Horace Author:Jacques Perret This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1806 edition. Excerpt: ...you think your follies are unseen? Another answers--No. I well perceive, Quoth Maenius, but a kind indulgence give To my own faul... more »ts. This is a foolish love, Aid vicious, which our censure should reprove r For wherefore, while you carelessly pass by Your own worst vices with unheeding eye, Why so sharp-sighted in another's fame, Strong as an eagle's ken, or dragon's beam? But know, that he with equal spleen shall view, With equal rigour shall thy faults pursue. Your friend is passionate; perhaps unfit For the brisk petulance of modern wit; His hair ill-cut, his robe, that aukward flows Or bis large shoes to raillery expose The man you love; yet is he not possest Of virtues, with which very few are blest? And underneath this rough, uncouth disguise A genius of extensive knowledge lies. Search your own breast, and mark with honest care What seeds of folly nature planted there, Or custom rais'd; for a neglected field Shall for the fire its thorns and thistles yield. And yet a shorter method we may find, As lovers, to their fair-one fondly blind, Even on her ugliness with transport gaze; For Ilagne's wen can good Balbinus please. Oh! were our weakness to our friends the same, And stamp'd by virtue with some honest name. Nor should we to his faults be more severe, Than an indulgent father to fail Jieu; If with distorted eyes the urchin glares, " O the dear boy, how prettily he stares I" Is he of dwarfish and abortive size? " Sweet little moppet," the fond father cries: Or is th' unshapen cub deform'd and lame? He kindly lisps him o'er some tender name. Thus, if your friend's too frugally severe, Iet him a wise economist appear. Is he, perhaps, impertinent and vain? " The pleasant creature means to entertain." Is he too...« less