24 1 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. * 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 Γ 1 * Rancidum aprum antiqui laudabant: non quia nafus Illis nullus erat; fed, credo, hac mente, quod hofpes Tardius adveniens vitiatum commodius, quam 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 describes that languor of the mind proceed ing from intemperance, on the idea, and in the terms of Plato, affigit bumo divinae particulam aurae. To this his ridicule is pointed. Our Poet, with more so briety and judgment, has turned the ridicule, from the Doctrine, which he believed, upon those Preachers of it, whose feasts and compotations in Taverns did not edify What life in all that ample body, fay? • On morning wings how active springs the Mind That leaves the load of yesterday behind? How easy ev'ry labour it pursues? : 80 85 95 * Our fathers prais'd rank Ven'son. You suppose Perhaps, young men! our fathers had no nose. Not fo: a Buck was then a week's repast, And 'twas their point, I ween, to make it laft; 100 More pleas'd to keep it till their friends should come Than eat the sweetest by themselves at home. NOTES. him: and fo has added furprizing 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 search of Rhyme.) A fine ridicule on the extravagance of human pursuits; where the most trifling and most important concerns of life succeed one another, indifferently. Integrum edax dominus confumeret. hos utinam inter Heroas natum tellus me prima tulisset. 9 Jure, inquit, Traufius iftis Jurgatur verbis: ego vectigalia magna, Divitiasque habeo tribus amplas regibus. Ergo, s Templa ruunt antiqua Deûm? cur, improbe, carae Non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris acervo ? NOTES. VER. 128. As M**o's was, etc.] I think this light ftroke 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 sweetest 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 110 Are no rewards for want, and infamy! "To have a Taste is insolence indeed : 115 " In me 'tis noble, suits my birth and state, Oh Impudence of wealth! with all thy store, NOTES. preceding morality. Horace was very ferious, and properly so, when he faid, O magnus pofthac inimicis risus ! uterne Ad cafus 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 non latius ufum, Cum pecore et gnatis, fortem mercede colonum, NOTES. cur, Imprabe! carae Non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris acervo, 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 sufficient for the support of so great a cause. He had prepared his |