The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Horace's Ode 7th Book 4th.
To his Friend Lucius Manlius Torquatus

All Things change with Time, We ought therefore to live
chearfully.

THE fleecy Snows descend in Floods away,
Each Hill, and Dale inrobed are with Green,
And Groves their Blooms, and verdant Locks display,
Unnumber'd Beauties aid the shining Scene,
This Earth, revolving round the blazing Sun,
Makes every Season take a different Face,
And Streams decreasing from the Mountains run,
Less rapid to old Ocean's warm Embrace.
The decent Grace; see! her with oft Advance
And all her beautious Sisters on her Side,
Betrays no Fear to lead the sportive Dance,
When She, and Virtue are their constant Guide.
The Years that roll adown th' Abyss of Time,
By swift Succession, will their Course renew,
Then take the present, and enjoy thy Prime,
Nor stretch thy Hopes beyond a mortal's View.
See! how stern Winter flys the vernal Breeze,
And the gay Spring to Summer yields her Reign,
Next fruitful Autumn takes his Place of these,
Then hoary Winter ventures on again,
See! how swift Moons their heav'n'ly Lustre restore
But we in Death and gloomy Silence laid,
Where valiant Chiefs have led the Way before,
Are wasting Out, and only empty Shade.
Who knows the Gods this passing Day will give,
Or to this past, the future Morrow spare,
Take ev'ry Joy, and ever liberal live,
For what you spend will fly your stingy Heir.
When once, my Friend, the Show of Life is o'er,
And lofty Minos, gives the final Doom,
Nor Race, nor Virtue's Eloquence have Power
To rescue from the cold and darksome Tomb.
Nor can Diana from th' unpitying Grave,
Her chaste, her lov'd Hippolitus resign,
Nor Theseus more his dear Pirith'us have
From Libeth's Chains, that ever him confine.