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And chalk is in his crippled fingers found;

As well he for an afs a harp might string,

Rots like a doddard oak, and piecemeal falls to Which is against the reafon of the thing;

ground;

Then his lewd follies he would late repent ;
And his past years, that in a mift were spent.
PERSIUS.

But thou art pale, in nightly studies, grown,
To make the ftoick inftitutes thy own:
Thou long with ftudious care haft till'd our youth,
And fown our well-purg'd ears with wholefome

truth.

From thee both old and young, with profit, learn
The bounds of good and evil to difcern.
CORNUTUS.

Unhappy he who does this work adjourn,
And to to-morrow would the fearch delay:
His lazy morrow will be like to day.

PERSIUS.

But is one day of eafe too much to borrow?

:

CORNUTUS.

}|

For reafon still is whispering in your ear,
Where you are fure to fail, th' attempt forbear.
No need of public fanctions this to bind,
Which Nature has implanted in the mind:
Not to pursue the work, to which we're not
defign'd.

Unfkill'd in hellebore, if thou fhould'st try
To mix it, and mistake the quantity,
The rules of phyfic would against thee cry.
The high-fhoe'd ploughman, fhould he quit the
land,

To take the pilot's rudder in his hand,
Artless of stars, and of the moving fand,

The gods would leave him to the waves and wind,
And think all fhame was loft in human kind.

Tell me, my friend, from whence hadft thon
the skill,

So nicely to diftinguish good from ill?
Or by the found to judge of gold and brafs,
What piece is tinker's metal, what will pass?
And what thou art to follow, what to fly,
This to condemn, and that to ratify?

When to be bountiful, and when to spare,
But never craving, or oppreft with care?
curft,The baits of gifts, and money to defpife,
And look on wealth with undefiring eyes?
When thou can't truly call these virtues thine,
Be wife and free, by heaven's confent, and mine.
But thou, who lately, of the common strain,
Wert one of us, if ftill thou doft retain
The fame ill habits, the fame follies too,
Glofs'd over only with a faint-like show,
Then I resume the freedom which I gave,
Still thou art bound to vice, and ftill a flave.
Thou canst not wag thy finger, or begin
"The leaft light motion, but it tends to fin."

Yes, fure for yesterday was once to-morrow.
That yesterday is gone, and nothing gain'd:
And all thy fruitless days will thus be drain'd;
For thou hast more to-morrows yet to ask,
And wilt be ever to begin thy task;
Who, like the hindmoft chariot wheels art
Still to be near, but ne'er to reach the first.
O freedom! firft delight of human kind!
Not that which bondmen from their masters find,
The privilege of doles: not yet t' infcribe
Their names in this or t' other Roman tribe :
That falfe enfranchisement with eafe is found:
Slaves are made citizens, by turning round.
How, replies one, can any be more free?
Here's Dama, once a groom of low degree,
Not worth a farthing and a fot befide;
So true a rogue, for lying's fake he ly'd;
But, with a turn a freeman he became ;
Now Marcus Dama is his worship's name.
Good Gods! who would refufe to lend a fum,
If wealthy Marcus furety will become!
Marcus is made a judge, and for a proof
Of certain truth, He faid, it is enough.
A will is to be prov'd; put in your claim;
'Tis clear, if Marcus has fubfcrib'd his name.
This is true liberty, as I believe:

What can we farther from our caps receive,
Than as we please without control to live?
Not more to noble Brutus could belong.
Hold, fays the ftoick, your affumption's wrong:
I grant, true freedom you have well defin'd:
But, living as you lift, and to your mind,
And loosely tack'd, all must be left behind.
What, fince the prætor did my fetters loofe,
And left me freely at my own difpofe,
May I not live without control and awe,
Excepting ftill the letter of the law?

Hear me with patience while thy mind I free
From those fond notions of falfe liberty:
'Tis not the prætor's province to bestow
True freedom; nor to teach mankind to know
What to ourselves, or to our friends, we owe.
He could not fet thee free from cares and ftrife,
Nor give the reins to a lewd vicious life:

}

}

How's this? Not wag thy finger, he replies?
No, friend; nor fuming gums, nor facrifice,
Can ever make a madman free, or wife.
"Virtue and vice are never in one foul:
"A man is wholly wife, or wholly is a fool."
A heavy bumkin, taught with daily care,
Can never dance three fteps with a becoming air.
PERSIUS.

In spite of this, my freedom ftill remains.

CORNUTUS.

Free! what, and fetter'd with fo many chains?
Can't thou no other mafter understand

Than him that freed thee by the prætor's wand?
Should he, who was thy lord, command thee

now,

With a harsh voice, and fupercilious brow,
To fervile duties, thou would'nt fear no more;
The gallows and the whip are out of door.
But if thy paffions lord it in thy breast,
Art thou not till a flave, and ftill oppreft?
Whether alone, or in thy harlot's lap,

When thou would't take a lazy morning's nap;
Up, up, fays Avarice; thou fnor'ft again,
Stretcheft thy limbs, and yawn'ft, but all in vain ;
The tyrant Lucre no denial takes;

At his command th' unwilling fluggard wakes;

What must I do? he cries: What? fays his lord:
Why, rife, make ready, and go ftraight abroad:
With fish, from Euxine feas, thy veffel freight;
Flax, caftor, Coan wines, the precious weight
Of pepper, and Sabæan incenfe, take

With thy own hands, from the tir'd camel's
back :

And with post-hafte thy running markets make..
Be fure to turn the penny; lye and fwear;
'Tis wholesome fin: but Jove, thou fay'ft, will
hear :

Swear, fool, or ftarve; for the dilemma's even :
A tradesman thou! and hope to go to heaven?
Refolv'd for fea, the flaves thy baggage pack,
Each faddled with his burden on his back :
Nothing retards thy voyage, now, unless
Thy other lord forbids, Voluptuousness:
And he may afk this civil queftion: Friend,
What doft thou make a fhip-board? to what end?
Art thou of Bethlem's noble college free?
Stark, ftaring mad, that thou would't tempt the
fea?

Cubb'd in a cabbin, on a mattress laid,

On a brown george, with lowfy fwobbers fed,
Dead wine, that stinks of the borrachio, fup
From a foul jack, or greafy maple-cup?
Say, would't thou bear all this, to raife thy ftore
From fix i' th' hundred, to fix hundred more?
Indulge, and to thy genius freely give;
For, not to live at cafe, is not to live;
Death ftalks behind thee, and each flying hour
Does fome loose remnant of thy life devour.
Live, while thou liv'ft; for death will make us
all

A name, a nothing but an old wife's tale.

Speak; wilt thou Avarice, or Pleasure, chufe To be thy lord? Take one, and one refufe. But both, by turns, the rule of thee will have; And thou, betwixt them both, wilt be a flave. Nor think, when once thou haft refifted one, That all thy marks of fervitude are gone : The struggling greyhound gnaws his leafh in

vain;

If, when 'tis broken, ftill he drags the chain.
Says Phædra to his man, Believe me, friend,
To this uneafy love I'll put an end:
Shall I run out of all? my friends difgrace
And be the first lewd unthrift of my race?
Shall I the neighbours nightly reft invade
At her deaf doors, with fome vile ferenade?
Well haft thou freed thyfelf, his man replies,
Go, thank the Gods, and offer facrifice."
Ah, fays the youth, if we unkindly part,
Will not the poor fond creature break her heart?
Weak foul and blindly to deftruction led!
She break her heart! fhe'll fooner break your
head.

She knows her man, and, when you rant and fwear,

Can draw you to her, with a fingle hair.
But fhall I not return? Now, when the fues!
Shall I my own, and her defires refufe?
Sir, take your courfe: but my advice is plain :
Once freed, 'tis madneís to refume your chain.

Ay; there's the man, who, loos'd from luft and pelf,

Lefs to the prætor owes, than to himself.
But write him down a flave, who, humbly proud,
With prefents begs preferments from the crowd;
That early fuppliant, who falutes the tribes,
And fets the mob to fcramble for his bribes:
That fome old dotard, fitting in the fan,
On holidays may tell, that fuch a feat was done :
In future times this will be counted rare.

Thy fuperftition too may claim a fhare: When flowers are firew'd, and lamps in order plac'd,

And windows with illuminations grac'd,
On Herod's day; when fparkling bowls go round,
And tunnies tails, in favoury fauce are drown'd,
Thou mutter'ft prayers obfcene; nor doft refufe
The fafts and fabbaths of the curtail'd Jews.
Then a crack'd egg-fhell thy fick fancy frights,
Befides the childish fear of walking fprights.
Of o'ergrown gelding priests thou art afraid;
The timbrel, and the fquintifego maid
Of Ifis, awe thee: left the Gods, for fin,
Should, with a fwelling dropsy, stuff thy skin:
Unless three garlick-heads the curfe avert,
Eaten each morn, devoutly, next thy heart.
Preach this among the brawny guards, fay'll thou,
And fee if they thy doctrine will allow;
The dull fat captain, with a hound's deep throat,
Would bellow out a laugh, in a base note;
And prize a hundred Zeno's just as much
As a clipt fixpence, or a schilling Dutch.

THE

SIXTH SATIRE

OF

PER SIU S.

THE ARGUMENT.

This fixth satire treats an admirable common-place of moral philofophy; of the true use of richer. They certainly are intended, by the power who befemi them, as inftruments and belps of living commodity ourfelves; and of adminiftering to the wants of otueri, who are oppreffed by fortune. There are two t tremes in the opinions of men concerning them. One error, though on the right hand, yet a great one, is, that they are no helps to a virtuous life; the other places all our happiness in the acquifition and pogoha of them: and this is, undoubtedly, the worf extrem The mean betwixt thefe, is the opinion of the Stout which is, that riches may be useful to the leading a virtuous life; in cof: we rightly underfland bora to give according to right reafon, and how to receive what is given us by others. The virtue of

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giving well, is called liberality : and it is of this in minds and manners twins oppos'd we see wirtue that Perfius writes in this jutire; wherein in the fame syn, almost the fame degree : be not only feti's the lawful use of riobes, but also | One, frugal, on his birth day fears to dine ; foarply iti veigbs agains the vices which are opp fed Does at a penny's cost in herhs repine, to it; and afpecially of those, which consif in the And horjiy dares to dip his fingers in the brine. defeeis of giving or Jpending ; or in the abuse of | Prepar'd as priest of his own rites to stand, riches. He writes to Cafius Baffors bis friend, and He sprinkles pepper with a sparing hand. e poel also. Enquires forf of bis bealth and Hadies ; | His jolly brother, oppofitc in fenfe, and afterwards informs bin of his own, and wbere Laughs at his thrist; and, lavish of expence, be is not resident. He gives an account of bimself, Quaffs, crams, and gurtles, in his own defence. tbot be is endeavouring, by little and little, to wear For me, I'll use my own ; and take my share; off his vices ; and particularly, that he is combating Yet will not turbots for my flaves prepare ; ambition, and tbe desire of wealth. He dwells upon Nor be so nice in taste myself to know the latter vice : and, being sensible ibat few men

If what I swallow be a thrush, or no, either defire or use riebes as ibey ought, be endenvours Live on thy annual income; spend thy store ; to convince them of their folly ; wbich is the main And freely grind, from thy full threshing.floor; design of tbe whole sulire.

Next harvell promises as much, or more.
Thus I would live: but friendship’s holy band,

And ofices of kindness, hold my hand :
THE SIXTH SATIRE.

His riches in th' Ionian main are lost;
TO CÆSIUS BASSUS, A LYRIC POET. And he hin seit ftands shivering on the coast;

Where, deftreute of help, forlorn and bare, HAS winter causid thee, friend, to change thy He wearies the deaf Guds with fruitless prayer. fear,

Their images, the relias of the wreck, And feck in Sabine air a warm retreat ?

Torn from the naked poop, are tided back Say, doft chou yet the Roman harp command? By the wild waves, ansel, rudely thrown amore, Do the ttrings answer to thy noble hand ?

Lie impotent; nor can themselves restore. Great mafter of the Mufi, inpir'd to fing

The vere! Ilicks, and shews her open'd fide, The beauties of the first-created spring;

And on her fhaiter'd naft the newsin triumphride. The pedigree of Nature to rehearse,

From thy new hope, and from thy growing store, And found the Maker's work, in equal verse.

Now lend alliance, and relieve the poor.
Now sporting on thy lyre the loves of youth, Come; do a noble act of charity;
Now virtuous age, and venerable truth;

A pittance of thy land will let him free.
Exçreling juftly Sappho's wanton art

Let him not bear the badges of a wreck,
Oi odes, and Pindar's more majestic part.

Nor beg with a blue table on his back;
For ne, my warmer conflitution wants Nor reil me that by frowning hcir will say,
Miure cold, than our Ligurian winter grants;

'Tis mine that wcalth thou squander's thus away; And therefore, to my native flores retir'd,

What is 'i to chce, if he neglect thy urn, I view the coait old Ennius once admir'd ; Or withou: spices lets thy boriy burn? Where clifts on either sides their points display: 7

If odours to thiyames he refute,
And, after, opening in an ampler way,

Or buys corrupted cafia from the Jews?
Afford the pleasing profpce of the bay.
'Tis worth your while, o Rumans, to regard Are empty pomp, and dead-men's luxury:
The port of Luna says our learned Bard; We never know this vain expence, before
Who in a drunken dream beheld his soul

Th' effeminated Grecians brought it o'er :
The fifth within the transmigrating roll;

Now toys and trifles from their Athens come; Which first a peacock, then Euphorbus was, And dates and pepper have unfinew'd Romc. Then Homer next, and next Pythagoras;

Our sweating lind their failads, now, detile,
And last of all the line did into Ennius pass. Infecting homely nerbs with frrgrant oil.

Secure and free from business of the state, But to thy furtune be not thou a slave :
And more secure of what the valuar prate,

For what haft thou to fear beyond the grave ? Here I enjoy my private thoughts; nor care And thou who gap'il for my ellate, draw near; M'hat rots for sheep the fouthern winds prepare :

For I would whilper somewhat in thy ear. Survey the neighbouring fields, and not repine,

Hear'ít thou the news, my friend ? th' express is When I behold a larger crop than mine : To see a beggar's brat in riches flow,

With laurel'd letters from the camıp to Rome : Adds not a wrinkle to my eyen brow;

Cæsar salutes the queen and fenate thus : Nor, envious at the fight, will I forbear

My arms are on the Rhine victorious. My plenteous bowl, nor bate my bountcous cheer. From mourning alrars sweep the dust away : Nor yet unscal the dregs of wine that itink Cease fasting, and proclaim a fat thanksgiving-day, Of calk; nor in a nasty flaggon drink ;

The goodly empress, jollily ioclin’d, Eet others ftuff their guts with homely fare ; ? i Is to the welcome bearer

wondrous kind : For

And, , Though born perhaps bencath onc common star. prepares for all the pageantry of pride. VOL. III.

3 Q

conie

The captive Germans, of gigantic size,
Are rank'd in order, and are clad in frize:
The spoils of kings and conquer'd camps we boaft,
Their arms in trophies hang on the triumphal poft.
Now, for fo many glorious actions done :
In foreign parts, and mighty battles won:
For peace at home, and for the public wealth,
I mean to crown a bowl to Cafar's health:
Befides, in gratitude for fuch high matters,
Know I have vow'd two hundred gladiators.
Say, would't thou hinder me from this expence;
I difinherit thee, if thou dar'ft take offence.
Yet more, a public largess I defign

Of oil and pipes, to make the people dine :
Control me not, for fear I change my will.
And yet methinks I hear thee grumbling ftill,
You give as if you were the Perfian king:
Your land does not fo large revenues bring.
Well; on my terms thou wilt not be my heir?
If thou car'i little, lefs fhall be my care:
Were none of all my father's fifters left:
Nay, were I of my mother's kin bereft :
None by an uncle's or a grandame's fide,
Yet I could fome adopted heir provide.
I need but take my journey half a day
From haughty Rome, and at Aricia stay,
Where Fortune throws poor Manius in my way.
Him will I choofe: What! him of humble birth,
Obfcure, a foundling, and a fon of earth?
Obfcure? Why pr'ythee what am I? I know
My father, grandfire, and great-grandfire too.
If farther I derive my pedigree,

1 can but guefs beyond the fourth degree.
The rest of my forgotten ancestors

Were fons of earth, like him, or fons of whores. Yet, why would'st thou, old covetous wretch, afpire

To be my heir who might'st have been my fire?
In Nature's race, should'st thou demand of me
Myt orch, when I in courfe run after thee?
Thi: I approach thee, like the God of gain,
With wings on head and heels, as poets feign:

Thy moderate fortune from my gift receive;
Now fairly take it, or as fairly leave.
But take it as it is, and ask no more.
What, when thou haft embezzled all thy flore?
Where 's all thy father left? 'Tis true, I grant,
Some I have mortgag'd, to fupply my want:
The legacies of Tadius too are flown;
All spent, and on the self-fame errand gone.
How little then to my poor share will fall?
Little indeed; but yet that little's all.

Nor tell me, in a dying father's tone,
Be careful fill of the main chance, my fon;
Put out thy principal in trusty hands:
Live on the ufe; and never dip thy lands:
But yet what's left for me? What's left, my friend'
Afk that again, and all the rest I spend.
Is not my fortunes at my own command?
Pour oil, and pour it with a plenteous hand,
Upon my fallads, boy: fhall I be fed
With fodden nettles, and a fing'd fow's head!
"Tis holiday; provide me better cheer;
'Tis holiday, and shall be round the year.
Shall I my houfhold gods and genius cheat,
To make him rich, who grudges me my meat?
That he may loll at cafe; and, pamper'd high,
When I am laid, may feed on giblet-pie?
And, when his throbbing luft extends the vein,
Have wherewithal his whores to entertain?
Shall I in homespun cloth be clad, that he
His paunch in triumph may before him fee?

Go, nifer, go; for lucre fell thy foul; Truck wares for wares, and trudge from pole to pole:

That hien may fay, when thou art dead and gone,
See what a vaft eftate he left his fon!
How large a family of brawny knaves,
Well fed, and fat as Cappadocian slaves!
Increase thy wealth, and double all thy flore;
'Tis done: now double that, and fwell the fcure;
To every thousand add ten thousand more.
Then fay, Chryfippus, thou who would'it confine
Thy heap, where I shall put an end to mine.

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S foon as it was made known that your Lordship was not difpleased with this its fuccefs; I was touched with a vanity I had not before been acquainted with, and began to dream of nothing lefs than the immortality of my Work.

And I had fufficiently fhewn this vanity in inferibing this Play to your Lordship, did I only confider you as one to whom fo many admirable pieces, to whom the Praifes of Italy, and the best Latin poem fince the Eneid, that on the peace of Ryfwick, are confecrated. But it had been intolerable prefumption to have addreffed it to you, my Lord, who are the nicest judge of poetry, were you not alfo the greatest encourager of it; to you who excel all the prefent age as a poet, did you not surpass all the preceding ones as a patron.

For in the times when the Mufes were molt encouraged, the best writers were countenanced, but never advanced; they were admitted to the acquaintance of the greatest men, but that was all they were to expect. The bounty of the patron is no where to be read of but in the works of the Poets, whereas your Lordship's will fill thofe of the hiftorians.

For what tranfactions can they write of, which have not been managed by fome who were recommended by your Lordship? 'Tis by your Lordship's means, that the univerfities have been real nurferies for the ftate; that the courts abroad are charmed by the wit and learning, as well as the fagacity, of our minifters; that Germany, Switzerland, Mufcovy, and even Turkey itself, begins to relifh the politeness of the English; that the poets at home adorn that court which they formerly ufed only to divert; that abroad they travel, in a manner very unlike their predeceffor Homer, and with an equipage he could not beftow, even on the heroes he defigned to immortalize.

And this, my Lord, fhews your knowledge of men as well as writings, and your judgment no lefs than your generofity. You have diftinguished between those who by their inclinations or abilities were qualified for the pleasure only, and those that were

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