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Coena defurgat dubia? quin corpus onuftum
Hefternis vitiis animum quoque praegravat una,
Atque affigit humo divinae particulam aurae.
• Alter, ubi dicto citius curata fopori

Membra dedit, vegetus praefcripta ad munia furgit.
b Hic tamen ad melius poterit tranfcurrere quondam ;
Sive diem feftum rediens advexerit annus,

Seu recreare volet tenuatum corpus: ubique
Accedent anni, et tractari mollius aetas

Imbecilla volet. ¡ Tibi quidnam accedet ad istam,
Quam puer et validus praefumis, mollitiem; feu
Dura valetudo inciderit, feu tarda fenectus?

*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 fubfides, 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 defcribes that languor of the mind proceeding from intemperance, on the idea, and in the terms of Plato,

affigit humo divinae particulam aurae.

To this his ridicule is pointed. Our Poet, with more fo briety and judgment, has turned the ridicule, from the Doctrine, which he believed, upon those Preachers of it, whose feaits and compotations in Taverns did not edify

What life in all that ample body, say?
What heav'nly particle infpires the clay?
The Soul fubfides, and wickedly inclines
To feem but mortal, ev'n in found Divines.

On morning wings how active fprings the Mind That leaves the load of yesterday behind?

How eafy ev'ry labour it pursues ?

How coming to the Poet ev'ry Muse?

h Not but we may exceed, fome holy time,

Or tir'd in search of Truth, or fearch of Rhyme;
Ill health fome juft 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?

80

85

95

* Our fathers prais'd rank Ven'fon. You fuppofe Perhaps, young men! our fathers had no nose. Not fo: a Buck was then a week's repast, And 'twas their point, Iween, to make it laft; More pleas'd to keep it till their friends should come Than eat the sweetest by themselves at home.

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NOTES.

100

him and fo bas added furprizing humour and fpirit to, the eafy elegance of the Original.

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

VER. 87. Ortir'd in fearch 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 confameret.

1

hos utinam

inter

о

Heroas natum tellus me prima tuliffet.

Das aliquid famae, quae carmine gratior aurem Occupet humanam? grandes rhombi, patinaeque

n

Grande ferunt una cum damno dedecus. adde

• Iratum patruum, vicinos, te tibi iniquum,

Et fruftra mortis cupidum, cum deerit egenti

» As, laquei pretium.

4 Jure, inquit, Traufius iftis

Jurgatur verbis: ego vectigalia magna,

Divitiafque habeo tribus amplas regibus.

Ergo,

Quod fuperat, non eft melius quo infumere poffis?

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Cur eget indignus quifquam, te divite? quare

Templa ruunt antiqua Deûm? cur, improbe, carae

Non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris acervo?

Uni nimirum tibi recte femper 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

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 sweetest music to an honeft ear;
(For 'faith, Lord Fanny! you are in the wrong,
The world's good word is better than a song)

n

105

Who has not learn'd, fresh fturgeon 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 fhame,
Think how pofterity will treat thy name;

P

And buy a rope, that future times may tell
Thou haft at least bestow'd one penny well.

9 66

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115

Right, cries his Lordfhip, for a rogue in need

"To have a Tafte is infolence indeed :

"In me 'tis noble, fuits 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 fuperfluity away.

Oh Impudence of wealth! with all thy ftore,
How dar'ft 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 fo, when he said,

O magnus pofthac inimicis rifus! uterne

" Ad cafus dubios fidet fibi certius? hic, qui

Pluribus affuerit mentem corpufque füperbum ;
An qui contentus parvo metuenfque futuri,

In pace, ut fapiens, aptarit idonea bello?

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Quo magis his credas: puer hunc ego parvus

Ofellum

Integris opibus novi non latius ufum,

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Quam nunc accifis. Videas, metato in agello,

Cum pecore et gnatis, fortem mercede colonum, Non ego, narrantem, temere edi luce profesta Quidquam, praeter * olus fumofae cum pede pernae.

y

Ac mihi feu longum poft tempus venerat hofpes,

Sive operum vacuo gratus conviva per imbrem
Vicinus; bene erat, non piscibus urbe petitis,

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cur, Improbe! carae

Non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris àcervo.

He remembered, and hints with just indignation, at those luxurious Patricians of his old party; who, when they had agreed to establish a fund in the cause of Freedom, under the conduct of Brutus, could never be perfuaded to withdraw from their expensive pleasures what was fufficient for the fupport of fo great a caufe. He had prepared his

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