Dead wine, that ftinks of the borrachio, fup For, not to live at eafe, is not to live; Death stalks behind thee, and each flying hour Speak; wilt thou Avarice, or Pleasure, chufe Nor think, when once thou haft refifted one, Will not the poor fond creature break her heart? VO L. VII. A a She She knows her man, and, when you rant and swear, But fhall I not return? Now, when the fues! Sir, take your courfe: but my advice is plain : ་ ་་ ་ Ay; there's the man, who, loos'd from luft and pelf, Lefs to the prætor owes, than to himself. But write him down a flave, who, humbly proud, That early suppliant, who falutes the tribes, On holidays may tell, that fuch a feat was done : Thy fuperftition too may claim a fhare: When flowers are ftrew'd, and lamps in order plac'd, Preach Preach this among the brawny guards, say'st thou, And fee if they thy doctrine will allow : The dull fat captain, with a hound's deep throat, THE SIXTH SATIRE O F PER SIU S. ARGUMENT. THIS fixth fatire treats an admirable common-place of moral philofophy; of the true ufe of riches. They certainly are intended, by the power who beftows them, as inftruments and helps of living commodiously ourselves; and of administering to the wants of others, who are oppreffed by fortune. There are two extremes in the opinions of men concerning them. One error, though on the right hand, yet a great one, is, that they are no helps to a virtuous life; the other places all our happinefs in the acquifition and poffeffion of them; and this is, undoubtedly, the worfe extreme. The mean betwixt thefe, is the opinion of the Stoicks; which is, that riches may be useful to the leading a virtuous life; in case we rightly understand how to give according to right reafon; and how to receive what is given us by others. The virtue of giving well, is called liberality: and it is of this virtue that Perfius writes in this fatire; wherein he not only fhews the lawful ufe of riches, but also fharply inveighs against the vices which are opposed to it; and especially of those, which confift in the defects of giving or fpending; or in the abufe of riches. He writes to Cæfius Baffus his friend, and a poet alfo. Enquires first of his health and ftudies; and afterwards informs him of his own, and where he is now refident. He gives an account of himself, that he is endeavouring, by little and little, to wear off his vices; and particularly, that he is combating ambition, and the defire of wealth. He dwells upon the latter vice: and, being fenfible that few men either defire or ufe riches as they ought, he endeavours to convince them of their folly; which is the main defign of the whole fatire. THE SIXTH SATIR E. TO CESIUS BASSUS, A LYRIC POET. HAS winter caus'd thee, friend, to change thy seat, And feek in Sabine air a warm retreat? Say, doft thou yet the Roman harp command? Great |