Page:Hesiod, and Theognis.djvu/77

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HESIOD'S PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY.
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Of a less exalted tone is the famous graduation of man's wisdom, which declares "that man far best who can conceive and carry out with foresight a wise counsel; next in order, him who has the sense to value and heed such counsel; whilst he who can neither initiate it, nor avail himself of it when thrown in his way, is to all intents worthless and good for nothing."—('Works and Days,' 294-297.) This passage, however, has been thought worthy of citation by Aristotle. Another passage of proverbial character, but subordinate moral tone, is that which declares—

"Lo! the best treasure is a frugal tongue; The lips of moderate speech with grace are hung."—E. 1005, 1006.

And a little further on an adage of mixed character, moral and utilitarian, deifies the offspring of our unruly member, by saying—

"No rumour wholly dies, once bruited wide, But deathless like a goddess doth abide."—D.

When we turn to the other class of adages—those which syllable the teaching of common-sense—we are struck more by the poet's shrewdness than his morality. The end of all his precepts is, "Brother, get rich;" or, "Brother, avoid poverty and famine." Even the worship and offerings of the gods are inculcated with an

    Through the long gorge to the far light hath won His path upward, and prevailed, Shall find the toppling crags of duty scaled Are close beside the shining table-lands To which our God Himself is moon and sun."

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