Scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat aftrum:

NATURAE DEUS HUMANAE, mortalis in unum-
Quodque caput, vultu mutabilis, albus, et ater.

• Utar, et ex modico, quantum rés pofcet, acervo
Tollam: nec metuam, quid de me judicet haeres,
Quod non plura datis invenerit. et tamen idem
Scire volam, quantum fimplex hilarifque nepoti
Difcrepet, et quantum difcordet parcus avaro.
Diftat enim, fpargas tua prodigus, an neque fumtum
Invitus facias, nec plura parare labores ;

Ac potius, puer ut feftis Quinquatribus olim,

Exiguo gratoque fruaris tempore raptim.

f

Pauperies immunda procul procul abfit: ego, utrum

Nave ferar magna an parva; ferar unus et idem.

NOTES.

VER. 277. fly, like Oglethorpe,] Employed in fettling the Colony of Georgia.

VER. 280. That God of Nature, etc] Here our Poet had an opportunity of illuftrating his own Philofophy; and thereby giving a much better fenfe to his Original; and correcting both the naturalism and the fate of Horace, which are covertly conveyed in these words,

One, driv'n by ftrong Benevolence of foul,
Shall fly, like Oglethorpe, from pole to pole:
Is known alone to that Directing Pow'r,
Who forms the Genius in the natal hour;
That God of Nature, who, within us ftill,
Inclines our action, not constrains our will;
Various of temper, as of face or frame,
Each individual: His great End the fame.

с

Yes, Sir, how small soever be my heap,
A part I will enjoy, as well as keep.
My heir may figh, and think it want of grace
A man fo poor would live without a place :
But fure no statute in his favour fays,
How free, or frugal, I fhall pass my days:

280

285

I, who at some times fpend, at others fpare,

290

Divided between carelesness and care.

'Tis one thing madly to disperse my store;

Another, not to heed to treasure more;

Glad, like a Boy, to fnatch the firft good day,
And pleas'd, if fordid want be far away.

f What is❜t to me (a paffenger God wot)
Whether my vessel be first-rate or not?
The Ship itself may make a better figure,
But I that fail, am neither less nor bigger.

NOTES.

Scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat astrum,
NATURAE DEUS HUMANAE.

295

VER. 288. But fure no ftatute] Alluding to the ftatutes made in England and Ireland, to regulate the Succeffion of Papists, etc.

Non agimur tumidis velis Aquilone fecundo:
Non tamen adverfis aetatem ducimus Auftris.
Viribus, ingenio, fpecie, virtute, loco, re,
Extremi primorum, extremis ufque priores.

* Non es avarus: abi. quid? caetera jam fimul ifto Cum vitio fugere? caret tibi pectus inani

Ambitione? caret mortis formidine et ira?

Somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, fagas,
Nocturnos lemures, portentaque Theffala rides?
Natales grate numeras? ignofcis amicis?
Lenior et melior fis accedente fenecta ?

Quid te exemta levat fpinis de pluribus una?
h Vivere fi recte nefcis, decede peritis.

Lusisti satis, edifti fatis, atque bibisti:

Tempus abire tibi eft: ne potum largius aequo
Rideat, et pulfet lafciva decentius aetas.

NOTES.

VER. 312 Survey both worlds.] It is obfervable with what fobriety he has corrected the licentioufness of his Original, which made the expectation of another world a part of that fuperftition, he would explode; whereas his

I neither strut with ev'ry fav'ring breath,
Nor ftrive with all the tempeft in my teeth.
In pow'r, wit, figure, virtue, fortune, plac'd
Behind the foremost, and before the last.

300

305

"But why all this of Av'rice? I have none."
I wish you joy, Sir, of a Tyrant gone;
But does no other lord it at this hour,
As wild and mad? the Avarice of pow'r?
Does neither Rage inflame, nor Fear appall?
Not the black fear of death, that faddens all?

With terrors round, can Reason hold her throne, 310
Despise the known, nor tremble at th' unknown?
Survey both worlds, intrepid and entire,

In fpight of witches, devils, dreams, and fire?
Pleas'd to look forward, pleas'd to look behind,
And count each birth-day with a grateful mind? 315
Has life no fourness, drawn fo near its end?
Can'ft thou endure a foe, forgive a friend?
Has age but melted the rough parts away,
As winter-fruits grow mild e'er they decay?
Or will you think, my friend, your business done, 320
When, of a hundred thorns, you pull out one?

h Learn to live well, or fairly make your will; You've play'd, and lov'd, and eat, and drank your fill : Walk fober off; before a fprightlier age

Comes titt'ring on, and shoves you from the ftage: Leave fuch to trifle with more grace and eafe, 326 Whom Folly pleases, and whofe Follies please.

NOTES.

Imitator is only for removing the falfe terrors from the world of spirits, fuch as the diablerie of witchcraft and purgatory.