389

And yet the wealthy will not brook delay,
But fweep above our heads, and make their way;
In lofty litters born, and read and write,
Or fleep at ease: the shutters make it night.
Yet ftill he reaches, first, the public place :
The prease before him ftops the client's pace.
The crowd that follows cruth his panting fides,
And trip his heels; he walks not, but he rides.
One elbows him, one juftles in the shole : 396
A rafter breaks his head, or chairman's pole :
Stocking'd with loads of fat town-dirt he goes;
And fome rogue-foldier, with his hob-nail'd
fhoes,

Indents his legs behind in bloody rows.

See with what fmoke our doles we cele

brate :

400

A hundred guests, invited, walk in state: A hundred hungry flaves, with their Dutch kitchins wait.

Huge pans the wretches on their head must

bear,

Which fcarce gigantic Corbulo could rear: 404 Yet they muft walk upright beneath the load; Nay, run, and running blow the sparkling flames abroad.

Ver. 404.

gigantic Corbulo] Corbulo was a famous general in Nero's time, who conquered Armenia; and was afterwards put to death by that tyrant, when he was in Greece, in reward of his great fervices. His ftature was not only tall, above the ordinary fize, but he was alfo proportionably ftrong.

Their coats, from botching newly brought, are

torn:

Unwieldy timber-trees in waggons born, Stretch'd at their length, beyond their carriage

lie ;

That nod, and threaten ruin from on high. 410 For, fhould their axle break, its overthrow Would crush, and pound to duft, the crowd [could know: Nor friends their friends, nor fires their fons Nor limbs, nor bones, nor carcafs would remain :

below;

But a mash'd heap, a hotchpotch of the

flain.

415

One vast destruction; not the foul alone,
But bodies, like the foul, invisible are flown.
Mean time, unknowing of their fellows' fate,
The fervants wash the platter, fcour the plate,
Then blow the fire, with puffing cheeks, and-
lay

420

The rubbers, and the bathing-fheets display; And oil them firft; and each is handy in his

way.

But he, for whom this bufy care they take, Poor ghost, is wand'ring by the Stygian lake: Affrighted with the ferryman's grim face; 425 New to the horrors of that uncouth place;

Ver. 425.

the ferryman's &c.] Charon, the ferryman of hell, whofe fare was a halfpenny for every foul.

His paffage begs with unregarded pray'r:
And wants two farthings to discharge his fare.
Return we to the dangers of the night; 429
And, first, behold our houses dreadful height:
From whence come broken potsherds tumbling
down;

And leaky ware, from garret windows thrown: Well may they break our heads, that mark the flinty ftone.

435

'Tis want of fenfe to fup abroad too late ;
Unless thou first haft fettled thy estate.
As many fates attend, thy fteps to meet,
As there are waking windows in the ftreet.
Blefs the good gods, and think thy chance is

rare

To have a pifs-pot only for thy fhare.

439

The fcouring drunkard, if he does not fight Before his bed-time, takes no reft that night. Paffing the tedious hours in greater pain Than ftern Achilles, when his friend was flain : "Tis fo ridiculous, but fo true withal,

A bully cannot fleep without a braul:

445

Yet though his youthful blood be fir'd with wine,

He wants not wit the danger to decline:
Is cautious to avoid the coach and fix,

And on the lacquies will no quarrel fix.

449

Ver. 443. ftern Achilles.] The friend of Achilles was Patroclus, who was flain by Hector.

His train of flambeaux, and embroider'd coat, May privilege my lord to walk fecure on foot. But me, who muft by moon-light homeward bend,

Or lighted only with a candle's end,

Poor me he fights, if that be fighting, where
He only cudgels, and I only bear.

455

He ftands, and bids me stand: I must abide ; For he's the stronger, and is drunk befide. Where did you whet your knife to-night, he cries,

And shred the leeks that in your stomach rise? Whose windy beans have stuft your guts, and

460

where Have your black thumbs been dipt in vinegar? With what companion cobler have you fed, On old ox-cheeks, or he-goat's tougher head? What, are you dumb? Quick, with your anfwer, quick,

Before my foot falutes
foot falutes you with a kick. 465
Say, in what nafty cellar under ground,
Or what church-porch, your rogueíhip may be
found?

Anfwer, or answer not, 'tis all the fame:
He lays me on, and makes me bear the blame.
Before the bar, for beating him, you come; 470
This is a poor man's liberty in Rome.
You beg his pardon; happy to retreat
With fome remaining teeth, to chew your meat.

Nor is this all; for, when retir'd, you think To fleep fecurely; when the candles wink, 475 When ev'ry door with iron chains is barr'd, And roaring taverns are no longer heard; The ruffian robbers by no juftice aw'd, And unpaid cut-throat foldiers, are abroad, Thofe venal fouls, who, harden'd in each ill, 480 To fave complaints and profecution, kill. Chas'd from their woods and bogs, the pad-` ders come

485

To this vaft city, as their native home;
To live at eafe, and fafely skulk in Rome.
The forge in fetters only is employed;
Our iron mines exhausted and destroy'd
In fhackles; for thefe villains fcarce allow
Goads for the teams, and plough-shares for the
plough.

Oh happy ages of our ancestors,

Beneath the kings and tribunitial powers! 490
One jail did all their criminals restrain ;
Which, now, the walls of Rome can scarce con-
tain.

More I could fay, more caufes I could fhow For my departure; but the fun is low:

Ver. 490. Beneath the kings &c.] Rome was originally ruled by kings, till, for the rape of Lucretia, Tarquin the Proud was expelled. After which it was governed by two Confuls, yearly chofen; but they oppreffing the people, the commoners mutinied, and procured tribunes to be created, who defended their privileges, and often oppofed the confular authority, and the fenate.