But fure no ftatute in his favour fays,
How free, or frugal, I fhall pafs my days:
I, who at fome times fpend, at others spare,
Divided between careleffness and care.
"Tis one thing madly to difperfe my store;
Another, not to heed to treasure more:
Glad, like a Boy, to snatch the first good day,
And pleas'd, if fordid want be far away.
f What is 't to me (a paffenger God wot)
Whether my veffel be first-rate or not?
The ship itself may make a better figure;
But I that fail, am neither less nor bigger:
I neither ftrut with every favouring breath,
Nor ftrive with all the tempeft in my teeth.
In power, wit, figure, virtue, fortune, plac'd
Behind the foremost, and before the laft.
Scire volam, quantum fimplex hilarifque nepoti
Difcrepet, et quantum difcordet parcus avaro.
Diftat enim, fpargas tua prodigus, an neque fumtum.
Invitus facias, nec plura parare labores;
Ac potius, puer ut feftis Quinquatribus olim,
Exiguo gratoque fruaris tempore raptim.
f Pauperies immunda domûs procul abfit: ego, utrum
Nave ferar magna an parva, ferar unus et idem.
Non agimur tumidis velis Aquilone fecundo:
Non tamen adverfis aetatem ducimus Auftris.
Viribus, ingenio, fpecie, virtute, loco, re,
g" But why all this of Avarice? I have none."
I wish you joy, Sir, of a Tyrant gone;
But does no other lord it at this hour,
As wild and mad? the Avarice of power?
Does neither Rage inflame, nor Fear appall?
Not the black fear of death, that saddens all?
With terrors round, can Reason hold her throne,
Defpife the known, nor tremble at th' unknown?
Survey both worlds, intrepid and entire,
In fpite of witches, devils, dreams, and fire?
Pleas'd to look forward, pleas'd to look behind,
And count each birth-day with a grateful mind? 315
Has life no fournefs, drawn so near its end;
Canft thou endure a foe, forgive a friend?
Has age but melted the rough parts away,
As winter-fruits grow mild ere they decay?
Or will you think, my friend, your business done, 320
When, of a hundred thorns, you pull out one?
Extremi primorum, extremis ufque priores.
Non es avarus: abi. quid? caetera jam fimul isto
Cum vitio fugere? caret tibi pectus inani
Ambitione? caret mortis formidine et ira?
Somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, fagas,
Nocturnos lemures, portentaque Thessala rides ?
Natales grate numeras? ignofcis amicis ?
Lenior et melior fis accedente fenecta?
Quid te extrema levat spinis de pluribus una?
h Learn to live will, or fairly make your will; You 've play'd, and lov'd, and eat, and drank your Walk fober off; before a fprightlier age
fill:
Comes tittering on, and shoves you from the stage:
Leave fuch to trifle with more grace and ease,
Whom Folly pleases, and whofe Follies please.
h Vivere fi recte nefcis, decede peritis.
Lufifti fatis, edifti fatis, atque bibisti:
Tempus abire tibi eft: ne potum largius aequo
Rideat, et pulset lasciva decentius aetas.
R. JOHN
DEAN OF ST. PAUL'S,
"Quid vetat et nofmet Lucili fcripta legentes
"Quaerere, num illius, num rerum dura negârit
"Verficulos natura magis factos, et euntes
"Mollius?"
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