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And grant that 3 Appius would reject my Plea,
Since from a Father fprung, who was not free;
(And justly, fince 4 I chose not to remain
In my own Sphere) yet Glory in her Chain
Drags both the noble and the vulgar Crew
Behind her fhining Chariot---What to you,
5 Tillius, avail'd it, that again you wore
Your Robe, and Tribunitial Honours bore?
Hence Envy rofe, which in a private State
Was lefs---When one is chosen to the Weight
Of Senatorial Duty, all enquire

Who is this Senator, and what his Sire?"
For as the Fop, who ftudies to compare
With beauteous 6 Barrus, and be thought as fair,
Will hear the Girls enquire, in every Place,
What are his Teeth, his Hair, his Legs, his Face;
So, if you fwear to guard, with watchful Eye,
The Roman People, City, Italy,

And Temples of the Gods, all seek to know
If you your Birth to vulgar Parents owe.
Shall a Slave's Son from the Tarpeian Hill
Presume to throw, or bid the Lictor kill
A free-born Roman? But you fay,' To Me
Novius, my Collegue, yields by one Degree:
He and my Sire are just as mean by Birth.'
This then, you think, will give you equal Worth
With nobleft 7 Senators---But in the Street
Should Cars two hundred, and three Funerals meet,
Novius,

Novius, you know, would raise his Voice more loud
Than Trumpets, Horns, and all the jarring Crowd.
This by the Vulgar high Renown is deem'd,
And no Accomplishment is more esteem'd.
To my own Story now again attend,
Whom all, because Mecenas is my Friend,
Now view with Looks of Envy, as before,
Because a 8 Roman Tribune's Charge I bore.
Far different this. My Station might, indeed,
With fpecious Plea the Flame of Envy feed;
Not fo your Friendship. You with that, 'tis known,
(Such is your Care) the worthless never crown,
And scorn Intruders---No one can pretend,
That Fortune's Favour gave me such a Friend.
Virgil long fince, then Varius too declar'd
My Character---And when I first appear'd
Before you, short and faultering was my Speech,
(For Modesty an Infant's Part will teach,)
I never faid that round my Fields I rode

On ambling Steed, and no great Lineage show'd;
But told who I was.
you
You little faid,
As usual---I departed---But obey'd,

In nine Months time, your Summons to attend,
From thence diftinguish'd by the Name of Friend:
Proud that difcerning Judgment to delight,
Which nicely marks the Bounds of Wrong and
Not by a noble Birth, but worthy Mind. [Right,
If, fave fome leffer Faults, you in me find.

No

No grand Defects, (as, in the fairest Face,
Some Moles, fome Pimples, we perchance may
If I with Justice can the Charge deny

[trace ;)

Of fordid Manners, Luft, Debauchery;
And if, (to praise myself,) by many a Friend
I live belov'd, nor knowingly offend,
Thanks to the Prudence of my Sire I owe:
Though fmall his Farm, he chofe not I should go
To Flavius' School, where great Centurions fent
Their Sons, who with their Slates and Pencils went,
And Satchel cramm'd with Books, and could ac-

count

How high would Intereft every Month amount.
To Rome itself he boldly brought his Boy,
Such Studies to purfue, as might employ
The Sons of Knights or Senators; and those,
Who faw my Drefs and Servants, might fuppofe
That from an ancient Family Estate,

I drew Supplies for an Expence fo great.
Himself, the best of Tutors, kept his Eye
O'er all my Teachers, and was ever nigh.
Hence Modefty I learn'd, the very Grace
Of Virtue: Hence I learn'd, of all that's base
To be in Thought no less than Action clear:
Nor did he from the World Reproaches fear,
Because he taught his Son no gainful Trade,
Nor, like himself, a Tax-Collector made.

Hence

Hence from my Tongue (Complaints apart) must
The grateful 10 Praises I fo juftly owe; [flow
Nor fhall I, while my Mind is found, lament
My Birth, though mean, or of my Sire repent,
Or urge in my Behalf that vulgar Plea,

That though my Parents were not rich or free,
'Twas not my Fault---Opinions I retain,
Quite the reverse: For could paft Years again
Return, and might we other Parents chuse,
Contented with my own, I would refuse
Those whom the Confulfhip and Ivory Seat
Adorn; fure from each vulgar Tongue to meet
Reproach; but not from yours, that I a State
So high decline, unequal to the Weight.
Far greater Riches I should then require,
Muft make more Friends, and more Attendants hire;
Never must move without a servile Train;
Chariots must purchase, Slaves and Steeds maintain.
Now to 11 Tarentum, when I please, I ride
On a cropp'd Mule; 12 my Spurs indent her Side,
My Wallet galls her Back; yet I disclaim
Avarice, like that, which all. in Tillius blame,
When he, though Prator, on the Road five Boys,
To bear his Wine and Utenfils, employs.

Hence, noble Senator, I tafte more Ease
Than you and thoufands more-Where'er I please
Alone I walk; the Price of Barley know,
Or Herbs; 13 to the deceitful Circus go

VOL. III,

E

At

At Evening Hours, or through the Forum roam,
And hear the Augurs; then returning home,
Sup on Leek-Broth, and with delicious 14 Beet
Regale; three Boys attend me while I eat.
My Marble Slab a Beaker and a Brace
Of Glaffes holds: Next stands a vulgar Vase,
A Bafon and a Cup, Campanian Ware.
I then to Bed retire, devoid of Care,
Since in the Morn I need not early rife

1

To vifit 15 Marfyas, whofe difdainful Eyes
Scarce bear the younger Novius in their Sight.
16 'Till ten I lie. When dress'd, walk forth, or
write,

Or with a Book my leisure Hours beguile.
Then for the Games anoint; not with that Oyl
Of which the Lamps vile 17 Natta us'd to cheat---7
The Martian Field, or Tennis, forc'd by Heat,
18 Glad I forfake, and to the Bath retreat.
I with a flight Repaft my Stomach stay,
Trifling at Home the Afternoon away.

19 Such are the idle Comforts that I fhare; But free from all the Weight of public Care, More happy am I in this humble State,

Than if my Sire had fill'd the 20 Quæftor's Seat.

NOTES.

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