Quæ tibi summa boni est ? uncta vixisse patella
Semper et assiduo curata cuticula sole.

Expecta: haud aliud respondeat hæc anus. I nunc.
Dinomaches ego sum, suffla, sum candidus. Esto:
Dum ne deterius sapiat pannucea Baucis,
Cum bene discincto cantaverit ocyma vernæ.
Ut nemo in sese tentat descendere, nemo :
Sed præcedenti spectatur mantica tergo.
Quæsieris. Nostrin' Vectidi prædia? cujus?
Dives arat Curibus quantum non milvus oberret:
Hunc ais? hunc diis iratis, genioque sinistro :
Qui quandoque jugum pertusa ad compita figit,
Seriolæ veterem metuens deradere limum,

Ingemit, Hoc bene sit : tunicatum cum sale mordens

What have thy pleasures been? what is thy care?
A sumptuous table, and luxurious fare;

Of thy fine skin the whiteness to display,
Preserved untann'd amidst the blaze of day.
But for thy mind;-old Baucis at her stall,
Who ne'er did aught but beets and cabbage bawl,
Knows just as much-might place as well as thou,
The statesman's laurel on her wrinkled brow.
None looks at home; none seeks himself to know
(The only knowledge undesired below).
But each intent regards his neighbour's mind,
Sees other's faults, and to his own is blind.
That man thou blamest; (him, whose lands extend
Far as a kite its longest course can bend ;)
And him thou wouldst consign to every woe
Which gods award, or wretched mortals know;
Because he grudges annual presents due,
To frugal Pales and her rustic crew;
Gives to his wearied hinds a scanty meal,
And dines himself upon an onion peel.
Lo, at thine elbow an accuser stands,

Who thy dark deed with foul opprobrium brands;
That deed, which covers even vice with shame,
While outraged Nature reddens at the name.
[How truly fair was bounteous Nature's plan!
How wisely suited to the state of man!
For him her hand had traced a flowery way;
Mild was her reign, and gentle was her sway:
But fury passions, owning no control,
Seized on her empire, and usurp'd the soul.

Cæpe et farrata pueris plaudentibus olla,
Pannosam fæcem morientis sorbet aceti?
At si unctus cesses, et figas in cute solem,
Est prope te ignotus, cubito qui tangat, et acre
Despuat in mores: penemque arcanaque lumbi
Runcantem, populo marcentes pandere vulvas.
Tu cum maxillis balanatum gausape pectas,
Inguinibus quare detonsus gurgulio exstat ?
Quinque palæstritæ licet hæc plantaria vellant,
Elixasque nates labefactent forcipe adunca,
Non tamen ista filix ullo mansuescit aratro.
Cædimus, inque vicem præbemus crura sagittis.
Vivitur hoc pacto: sic novimus. Ilia subter
Cæcum vulnus habes: sed lato balteus auro
Prætegit: ut mavis, da verba, et decipe nervos,
Si potes. Egregium cum me vicinia dicat,
Non credam? Viso si palles improbe nummo,

Then simple Nature charm'd mankind no more,
Her pleasures vanish'd, and her power was o'er :
Then, undistingu sh'd, crowded on the view
The smiling forms her magic pencil drew :
Her hand then clothed the naked woods in vain,
Or threw the flowery mantle o'er the plain,
Gave form and order to the world below,

And show'd the source whence thought and being flow.
Unmark'd we see succeeding seasons roll,

Revolving stars illume the glowing pole;
Unmark'd behold the glorious sun arise,

Tinging with purple light the orient skies;
Unmark'd the spring, on wings of zephyrs borne,
Hangs the wild rose upon the scented thorn;
Unmark'd the cluster bends the curling vine;
Unmark'd the tempest rocks the mountain pine.
All-powerful habit the enchantment breaks;
While wonder sleeps, attention scarcely wakes,
Each soft indulgence blunts the edge of joy;
And every pleasure has, or finds alloy.
Unhappy man takes passion for his guide,
And sighs for bliss to sated sense denied ;
Untamed desires impel the vicious mind,
To God, to Virtue, and to Nature blind.]
But dost thou hope thy crimes shall rest unknown,
Hid by the splendour of thy golden zone?
Think not that rigid Virtue frames her laws,
In vile compliance with a mob's applause.
If o'er his lusts the wretch cannot prevail,
But in the sordid search of wealth grows pale;

Si facis, in penem quicquid tibi venit amarum,
Si Puteal multa cautus vibice flagellas:
Nequicquam populo bibulas donaveris aures.
Respue quod non es: tollat sua munera cerdo :

Tecum habita noris quam sit tibi curta supellex.