ARISTOTLE's
PAEAN
TO
VIRTUE
IMITATED
.
BY
MR.
SHEPHERD
.
VIRTUE
,
stern
Tutress
,
hail
!
Hail
thou
,
whose
guidance
trains
In
life's
rough
paths
the
delegated
youth
;
Each
thought
,
each
enterprising
deed
arraigns
At
the
tribunal
of
impartial
Truth
:
What
charms
attractive
grace
thy
modest
mien
,
Or
in
Religion's
snow-white
veil
,
Or
unstain'd
robes
of
Honour
drest
;
Thy
eye
how
bold
,
yet
mild
;
how
rigid
,
yet
serene
!
Thine
,
virgin
,
was
the
genial
fire
That
glow'd
in
each
heroic
breast
;
And
prompted
to
aspire
,
On
Merit's
field
to
win
an
honour'd
name
In
the
bright
annals
of
distinguish'd
fame
:
Bade
them
the
deathless
crown
of
Glory
seize
;
The
crown
,
that
,
cull'd
from
Labour's
arduous
grove
,
The
sister
graces
for
his
temples
wove
,
Who
dar'd
,
amidst
a
loose
and
venal
state
,
Look
down
superior
to
th'
alluring
bait
,
And
spurn
the
sluggard
bed
of
downy
ease
.
II
.
O
say
,
what
soul-supporting
thought
In
that
dread
hour
inspir'd
th'
Athenian
sage
;
When
,
victim
to
a
faction's
rage
,
Unmov'd
he
quaff'd
the
fatal
bowl
:
Thy
influence
fortified
his
soul
,
And
tempered
to
his
taste
the
bitter
draught
.
Robed
in
Religion's
purer
vest
,
Whilst
every
heighten'd
charm
more
fair
appeared
,
Martyrs
thy
consecrated
form
confessed
.
Hail'd
Truth's
bright
dictates
,
and
thy
power
revered
.
Nor
lure
,
nor
threats
their
fixt
resolves
could
shake
,
For
thee
they
soared
above
the
narrow
views
,
The
scenes
that
more
contracted
minds
amuse
,
And
smil'd
amidst
the
tortures
of
the
stake
.
III
.
Estrang'd
from
Pleasure's
soft
embrace
,
Whoe'er
aspires
in
Glory's
race
By
proof
of
many
a
noble
deed
To
win
the
prize
for
him
decreed
Who
Virtue's
height
attains
;
His
name
the
Muse
,
chaste
Virtue's
friend
,
Shall
bid
,
emblaz'd
in
purest
strains
,
To
the
bold
arch
of
heaven
ascend
:
And
whilst
the
golden
numbers
flow
,
Where
all
the
graces
all
their
influence
breathe
;
Fair
Fame
with
never-fading
wreath
Shall
deck
his
laurell'd
brow
.