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Go, boaft your Springal, by his Beauty curft
To Ills; nor think I have declar'd the worst;
His Form procures him Journey-work; a Strife
Betwixt Town Madams, and the Merchant's Wife:
Guefs, when he undertakes this publick War,
What furious Beafts offended Cuckolds are.

Adult'rers are with Dangers round befet;
Born under Mars, they cannot 'scape the Net; -
And from revengeful Husbands oft have try'd
Worfe handling, than fevereft Laws provide:
One ftabs; one flashes; one, with cruel Art,
Makes Colon fuffer for the peccant Part.

But your Endymion, your smooth, fmock-fac'd Boy,
Unrivall'd, fhall a beauteous Dame enjoy :
Not fo: One more Salacious, Rich, and Old,
Out-bids, and buys her Pleasure for her Gold:
Now he must moil, and drudge, for one he loaths:
She keeps him high, in Equipage and Clothes:
She pawns
her Jewels, and her rich Attire,
And thinks the Workman worthy of his Hire:
In all things elfe immoral, ftingy, mean;
But, in her Lufts, a confcionable Quean.

She may be handsom, yet be chaste, you fay: -
Good Obfervator, not fo taft away:

Did it not coft the 3 modeft Youth his Life,
Who fhunn'd th'Embraces of his Father's Wife?
And was not t'other 24 Strippling forc'd to fly,
Who, coldly, did his Patron's Queen deny;
And pleaded Laws of Hospitality?.

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23 Hippolitus, the Son of time at the Court of Patus Thefeus, was lov'd by his Mo-King of the Argives, the ther-in-Law Phadra. But he Queen, Sthenobaa, fell in Love not complying with her, he with him. But he refufing her, procured his Death. The turned the Accufation upon him; and he narrowly efcap'd Patus's Vengeance.

24 Bellerophon, the Son of King Glaucus, refiding fome

The

The Ladies charg'd 'em home, and turn'd the Tale: With Shame they redden'd, and with Spight grew pale. 'Tis dang'rous to deny the longing Dame;

She lofes Pity, who has loft her Shame.

Now 25 Silius wants thy Counsel, give Advice;
Wed Cafar's Wife, or die; the Choice is nice.
Her Comet-Eyes she darts on ev'ry Grace;
And takes a fatal Liking to his Face.

Adorn'd with Bridal Pomp the fits in State;
The Publick Notaries and Arufpex wait:
The Genial Bed is in the Garden dreft:
The Portion paid, and ev'ry Rite express'd,
Which in a Roman Marriage is profest.
'Tis no ftol'n Wedding, this, rejecting Awe,
She fcorns to marry, but in Form of Law:
In this Moot-cafe, your Judgment: To refuse
Is present Death, befides the Night you lofe:
If you confent, 'tis hardly worth your pain;
A Day or two of anxious Life you gain:
Till loud Reports through all the Town have past,
And reach the Prince: For Cuckolds hear the laft:
Indulge thy Pleasure, Youth, and take thy swing:
For not to take, is but the fclf-fame thing:
Inevitable Death before thee lies;

But looks more kindly through a Lady's Eyes.
What then remains? Are we depriv'd of Will
Must we not wish, for fear of wishing Ill?
Receive my Counsel, and securely move;
Intrust thy Fortune to the Pow'rs above.

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Wedding, whilst Claudius Cafar was Sacrificing at Hoftia. Upon his return, he put both Silius and her to Death,

25 Meffalina, Wife to the, with all the Formalities of a Emperor Claudius, Infamous for her Lewdnefs. She fet her Eyes upon c. Silius, a fine Youth; forc'd him to quit his own Wife, and Marry her

Leave them to manage for thee, and to grant
What their unerring Wisdom fees thee want:
In Goodness as in Greatness they excel;
Ah that we lov'd our felves but half fo well!
We, blindly by our headftrong Paffions led,
Are hot for Action, and defire to Wed;
Then with for Heirs: But to the Gods alone
Our future Off-fpring, and our Wives, are known;
Th'audacious Strumpet, and ungracious Son.
Yet, not to rob the Priests of pious Gain,
That Altars be not wholly built in vain;
Forgive the Gods the reft, and ftand confin'd
To Health of Body, and Content of Mind:
A Soul, that can fecurely Death defie,
And count it Nature's Privilege to die;
Serene and manly, hardned to sustain
The Load of Life, and exercis'd in Pain :
Guiltless of Hate, and Proof against Defire;
That all things weighs, and nothing can admire:
That dares prefer the Toils of Hercules
To Dalliance, Banquets, and ignoble Eafe.
The Path to Peace is Virtue: what I fhow,
Thy felf may freely on thy felf beftow:
Fortune was never worshipp'd by the Wife;
But, fet aloft by Fools, ufurps the Skies.

JUVENAL

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S.11.

p.161.

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