NOTE S. Eupolis, &c.] Eupolis, Cratinus, and Aristophanes, were three contemporary Poets of the old Comedy, who lived about 400 Years before Jefus Chrift. It was usual with them in their Plays to call Perfons by their Names, and to expofe their Failings to the Laughter of the People. Ariftophanes had the Boldness to ridicule Socrates. He was alfo very free with the Conduct of Cleon, Nicias, Alcibiades, and other Governors of Athens. In a word, that which we call the old Comedy was full of fatirical Reflections and fcandalous Slanders. We have nothing now left of Eupolis and Cratinus. Ariftophanes is faid to have written. fifty-four Comedies, of which there remain but eleven.. He excells in the Force, Purity, Sweetness, and Harmony of his Style. 2 Lucilius.] A Poet of the Equestrian Order. He wrote Satires after the Manner of Ennius and Pacuvius, but gave them a more graceful Turn. He clofely imitated the old Grecian Comedy. He lived A. U. C. 650. 3 Quod funt quos genus boc minimè juvat.] Horace says, that People did not take Pleasure in reading Satires, left they fhould find their own Pictures drawn there. 1 hus Juvenal:. Rubet auditor, cui frigida mens eft Criminibus; tacitâ fudant præcordia culpa. Sat. I. v. 166.. 4 Ingenium cui fit. ] This is a juft Definition of an Heroic, Tragic, or Lyric Poet; but he who has not fo great an Elevation may ftill be a roet, if the Verfes he writes are adapted to his Subject. As toere are different species of Eloquence, fo are there also of Poetry; and though fome of thefe are much inferior to others, the Aucher who treats, them skilfully, certainly deserves the Name of a Poet,. 5 Poftquam Difcordia tetra Belli ferratos pfes portafque refregit.] Thefe Lines are taken from the Annals of Ennius. Virgil has imitated them in his Eneid: -morantes Impulit ipfa manu portas, & cardine very Belli ferratos rupit Saturnia pofies. Book vii, ver. 6′25%. Then Heaven's dread Emprefs, while the Prince delay'd, Shot down, and both the bursting Gates difplay'd: The Bolts fly back, with every brazen Bar, And, like aStorm,broke forth th' imprison'd War. PITT. Ambulat, Caprius.] Sulcius and Caprius were two famous Informers, who used to walk the Streets carrying under their Arms the Libels they had written against Delinquents. 7 Similis Byrrhi.] Byrrhus was a young Man, whofe Luxury had prompted him to commit all Manner of Crimes. 8 Paftillos Rufillus olet, Gorgonius bircum.] This Line is taken from Satire II. which confequently must have been written before this. The laft Part of this Line, no doubt, gave the greatest Offence, and, as I imagine, particularly to the Stoics, who were great Patrons of Filthiness, or at least would not fuffer it to be ridiculed. But I cannot help thinking, that if these good Philofophers had been more neat themfelves, they would not have been fo zealous to prejudice others in Favour of Nastiness. Surely it is no Breach of Charity to railly Men on a Fault, which it is in their own Power to correct. However, we mult here except Epictetus, who fays, That the Cleanlinefs of the Body is an Emblem of the Purity of the Soul; that Nature has furnished us with Baths, Effences, Linnen Cloths, Brufhes, Vitriol, and other Drugs, to cleanfe us from Filth and Sweat; and that he who does not make Ufe of them fhould not be looked upon as a Man but a Hog, and should renounce all Commerce 'with Mankind, and not go into the Temples to poison others.' DACIER. 9 Infuevit pater optimus, &c.] In the fame manner Demea in Terence inftructs his Son : Nibil prætermitto, confuefacio; denique Infpicere tanquam in fpeculum in vitas omnium Hoc facito, et boc fugito, &c. ADELPH. A& III. Sc. 3. 10 Cum le&ulus, &c.] Horace here follows the Precept of the Pythagoreans, who advise us never to go to Sleep without thinking three times on whatever has paffed in the Day. Nec prius in dulcem declinent lumina, omnum, SATIRE By WILLIAM CowPER, Efq; A humorous Defcription of the Author's Journey from Rome to Brundufium. "TWAS a long Journey lay before us, (Who far in Point of Rhetoric And there refresh, and pass the Night.. Than fumptuous, but I've met with worse. But as this Road is well supply'd Here rather chufing not to fup After a warm Debate, in fpite Of a provoking Appetite, I fturdily I fturdily refolve at last To balk it, and pronounce a Faft: But, what with humming, croaking, biting, With Wine, left off, and fnor'd the reft. The The weary Bargeman too gave o'er, And now the Sun, o'er Eastern Hill, (The Meflengers of Peace) from Rome; At 5 Fundi we refus'd to bait, And laugh'd at vain Aufidius' State; } A 6 Præter |