The strugling Greyhound gnaws his Leash in vain ;

21

If, when 'tis broken, still he drags the Chain. Says Phædria to his Man, Believe me, Friend,

To this uneasie Love I'le put an End:
Shall I run out of all? My Friends disgrace,
And be the first lewd Unthrift of my Race?
Shall I the Neighbours Nightly rest invade
At her deaf Doors, with some vile Serenade ?
Well hast thou freed thy self, his Man
replies;
240

Go, thank the Gods, and offer Sacrifice.
Ah, says the Youth, if we unkindly part,
Will not the Poor fond Creature break her
Heart ?

Weak Soul! And blindly to Destruction led! She break her Heart! She'll sooner break your Head.

She knows her Man, and when you Rant and Swear,

Can draw you to her with a single Hair. But shall I not return? Now, when she Sues?

Shall I my own, and her Desires refuse ? Sir, take your Course: But my Advice is plain: 250 Once freed, 'tis Madness to resume your Chain.

Ay; there's the Man, who loos'd from Lust and Pelf,

Less to the Prætor owes, than to himself. But write him down a Slave, who, humbly

proud,

With Presents begs Preferments from the Crowd;

22

That early Suppliant, who salutes the Tribes,

And sets the Mob to scramble for his Bribes : That some old Dotard, sitting in the Sun, On Holydays may tell, that such a Feat was done :

In future times this will be counted rare. 260 Thy Superstition too may claim a share: When Flow'rs are strew'd, and Lamps in order plac'd,

And Windows with Illuminations grac'd, On 23 Herod's Day; when sparkling Bouls go round,

And Tunny's Tails in savoury Sauce are drown'd,

Thou mutter'st Prayers obscene; nor do'st refuse

The Fasts and Sabbaths of the curtail'd Jews. Then a crack'd "Eggshell thy sick Fancy frights,

Besides the Childish Fear of Walking Sprights. Of o'regrown Guelding Priests thouart afraid: The Timbrel, and the Squintifego Maid 271 Of Isis, awe thee: lest the Gods, for sin, Shou'd, with a swelling Dropsie, stuff thy skin:

Unless three Garlick Heads the Curse avert, Eaten each Morn, devoutly, next thy heart. Preach this among the brawny Guards, say'st thou,

And see if they thy Doctrine will allow : The dull fat Captain, with a Hound's deep

throat,

Wou'd bellow out a Laugh, in a Base Note; And prize a hundred Zeno's just as much 280 As a clipt Sixpence, or a Schilling Dutch.

Progne was Wife to Tereus, King of Thracia : Tercus fell in Love with Philomela, Sister to Progne, ravish'd her, and cut out her Tongue: In Revenge of which, Progue kill'd Itys, her own Son by Tereus, and serv'd him up at a Feast, to be eaten by his Father.

Thyestes and Atreus were Brothers, both Kings: Alreus, to Revenge himself of his unnatural Brother, kill'd the Sons of Thyestes, and invited him to eat them.

3 By the Childish Robe is meant the Prætexta, or first Gowns which the Roman Children of Quality wore: These were Welted with Purple: And on those Welts were fasten'd the Bulla, or little Bells, which when they came to the Age of

Puberty were hung up and consecrated to the Lares, or Household Gods.

The first Shields which the Roman Youths wore, were white, and without any Impress or Device on them, to shew they had yet Atchiev'd nothing in the Wars.

5 Socrates by the Oracle was declar'd to be the wisest of Mankind: He instructed many of the Athenian Young Noblemen in Morality, and amongst the rest Alcibiades.

Astrologers divide the Heaven into Twelve parts, according to the Number of the 12 Signs of the Zodiack: The Sign or Constellation which rises in the East, at the Birth of any Man, is call'd the Ascendant: Persius, therefore,

judges that and he Cornutus had the same or a like Nativity.

7 The Sign of Gemini.

The Sign of Libra.

Astrologers have an Axiome, that whatsoever Saturn ties is loos'd by Jupiter: They account Saturn to be a Planet of a Malevolent Nature, and Jupiter of a Propitious Influence.

10 Zeno was the great Master of the Stoick Philosophy: And Cleanthes was second to him in Reputation: Cornutus, who was Master or Tutor to Persius, was of the same School.

"When a Slave was made free, he had the Priviledge of a Roman Born, which was to have a share in the Donatives or Doles of Bread, &c. which were Distributed by the Magistrates amongst the People.

12 The Roman People was Distributed into several Tribes: He who was made free was inroll'd into some one of them, and thereupon enjoy'd the common Priviledges of a Roman Citizen.

13 The Master, who intended to infranchise a Slave, carried him before the City Prætor, and turn'd him round, using these words, I will that this Man be free.

Slaves had only one Name before their Freedom: After it they were admitted to a Prænomen, like our Christen'd Names; so Dama is now call'd Marcus Dama.

15 At the Proof of Testament, the Magistrates were to subscribe their Names, as allowing the Legality of the Will.

16 Slaves, when they were set free, had a Cap given them, in Sign of their Liberty.

Brutus freed the Roman People from the Tyranny of the Tarquins, and chang'd the Form of the Government into a glorious Common-wealth. 18 The Text of the Roman Laws was written in Red Letters; which was call'd the Rubrick; Translated here, in more general words, The Letter of the Law. 19 The Stoicks held this Paradox, That any one Vice, or Notorious Folly, which they call'd Madness, hinder'd a Man from being Virtuous: That

a Man was of a Piece, without a Mixture, either wholly Vicious or Good; one Virtue or Vice, according to them, including all the rest.

20 The Prætor held a Wand in his hand, with which he softly struck the Slave on the Head when he declar'd him free.

21 This alludes to the Play of Terence, call'd the Eunuch, which was excellently imitated of late in English by Sir Charles Sedley: In the first Scene of that Comedy, Phadria was introduc'd with his Man Pamphilus, Discoursing, whether he shou'd leave his Mistress Thais, or return to her, now that she had invited him.

23 He who sued for any Office amongst the Romans was called a Candidate, because he wore a white Gown: And sometimes Chalk'd it to make it appear whiter. He rose early, and went to the Levees of those who headed the People: Saluted also the Tribes severally, when they were gather'd together to chuse their Magistrates; and Distributed a Largess amongst them, to engage them for their Voices: Much resembling our Elections of Parliament-Men.

23 The Commentators are divided, what Herod this was, whom our Author mentions: Whether Herod the Great, whose Birth-day might possibly be celebrated, after his Death, by the Herodians, a Sect amongst the Jews, who thought him their Messiah; or Herod Agrippa, living in the Author's time and after it. The latter seems the more probable opinion.

24 The Ancients had a Superstition, contrary to ours concerning Egg-shells: They thought that if an Egg-shell were crack'd, or a Hole bor'd in the bottom of it, they were Subject to the Power of Sorcery: We as vainly break the Bottom of an Egg-shell, and cross it when we have eaten the Egg, lest some Hag shou'd make use of it in bewitching us, or sailing over the sea in it, if it were whole.

The rest of the Priests of Isis, and her one-ey'd or squinting Priestess is more largely treated in the Sixth Satyr of Juvenal, where the Superstitions of Women are related.

or Spending, or in the Abuse of Riches. Ile writes to Cæsius Bassus, his Friend, and a Poet also. Enquires first of his Health and Studies; and afterwards informs him of his own, and where he is now resident. He gives an account of himself, that he is endeavouring by little and little to wear off his Vices; and particularly, that he is combating Ambition and the Desire of Wealth. He dwells upon the latter Vice; And being sensible that few Men either Desire, or Use Riches as they ought, he endeavours to convince them of their Folly; which is the main Design of the whole Satyr.

THE

SIXTH SATYR.

To Cæsius Bassus, a Lyrick Poet. HAS Winter caus'd thee, Friend, to change thy Seat,

And seek, in Sabine Air, a warm retreat? Say, do'st thou yet the Roman Harp command?

Do the Strings Answer to thy Noble hand?
Great Master of the Muse, inspir'd to Sing
The Beauties of the first Created Spring;
The Pedigree of Nature to rehearse;
And sound the Maker's Work, in equal Verse.
Now, sporting on thy Lyre the Loves of
Youth,

Now Virtuous Age, and venerable Truth; 10
Expressing justly Sapho's wanton Art
Of Odes, and Pindar's more Majestick part.
For me, my warmer Constitution wants
More cold, than our Ligurian Winter grants;
And, therefore, to my Native Shores retir'd,
I view the Coast old Ennius once admir'd;
Where Clifts on either side their points)
display;

And, after, opening in an ampler way, 18
Afford the pleasing Prospect of the Bay.
'Tis worth your while, O Romans, to regard
The Port of Luna, says our Learned Bard:
Who, in a Drunken Dream, beheld his Soul
The Fifth within the Transmigrating roul;
Which first a Peacock, then Euphorbus was,`
Then Homer next, and next Pythagoras;
And last of all the Line did into Ennius
pass.

18 after,] The editors wrongly omit the

comma.

Secure and free from Business of the State;

And more secure of what the vulgar Prate, Here I enjoy my private Thoughts; nor care What Rots for Sheep the Southern Winds prepare:

30

Survey the Neighb'ring Fields, and not repine,

When I behold a larger Crop than mine:
To see a Beggar's Brat in Riches flow,
Adds not a Wrinckle to my even Brow;
Nor, envious at the sight, will I forbear
My plentious Bowl, nor bate my bounteous
Cheer:

Nor yet unseal the Dregs of Wine that stink
Of Cask; nor in a nasty Flaggon Drink;
Let others stuff their Guts with homely
fare:

For Men of diff'rent Inclinations are ; 40 Tho born, perhaps, beneath one common Star.

In minds and manners Twins oppos'd we see In the same Sign, almost the same Degree: One, Frugal, on his Birth-Day fears to dine, Does at a Penny's cost in Herbs repine, And hardly dares to dip his Fingers in the Brine.

Prepar'd as Priest of his own Rites to stand, He sprinkles Pepper with a sparing hand. His Jolly Brother, opposite in sence, Laughs at his Thrift; and, lavish of Expence,

50

Quaffs, Crams, and Guttles, in his own defence.

For me, I'le use my own; and take my share;

Yet will not Turbots for my Slaves prepare :
Nor be so nice in taste my self to know
If what I swallow be a Thrush, or no.
Live on thy Annual Income! Spend thy

store;

And freely grind, from thy full ThreshingFloor;

Next Harvest promises as much, or more. Thus I wou'd live: But Friendship's holy Band,

And Offices of kindness hold my hand: 60 My Friend is Shipwreck'd on the Brutian Strand,

His Riches in th' Ionian Main are lost; And he himself stands shiv'ring on the Coast;

61] Brutian] The editors correct the spelling.

Where, destitute of help, forlorn, and bare, He wearies the Deaf Gods with Fruitless Pray'r.

Their Images, the Relicks of the Wrack, Torn from the Naked Poop, are tided back, By the Wild Waves, and rudely thrown ashore,

Lye impotent: Nor can themselves restore. The Vessel sticks, and shows her open'd side,

70 And on her shatter'd Mast the Mews in Triumph ride.

From thy new hope, and from thy growing store,

Now lend Assistance, and relieve the Poor. Come; do a Noble Act of Charity;

The 'goodly Empress, Jollily inclin'd,
Is, to the welcome Bearer, wond'rous kind :
And, setting her Goodhousewifry aside,
Prepares for all the Pageantry of Pride.
The 10 Captive Germans, of Gygantick size,
Are ranck'd in order, and are clad in frize :
The Spoils of Kings, and Conquer'd Camps
we boast,

Their Arms in Trophies hang, on the
Triumphal post.

109

Now, for so many Glorious Actions done In Foreign parts, and mighty Battels won; For Peace at Home, and for the publick Wealth,

I mean to Crown a Bowl to Cæsar's Health:
Besides, in Gratitude for such high matters,
Know "I have vow'd two hundred Gladiators.
Say, wou'dst thou hinder me from this
Expence ?

I Disinherit thee, if thou dar'st take Offence.
Yet more a publick Largess I design
Of Oyl and Pyes to make the People dine :
Controul me not, for fear I change my
Will;

120

And yet methinks I hear thee grumbling still,

You give as if you were the Persian King; Your Land does no such large Revenues bring.

Well; on my Terms thou wilt not be my
Heir;

If thou car'st little, less shall be my care:
Were none of all my Father's Sisters left
Nay, were I of my Mother's Kin bereft ;
None by an Uncle's or a Grandam's side
Yet I cou'd some adopted Heir provide.
I need but take my Journey half a day 130
From haughty Rome, and at Aricca stay,
Where Fortune throws poor Manius in my

Yet why shou'd'st thou, old covetous Wretch, aspire

To be my Heir, who might'st have been my Sire?

In Nature's Race, shou'd'st thou demand of me

My Torch, when I in course run after thee? Think I approach thee like the God of Gain, With Wings on Head, and Heels, as Poets feign:

Thy mod'rate 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 hast embezel'd all thy
store?
150
Where's all thy Father left? "Tis true,
I grant,

Some I have mortgag'd, to supply my want:
The Legacies of Tadius too are flown:
All spent, and on the selfsame 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 still of the main chance, my Son;
Put out the Principal, in trusty hands:
Live of the Use; and never dip thy Lands:
But yet what's left for me? What's left,
my Friend!

161

Ask that again, and all the rest I spend.
Is not my Fortune at my own Command?

Upon my Sallads, Boy: Shall I be fed With sodden Nettles, and a sing'd Sow's head?

'Tis Holyday; provide me better Cheer; 'Tis Holyday, and shall be round the Year. Shall I my Household Gods, and Genius, cheat,

To make him rich, who grudges me my Meat, 170

That he may loll at case; and pamper'd high, When I am laid, may feed on Giblet Pye? And when his throbbing Lust extends the Vein,

Have wherewithall his Whores to entertain? Shall I in homespun Cloath be clad, that he His Paunch in triumph may before him see? Go Miser, go; for Lucre sell thy Soul; Truck Wares for Wares, and trudge from Pole to Pole :

That Men may say, when thou art dead and gone,

See what a vast Estate he left his Son! 180 How large a Family of Brawny Knaves, Well fed, and fat as 13 Capadocian Slaves! Increase thy Wealth, and double all thyy Store ;

'Tis done: Now double that, and swell the

NOTES TO THE

AND seek in Sabine Air, &c. All the Studious, and particularly the Poets, about the end of August, began to set themselves on Work; Refraining from Writing during the Heats of the Summer." They wrote by Night, and sate up the greatest part of it. For which Reason the Product of their Studies was call'd their Elucubrations, or Nightly Labours. They who had Country Seats retir'd to them, while they Studied: As Persius did to his, which was near the Port of the Moon in Etruria; and Bassus to his, which was in the Country of the Sabines, nearer Rome.

2 Now Sporting on thy Lyre, &c. This proves Casius Bassus to have been a Lyrick Poet: 'Tis said of him, that by an Eruption of the Flameing Mountain Vesuvius, near which the greatest part of his Fortune lay, he was Burnt himself together with all his Writings.

SIXTH SATYR.

in this place gives me any encouragement for the Epithete; but because Horace, and all who mention Ennius, say he was an Excessive Drinker of Wine. In a Dream, or Vision, call you it which you please, he thought it was reveal'd to him, that the Soul of Pithagoras was Transmigrated into him; As Pithagoras before him believ'd that himself had been Euphorbus in the Wars of Troy. Commentators differ in placing the order of this Soul, and who had it first. I have here given it to the Peacock, because it looks more according to the Order of Nature that it shou'd lodge in a Creature of an Inferiour Species, and so by Gradation rise to the informing of a Man. And Persius favours me, by saying that Ennius was the Fifth from the Pithagorean Peacock.