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By glorious labours to embellish life

And from their father let them learn to die!
Here ending, forth he issues, and assumes
Before the ranks his station of command.

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LOW T H.

ROBERT LOWTH wurde den 27sten November 1710 zu Winchester geboren, und erhielt seine erste Bildung in dem Seminario dieses Orts. Hier zeichnete er sich durch seine Fortschritte in den Wissenschaften aus, und gab auch durch die beiden Gedichte on the Genealogy of Christ, wozu ihm ein Gemälde im östlichen Fenster der Kollegiat-Kirche zu Winchester Veranlassung gab, und Catherine Hill, welchen Namen der Spielplatz der Jugend dieser Stadt führt, frühzeitig Beweise seines dichterischen Talents. Im 18ten Jahr seines Alters besuchte er Oxford, wurde 1737 Magister Artium und 1741 Professor der Dichtkunst auf dieser Universität. Nachdem er verschiedene geistliche Ämter mit Ruhm bekleidet hatte, auch 1754 mit der Würde eines Doktors der Theologie beehrt worden war, erhielt er 1777 das Bisthum in London. 1783 wollte ihm der König das Erzbisthum von Canterbury verleihen, allein er schlug es wegen Alter und Kränklichkeit aus. Er starb zu Fulham den 3ten November 1787. Bischof Lowth gehört zu den gelehrtesten Theologen der Engländer. Eine Beurtheilung seiner prosaischen Schriften gehört nicht hierher: wir wollen uns begnügen die Titel der vorzüglichsten derselben_herzusetzen. Es sind fol gende: 1) De sacra poësi Hebræorum prælectiones academicæ, Oxonii habitæ a Roberto Lowth, A. M. Collegii novi nuper socio et poëticæ publico prælectore, Oxonii 1753. 4. (die zweite Ausgabe 1763, in 8). 2) Life of William Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, 1758. 3) A short Introduction to English Grammar 1762, noch immer die vorzüglichste Englische Sprachlehre. 4) A new translation of the Prophecy of Isaias, with a preliminary dissertation and notes critical, philological and explanatory, 1778, u. a. m. Unter seinen poetischen Aufsätzen verdient, aufser den bereits genannten, vorzüglich the Choice of Hercules, ein allegorisches Gedicht, zu wel

chem der Stoff aus Xenophon's Denkwürdigkeiten des Sokrates entlehnt ist, angeführt zu werden. Die Worte der Überschrift: From the Greek of Prodicus beziehen sich bekanntlich darauf, dafs Sokrates oder Xenophon den Sophisten Prodicus als den Erfinder dieser schönen allegorischen Erzählung nennt. So wie sich Lowth durch seine prosaischen Schriften den Ruhm eines gelehrten Theologen und Philosophen erworben hat, so wird ihn dieses Gedicht als einen Mann von Geschmack bei der Nachwelt beurkunden. Wir haben die hier mitgetheilten Nachrichten aus dem 7ten Bande des Brittischen Plutarchs entlehnt; dahin und zu den dort angeführten ausführlichern Werken über das Leben dieses Bischofs, müssen wir diejenigen Leser verweisen, denen es um nähere Belehrung in Ansehung seiner zu thun ist.

THE CHOICE OF HERCULES; FROM THE GREEK OF PRODICUS.

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!

For, it on youth's untainted thought imprest,

The gen'rous purpose still shall warm the manly breast.

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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 pursued

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'r way.

III.

Much did the view divide his way'ring mind:

Now glow'd his breast with gen'rous 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 diff'rent 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 vest more white than newew-fallen snow she wore: August she trod, yet modest was her air;

Serene her eye, yet darting heavenly 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.

V.

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The other dame seem'd even 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

Thro' 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 shew'd more tall, more snowy white her skin.

VI.

Oft with a smile she view'd herself askance;

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Even 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,

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:

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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, Embath'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 the 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 flow'rs 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 not 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;

Leave 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 envied truth maintain; They share my bliss, they best can speak my praise: Tho' Slander call me Sloth (detraction vain!)

Heed not what Slander, vain detracter, says;

Slander, still prompt true merit to defame,

To blot the brightest worth, and blast the fairest name."

XI.

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 heavenly 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 heaven, and dare be worthy Jove.

XII.

But what truth prompts, my tongue shall not disguise:
The steep ascent must be with toil subdued;
Watching and cares must win the lofty prize
Propos'd by Heaven

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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 cost sustain,
And pay the price of fame

labour, and care, and pain. XIII.

Wouldst thou engage the gods peculiar care?

O Hercules, th' immortal powr's adore!

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With a pure heart, with sacrifice, and pray'r

Attend their altars, and their aid implore.
Or, wouldst 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;

For her bare thy bold breast and pour thy generous blood.

XIV.

Wouldst 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 farewel. The night alternate, due to sweet repose,

In watches waste; in painful march, the day:

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