Publish the present age; but where my text
Is vice too high, reserve it for the next:
My foes shall wish my life a longer date,
And ev'ry friend the less lament my fate.

My head and heart thus flowing thro' my quill,
Verseman or Proseman, term me which you will,
Papist or Protestant, or both between,

Like good Erasmus, in an honest mean,
In moderation placing all my glory,

While Tories call me Whig, and Whigs a Tory.

2 Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run a-muck, and tilt at all I meet; 3 I only wear it in a land of Hectors,

Thieves, supercargoes, sharpers, and directors.

60

65

70

Ille velut fidis arcana sodalibus olim

Credebat libris; neque, si male gesserat, usquam,
Decurrens alio, neque si bene: quo fit ut omnis
Votiva pateat veluti descripta tabella

Vita senis. sequor hunc, Lucanus an Appulus,

anceps:

I

Nam Venusinus arat finem sub utrumque colonus, Missus ad hoc, pulsis (vetus est ut fama) Sabellis, Quo ne per vacuum Romano incurreret hostis; Sive quod Appula gens, seu quod Lucania bellum Incuteret violenta.], sed hic stylus haud petit ultro Quemquam animantem, et me veluti custodiet ensis Vagina tectus, quem cur distringere coner, 3 Tutus ab infestis latronibus? O pater et rex

This is my plea, on this I rest my cause-
I What saith my counsel, learned in the laws?
F. 2 Your plea is good; but still I say beware!
Laws are explain'd by men-so have a care.
It stands on record, that in Richard's times 145
A man was hang'd for very honest rhymes.
3 Consult the statute; quart. I think it is,
Edwardi sext. or prim. et quint. Eliz.

See Libels, Satires-here you have it-read.
P. 4Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed! 150
But grave epistles, bringing vice to light,
Such as a king night read, a bishop write,
Such as sir Robert would approve-F. indeed!
The case is alter'd-you may then proceed:
5 In such a cause the plaintiff will be hiss'd,
My lords the judges laugh, and you 're dismiss'd.

Dissentis.

1 nisi quid tu, docte Trebati,

155

T. 2 Equidem nihil hic diffindere possum. Sed tamen ut monitus caveas, ne forte negotî Incutiat tibi quid sanctarum inscitia legum: 3 "Si mala condiderit in quem quis carmina, jus est "Judiciumque."

H. Esto, si quis 4 mala: sed bona si quis
Judice condiderit laudatur Cæsare. si quis
Opprobriis dignum latraverit, integer ipse,
T. 5 Solventur risu tabulæ; tu missus abibis.

Volume III.

F

HORACE, BOOK II. SAT. II.

IMITATED.

2

TO MR. BETHEL.

WHAT, and how great, the virtue and the art

To live on little with a cheerful heart!

(A doctrine sage, but truly none of mine)

Let's talk, my friends, but talk 3 before we dine;
4 Not when a gilt buffet's reflected pride
Turns you from sound philosophy aside;
Not when from plate to plate your eyeballs roll,
And the brain dances to the mantling bowl.

5

Hear Bethel's sermon, one not vers'd in schools, 5 But strong in sense, and wise without the rules. 10

HOR, LIB II. SAT. II.

QUÆ virtus et quanta, boni, sit vivere párvo, (2Nec meus hic sermo est; sed quem præcepit Ofellus, Rusticus, 3 abnormis sapiens, crassaque Minerva) Discite, 4 non inter lances mensasque nitentes; Cum stupet insanis acies fulgoribus, et cum Acclinis falsis animus meliora, recusat;

5 Verum hic impransi mecum disquirite. Cur hoc? Dicam, si potero. male verum examinat omnis

"Go work, hunt, exercise! (he thus began) Then scorn a homely dinner if you can. 'Your wine lock'd up, your butler stroll'd abroad, Or fish deny'd, (the river yet unthaw’d)

If then plain bread and milk will do the feat,
The pleasure lies in you, and not the meat.
2 Preach as I please, I doubt our curious men
Will chuse a pheasant still before a hen ;
Yet hens of Guinea full as good I hold,
Except you eat the feathers green and gold.

I

15

20

Corruptus judex. leporam sectatus, equove
Lassus ab indomito; vel și Romana satigat
Militia assuetum Græcari; seu pila velox,
Moliter austerum studio fallante laborem;
Seu te discus agit, pete cedentem aëra disco :
Cum labor extuderit fastidia, siccus, inanis
Sperne cibum vilem; nişi Hymettia mella Falerno
Ne biberis diluta. ' foris est promus, et atrum
Defendens pisces hyemat mare: cum sale panis
Latrantem stomachum bene leniet. unde putas? aut
Quî partum? non in caro nidore voluptas
Summa. sed in teipso est. tu pulmentaria quære
Sudando. pinguem vitiis albumque, nec ostrea,
Nec scarus, aut poterit peregrina juvare lagoïs.
2 Vix tamen eripiam, posito pavone, velis quin
Hoc potius quam gallina tergere palatum,
Corruptus vanis rerum; quia veneat auro

Fij

'Of carps and mullets why prefer the great,
(Tho' cut in pieces ere my Lord can eat)
Yet for small turbots such esteem profess?
Because God made these large, the other less.

2 Oldfield, with more than Harpy throat endu’d, 25
Cries, "Send me, Gods! a whole hog barbecu'd!”
Oh blast it, 3 South-winds! till a stench. exhale
Rank as the ripeness of a rabbit's tail.

Rara avis, et picta pandat spectacula cauda: [ista, Tanquam ad rem attineat quicquam. num vesceris Quam laudas, pluma? cocto num adest honoridem ? Carne tamen quamvis distat nihil, hac magis illa; Imparibus formis deceptum te patet. esto.

Unde datum sentis, lupus hic, Tiberinus, an alto Captus hiet? pontesne inter jactatus, an amnis

I

Ostia sub Tusci ? 1 laudas, insane, trilibrem

Mullum; in singula quem minuas pulmenta necesse

est.

Ducit te species, video. quo pertinet ergo

Proceros odisse lupos ? quia scilicit illis
Majorem natura modum dedit, his breve pondus.
Jejunus raro stomachus vulgario temnit.

2 Porrectum magno magnum spectare catino
Velem, ait Harpyis gula digna rapacibus. at vos
3 Præsentes Austri,coquite horum obsonia: quan-
quam

Putet aper rhombusque recens, mala copia quando Ægrum solicitat stomachum; cum rapula plenus