Odes 3.16 (Creech): Inclusam Danaen

ATower of Brass, Gates strong and barr'd,
And watchful Dogs suspicious Guard
From creeping Night Adulterers,
That fought imprison'd Danae's Bed,
Might have secur'd one Maiden-Head;
And freed the old Acrisius from his fears:

But Jove and Venus soon betray'd
The jealous Guardian of the Maid,
They knew the way to take the hold;
They knew the Pass must open lie
To every hand and every Eye,
When Jove himself was Bribe, and turn'd to Gold:

Gold loves to break through Gates and Barrs,
It is the Thunderbolt of Warrs;
It flies thro Walls, and breaks a way,
By Gold the Argive Augur fell,
It taught the Children to rebel,
And made the Wife her fatal Lord betray:

When Engines, and when Arts do fail,
The golden Wedg can cleave the Wall;
Gold Philip's Rival Kings o'rethrew;
Rough Sea-men, stubborn as the Flood
And angry Seas that they have Plow'd,
Bribes quickly snare, and easily subdue:

Care still attends encreasing store,
And craving Appetite for more;
Mecaenas, Honor of our Knights,
How justly was thy Friend afraid
To raise his too conspicuous Head
And soar too lofty, and to envy'd heights?

Those that do much themselves deny,
Receive more blessings from the Sky:
I love a mean, and safe retreat;
And naked now with hast retire
To Humble Those who nought desire;
And joy to leave the Party of the Great:

In my scorn'd Farm a greater Lord
Than if my crowded Barns were stor'd
With all the stout Appulian reaps;
Than if to Me Pactolus ran
And roul'd in flowing Tides of gain,
Whilst I was Poor amidst my mighty heaps,

A purling Spring, a shady Grove
To raise my Song, and ease my Love,
My Farm that ne're deceives my hopes
Make me seem happier to the Wise,
Tho not to base and vulgar Eyes,
Than He that boasts his Fruitful Lyha's Crops:

Tho no Calabrian Bees do give
Their grateful Tribute to my Hive,
No Wines by Rich Compania sent
In my Ignoble Casks ferment;
No Flocks in Gallick Plains grow Fat,
Yet I am free from pinching want,
And beg'd I more, my Lord would grant;
And to my Wishes equal my Estate:

But now more safe, and more securely blest
Than if my Hand grasp't East and West:
He, that asks much, must still want more;
Happy, to whom Indulgent Heaven
Enough, and sparingly hath given,
And made his Mind as narrow as his Store.