Sir William Jones. 1746-1794.
Than all Bocara's vaunted gold,
Than all the gems of Samarcand.
A Persian Song of Hafiz.
Go boldly forth, my simple lay,
Whose accents flow with artless ease,
Like orient pearls at random strung.[437:2]
A Persian Song of Hafiz.
[438]
On parent knees, a naked new-born child,
Weeping thou sat'st while all around thee smiled;
So live, that sinking in thy last long sleep,
Calm thou mayst smile, while all around thee weep.
From the Persian.
What constitutes a state?
.......
Men who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain.
.......
And sovereign law, that state's collected will,
O'er thrones and globes elate,
Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.[438:1]
Ode in Imitation of Alcæus.
Seven hours to law, to soothing slumber seven,
Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven.[438:2]
Footnotes
[437:2]
'T was he that ranged the words at random flung,
Pierced the fair pearls and them together strung.
Eastwick: Anvari Suhaili. (Translated from Firdousi.)
[438:1] Neither walls, theatres, porches, nor senseless equipage, make states, but men who are able to rely upon themselves.—Aristides: Orations (Jebb's edition), vol. i. (trans. by A. W. Austin).
By Themistocles alone, or with very few others, does this saying appear to be approved, which, though Alcæus formerly had produced, many afterwards claimed: "Not stones, nor wood, nor the art of artisans, make a state; but where men are who know how to take care of themselves, these are cities and walls."—Ibid. vol. ii.
[438:2] See Coke, page 24.