addresses his son Ascanius in a beautiful speech, which, while expressive of the strongest paternal affection, contains, instead of a prayer, a noble and emphatic admonition, suitable to a youth who had nearly attained the period of adult age. It is as follows:
> Disce, puer, virtutem ex me, verumque laborem;
> Fortunam ex aliis; nunc te mea dextera bello
> Defensum dabit, et magna inter praemia ducet.
> Tu facito, mox cum matura adoleverit aetas,
> Sis memor: et te animo repetentem exempla tuorum,
> Et pater Aeneas, et avunculus excitet Hector.—Aeneid, xii.
My son! from my example learn the war
In camps to suffer, and in feuds to dare,
But happier chance than mine attend thy care!
This day my hand thy tender age shall shield,
And crown with honours of the conquered field:
Thou when thy riper years shall send thee forth
To toils of war, be mindful of my worth;
Assert thy birthright, and in arms be known,
For Hector’s nephew and Aeneas’ son.Virgil, though born to shine by his own intrinsic powers, certainly owed much of his excellence to the wonderful merits of Homer.
His susceptible imagination, vivid and correct, was (170) impregnated by the Odyssey, and warmed with the fire of the Iliad.
Rivalling, or rather on some occasions surpassing his glorious predecessor in the characters of heroes and of gods, he sustains their dignity with so uniform a lustre, that they seem indeed more than mortal.
Whether the Iliad or the Aeneid be the more perfect composition, is a question which has often been agitated, but perhaps