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NOTE S.

The chief Merit of this Satire feems to be its giving fo exact an Account of a Roman Entertainment, and the Manner of Feafting eighteen hundred Years ago.

1 Fundanius was an excellent Writer of Comedy, and is celebrated as fuch by our Poet, in Satire X. Book I. This humorous Account of Rufus's Feaft is therefore, with great Propriety, put into his Mouth.

What

2 Darier tells us, that the Boar was tainted. Authority he has for this Affertion we know not. Horace fays no fuch thing. Rufus's pretending that its being Caught when the Wind was Southerly had made the Flesh more tender and delicate, afforded Matter enough for Ridicule, without this arbitrary Conjecture.

3 Chium maris expers.] This may fignify Chian Wine, which had not paffed the Seas, or which had not been diluted with Sea Water. For the Greeks often mixed a little of this Water with their Wines, to refine and purify them. The Tranflator has taken it in the former Senfe. It seems probable that Rufus endeavoured to impofe on his Guefts, by giving them ftrong Italian for the true Chian Wine.

4 Divitias miferas !] The Wines of Falernus and Alba were esteemed the beft. Horace here calls them wretched Wealth, or wretched Hoards, becaufe Rufus had not the Heart to produce them, "unless they should be called for by his Guests.

5 The Beds on which the Romans reclined to eat were ufually of the fame Shape and Make, and held no more than three Perfons. Över thefe they threw a Quilt, ftuffed with Feathers. On this Pillows were laid, to fupport the Backs of the Guests.

Being fettled on the Beds, they wafhed their Hands; and then were ferved with Garlands of Rofes and other Flowers. The middle Bed was the most honourable; and the Middle of that the highest Place.

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6

infra

to lie below any one," as St. John is faid whence fome have

Varius.] Infra aliquem cubare, is the fame as to lie in one's Bofom; to have done in our Saviour's; thought that either the fame Custom was observed in almoft all Nations, or else that the Jews, having been lately conquered by Pompey, conformed themfelves in this, as in many other Refpects, to the Example of their Masters. KENNET's Roman Antiq. Part II. BookV. Chap. 9.

7 Porcius and Nomentanus were two Buffoons, who were invited by Rufus to entertain Macenas and the Company.

8

poft hoc me docuit melimela, &c.] The Sides of the Dish were probably garnished with thefe Apples, as was cuftomary with the Romans. See Seneca de Providentiâ.

9 Et foleas pofcit.] The Solea was a Sort of Sandal without any Upper Leather, fo that it covered only the Sole of the Foot, being fastened above with Straps and Buckles. They properly belonged to the Ladies, and were looked upon as effeminate in the other Sex. Cicero. exposes Verres and Clodius for wearing them; and Scipio was cenfured on the fame Account. DUNSTER.

Rufus called for his Sandals, in order to go out and give Directions for more Victuals to be brought in.

The Ridicule in this Satire feems to be chiefly pointed at the Impertinence and falfe Delicacy of Rufus, and not at the Badness of his Provision.

It is of the Dramatic Kind, and may be confidered as the Scene of a Comedy. There is one Particular very remarkable, which is this; though the Friends of Macenas are very free in their Raillery, he himself does not utter a Word. Herein Horace has obferved what the French call la Bienfeance, Decency, or Decorum, (a Rule not always practifed by the Ancients) with great Addrefs. For though Rufus was in fact a Babbler and a Coxcomb, it would not have become Macenas to railly his Friend at his own Table for an Entertainment which was intended to do him Honour.

Dacier and other Critics have taken a great deal of Pains (but, I think, without Succefs) to prove that every Difh was wretched, and ill-chofen.

We fhall conclude thefe Remarks with exhibiting, at one View, the Situation of Rufus's Guests, and his Bill of Fare, collected from this Satire. The Order in which the Dishes are placed, being merely conjectural, is submitted to the Ladies, who may range them according to their own Taste.

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A Boar, with Anchovy Sauce ;

The Dish garnished with Lettuce, Radishes, and Carrots.

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(To repair the Lofs fuftained by the Falling of the

Livers of Geefe;

Canopy)

A Crane ;

Wings of Hares;

Blackbirds and Doves.

The

The MISER's FEAST; Being the SAME SATIRE Imitated. By EDWARD BURNABY GREENE, Efq;

A Dialogue between one of the GUESTS and his FRIEND.

"TW

FRIEND.

WAS faid, you fhar'd, a jovial Guest,
The Laughter of our Neighbour's Feaft;

Or I expected you at Three,

To eat fome Ham and Fowl with Me.

GUEST.

Oh! 'twas the fineft Scene of Mirth,
And we the happiest Souls on Earth.
FRIEND.

But fay, what Dishes deck'd the Board?
How many did the Wretch afford?
For Mirth alone could ne'er affwage
Your hungry Stomach's eager Rage.
GUEST.

First on the Table's lower Station
A Leg of Mutton, Venifon-fashion;
This (cries the Hoft) I dare commend;
The Present of a noble Friend;
Which, far the fatteft of the Herd,
His Lordship for myfelf preferr'd.'

And

And now, to cloak the Mifer's Cheat,
Full Boats of fweet Sauce took their Seat;
With fmoaking Gravy's richest Tides,
Which choak'd the Table's narrow Sides.
At Top a well-stuff'd Soup was plac'd,
High-feafon'd to provoke the Tafte;
With every strongest Herb o'erfpread,
But chiefly cramm'd and clogg'd with Bread:
This is in Plenty serv'd about,

To tire our loathing Palates out;
That, cloy'd with this, we might be able
To eat no choicer Things at Table.

The Crumbs now swept with skilful Care
(The Napkins fomewhat worfe for Wear)
Slow as the Bride with
many a Tear
Stalks by her once-lov'd Hufband's Bier,
So flow a loaded Negro stept,

(Such Slaves, you know, are cheaply kept)
With Salver rear'd he sweet Wine bore,
The Growth, 'twas faid, of foreign Shore;
(But I can scarce believe 'tis true,
It any Place but England knew.)

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Such Wines (our Niggard cries) as these
Did ne'er, I own, my Palate please;
They may be good; but I've a Store,
That muft, I'm fure, regale you more.
Tafte; I am certain you'll befriend it;

And, as the beft, I dare commend it.

John,

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