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APPENDIX.
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ORPHEUS ON GEMS.
A gift to
mortals from protecting Jove, The son of Maia brings me from above, By
Jove's command, to teach to all below A sure remede against each
earthly woe. 5 Hear it with joy ! this to the wise I say, Whoso heart
is right, and who the gods obey ; For the profane, in their own folly
blind, Heaven suffers not this remedy to find. Rejoicing in this boon
in times of yore, Phoebus his son up to the immortals bore, And led the
healing god to where on high Olympus rears his snows amid the sky.
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Where, too, the Athenian goddess, Pallas chaste, Alcides, saviour of
the nations placed. Taught by such lore, great Chiron scaled the walls
Of lofty heaven, and burst into its halls. All these, of demi-gods the
first and best, Joyous received the mansions of the blest ; But us, the
god who bears the golden wand, To dwell in peace contented doth command
; Enjoying wealth, in its possession sure, Through his kind care, from
every ill secure.— Whatever mortal his bold heart impels To seek the
mystic cave where Hermes dwells,
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That mystic cave where the wise god a hoard Of all things good hath in
his treasure stored, He shall return, and bear in both his hands A heap
of blessings numerous as the sands : No care, no sorrow shall he ever
taste, Nor pining sickness his strong body waste ; Nor, dreading his
foes' might, from battle flee, Abandoning the hope of victory :
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