SATYRA VI. Rufticani otii commoda cum urbanæ vitæ moleftiis conten H dit. OC erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus, Hortus ubi, et tecto vicinus jugis aquæ fons Et paulum filvæ fuper his foret. auctius, atque Dii melius fecere. bene eft: nihil amplius oro, Maia nate, nifi ut propria hæc mihi munera faxis. 5 Si neque majorem feci ratione mala rem, Nec fum facturus vitio culpave minorem : Si veneror ftultus nihil horum; O fi angulus ille oro : II Pingue pecus domino facias, et cætera, præter Matutine pater, feu Jane libentius audis, Unde homines operum primos vitæque labores Inftituunt, (fic Dis placitum) tu carminis efto (a) Fors qua mihi monftret. 20 Prin He fets the conveniencies of a country retirement in oppon fition to the troubles of a life in town. TH HIS was ever amongst the number of my wishes: a portion of ground not over large, in which was a garden, and a fountain with a continual stream close to my house, and a little woodland befides. The Gods have done more abundantly and better for me than this. 'Tis well: O* fon of Maia, I ask nothing more, fave that you would make these donations lafting for me. If I have neither made my estate larger by bad means, nor am in a way to render it lefs by vice or misconduct: if I do not foolishly make any petition of this fort; O that yon neighbouring angle, which now fpoils the regularity of my field, cou'd be join'd to it! O that fome accident wou'd difcover to me an urn full of money! as it did to him, who, a treasure being found by him, bought that very ground he before tilled in the capacity of an hired fervant, enriched by Hercules's being his friend: if what I have at present satisfies my grateful mind: I fupplicate you with this prayer: Make my cattle fat for the use of their master, and every thing elfe, except my genius: and as you are wont, be my chief guardian. Wherefore, when I have removed myself from the city to the mountains and my castle, what can I adorn preferably to my fatires and profaic mufe? There neither evil ambition destroys me, nor the heavy fouth wind, or the fickly autumn, the gain of baleful ‡ Libitina. Father of the morning, or Janus, if with more pleasure you hear yourself called by that name, from whom men commence the toils of their business, and ways of life, (fuch is the will of the Gods) be thou the * Mercury. He was fuppofed to prefide over hid treasures, and unexpected gain. 25 Principium. Romæ fponforem me rapis: Elia, ვი Hoc juvat, et melli eft ; non mentiar. at fimul atras De re communi fcribæ magna atque nova te 35 40 Hoc genus: Hora quota eft? Thrax eft Gallina Syro par? Matutina parum cautos jam frigora mordent ; 45 Et quæ rimofa bene deponuntur in aure. Per totum hoc tempus, fubje&tior in diem & horam (b) Invidiæ. Nofter ludos fpectaverat una, (a) Quid tibi vis, infane, et quam rem agis? Bentl. (b) Invidiæ nofter. ludos fpectaverit una, Luferit. Bentl. Luferat * beginning of my fong. At Rome you hurry me away to be bail for fome one: Away, dispatch, you cry, left any one should be before-hand with you in doing that friendly office: I must go at all events, whether the north wind sweep the earth, or winter contracts the fnowy day into a narrower circle. After this, having uttered in a clear and determinate manner the legal form, which may be a detriment to me, I must bustle through the croud; muft difoblige the tardy. What's your will, madman, and what are you about? So a wicked fellow accosts me with his paffionate curses. You joftle every thing that is in your way, if with an appointment full in your mind, you are pofting away to Mæcenas. This pleases me, and is as honey to my palate; I will not tell a lye about the matter. But by the time I reach the gloomy Efquiliæ; an hundred affairs of other people's encompass me on every fide. Rofcius begg'd the favour you'd be with him at the court-house to-morrow before the † second hour. The fecretaries requested you wou'd remember, Quintus, to return to day about an affair of public concern, and of great confequence. Pray, get Mæcenas to put his fignet to these tables. Shou'd one fay, I'll endeavour at it if you will, you can, adds he; and is more earneft. The seventh year approaching to the eighth is now elapfed, from the time Mxcenas began to reckon me in the number of his friends; only thus far, as one he wou'd like to take along with him in his chariot, when he went a journey, and to whom he wou'd trust fuch kind of trifles as thefe:- -What is the hour? Is Gallina, the Thracian, a match for the gladiator Syrus? The cold morning air begins to pinch those that are ill provided against it; and fuch things as are well enough entrusted to a leaky ear. For all this time, every day and hour, I have been more subjected to envy. Our fon of fortune here, fays every body, faw all the fhews in company with Mecenas, and *Literally, leap thro' my head, and about my fide. -Quintus Horatius Flaccus. Luferat in campo, Fortunæ filius, omnes. 55 Perditur hæc inter mifero lux, non fine votis: O quando faba Pythagoræ cognata, fimulque O noctes, cœnæque Deum ! quibus ipfe, meique 65 70 Nec male necne Lepos faltet: fed quod magis ad nos Pertinet, et nescire malum eft, agitamus: utrumne Divitiis homines, an fint virtute beati : (a) Mirantur, ut unum, (b) Modicis humefcit lætius, Quidve |