This fatire confifts of two diftinct parts: the first contains the praises of the Stoick philofopher Cornutus, mafter and tutor to our Perfius. It also declares the love and piety of Perfus, to his welldeferving mafter; and the mutual friendship which continued betwixt them, after Perfius was now grown a man. As alfo his exhortation to young noblemen, that they would enter themselves into his inftitution. From hence he makes an artful tranfition into the second part of his fubject: wherein he first complains of the floth of scholars, and afterwards perfuades them to the pursuit of their true liberty: here our author excellently treats that paradox of the Stoicks, which affirms, that the wife or virtuous man is only free, and that all vicious men are naturally flaves. And, in the illuftration of this dogma, he takes up the remaining part of this inimitable fatire. THE FIFTH SATIRE. INSCRIBED TO THE REVEREND DR. BUSBY. THE SPEAKERS PERSIUS AND CORNUTUS. PERSIUS. OF ancient use to poets it belongs, tongues : Whether to the well-lung'd tragedian's rage CORNUTUS. And why wouldst thou these mighty morfels chufe, Of words unchew'd, and fit to choak the mufe? Let fuftian poets with their ftuff be gone, 16 And the sweet accents of the peaceful gown: 20 Hence draw thy theme, and to the stage permit Raw-head and Bloody-bones, and hands and feet, Ragoufts for Tereus or Thyeftes dreft; 25 'Tis tafk enough for thee to expofe a Roman feaft. PERSIUS. 'Tis not, indeed, my talent to engage In lofty trifles, or to fwell my page Ver. 11. Progne was wife to Tereus, king of Thracia: Tereus fell in love with Philomela, fifter to Progne, ravished her, and cut out her tongue in revenge of which, Progue killed Itys, her own fon by Tereus, and ferved him up at a feast, to be eaten by his father. Ibid. Thyeftes and Atreus were brothers, both kings: Atreus to revenge himfelf of his unnatural brother, killed the fons of Thyeftes, and invited him to eat them. With wind and noise; but freely to impart, For this a hundred voices I defire, 35 30 To tell thee what a hundred tongues would tire; Yet never could be worthily exprest, How deeply thou art feated in my breaft. When firft my childish robe refign'd the charge, 40 And left me, unconfin'd, to live at large; Ver. 40. By the childish robe is meant the Prætexta, or firft gowns which the Roman children of quality wore: these were welted with purple, and on thofe welts were fastened the Bullæ, or little bells, which, when they came to the age of puberty, were hung up, and confecrated to the Lares, or household gods. Ver. 44. The first shields which the Roman youths wore were white, and without any imprefs or device on them, to fhew they had yet atchieved nothing in the wars. 50 On thy wife bofom I repos'd my head, 60 Sure on our birth fome friendly planet shone ; And, as our fouls, our horofcope was one: Whether the mounting Twins did heaven adorn, Or, with the rifing Balance we were born; Both have the fame impreffions from above; And both have Saturn's rage, repell'd by Jove. What ftar I know not, but some star I find, Has given thee an afcendant o'er my mind. 65 Ver. 50. Socrates by the Oracle was declared to be the wifeft of mankind: he inftructed many of the Athenian young noblemen in morality, and amongst the reft Alcibiades. Ver. 60. Aftrologers divide the heaven into twelve parts, according to the number of the twelve figns of the zodiack: the fign or conftellation which rifes in the eaft, at the birth of any man, is called the afcendant: Perfius, therefore, judges that Cornutus and he had the fame, or a like nativity. Ver. 61. The fign of Gemini. Ver. 62. The fign of Libra. Ver. 64. Aftrologers have an axiom, that whatsoever Saturn ties is loofed by Jupiter: they account Saturn to be a planet of a malevolent nature, and Jupiter of a propitious influence. |