Rejoice a Thousand Eyes behold Thee pleading,
A Thousand Thirsty Ears drink in. Thy Words.
Hafte Early to the Forum, Late return
Active, left MUTIUS, with the ample Dower
He with his Wife receiv'd, fhould larger Stores
Engross than You. What an Unfeemly thing,
That He, an Upftart, and fo Meanly born,
Should be Thy Envy, and not Thou be His!
All that lies hid in Earth, revolving Time
Will bring to Light; and cover deep in Shades
The Stately Wealth that now fo gaily fhines.
Grac'd as thou art with Honours well-deferv'd,
And often feen, along the Appian Way
Paffing in Pomp; Another Way remains,
Where NUMA and where ANCUs paft before!
When Colicks wring your Bowels, fhooting Pains
Torture your Loins, without Delay you seek
A Cure for the Disease---Would you live happy?
Who would not? But if This be VIRTUE's Gift,
Her Gift Alone; Be Nobly daring then
To fcorn Delights, and follow VIRTUE'S Lore.
But if you think VIRTUE an empty Name,
Nought but a Word, as holy Groves are Wood,
Let then no Ship prevent you, and forestall
The Market. Look to your Affairs. Advance
The Value of your Wines, the Price of Silks;
Heap up a Thoufand Talents: Add to Them
A Thousand more: Another Thousand yet
To Thefe: And then a Fourth to fquare the Sum.
For why? a portion'd Wife, Fame, Credit, Friends,
Nobility, All-mighty MONEY gives ;
Endows with Beauty, Senfe and Eloquence.
VENUS her-self, and Soft PERSUASION wait,
Rejoicing to adorn the Wealthy Man.
The Cappadocian King is rich in Slaves,
In Money poor. More Noble follow Thou
Th' Example of LUCULLUS; Who, they fay,
When ask'd if he could lend a hundred Robes
To deck the Scenes: Whence fhould I have, fays he,
So many? Yet I'll try, and what I have,
Will send you ftrait; a little after writes,
He had at home Five Thousand; They might have
All, or a Part---" Ill-furnish'd is That House,
"Where are No Superfluities, that 'scape
"The Master's Eye, and give his Servants Room
"To fteal fecure"----If MONEY, then, Alone
Can make you happy, and preferve you so,
Be That your First, be That your Last Design.
But if your Happiness depends upon
The People's Favour, Pomp and Pageantry;
Then hire a Slave to whisper in your Ear
The Names of rich and powerful Citizens,
Twitch the left Sleeve, and bid you lend your Hand
O'er Lumber in the Street: "This is a Perfon
• Of great Authority in the Fabian Tribe;
This in the Veline: This an Active Man;
To whom he will, he gives, or can deny
The Conful's Fafces and the Ivory Chair."
Then frankly call him, Father, Son, or Brother';
As is his Age, fo Every One falute.
But if you think good Cheer and Sumptuous Suppers, The Bliss of Life; Then ftudious feek All Means
To whet, and to regale your Appetite---
Light dawns; and GLUTTONY Crys out; Away!
'Go rouze the Boar, or bait the tempting Hook."
Thus wont GARGILIUS. In the Morning, He,
Along the crowded Forum, led his Hounds,
Tended by Slaves, with Courfers, Toils and Spears:
At Night, returning with his Dogs and Train,
On a large Mule fweating beneath the Load,
Brought home fome monftrous Boar, which he had bought,
The gazing People's Wonder----Let us bathe
Crude from a Feaft, bloted with Food, nor heed
The CENSOR's Mark; careless of Decency
And Shame; ULYSSES' Vicious Crew, to whom
Their Native Country was not half so dear,
As lawless Pleafures and forbidden Joy.
If, to conclude, you with MIM NERMUS think,
The Only Joy in life is Love and Mirth,
Be Love and Mirth the Bufinefs of your Life.
Farewell; reft happy----If than This you know
Aught more Expedient, candidly impart :
Elfe be content to use Thefe Rules with Me.
Mr. THOMAS GODFREY, Of HODEFORD in KENT.
HORACE, BOOK I. EPISTLE the Fourth.
EAR FRIEND, whom favoring Providence allows
A fruitful Soil, that round a pleasant Seat
Lies Various; Pafture, Arable or Wood;
A Plain with rifing Hills enclos'd: What now
Shall the divining Muse suppose to' engage
Thy thoughtful Hours? Or in fome Grove retir'd
Thou walk'st Unseen; in Contemplation high
Rais'd up above the World, and feest beneath,
Compaffionate, the Cares and fond Defigns
Of restless Mortals, always in pursuit
Of what they always have; ftill heaping up
Stores to be us'd, yet never ufe their Stores.
O blind of Heart! the Blifs ye feek, Behold
|