The Works Of John Dryden Now First Collected In Eighteen Volumes Volume 12 PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1808. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... OF THE PYTHAGOREAN PHILOSOPHY. FROM THE FIFTEENTH BOOK OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES. The fourteenth hook concludes with the death and deification of Rotnulus; the fifteenth begins with the election of Numa to the crown of Rome. On this occasion, Ovid, following the opinion of some authors, makes Numa the scholar of Pythagoras, and to have begun his acquaintance with that philosopher at Crotona, a town in Italy; from thence he makes a digression to the moral and natural philosophy of Pythagoras; on both which our author enlarges; and which are the most learned and beautiful parts of the Metamorphoses. A King is sought to guide the growing state, One able to support the public weight, And fill the throne where Romulus had sate. Renown, which oft bespeaks the public voice, Had recommended Numa to their choice; A peaceful, pious prince; who, not content To know the Sabine rites, his study bent To cultivate his mind; to learn the laws Of nature, and explore their hidden cause. TJrged by this care, his country he forsook, And to Crotona thence his journey took. Arrived, he first enquired the founder's name Of this new colony; and whence he came. Then thus a senior of the place replies, Well read, and curious of antiquities.--Tis said, Alcides hither took his way From Spain, and drove along his conquered prey; Then, leaving in the fields his grazing cows, He sought himself some hospitable house. Good Croton entertained his godlike guest; "While he repaired his weary limbs with rest. The hero, thence departing, blessed the place; And here, he said, in time's revolving race, A rising town shall take its name from thee.-- Revolving time fulfilled the prophecy; For Myscelos, the justest man on earth, Alemon's son, at Argos had his birth; Him Hercules, armed with his club of oak...