Coena defurgat dubia? quin corpus onustum
Hesternis vitiis animum quoque praegravat una,
Atque affigit humo divinae particulam aurae.

& Alter, ubi dicto citius curata sopori Membra dedit, vegetus praefcripta ad munia furgit. h Hic tamen ad melius poterit transcurrere quondam ; Sive diem festum rediens advexerit annus, Seu recreare volet tenuatum corpus: ubique

Accedent anni, et tractari mollius aetas

Imbecilla volet.

Tibi quidnam accedet ad iftam, Quam puer et validus praesumis, mollitiem; feu Dura valetudo inciderit, seu tarda senectus ?

* Rancidum aprum antiqui laudabant: non quia nafus Illis nullus erat; fed, credo, hac mente, quod hofpes Tardius adveniens vitiatum commodius, quam

NOTES.

VER. 80. The Soul Subfides, and wickedly inclines To Seem but mortol, ev'n in found Divines.) Horace was an Epicurean, and laughed at the immortality of the foul. He therefore describes that languor of the mind proceeding from intemperance, on the idea, and in the terms of Plato,

What life in all that ample body, fay?
What heav'nly particle inspires the clay ?
The Soul subsides, and wickedly inclines
To feem but mortal, ev'n in sound Divines.

80

6 On morning wings how active springs the Mind

That leaves the load of yesterday behind ?

How easy ev'ry labour it pursues?

How coming to the Poet ev'ry Muse ?

85

h Not but we may exceed, some holy time,
Or tir'd in search of Truth, or fearch of Rhyme;

Ill health some just indulgence may engage,
And more the sickness of long life, Old age;
For fainting Age what cordial drop remains,
If our intemp'rate Youth the vessel drains ?
* Our fathers prais'd rank Ven'son. You suppose

95

Perhaps, young men! our fathers had no nose.
Not so: a Buck was then a week's repast,

And 'twas their point, I ween, to make it last; 100
More pleas'd to keep it till their friends should come
Than eat the sweetest by themselves at home.

NOTES.

him: and so has added surprizing humour and spirit to the easy elegance of the Original.

VER. 82. On morning wings etc.] Much happier and nobler than the Original.

VER. 87. Ortir'd in search of Truth, or fearch of Rhyme.] A fine ridicule on the extravagance of human pursuits; where the most trifling and most important concerns of life fucceed one another, indifferently.

Integrum edax dominus consameret. 1 hos utinam

inter

Heroas natum tellus me prima tulisset.

m Das aliquid famae, quae carmine gratior aurem Occupet humanam? grandes rhombi, patinaeque Grande ferunt una cum damno dedecus. adde

n

• Iratum patruum, vicinos, te tibi iniquum, Et fruftra mortis cupidum, cum deerit egenti P As, laquei pretium.

4 Jure, inquit, Traufius iftis

Jurgatur verbis: ego vectigalia magna,

Divitiasque habeo tribus amplas regibus. Ergo,
Quod fuperat, non est melius quo infumere poffis?
Cur eget indignus quisquam, te divite? quare
$ Templa ruunt antiqua Deûm? cur, improbe, carae

Non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris acervo ?

Uni nimirum tibi recte semper erunt res?

NOTES.

VER. 128. As M**o's was, etc.] I think this light Aroke of fatire ill placed; and hurts the dignity of the

105

1 Why had not I in those good times my birth,
'Ere coxcomb-pyes or coxcombs were on earth ?
Unworthy he, the voice of Fame to hear,
m That sweeteft music to an honest ear;
(For 'faith, Lord Fanny! you are in the wrong,
The world's good word is better than a fong)
Who has not learn'd, " fresh sturgeon and ham-pye

Are no rewards for want, and infamy!
When Luxury has lick'd up all thy pelf,
Curs'd be thy neighbours, thy trustees, thyself,
To friends, to fortune, to mankind a shame,

115

Think how pofterity will treat thy name;
And buy a rope, that future times may tell
Thou hast at least bestow'd one penny well.
9 " Right, cries his Lordship, for a rogue in need
"To have a Taste is insolence indeed :
" In me 'tis noble, suits my birth and state,
"My wealth unwieldy, and my heap too great."
Then, like the Sun, let Bounty spread her ray, 121
And shine that superfluity away.

Oh Impudence of wealth! with all thy store,
How dar'st thou let one worthy man be poor?
Shall half the new-built churches round thee fall?
Make Keys, build Bridges, or repair White-hall :
Or to thy Country let that heap be lent,
As M**o's was, but not at five per cent.

NOTES.

preceding morality. Horace was very ferious, and properly so, when he said,

O magnus pofthac inimicis risus! uterne
u Ad casus dubios fidet fibi certius? hic, qui
Pluribus assuerit mentem corpusque superbum;
An qui contentus parvo metuensque futuri,
In pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello?

v Quo magis his credas: puer hunc ego parvus

Ofellum

Integris opibus novi nori latius usum,

Quam nunc * accisis. Videas, metato in agello,
Cum pecore et gnatis, fortem mercede colonum,
Non ego, narrantem, temere edi luce profesta
Quidquam, praeter * olus fumosae cum pede pernae.
Ac mihi seu longum poft tempus venerat hofpes,
Sive operum vacuo gratus conviva per imbrem
Vicinus; bene erat, non piscibus urbe petitis,
Sed pullo atque hoedo: tum 2 penfilis uva fecundas