nal year. For the destined victim, which is pastured in the fnowy Algidum amongst the oaks and holm trees, or thrives in the Albanian meadows, with its throat fhall fain, the axes of the priests. It is not required of you, who are crowning our little Gods with fea+water and the brittle myrtle, to folicit them with a great flaughter of fheep. If an innocent hand touches the altar, a magnificent victim will not pacify the offended Penates * more acceptably than a confecrated cake and crackling falt. O DE XXIV. To the COVETOUS: He inveighs against the vices of his age, and pro pofes remedies for them. さ "HO' more wealthy than the hoarded or unrifled) treasures of the Arabians and rich India, you should poffefs yourself by your edifices of the whole Tyrrhenian and Apulian feas; yet if cruel fate fixes its adamantine grapples upon the topmost roofs, you fhall not difengage your mind from dread, nor your life from the fitares of death. The Scythians that dwell in the plains, whofe carts, according to their cuftom, draw their vagrant habitations, live in a better manner, and fo do the rough Getæ, whofe uncircumfcribed acres produce fruits and corn free to all alike, nor is a longer than annual tillage agreeable, and a fucceffor re * Houfhold Gods. S 2 lieves Defunctumque laboribus Illic matre carentibus Privignis mulier temperat innocens ; Nec dotata regit virum Conjux, nec nitido fidit adultero: Dos eft magna parentium Virtus, et metuens alterius viri Certo federe caftitas: Et peccare nefas, aut precium eft mori. O! (a) fi quis volet impias Cædes, et rabiem tollere civicam: Si quæret pater urbium Sufcribi ftatuis; indomitam audeat Refrenare licentiam, 15 20 25 Clarus (b) poftgenitis: quatenus, heu nefas! 30 Virtutem incolumem odimus, Sublatam ex oculis quærimus invidi. Quid triftes querimoniæ, Si non fupplicio culpa reciditur? Quid leges fine moribus Vanæ proficiunt; fi neque fervidis Pars inclufa caloribus Mundi, nec Borea finitimum latus, Durataque (c) folo nives Mercatorem abigunt? horrida callidi Vincunt æquora navitæ. Magnum pauperies opprobrium, jubet Quidvis et facere et pati, Virtutifque viam (d) deserit ardua. Vel nos in Capitolium, Quo clamor vocat et turba faventium ; 35 40 45 (a) O quis, quis volet. Bentl. (b) Carus poftgenitis. () Durataeque gelu. Bentl. (d) Viam deferere. Bentl. lieves him who has accomplished his labours by an equal right. There the guiltless wife spares her motherless children-in-law, nor does the portioned fpoufe govern her husband, nor puts any confidence in a fleek adulterer. Their portion is the eminent virtue of their parents, and a chastity reserved from any other man by a stedfast security: and it is forbidden to fin, or the reward is death, O if there be any one willing to remove our impious flaughters, and civil rage: if he is defirous to be infcribed THE FATHER OF THE STATE, on ftatues erected to him, let him dare to curb infuperable licentiousness, and be famous to posterity; fince we (O injustice!) deteft virtue while living, but invidioufly feek for her after fhe is taken out of our view. To what purpose are our woful complaints, if finʼis not cut off with punishment? of what efficacy are empty laws, without morals to enforce them? if neither that part of the world which is precluded by the fervent heats, nor that fide which borders upon the north, and fnows, harden'd upon the ground, keep off the merchant; and the expert failors get the better of the horrible feas. Poverty, being esteemed a great reproach, impels us both to do and to fuffer any thing, and deferts the path of virtue as too difficult. Let us then caft our gems and precious ftones, and ufelefs gold, the cause of extreme evil, either into the capitol, where the acclamations and croud of applauding citizens call us, or Vel nos in mare proximum Gemmas, et lapides, aurum et inutile, Summi materiam mali, Mittamus. fcelerum fi bene pœnitet, Seu Græco jubeas trocho, Seu malis vetita legibus alea : Cum perjura patris fides Confortem focium fallat et hofpitem, Indignoque pecuniam Hèredi properet. fcilicet improba Crefcunt divitiæ tamen : Curte nefcio quid femper abeft rei. CARMEN XXV. AD BACCHUM. DITHYRAMBUS. 60 Augufti laudes, Baccho aufpice, exequi meditatur. UO me, Bacche, rapis tui Ο Plenum? quæ nemora, aut quos agor in fpecus, Velox mente nova? quibus Antris, egregii Cæfaris audiar Eternum meditans decus Stellis inferere, et concilio Jovis? (a) Firmandæ ftudiis, Bentl. into the adjoining ocean. If we are truly penitent for our enormnities, the very elements of depraved luft are to be erased, and the minds of too foft a mould fhou'd be harden'd by feverer studies. The noble youth knows not how to keep his feat on horseback, and is afraid to go a hunting, more fkilled to play (if you chuse it) with the Grecian T troque, or dice which are prohibited by law. While the father's perjury can deceive his coheir, partner, and friend, and he haftes to get money for an unworthy heir. In a word; iniquitous wealth increases, and yet something is ever want. ing to the incomplete fortune. His defign is to praise Auguftus, being elevated to it thro' the inspiration of Bacchus. HITHER, O Bacchus, are you hurrying WH me, replete with your influence? into what groves, into what recesses am I driven, actuated with uncommon spirit? In what caverns, meditating the immortal honour of illustrious Cæfar, shall I be heard enrolling him amongst the stars and the council of Jove? I will utter something ex traordinary |