Mane piger stertis: Surge, inquit Avaritia; eja
Surge, negas, instat, Surge, inquit. Non queo. Surge.
Et quid agam? Rogitas? saperdas advehe Ponto,
Castoreum, stuppas, hebenum, thus, lubrica Coa:
Tolle recens primus piper è sitiente camelo.
Verte aliquid; jura. Sed Jupiter audiet: eheu.
Varo, regustatum digito terebrare salinum
Contentus perages, si vivere cum Jove tendis.
Jam pueris pellem succinctus, et œnophorum aptas
Ocyus ad navem: nihil obstat, quin trabe vasta
Ægæum rapias, nisi sollers luxuria ante
Seductum moneat: Quò deinde insane ruis? quò?
Quid tibi vis? calido sub pectore mascula bilis
Intumuit, quam non extinxerit urna cicuta.
Tun' mare transilias? tibi torta cannabe fulto
Cœna sit in transtro, Vejentanumque rubellum
Exhalet vapida læsum pice sessilis obba ?
Quid petis? ut nummi, quos hic quincunce modesto
Nutrieras, pergant avidos sudare deunces?
But hark, a voice ;-'tis Avarice that cries, "The day advances fast, for shame, arise.” Back on his bed the drowsy sluggard falls; Again he sleeps, again his tyrant calls. "Arise, I say, arise." But what to do? "Wealth through the world at every risk pursue. "Bring luscious wines from Coa's fruitful shores; "Transport from Asia half its vaunted stores; "Dare the wild wastes of Afric's sterile soil: "Thy camels load with Oriental spoil; “Defraud, deceive, make money if you can, "Nor think that Jove will disapprove the plan: "He who on earth for heaven alone shall live, "Will know full soon how much the gods can give." Awhile the voice of Avarice prevails;
Already in your thoughts you spread the sails;
The famed Egean in your mind explore,
And brave the stormy Euxine's barbarous shore.
But still as on your downy bed you lie,
You hear the voice of Luxury reply.
"Whither, O madman, whither wouldst thou run;
"Across what seas, beneath what sultry sun?
"Is then thy bile so hot as to require
"Whole urns of hemlock to assuage the fire;
"A sparing supper canst thou stoop to eat,
"Bad wine thy beverage, and a rope thy seat:
"And this, to add a trifle to thy store,
"And swell the sum, which was enough before?
"Ah think, vain schemer, how the moments fly;
"The instant now observed is time gone by.
Indulge genio, carpemus dulcia: nostrum est,
Quod vivis cinis, et manes, et fabula fies.
Vive memor leti: fugit hora: hoc, quod loquor, inde est.
En quid agis? duplici in diversum scinderis hamo:
Hunccine, an hunc sequeris? subeas alternus oportet
Ancipiti obsequio dominos; alternus oberres.
Nec tu, cum obstiteris semel instantique negaris
Parere ímperio, Rupi jam vincula, dicas.
Nam et luctata canis nodum abripit: attamen illi
Cum fugit, à collo trahitur pars longa catenæ.
Dave, cito, hoc credas jubeo, finire dolores
Præteritos meditor: (crudum Chærestratus unguem
Abrodens ait hæc) An siccis dedecus obstem
Cognatis? an rem patriam rumore sinistro
Limen ad obscœnum frangam, dum Chrysidis udas
Ebrius ante fores extincta cum face canto?
Euge puer, sapias: diis depellentibus agnam
Percute. Sed censen', plorabit Dave relicta?
Nugaris solea, puer, objurgabere rubra,
Ne trepidare velis, atque artos rodere casses.
Nunc ferus, et violens: at si vocet, Haud mora, dicas,
Quidnam igitur faciam ? ne nunc, cum accersat, et ultro
Supplicet, accedam? Si totus et integer illinc
Exieras, nec nunc, hic hic, quem quærimus, hic est:
Non in festuca, lictor quam jactat ineptus.
Jus habet ille sui palpo quem ducit hiantem
Cretata ambitio? Vigila, et cicer ingere large
Rixanti populo, nostra ut Floralia possint
"Seize then the hour; thy way with roses strew;
"Thy days make happy, for they must be few.
"Enjoy the world ere yet oblivion be,
"And dust and ashes all that rest of thee."
Thus in their turns your masters you obey,
Pursue now one, and now another way.
Between two baits have liberty to choose,
That you may take, and that you may refuse.
But think not long your freedom to retain;
The dog broke loose still drags the galling chain.
Who has not heard the lover in the play,
In frenzy raving, to his servant say?——
“Shall I then, Davus, long my parent's care,
"Waste all the wealth of which they made me heir;
"For Chryses, live the shame of all my race,
"By them consider'd as their worst disgrace?
"Shall I on her with midnight music wait,
"And hold late revels at a harlot's gate?"
"Spoke like yourself;" cries Davus, "haste, and kill "A lambkin to the gods averting ill.
"But should she weep?" "And dost thou tremble, boy, "Lest her correcting slipper she employ?"
He who commands himself, is only free.
If any wear not chains, this-this-is he.
His freedom comes not through the prætor's hand,
Nor owes its being to a lictor's wand.
Are those men free, who wear the chalky gown,
Canvass the mob, and struggle for renown,
That future gossips, basking in the sun,
May tell what feats at Flora's feasts were done?
Aprici meminisse senes; quid pulchrius? at cum
Herodis venere dies, unctaque fenestra
Dispositæ pinguem nebulam vomuere lucernæ
Portantes violas, rubrumque amplexa catinum
Cauda natat thynni, tumet alba fidelia vino:
Labra moves tacitus, recutitaque sabbata palles.
Tunc nigri lemures, ovoque pericula rupto :
Hinc grandes Galli, et cum sistro lusca sacerdos,
Incussere deos inflantes corpora, si non
Prædictum ter mane caput gustaveris allî.
Dixeris hæc inter varicosos centuriones,
Continuo crassum ridet Vulfenius ingens,
Et centum Græcos curto centusse licetur.
|