106 110 P. What? arm'd for virtue when I point the pen, Brand the bold front of shameless guilty men, Dash the proud gamester in his gilded car, Bare the mean heart that lurks beneath a star; Can there be wanting, to defend her cause, Lights of the church, or guardians of the laws? Could pension'd Boileau lash in honest strain Flatt'rers and bigots, ev'n in Louis' reign? Could Laureat Dryden pimp and fry'r engage, Yet neither Charles, nor James, be in a rage? And I not 2 strip the gilding off a knave, Unplac'd, unpension'd, no man's heir or slave? I will, or perish in the gen'rous cause: Hear this, and tremble! you who 'scape the laws. Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave Shall walk the world in credit to his grave: 3 To Virtue only, and her friends a friend, The world beside may murmur or commend. 115 120 H. Quid? cum est Lucilius ausus Primus in hunc operis componere carmina morem, Know all the distant din that world can keep, 125 And he whose lightning pierc'd th' Iberian lines 2 Envy must own I live among the great 131 No pimp of pleasure, and no spy of state, With eyes that pry not, tongue that ne'er repeats, 136 To help who want, to forward who excel; This all who know me, know; who love me, tell; And who unknown defame me, let them be Scribblers, or peers, alike are mob to me. 1 Quin ubi se a vulgo et scena, in secreta remorant Nugari cum illo, et discincti luderi, donec Quidquid sum ego, quamvis 140 This is my plea, on this I rest my cause--- F. 2 Your plea is good, but still I say beware! 145 See Libels, Satires---here you have it---read. P. 4Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed! 150 But grave epistles, bringing vice to light, Such as a king might read, a bishop write, Such as Sir Robert would approve---F. indeed! 155 Dissentis. Inisi quid tu, docte Trebati, T. 2Equidem nihil hic diffindere possum. Sed tamen ut monitus caveas, ne forte negoti Incutiat tibi quid sanctarum inscitia legum : 3 "Si mala condiderit in quem quis carmina, jus est "Judiciumque." H. Esto, si quis4 mala: sed bona si quis Judice condiderit laudatur Cæsare. si quis Opprobriis dignum laceraverit, integer ipse, T. 'Solventur risu tabulæ; tu missus abibis, HORACE, BOOK II. SAT II. IMITATED. ΤΟ MR. BETHEL. WHAT, and how great, the virtue and the art 2(A doctrine sage, but truly none of mine) Turns you from sound philosophy aside; Hear Bethel's sermon, one not vers'd in schools, 5 But strong in sense, and wise without the rules. 10 HOR. LIB. II. SAT. II. QUÆ virtus et quanta, boni, sit vivere parvo, ("Nec meus hic sermo est; sed quem præcepit Ofellus, Rusticus, 3abnormis sapiens, crassaque Minerva) Discite; non inter lances mensasque nitentes, Cum stupet insanis acies fulgoribus, et cum Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat; 5 Verum hic impransi mecum disquirite. Cur hoc ?. Dicam, si potero. male verum examinat omnis "Go work, hunt, exercise! (he thus began) Your wine lock'd up, your butler stroll'd abroad, If then plain bread and milk will do the feat, 2 Preach as I please, I doubt our curious men 15 20 Corruptus judex. leporem sectatus, equove I |