The Commentary of Hierocles upon the Golden Verses of Pythagoras

Nor sacred nature is from thee conceal'd,
But to thy race her mystic rules reveal'd.
These if to know thou happily attain,
Soon shalt thou perfect be in all that I ordain.
Thy wounded soul to health thou shalt restore,
And free from ev'ry pain she felt before.

Abstain, I warn, from meats unclean and foul,
So keep thy body pure, so free thy soul;
So rightly judge; thy reason, so, maintain;
Reason! which heav'n did for thy guide ordain,
Let that best reason ever hold the rein.

Then if this mortal body thou forsake,
And thy glad flight to the pure aether take,
Among the gods exalted shalt thou shine,
Immortal, incorruptible, divine:
The tyrant death securely shalt thou brave,
And scorn the dark dominion of the grave.