AN EPISTLE FROM THE KING O F PRUSSIA TO MONSIEUR VOLTAIRE, 1757. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. BY JOHN GILBERT COOPER, ESQ. * VOLTAIRE, believe me, were I now With cold indiff'rence would I view Departing Fortune's winged hafte, And laugh at her caprice like you. For when the ruthless fhears of Fate Have cut my life's precarious thread, And rank'd me with th' unconscious dead, Born 1722; dyed 1769. 5 10 15 Or that th' uncertain tongue of Fame Weighs more than ages of renown; What then do Potentates receive 20 25 Domestic Peace, and sportive Pleasure, And, born for liberty, prefer Soft filent scenes of lovely leifure, To, what we Monarchs buy fo dear, The thorny pomp of fcepter'd care. Unerring precepts how to live, And certain deeds each rank calls forth, By which is measur'd human worth. Voltaire, within his private cell, Is patrimonial property, And facred Freedom loves to dwell, 30 35 40 45 In filent folitude refign'd To the mild virtues of a Sage; But I, 'gainst whom wild whirlwinds wage A FATHER'S ADVICE TO HIS SON: AN ELEGY. 50 IN IMITATION OF THE OLD SONG то WINIFREDA. WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1758. BY THE SAME. afpice vultus Ecce meos: utinamque oculos in pectore poffes DEEF OVID. METAM, EEP in a grove by cypress shaded, Where mid-day fun had seldom fhone, Or noife the folemn scene invaded, Save fome afflicted mufe's moan, A fwain t'wards full-ag'd manhood wending The father's eyes no object wrefted, These accents trembled from his tongue. 5 10 "My youth's first hopes, my manhood's treasure, "My prattling Innocent, attend, "Nor fear rebuke, or four displeasure, "A father's lovelieft name is friend. "Some truths, from long experience flowing, "Worth more than royal grants receive, 15 For truths are wealth of heav'n's bestowing, "Which kings have seldom power to give. 20 "Since from an ancient race defcended “ You boast an unattainted blood, By yours be their fair fame attended, "In love for ev'ry fellow-creature, 66 Superior rise above the crowd; "What most ennobles human nature "Was ne'er the portion of the proud. 23 "Be thine the gen'rous heart that borrows "This is the temper moft endearing; 30 "Tho' wide proud Pomp her banners spreads, "An heav'nlier pow'r good-nature bearing "Each heart in willing thraldom leads. "Tafte not from fame's uncertain fountain "The peace-deftroying ftreams that flow, "Nor from ambition's dang'rous mountain "Look down upon the world below. "The princely pine on hills exalted, 35 40 "Whilft the mild rose more safely growing 49 "Low in its unaspiring vale, "Amidft retirement's fhelter blowing, "Exchanges fweets with ev'ry gale. "Wish not for beauty's darling features "Moulded by nature's fondling pow'r, "For fairest forms 'mong human creatures "Shine but the pageants of an hour. 50 |