THE

FIRST BOOK

OF THE

SATIRES OF HORACE,

SATIRE I.

He inveighs in the first place against the depraved practice of men, by which it happens that they are never contented in their own ftation, nor can please themfelves by their own determinations, but always prize thofe of other men. He then takes occafion to be particularly fevere upon avarice.

MACENAS, whence is this caprice,

That mortals cannot live in peace?
But their own lot of life difclaim,
Whether by choice, or chance it came,
And give the reft invidious praife!-
O happy merchants! (full of days

Miles ait, multo jam fractus membra labore.

Contra mercator, navim jactantibus auftris,
Militia eft potior. Quidenim? Concurritur: horæ
Momento cita mors venit aut victoria lata
Agricolam laudat juris legumque peritus
Sub Galli cantum confultor ubi oftia pulfat,
Ille, datis vadibus qui rure extractus in urbem eft,
Solos felices viventes clamat in urbe.

Cætera de genere hoc (adeo funt multa) loquacem
Delaffare valent Fabium. Ne te morer, audi
Quo rem deducám. Si quis deus, en ego, dicat,
Iam faciam quod vultis: eris tu, qui modo miles,
Mercator: tu confultus modo, rufticus: hinc vos,
Vos hinc mutatis difcedite partibus. Eia.

Quid ftatis? Nolint. Atqui licet effe beatis.
Quid caufæ eft, merito quin illis Jupiter ambas
PROSE INTERPRETATION.

cumbered with years, and now disabled as to his members, through exceffive labours on the contrary, the merchant, the fouth-winds tofling his fhip, urges, that warfare is more eligible. For why? The mutual onfet is made, and in the fecond of an hour a fpeedy death, or a joyful victory ensues. The adept in equity, and the laws cries up the countryman, when the client knocks at his door by the crowing of the cock; while he, who having entered into a recognizance, is forced from the country into the city, is clamourous, that they alone are happy that dwell in town. The other examples of this nature (fo many are they) would fatigue the talkative Fabius to recount them. That I may not take up too much of your time, hear to what an upfhot I fhall bring the matter. If any God fhould fay, behold! I will do according to your withes. You that was just now a foldier, fhall be a merchant, you lately a counfellor, fhall be an husbandman. Do ye go off one way, and ye another, having fhifted

And worn with toil the foldier cries)
To which the merchant man replies,
His fhip by the fouth wind diftrefs't,
The military life is beft;

The

troops engage, and in a breath
Glad triumph comes, or inftant death.
The lawyer, when his clients knock,
At the first crowing of the cock,
Cries up the country fquire, who raves
That all but citizens are flaves,

When from his home he's forc'd to dance

Attendance on recognizance:

So many cafes of this kind

Are found, that they wou'd break the wind
Of talking Fabius to recite;

But left I tire your patience quite-
Obferve-suppose some pow'r divine
Shou'd fay, I will to each affign
The part, he chufes-I decree
The foldier fhall a merchant be,
And he a counsellor of late

Shall have the country fquire's eftate-
Do you come here to fhift the scene,
And you go there-why what do you mean!
They hefitate with all their hearts

Tho' in their pow'r to change their parts.
What cause now therefore can they fhow,

But Jupiter fhou'd puff and blow

Iratus buccas inflet? Neque fe fore pofthac
Tam facilem dicat, votis ut præbeat aurem ?
Præterea, ne sic, ui qui jocularia, ridens
Percurram, quanquam ridentem dicere verum
Quid vetat? Ut pueris olim dant cruftula blandi
Doctores, elementa velint ut difcere prima.
Sed tamen amoto quæramus feria ludo.
Ille gravem duro terram qui vertit aratro,
Perfidus hic caupo, miles, nautæque per omne
Audaces mare qui currunt, hac mente laborem
Sefe ferre, fenes ut in otia tuta recedant,.
Ajunt, quum fibi fint congefta cibaria: Sicut
Parvula (nam exemplo eft) magni formica laboris,
Ore trahit quodcunque poteft, atque addit acervo,
Quem ftruit, haud ignara ac non incauta futuri.
Quæ, fimul inverfum contriftat Aquarius annum,

PROSE INTERPRETATION.

shifted the parts affigned you. How fo? What, do you hefttate! they are unwilling, and yet it is permitted them to be happy. What reafon then is there, but Jupiter fhould worthily puff out both his cheeks in wrath, and affert, for the future, that he will not be fo eafy of accefs, as to lend an ear to their vows? Moreover, that I may not run over this with a fmile upon my countenance, in fuch manner as they that treat up jocular themes (tho' what forbidsa pleafant fellow to tell the truth, as fondling preceptors, upon a time, give cakes to their boys, that they may be inclined to con their firft rudiments, But notwithstanding, let us make serious researches, waggery apart.) He that turns the heavy earth with his ploughThare; this perfidious dealer in balder-dafh (the lawyer); the foldier and the failors, who boldly run through every fea, affert, that they bear labour with this view; that in their old age, that may retreat into a fecure retirement, when once their provifion is treasured up. As the little ant (for the is

for

In wrath, and for the future swear
He'll not confent to hear their pray'r.
But to go on and not to smile,
Like fome who ufe a waggish stile.
(Tho' what forbids a man, forfooth,
At once to laugh and fpeak the truth)
As fondling mafters treat their boys
By giving sugar-plumbs and toys,
That they the better may go on,
Their grammar-rudiments to con.
However, raillery apart,

Let us the serious matters start.

He that with ploughfhare cleaves the clod,
The treach'rous lawyer doom'd to plod,
The foldier and the tars at fea,

Who boldly fail thro' each degree,
Affert th'intention of their deed,
Is that in age they may recede
To peace, and to a plenteous board,
When once they've treafur'd up their hoard.
Ev'n as the ant (whose toiling might

As most exemplary we cite)

Drags with her mouth all she can reap,
And adds to her conftructed heap,
Not unappriz'd, nor unprepar'd
How future matters must be fquar'd.
However, fhe will not appear,

When once Aquarius damps the year,