Ludicra, quid, plaufus, et amici dona Quiritis?

C

Quo fpectanda modo, & quo fenfu credis et ore?

Qui timet his adverfa, fere miratur eodem Quo cupiens pacto: pavor eft utrobique moleftus: Improvifa fimul fpecies exterret utrumque:

i Gaudeat, an doleat; cupiat, metuatne; quid ad rem, Si, quidquid vidit melius pejusve sua spe, Defixis oculis, animoque et corpore torpet?

*Infani fapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui; Ultra quam fatis eft, virtutem fi petat ipfam. 1I nunc, argentum et marmor" vetus, aeraque et

artes

VER. 22. Whether we joy or grieve, the fame the curfe, Surpriz'd at better, or furpriz'd at worse.] The elegance of this is fuperior to the Original. The curfe is the fame (fays he) whether ze joy or grieve. Why fo? Because, in either cafe, the man is furprized, hurried off, and led away captive.

(The good or bad to one extreme betray Th'unbalanc'd Mind, and snatch the Man away.) This happy advantage, in the imitation, arifes from the ambiguity of the word furprize.

VER. 30. Procure a TASTE to double the furprize.] This is one of thofe fuperior touches that moft ennoble a perfect piece. He

Or f Popularity? or Stars and Strings ?
The Mob's applauses, or the gifts of Kings?
Say with what eyes we ought at Courts to gaze,

15

And pay the Great our homage of Amaze?

b

i

If weak the pleasure that from thefe can spring, The fear to want them is as weak a thing: Whether we dread, or whether we defire, In either cafe, believe me, we admire; Whether we joy or grieve, the fame the curse, Surpriz'd at better, or furpriz'd at worse. Thus good or bad, to one extreme betray Th' unbalanc'd Mind, and fnatch the Man away; For * Virtue's self may too much zeal be had; The worst of Madmen is a Saint run mad.

25

20

Go then, and if you can, admire the state Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate; Procure a TASTE to double the furprize, And gaze on m Parian Charms with learned eyes:

30

fpeaks here of false tafte, as appears by his directions how to get it, and how to use it when got. Procure a tafte, fays he. That is, of the Virtuofi; whofe fcience you are to buy for that purpose: for true tafte, which is from nature, comes of itself. And how are you to use it? Not to cure you of that bane of life, admiration, but to raise and inflame it, by doubling your furprize. And this a falfe tafte will always do; there being none fo given to raptures as the Virtuofo-Tribe: whereas the Man of true tafte finds but few things to approve: and thofe he approves with moderation.

Sufpice; cum gemmis " Tyrios mirare colores:

Gaude, quod fpectant oculite mille loquentem:

Gnavus mane forum, et vefpertinus pete tectum;

P

Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris

Mutus et (indignum; quod fit pejoribus ortus)

' Hic tibi fit potius, quam tu mirabilis illi.

• Quicquid fub terra eft, in apricum proferet aetas;

Defodiet condetque nitentia. cum bene notum

Porticus Agrippae, et via te confpexerit Appî;
Ire tamen reftat, Numa 'quo devenit et Ancus.

Si latus aut renes morbo tentantur acuto,

Be ftruck with bright " Brocade, or Tyrian Dye,
Our Birth-day Nobles' fplendid Livery.
If not fo pleas'd, at Council-board rejoice,
To fee their Judgments hang upon thy Voice;
From P morn to night, at Senate, Rolls, and Hall,
Plead much, read more, dine late, or not at all.
But wherefore all this labour, all this ftrife?
Fame, for Riches, for a noble Wife?

35

For

r

41

S

Shall One whom Nature, Learning, Birth confpir'd
To form, not to admire but be admir'd,
Sigh, while his Chloe blind to Wit and Worth
Weds the rich Dulness of fome Son of earth?
Yet Time ennobles, or degrades each Line;
It brighten'd CRAGGS's, and may darken thine: 45
And what is Fame? the Meanest have their day,
The Greatest can but blaze, and pafs way.
Grac'd as thou art, with all the Pow'r of Words,
So known, fo honour'd, at the Houfe of Lords:
Confpicuous Scene! another yet is nigh,
(More filent far) where Kings and Poets lie;
Where MURRAY (long enough his Country's pride)
Shall be no more than TULLY, or than HYDE !

t

50

w Rack'd with Sciatics, martyr'd with the Stone, Will any mortal let himself alone?

55

See Ward by batter'd Beaus invited over,
And defp'rate Mifery lays hold on Dover.
The cafe is easier in the Mind's disease;
There all Men may be cur'd, whene'er they please.

Quaere fugam morbi. *vis recte vivere? quis non?

Si virtus hoc a poteft dare, fortis omiffis

Hoc age deliciis.

b

virtutem verba putes, et

Lucum ligna? cave ne portus occupet alter:

Ne Cibyratica, ne Bithyna negotia perdas :

a Mille talenta rotundentur, totidem altera, porro et

Tertia fuccedant, et quae pars quadret acervum.

C

Scilicet uxorem cum dote, fidemque, et amicos,

Et genus, et formam, regina Pecunia donat;

Ac bene nummatum decorat Saudela, Venusque.

e

Mancipiis locuples, eget aeris Cappadocum Rex

Ne fucris hic tu. f chlamydes Lucullus, ut aiunt,