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ΡΟΤΕΝΤΙΑ:

LIBER TERTIUS.

RGO age, Pars Noftri melior, Vis vivida, vitæ
Fons, Anima! hoc Ego Te, quæcunq; es, nomine
dignor:

Confcius Ipfe Mei per Te, Te pectore toto
Percipio, virefque tuas & munera nosco.
Sed latet, unde Tuî ducas primordia; de Te
Tot Vates diverfa canit, diverfa Sacerdos.

An Genus obfcurum & ftirpis vulgare fateris Principium, lectæ forfan melioribus orta Particulis terræ, quæ fe certo ordine miscent Mirifico rerum motu fauftoque Atomorum Concurfu implicite: hinc fato ftatuente juberis Corporis ire comes, quem Vitæ cunque colorem Sortitur; trepidas, audes, ducifque dolores Gaudiaque, incerto ut fanguis fe concitat æftu: Utque calor magis ardefcit, vel frigora torpent, Læta viges viridante æyo, languente fenefcis:

Dum

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POWER:

THE THIRD BOOK

JOME then, my Soul: I call Thee by that:
Name,

Thou bufie Thing, from whence I know I am:

For knowing that I am, I know Thou art;

Since That muft needs exift, which can impart.
But how Thou cam'ft to be, or whence Thy Spring:
For various of Thee Priests and Poets fing.

Hear'ft Thou fubmiffive, but a lowly Birth?
Some fep'rate Particles of finer Earth,

A plain Effect, which Nature muft beget,
As Motion orders, and as Atoms meet;
Companion of the Body's Good or Ill;

From Force of Inftinct more than Choice of Will;
Confcious of Fear or Valor, Joy or Pain,

As the wild Courfes of the Blood ordain;
Who as Degrees of Heat and Cold prevail,
In Youth doft flourish, and with Age shalt fail;

Dum tandem, Socium extremâ vel morte fecuta,
Laberis in fumum tenuefque recedis in auras.

An fpiras majora, altâque ab origine ftirpem
Deduci mavis, audifque libentius ignis
Scintilla ætherii; divinæ Particula auræ,

Juncta luto vili, nimis arcto foedere juncta,
Communi heu fato præfcriptum ad temporis orbem
Per varias comitata vices variofque dolores:
Ut doceas Hominem opprobriis vel laude moveri;
Ut Bona vel Mala percipere; & pallore fateri
Irarum rabiem, aut flammas fentire pudoris;
Ut normam vitæ inftituas, ducafque fideli
Confilio; & rerum varius ceu poftulat ufus,
Reddas cautum agilemque, & viribus ingeniove
Nobilites, aptum paci, bellique potentem.
Dum prifcum in cinerem fe Pars terrena refolvit,
Carceris & rumpens cedentia clauftra caduci
It Captiva, hærens paulum & cun&tata jacentes
Relliquias fuper, immitis jam faucibus Orci
Inclufas; mox pennâ agili, indignata teneri,
Evolat, ætheriamque arcem & fua vindicat aftra.

Quicquid eris,quoquo tendis (neque enim omnia cæco

Till mingled with thy Partner's latest Breath
Thou fly'ft, diffolv'd in Air, and loft in Death.

Or if Thy great Exiftence would aspire To Causes more fublime; of Heav'nly Fire Wer't Thou a Spark ftruck off? a fep'rate Ray, Ordain'd to mingle with Terrestrial Clay; With it condemn'd for certain Years to dwell, To grieve it's Frailties, and it's Pains to feel; To teach it Good and Ill, Difgrace or Fame; Pale it with Rage, or redden it with Shame: To guide it's Actions with informing Care, In Peace to Judge, to Conquer in the War; Render it Agile, Witty, Valiant, Sage, As fits the various Course of human Age; "Till as the Earthly Part decays and falls, The Captive breaks Her Prison's mould'ring Walls, Hovers a-while upon the fad Remains,

Which now the Pile, or Sepulchre contains;

And thence with Liberty unbounded flies,
Impatient to regain Her native Skies.

Whate'er Thou art, where-e'er ordain'd to go

(Points

Scire Homini fas eft) age parvula pectoris hofpes,
Pectoris infanos motus fedantis, ut alta

Sit Tibi pax; (quoniam inde enascitur improba turba,
Quæ vitam exagitat, quæ Te diftorquet & angit)
Fac age, quodcunque aggrederis, fac arbitra certum
Monftret iter Ratio, & fido moderamine ducat.
Pacati Affectus erroris nube remotâ

Ardua, pulcra petant: Et Vitam difce ferendo,
An curis hominum & tanto fit digna labore.

Quæ variis vitæ in gradibus variifque Animantum Naturis præftant, conjuncta tenere videmus

In fe Hominem: pecudum fenfus, almumque vigorem
Plantarum, ætheriæque animæ cœleftia dona.
Infpice quos pariunt generofa hæc femina fructus,
Et rebus lætis oppone incommoda vitæ.
En ut Homo, fruftra fato cogente reluctans,
Protrahitur miser in lucem; auxiliique alieni
Indigus, in genubus maternis nudulus hæret!
Utque levis ftatuit Muliercula, tollitur Infans
Ejiciturve foras; genitrici languet iniquæ
Neglectus, morbofve trahit de lacte foventis.
Mollis adhuc fragilifque oculus fugit acria lucis.
Tela, diemque novum; infuetam male fuftinet auram

Cor