Preach this among the brawny guards, fay'st

thou,

And see if they thy doctrine will allow :
The dull fat captain, with a hound's deep throat,
Would bellow out a laugh, in a base note;
And prize a hundred Zeno's just as much
As a clipt fixpence, or a fchilling Dutch,

1

THE

SIXTH SATIRE

O F

PERSIUS.

This fixth fatire treats an admirable common-place of moral philofophy; of the true use of riches. They are certainly intended by the Power who beflows them, as inftruments and helps of living commodiously ourselves; and of adminiftring to the wants of others, who are oppreffed by fortune. There are two extremes in the opinions of men concerning them. One error, tho 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 worse extream. The mean betwixt thefe, is the opinion of the Stoicks; which is, that riches may be useful to the leading a virtuous life; in cafe we rightly understand how to give according to right reason;

ceive what is given us by others.

and how to re

The virtue of

giving well, is called liberality: and it is of this

virtue that Perfius writes in this fatire; wherein be not only fhews the lawful ufe of riches, but also Sharply inveighs against the vices which are oppofed to it; and especially of those, which confift in the defects of giving or spending; or in the abufe of riches. He writes to Cafius Baffus his friend, and a poet also. Enquires first of his bealth 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 bis 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 use riches as they ought, he endeavours to convince them of their folly; which is the main defign of the whole fatire.

SIXTH

THE

SATIRE,

TO CESTUS BASSUS, a Lyric Poet.

HAS

AS winter caus'd thee, friend, to change thy feat,

And feek in Sabine air a warm retreat?

Say, do'st thou yet the Roman harp command ? Do the frings anfwer to thy noble hand?

Great mafter of the mufe, infpir'd to fing
The beauties of the firft created spring;
The pedigree of nature to rehearse,

And found the Maker's work, in equal verfe.
Now fporting on thy lyre the loves of youth.
Now virtuous age, and venerable truth;
Expreffing justly Sappho's wanton art
Of odes, and Pindar's more majestic part.
For me, my warmer conftitution wants
More cold, than our Ligurian winter grants;
And therefore to my native fhoars retir'd,
I view the coaft old Ennius once admir'd;
Where clifts on either fides their points dif-)
play;

And, after, opening in an ampler way,

Afford the pleafing prospect of the bay.

'Tis worth your while, O Romans, to regard
The port of Luna fays our learned bard;
Who in a drunken dream beheld his foul
The fifth within the tranfmigrating roll;
Which first a peacock, then Euphorbus was,
Then Homer next, and next Pythagoras;
And last of all the line did into Ennius pafs.
Secure and free from business of the itate;
And more fecure of what the vulgar prate,

Here

Here I enjoy my private thoughts; nor care
What rots for sheep the fouthern winds prepare:
Survey the neighb'ring fields, and not repine,
When I behold a larger crop than mine:
To see a beggar's brat in riches flow,
Adds not a wrinkle to my even brow;
Nor, envious at the fight, will I forbear

My plenteous bowl, nor bate my bounteous cheer.

Nor
yet unfeal the dregs of wine that stink
Of cask; nor in a nafty flaggon drink ;
Let others stuff their guts with homely fare;
For men of diff'rent inclinations are;

Tho born perhaps beneath one common star.
In minds and manners twins oppos'd we fee
In the fame fign, almoft the fame degree:
One, frugal, on his birth-day fears to dine;
Does at a penny's coft in herbs repine,
And hardly dares to dip his fingers in the brine.
Prepar'd as priest of his own rites to stand,
He sprinkles pepper with a fparing hand.
His jolly brother, oppofite in fense;

Laughs at his thrift; and lavish of expence,
Quaffs, crams, and guttles, in his own defence.
For me, I'll use my own; and take my share;

Yet will not turbots for

my flaves prepare;