Leave not the funeral feast to sow thy race; From the gods’ banquet seek thy bride’s embrace. Whene’er thy feet the river-ford essay, Whose flowing current winds its limpid way, Thy hands amidst the pleasant waters lave, And lowly gazing on the beauteous wave Appease the river-god: if thou perverse Pass with unsprinkled hands, a heavy curse Shall rest upon thee from th’ observant skies, And after-woes retributive arise. When in the fane [134]the feast of gods is laid, [135]Ne’er to thy five-branch’d hand apply the blade Of sable iron; from the fresh forbear The dry excrescence at the board to pare. Ne’er let thy hand the wine-filled flaggon rest [136]Upon the goblet’s edge; th’ unwary guest May from thy fault his own disaster drink, For evil omens lurk around the brink. Ne’er in the midst th’ unfinished house forego, Lest there perch’d lonely croak the garrulous crow. Ne’er from [137]unhallow’d vessels hasty feed, Nor lave therein; for thou mayst rue the deed. Set not a twelve-day or a twelve-month boy [138]On moveless stones; they shall his strength destroy. Ne’er in the female baths thy limbs immerse; In its own time the guilt shall bring the curse. Ne’er let the mystic sacrifices move Deriding scorn; but dread indignant Jove. Ne’er with unseemly deeds the fountains stain, Or limpid rivers flowing to the main. Do thus: and still with all thy dint of mind Avoid that evil rumour of mankind; Easy the burthen at the first to bear, And light when lifted as impassive air; But scarce can human strength the load convey, Or shake th’ intolerable weight away. Swift rumour hastes nor ever wholly dies, But borne on nations’ tongues a very goddess flies. _DAYS._