Page:The Bible of Nature, and Substance of Virtue.djvu/19

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THE PYTHAGOREAN PHILOSOPHY,

FROM DRYDEN'S OVID,

Souls to which Destiny 'portions new mutable bodies,

Imbibe the Lethean oblivion of prior existence.

A spirit internal supports all — earth, ocean and ether.

Flies to the moon's lucid orb, stars distant and sunlike.

The mind, through each member diffused, all matter enlivens;

Thence men and animals sprung", birds, insects and fishes.

''Virgil, En. VI''.

Pythagoras divine, him Samos bore,

But since self-banished from his native shore,

Because he hated tyrants, nor could bear

The chains, which none but servile souls will wear:

The crowd with silent admiration stand.

And heard him as they heard their god's command;

While he discours'd of heaven's mysterious laws,

The world's original, and Nature's cause.