She knows her man, and, when you rant and swear, But fhall I not return? Now, when the fues! Ay; there's the man, who, loos'd from luft and pelf, Lefs to the prætor owes, than to himself. But write him down a flave, who, humbly proud, That early fuppliant, who falutes the tribes, On holidays may tell, that fuch a feat was done : Thy fuperftition too may claim a share : When flowers are ftrew'd, and lamps in order plac'd, Preach Preach this among the brawny guards, fay'st thou, And fee if they thy doctrine will allow : The dull fat captain, with a hound's deep throat, Would bellow out a laugh, in a base note; And prize a hundred Zeno's just as much As a clipt fixpence, or a fchilling Dutch. 2001 THIS fixth fatire treats an admirable common-place of moral philofophy; of the true ufe of riches. They certainly are intended, by the power who beftows them, as inftruments and helps of living commodiously ourselves; and of adminiftering to the wants of others, who are oppreffed by fortune. There are two extremes in the opinions of men concerning them. One error, though on the right hand, yet a great one, is, that they are no helps to a virtuous life; the other places all our happinefs in the acquifition and poffeffion of them; and this is, undoubtedly, the worfe extreme. The mean betwixt thefe, is the opinion of the Stoicks; which is, that riches may be useful to the leading a virtuous life; in cafe we rightly understand how to give according to right reason; and how to receive what is given us by others. The virtue of giving well, is called liberality: and it is of this virtue that Perfius writes in this fatire; wherein he not only shews the lawful use of riches, but also` fharply inveighs against the vices which are oppofed to it; and especially of those, which confift in the defects of giving or fpending; or in the abuse of riches. He writes to Cæfius Baffus his friend, and a poet alfo. Enquires firft of his health and ftudies; and afterwards informs him of his own, and where he is now refident. He gives an account of himself, that he is endeavouring, by little and little, to wear off his vices; and particularly, that he is combating ambition, and the defire of wealth. He dwells upon the latter vice and, being fenfible that few men either defire or ufe riches as they ought, he endeavours to convince them of their folly; which is the main defign of the whole fatire. THE SIXTH SATIR E. TO CESIUS BASSUS, A LYRIC POET. HA AS winter caus'd thee, friend, to change thy feat, Say, doft thou yet the Roman harp command? Great master of the Muse, inspir'd to fing And found the Maker's work, in equal verfe. 'Tis worth your while, O Romans, to regard } } Nor, |