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Samuel Johnson - Translation of a Speech of Aquileio in the Adriano of Metastasio
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Grown old in courts, thou art not surely one
Who keeps the rigid rules of ancient honour;
Well skill`d to soothe a foe with looks of kindness,
To sink the fatal precipice before him,
And then lament his fall with seeming friendship!
Open to all, true only to thyself,
Thou know`st the arts which blast with envious praise,
Which aggravate a fault with feign`d excuses,
And drive discountenanced virtue from the throne;
That leave the blame of rigour to the prince,
And of his every gift usurp the merit,
That hide in seeming zeal a wicked purpose,
And only build upon another`s ruin.
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