SATIRE II. Argument. It was the custom of the Romans (as has been more than once observed) to offer vows, and send presents to their relations and friends on their birth days; and Persius, who probably knew that his beloved Macrinus, like Horace's Censorinus, delighted in verse, embraces the opportunity of this festival, to send him, instead of the viridem umbellam, the succina grandia, &c. an excellent moral and religious poem. In this little piece, which assumes a tone almost too serious and solemn for satire, the author had in view the second Alcibiades of Plato, the matter of which he has compressed, and arranged with great care. Addison has prettily analyzed this celebrated Dialogue in the Spectator; (No. 207.) where he observes, as Dryden had done before him, that the 10th Satire of Juvenal was also formed upon it. In the argument to his translation, Dryden has divided this Satire into three several heads; but more were evidently contemplated by the author. To pass the Exordium, or congratulatory address to Macrinus, there is first an enumeration of interested and impious prayers; prayers, which, too iniquitous for the ear of man, can only be trusted to the gods in private; this is followed by a spirited exposure of those extravagant and ridiculous petitions for superfluous objects, which originate in ignorance and superstition. We have next an indignant reproof of the rash expectations of those who frame requests for blessings which they madly labour to defeat by the excess of their own vices: the Satire then takes a more serious turn, and traces the source of these miserable errors, to the corrupt and vicious ideas entertained respecting the gods; concluding with some just and elevated remarks on the true nature of sacrifice and prayer, which, as Sir W. Drummond elsewhere observes, might be written up, in more than one Christian temple.” Dryden tells us, in his concluding notes on this Satire, that, "the first half of it was translated by one of his sons, then in Italy: he thought so well of it," he adds, "that he let it pass with out alteration." That he could not have improved it, would be too much to affirm; but, in justice it must be said, that few will dissent from his opinion. It is spirited, poetical, and just. A. PERSII FLACCI SATIRE. AD PLOTIUM MACRINUM. [SAT. II. V. 1–9. HUNC, Macrine, diem numera meliore lapillo, Qui tibi labentes apponit candidus annos. Plotius Macrinus.] The pseudo-Cornutus, who appears to have had access to the scholia of an earlier and more judicious critick than himself, tells us that this person was a man of considerable learning, and tenderly attached to our poet. He studied, he adds, in the house of Servilius, (who is incidentally mentioned as tutor to Persius,) so that they were, in some sort, fellow students. Cornutus is not very explicit in his language, but, as far as he can be understood, he seems to hint at Macrinus having been favoured in the purchase of an estate, either by Servilius or our poet. There is another Macrinus,-Minucius,-to whom Britannicus and others suppose this Satire to be addressed: but he was apparently too late in point of time. Brewster printed a version of this Satire in 1733, as a specimen, proposing to "continue the work if he met with due encouragement." He was then a young man, and naturally diffi |