Is known alone to that Directing Pow'r,

Who forms the Genius in the natal hour;

That God of Nature, who, within us ftill, 280
Inclines our action, not conftrains our will;
Various of temper, as of face or frame,
Each individual: His great End the fame.

285

Yes, Sir, how fmall foever be my heap,
A part I will enjoy, as well as keep.
My heir may figh, and think it want of grace.
A man fo poor would live without a place :
But fare no flatute in his favour fays,

How free, or frugal, I fhall pafs my days:
I, who at fome times fpend, at others fpare, 290
Divided between careleffnefs and care.

'Tis one thing madly to difperse my store;
Another, not to heed to treasure more;
Glad, like a Boy, to fnatch the first good day,
And pleas'd, if fordid Want be far away.

295

f What is't to me, (a paffenger God wot,) Whether my veffel be firft rate or not? The Ship itfelf may make a better figure, But I that fail, am neither lefs nor bigger, I neither ftrut with ev'ry fav'ring breath, Nor frive with all the tempeft in my teeth. In pow'r, wit, figure, virtue, fortune, plac'd Behind the foremost, and before the last.

300

NOTES.

"Somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, fagas,"

a line of admirable brevity. If I was to undertake to point out ell the beauties of our Author, as I prefume to do fome of hi

• Non es avarus: abi. Quid? cætera jam fimul ifto
Cum vitio fugêre? caret tibi pectus inani
Ambitione? caret mortis formidine et irâ?
Somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, fagas,
Nocturnos lemures, portentaque Theffala rides?
Natales gratè numeras? ignofcis amicis?
Lenior et melior fis accedente fenectâ?
Quid te exempta juvat fpinis de pluribus una?

h Vivere fi rectè nefcis, decede peritis.
Lafifti fatis, edifti fatis, atque bibifti:
Tempus abire tibi eft: ne potum largiùs æquo
Rideat et pulfet lafciva decentiùs ætas.

NOTES.

blemishes, these notes would be almoft nauseously confined to perpetual panegyric;-it being the rare and fingular talent of this Poet in general, rendre fans effort chaque idée, par le terme qui lui eft propre.

VER. 312. Survey both worlds.] It is obfervable with what sobriety he has corrected the licentiousness of his Original, which made the expe&ation of another world a part of that fuperftition, he would explode; whereas the Imitator is only for removing the falfe terrors from the world of spirits; fuch as the diablerie of witchcraft and purgatory. W.

If this was the intention of the Imitator, he should not have inferted the words, devils and fire.

VER. 326. Leave fuch to trifle] It, perhaps, might have been better to have omitted thefe two laft lines: the fecond of which has a quaint and modern turn; and the bumour confifts in being driven off the fage, potum largius æquo. The word lufifli in the Original, is used in a loofe and naughty fenfe, fays Upton. As alfo 1. 4. 13. Od. and in Propertius,

8" But why all this of Av'rice? I have none," I wish you joy, Sir, of a Tyrant gone; But does no other lord it at this hour,

305

As wild and mad? the Avarice of pow'r?
Does neither Rage inflame, nor Fear appal?
Not the black fear of death, that faddens all?
With terrors round, can Reafon hold her throne,310
Despise 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 fo near its end?
Can't 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,
When, of a hundred thorns, you pull out one? 321

h Learn to live well, or fairly make your will; You've play'd, and lov'd, and eat, and drank your

fill:

Walk fober off; before a sprightlier age

Comes titt'ring on, and fhoves you from the flage: Leave fuch to trifle with more grace and ease, 326 Whom Folly pleases, and whose Follies please.