The worthlefs brute is from New-Market brought,
And at an under-rate in Smithfield bought,
To turn a mill, or drag a loaded life

Beneath two panniers and a baker's wife.

That we may therefore

admire ;

you, not yours, First, Sir, fome honour of your own acquire;

Add to that stock which justly we bestow

On those bleft shades to whom you all things owe.
This may fuffice the haughty youth to shame,
Whofe fwelling veins (if we may credit fame)
Burst almost with the vanity and pride
That their rich blood to Nero's is ally'd:
The rumour's likely; for "We seldom find
"Much fenfe with an exalted fortune join'd."

But Ponticus, I would not you should raise
Your credit by hereditary praise ;
Let your own acts immortalife your name;
"'Tis poor relying on another's fame;"
For, take the pillars but away, and all
The fuperftructure muft in ruins fall;
As a vine droops, when by divorce remov'd
From the embraces of the elm the lov'd.
Be a good foldier, or upright trustee,
An arbitrator from corruption free.
And if a witnefs in a doubtful cause,

Where a brib'd judge means to elude the laws;
Though Phalaris's brazen bull were there,
And he would dictate what he 'd have you fwear,
Be not fo profligate, but rather chuse

To guard your honour, and your life to lose,

Rather

Rather than let your virtue be betray'd;

Virtue the nobleft caufe for which you 're made.

Improperly we measure life by breath;
"Such do not truly live who merit death;"
Though they their wanton fenfes nicely please
With all the charms of luxury and ease;
Though mingled flowers adorn their careless brow,
And round them coftly fweets neglected flow,
As if they in their funeral state were laid,
And to the world, as they 're to virtue, dead.
When you the province you expect, obtain,
From paffion and from avarice refrain;
Let our affociates poverty provoke

Thy generous heart not to increase their yoke,
Since riches cannot refcue from the grave,
Which claims alike the monarch and the flave,

To what the laws enjoin, fubmiffion pay;
And what the Senate thall command, obey.
Think what rewards upon the good attend,
And how those fall unpitied who offend :
Tutor and Capito may warnings be,
Who felt the thunder of the States decree,
For robbing the Cecilians, though they
(Like lesser pikes) only subsist on prey.
But what avails the rigour of their doom?
Which cannot future violence o'ercome,

Nor give the miferable province cafe,

Since what one plunderer left, the next will feize.
Cherippus then, in time yourself bethink,
And what your rags will yield by auction, fink;

Ne'er put yourself to charges to complain
Of wrong which heretofore you did fuftain,
Make not a voyage to detect the theft:
'Tis mad to lavish what their rapine left.
When Rome at firft our rich allies fubdued,
From gentle taxes noble spoils accrued ;
Each wealthy province, but in part oppreft,
Thought the lofs trivial, and enjoy'd the rest.
All treasuries did then with heaps abound;
In every wardrobe coftly filks were found;
The leaft apartment of the meanest house
Could all the wealthy pride of art produce;
Pictures which from Parrhafius did receive
Motion and warmth; and statues taught to live;
Some Polyclete's, fome Myron's work declar'd,
In others Phidias' mafter-piece appear'd;
And crowding plate did on the cupboard stand,
Embofs'd by curious Mentor's artful hand.
Prizes like these oppreffors might invite,
Thefe Dolabella's rapine did excite,

These Antony for his own theft thought fit,
Verres for thefe did facrilege commit;

And when their reigns were ended, fhips full fraught
The hidden fruits of their exaction brought,

Which made in peace a treasure richer far,
Than what is plunder'd in the rage of war.
This was of old; but our confederates now
Have nothing left but oxen for the plough,
Or fome few mares referv'd alone for breed;
Yet left this provident design succeed,

They

They drive the father of the herd away,
Making both ftallion and his pasture prey.
Their rapine is fo abject and prophane,
They not from trifles nor from Gods refrain ;
But the poor Lares from the niches feize,
If they be little images that please.

Such are the spoils which now provoke their theft,
And are the greatest, nay, they 're all that 's left.
Thus may you Corinth or weak Rhodes opprefs,
Who dare not bravely what they feel redress :
For how can fops thy tyranny control,
"Smooth limbs are symptoms of a fervile foul."
But trefpafs not too far on fturdy Spain,

Sclavonia, France; thy gripes from those restrain,
Who with their fweat Rome's luxury maintain,
And fend us plenty, while our wanton day
Is lavish'd at the Circus, or the play.
For, fhould you to extortion be inclin'd,
Your cruel guilt will little booty find,
Since gleaning Marius has already feiz'd
All that from fun-burnt Afric can be squeez’d.

But, above all, "Be careful to with-hold
"Your talons from the wretched and the bold;
"Tempt not the brave and needy to despair ;
"For, though your violence should leave them bare
"Of gold and filver, fwords and darts remain,
"And will revenge the wrongs which they sustain;
"The plunder'd still have arms — -."

Think not the precept I have here laid down A fond, uncertain notion of my own ;

}

No, 'tis a Sibyl's leaf what I relate,

As fix'd and fure, as the decrees of fate.

Let none but men of honour you attend; Choose him that has most virtue for your friend, And give no way to any darling youth

To fell your favour, and pervert the truth.
Reclaim your wife from strolling up and down,
To all affizes and through every town,

With claws like harpies, eager for the prey
(For which your justice and your fame will pay).
Keep yourself free from scandals fuch as these ;
Then trace your birth from Picus, if you please:
If he 's too modern, and your pride afpire
To feek the author of your being higher,
Choose any Titan who the Gods withstood
To be the founder of your ancient blood,
Prometheus, and that race before the flood,
Or any other story you can find

From heralds, or in poets, to your mind.

But should you prove ambitious, luftful, vain; Or could you fee with pleasure and difdain, Rods broke on out affociates bleeding backs,

And heads-men labouring till they blunt their ax; Your father's glory will your fin proclaim, And to a clearer light expose your shame; "For ftill more public fcandal vice extends, "As he is great and noble who offends."

How dare you then your high extraction plead ? Yet blush not when you go to forge a deed,