I nunc, argentum, et marmor vetus, æraque, et artes. Sufpice: cum gemmis Tyrios mirare colores : 20 25, 30 (a) Mutius; (indignum; quod fit perjoribus ortus) 35 40 45 Mittam poft paulo fcribit, fibi millia quinque (a) Mutus, et (indignum.) Mer- you to Go now, look with transport upon filver, and antique marble, and brazen statues, and the arts: admire gems and the Tyrian colours: rejoice, that a thousand eyes are fixed upon you while you fpeak : industrious repair early to the forum, late to your house, that Mutius may not reap more grain than you, from his lands gained in dowry, and (unbecoming indeed; fince he fprang from meaner parents) that he may not be an object of adiniration to you, rather than you to him. Whatever is in the earth, time will bring forth in open day-light; will bury and hide things that now fhine brightest. When Agrippa's portico, and the Appian way fhall have beheld you well known and illuftrious; still it remains for go where Numa and Ancus are arrived. If your fide or your reins are afflicted with an acute difeafe, feek a remedy for the difeafe. Would you live happily? Who would not? If virtue alone can confer this, difcarding pleasure, ftrenuously purfue it. Do you think virtue is a fet of words, as a grove is a parcel of trees? Be it your care that no other enter the port before you that you lofe not your traffick with Cibyra, with Bithynia. Let the round fum of a thousand talents be completed, as many more; further, let a third thousand fucceed, and the part which may square the heap. For why, fovereign money gives a man a wife with a large portion, and credit, and friends, and family, and beauty; and the Goddees Perfuafion, and Venus, grace the well-monied man. The king, of the Cappadocians, tho' rich in flaves, is in want of coin: be not you like him. Lucullus, as they fay, being asked if he could lend a hundred cloaks for the ftage, How can I fo many? fays he: yet I'll fee, and fend as many as I have: a little after he writes, that he had five thoufand cloaks in his houfe; they might take part of them, or all. "Tis a scanty houfe where there are not many things fuperfluous, and which efcape the owner's notice, and are the gain of pilfering flaves. If then wealth alone can make and keep a man happy; be first in beginning this work; be last in leaving it off. If fplendor and popularity makes a 50 55 Mercemur fervum, qui dictet nomina, lævum Vive: vale. fi quid novifti rectius iftis; (a) Qui fodiat latus. (b) Cuilibet hic fafces dabit. (c) Tranfire forum pontemque. Fab. campumque, Bentl. 65 EPISTOLA man fortunate; let us purchase a flave to dictate to us the names of the citizens, to jog us on the left fide, and to make us stretch our hand over all obstacles : this man has much intereft in the Fabian, that in the Veline tribe: this will give the fafces to any one: and, indefatigably active, will fnatch the curule ivory from whom he pleases: add the names of father, brother according as the age of each is, fo courteoufly adopt him. If he who feafts well, lives well: 'tis day; let us go where our appetite leads us: let us fifh, let us hunt, as did fome time Gargilius; who ordered his toils, hunting fpears, flaves, early in the morning, to pass through the crouded forum and the people: that one mule among many, in the fight of the people, might return loaded with a boar purchafed with money. Let us bathe with an indigested and full-swolen ftomach, forgetting what is becoming, what not; deferving to be enrolled among the citizens of Care* ; like the depraved crew of Ulyffes of Ithaca; to whom forbidden pleasure was dearer than their country. If, as Mimnermus thinks, nothing is pleasant without love and mirth; live in love and mirth. Live; be in health: if you know of any thing preferable to these maxims; candidly communicate it : if not, with me make use of these. The Carites having fecured the veftal virgins and tutelary Gods of Rome, when it was facked by the Gauls, were rewarded with the privileges of citizens; but afterwards taking part with Tarquin, they were deprived of the right of voting at elections, and enroll & by themfelves whence Cærite cera, or Cæritum tabulis digni, fit to roll with the Cærites, became a term of great reproach. VII. AD. EPISTOLA MECENATE M. Excufat fe Mecenati quod ab urbe abfit diutius; tum ejus in fo beneficia ita commendat, ut libertatem beneficiis omnibus potiorem effe declaret. Q UINQUE dies tibi pollicitus me rure futurum, Sextilem totum mendax defideror. atqui, (a) Si me vivere vis fanum recteque valentem; Quam mihi das ægro, dabis ægrotare timenti, Mæcenas, veniam; dum ficus prima calorque Defignatorem decorat lictoribus atris: Dum pueris omnis pater, et matercula pallet: Officiofaque fedulitas, et opella forenfis Adducit febres, et testamenta refignat. Quod fi bruma nives Albanis illinet agris, Ad mare defcendet vates tuus, et fibi parcet, Contractufque leget; te, dulcis amice, revifet Cum Zephyris, fi concedes, et hirundine prima. Non, quo more pyris vefci Calaber jubet hofpes, Tu me fecifti locupletem. Vefcere fodes. Jam fatis eft. At tu quantumvis tolle. Benigne. (a) Si me vivere vis recteque videre valentem. 5 10 15 Non |