For, take the Pillars but away, and all
The Superftructure muft in Ruins fall;
As a Vine droops, when by Divorce remov'd
From the Embraces of the Elm the lov'd.
Be a good Soldier, or upright Trustee,
An Arbritrator from Corruption free,
And if a Witnefs in a doubtful Caufe,
Where a brib'd Judge means to elude the Laws;
Tho' 9 Phalaris his Brazen Bull were there,
And he wou'd dictate what he'd have you fwear,
Be not fo Profligate, but rather chufe
To guard your Honour, and your Life to lofe,
Rather than let your Virtue be betray'd;
Virtue, the Nobleft Caufe for which you're made.
"Improperly we measure Life by Breath;
"Such do not truly Live who merit Death;
Tho' they their wanton Senfes nicely please
With all the Charms of Luxury and Eafe;
Tho' mingled Flow'rs adorn their careless Brow,
And round 'em cóftly Sweets neglected flow,
As if they in their Funeral State were laid,
And to the World, as they're to Virtue, Dead.
When to You the Province you expect, obtain,
From Paffion and from Avarice refrain;
Let our Affociates Poverty provoke
Thy generous Heart not to encrease their Yoke,
9 Phalaris was a Tyrant of king him first try the Ex Agrigentum in Sicily; to fatter whofe Cruelty, Perillus in- This and the feven folvented a Brazen Bull, where-lowing Verfes are a fort of in People might be Roafted alive, and their Cries were not unlike the bellowings of an Ox: But the Tyrant had the Juftice to reward the Artizan as he deferv'd, by ma
Paraphrafe upon two Lines of
the Original, which I was for-
ced to enlarge, because the
Senfe of the Author is too
clofe and obfcure.
** 15 (Speaking to Ponticus.)
Since Riches cannot rescue from the Grave,
Which claims alike the Monarch and the Slave.
To what the Laws enjoin, Submission pay;
And what the Senate fhall Command, Obey;
Think what Rewards upon the Good attend,
And how those fall unpitied who offend:
Tutor and Capito may Warnings be,
Who felt the Thunder of the States Decree,
For robbing the Cilicians, tho' they.
(Like leffer Pikes) only fubfift on Prey.
But what avails the Rigour of their Doom?
Which cannot future Violence o'ercome,
Nor give the Miferable Province Ease,
Since what one Plund'rer left, the next will feize.
Cherippus then, in time your felf bethink,
And what your Rags will yield by Auction, fink;
Ne'er put your felf to Charges to complain
Of Wrongs which heretofore you did fuftain,
Make not a Voyage to detect the Theft :
Tis mad to Lavish what their Rapine left.
When Rome at first our rich Allies subdu'
From gentle Taxes Noble Spoils accru'd;
Each wealthy Province, but in part Oppreft,
Thought the Lofs trivial, and enjoy'd the reft.
All Treafuries did then with Heaps abound;
In ev'ry Wardrobe coftly Silks were found;
The leaft Apartment of the meanest House
Cou'd all the wealthy Pride of Art produce;
Pictures which from 12 Parrhafius did receive
Motion and Warmth; and Statues taught to live;
Some 12 Polyclete's, fome Myron's Work declar'd,
In others 12 Phidia's Mafterpiece appear'd;
And crowding Plate did on the Cupboard stand,
Emboss'd by curious 12 Mentor's artful hand.
11 Any poor Man who is ries, and other Artizans. opprefs'd.
12 Famous Painters, Statua
Prizes like thefe Oppreffors might invite,
Thefe 3 Dolabella's Rapine did excite,
Thefe 13 Anthony for his own Theft thought fit,
13 Verres for these did Sacrilege commit;
And when their Reigns were ended, Ships full fraught
The hidden Fruits of their Exaction brought,
Which made in Peace a Treafure richer far,
Than what is Plunder'd in the Rage of War.
This was of Old; but our Confed'rates now.
Have nothing left but Oxen for the Plough,
Or fome few Mares referv'd alone for Breed;
Yet laft this provident Design fucceed,
They drive the Father of the Herd away,
Making both Stallion, and his Pasture, Prey.
Their Rapine is fo abject and prophane;
They nor from Trifles, nor from Gods retrain
But the poor Lares from the Niches feize,
If they be little Images that please.
Such are the Spoils which now provoke their Theft,
And are the greateft, Nay they're all that's left.
Thus may you's Corinth, or weak Rhodes opprefs,
Who dare not bravely what they feel redress :
(For how can Fops thy Tyranny controul,
"Smooth Limbs are Symptoms of a fervile Soul)
But Trespass not too far on sturdy Spain,
Sclavonia, France; thy Gripes from those restrain,
Who with their 16 Sweat Rome's Luxury maintain,
And fend us Plenty, while our wanton Day
Is lavifh'd at the Circus, or the Play.
For, fhou'd you to Extortion be inclin'd,
Your Cruel Guilt will little Booty find,
ry Proconfuls of Afia and Sicily.
14. Returning to Ponticus.
Is The Inhabitants of these
Places were Efféminate, and eafy to be enflav’d.
16. The People of Africk who fupply'd Rome with Corn
Since gleaning 17 Marius has already feiz'd
All that from Sun-burnt Africk can be squeez'd.
But above all, "Be careful to with-hold
"Your Tallons from the Wretched and the Bold;
"Tempt not the Brave and Needy to Defpair;
"For, tho' your Violence shou'd leave 'em bare
"Of Gold and Silver, Swords and Darts remain,
" And will revenge the Wrongs which they sustain
"The Plundred still have Arms.
Think not the Precept I have here laid down
A fond, uncertain Notion of my own ;.
No, 'tis a Sibyl's Leaf what I relate,
As fixt and fure, as the Decrees of Fate.
Let none but Men of Honour you attend;
Chufe him that has moft Virtue for your Friends
And give no way to any Darling Youth
To fell your Favour, and pervert the Truth.
Reclaim your Wife from ftroling up and down,
To all Affizes, and through ev'ry Town,
With Claws like Harpies, eager for the Prey;
(For which your Juftice, and your Fame will pay.)
Keep your felf free from Scandals fuch as thefe;
Then trace your Birth from 18 Picus, if you please:
If he's too Modern, and your Pride aspire
To feek the Author of your Being higher,
Chufe any Titan who the Gods withstood,
To be the Founder of your antient Blood,
Prometheus, and that Race before the Flood,
Or any other Story you can find
From Heralds, or in Poets, to your Mind.
But fhou'd you prove Ambitious, Lustful, Vain;
Or cou'd you fee with Pleasure and Disdain,
Rods broke on our Affociates bleeding Backs,
And Heads-men lab'ring till they blunt their Ax:
Marius Prifcus. It The firft King of the Latines.
Your Father's Glory will your Sin proclaim,
And to a clearer Light expofe your Shame;
"For, ftill more publick Scandal Vice extends,
"As he is Great and Noble who offends.
How dare 19 you then your high Extraction plead?
Yet blush not when you go to forge a Deed,
In the fame Temple which your Grandfire built;
Making his Statue privy to the Guilt.
Or in a Bawdy Mafquerade are led
Muffled by Night to fome polluted Bed.
Fat Lateranus does his Revels keep
Where his Fore-fathers peaceful Afhes fleep;
Driving himself a Chariot down the Hill,
And (tho' a Conful) links himself the Wheel:
To do him Justice, 'tis indeed by Night,
Yet the Moon fees, and ev'ry smaller Light
Pries as a Witnefs of the fhameful fight:
Nay when his Year of Honour's ended, foon
He'll leave that Nicety, and mount at Noon;
Nor blufh fhou'd he fome Grave Acquaintance meet,
But, (proud of being known) will Jerk and Greet:
And when his Fellow-Beafts are weary grown,
He'll play the Groom, give Oats, and rub 'em down.
If after 20 Numa's Ceremonial way
He at Jove's Altar wou'd a Victim flay,
To no clean Goddefs he directs his Pray'rs,
But by 21 Hippona most devoutly Swears,
19 The Poet in this place fpeaks neither to Rubellius nor Ponticus, but in general to any perjur'd or debauch'd Noble
20 Numa Pompilius (the fecond King of Rome) the better to civilize the Savage Humour
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