, or Human, I inspire.
Counsel with Strength, and Industry with Art,
In Union meet conjoin'd, with me reside :
My Dictates arm, instruct, and mend the Heart !
The parent Policy, the wisest Guide.
With me, true Friendship dwells : She deigns to bind
Those generous Souls alone, whom I before have join'd.

XXII.
Nor need my Friends the various costly Feast;
Hunger to them th'Effects of Art supplies :
Labour prepares their weary Limbs to Rest;
Sweet is their Sleep ; light, cheerful, strong they rise.
Thro' Health, thro' Joy, thro' Pleasure and Renown
They tread my Paths; and by a soft Descent,
At length to Age, all gently sinking down,
Look back with Transport on a Life well-spent :
In which no Hour flow'd unimprov'd away;
In which, some generous Deed distinguish'd every Day

XXII.
And when, the destined Term at length complete
Their Ashes rest in Peace; eternal Fame
Sounds wide their Praise : Triumphant over Fate
In sacred Song, for ever lives their Name.
This, Hercules, is Happiness ! Obey
My Voice, and live. Let thy celestial Birth
Lift, and enlarge, thy Thoughts. Behold the Way
That leads to Fame ; and raises thee from Earth
Immortal ! Lo. I guide thy Steps. Arise,
Pursue the glorious Path ; and claim thy native Skies.

XXIV.
Her Words breathe Fire. celestial, and impart :
New Vigour to his Soul; that sudden caught
The generous Flame: With great Intent his Heart
Swells full and labours with exalted Thought.
The Mist of Error from his Eyes dispel'd,
Thro' all her fraudful Arts in clearest Light.
Sterb in her native Form he now beheld:
Unveil'd She stood, confess'd before his Sight :
False Siren ! In All her vaunted Charms, that shone
Do fresh erewhile, and fair ; now wither'd, pale, and gone

XXV.
No more the toy Bloom in sweet Disguise
Mask her dissembled Looks: Each borrow'd Grace
Leaves her wan Cheek; pale Sickness clouds her Eyes
Livid and sunk, and Passions dim her Face.
As when fair Iris has a while display'd
Her wat'ry Arch, with gaudy Painture gay !
While yet we gaze, the glorious Colours fade.
And from our Wonder gently steal away.
Where shone the beauteous Phantom erst so bright;
Now lowers the low-hung Cloud; all gloomy to the Sight

XXVI.
But Virtue more engaging all the while
Disclos'd new Charms; more lovely-more serene;
Beaming sweet Influence. A milder Smile
Softens the Terrors of her lofty Mien.
Lead, Goddess, I'm thine ! (transported cry'd
Alcidèr:) O propitious Pow'r, thy Way :
Teach me ! possess my Soul; be thou my Guide
From thee, O never, never let me stray !
While ardent thus the Youth his Vows address'd :
With all the Goddess fill'd, already glow'd his Breast:

XXVII.
The heav'nly Maid, with Strength divine endu'd
His daring Soul; there all her Pow'rs combin'd :
Firm Constancy, undaunted Fortitude,
Enduring Patience, arm'd his mighty Mind,
Unmov'd in Toils, in Dangers undismay'd.
By many a hardy Deed and bold Emprize,
From secret Monsters, thro' her pow'rful Aid,
He freed the Earth : Thro' her he gain'd the Skies.
Twas Virtue plac'd him in the bless'd Abode',
Crown'd, with eternal Youth : Among the Gods God.