'Pauperies immunda domûs procul absit: ego, utrùm Nave ferar magná an parvá; ferar unus et idem. isto Cum vitio fugêre ? caret tibi pectus inani NOTES. Ver. 302. In power, wit,] The six words in the original, "Viribus, ingenio, specie, virtute, loco, re," are wonderfully close, emphatical, and compact; but I think they could hardly be better expressed than by our author. He has not, perhaps, succeeded so well in imitating another line below: Somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, sagas;" Warton. a line of admirable brevity. Ver. 312. Survey both worlds,] It is observable with what sobriety he has corrected the licentiousness of his original, which made the expectation of another world a part of that superstition he would explode; whereas the Imitator is only for removing the false terrors from the world of spirits; such as the diablerie of witchcraft and purgatory. Warburton. 305 'What is't to me (a passenger, God wot,) Whether my vessel be first rate or not? The ship itself may make a better figure, But I that sail, am neither less nor bigger. I neither strut with every favoring breath,300 Nor strive with all the tempest in my teeth. In power, wit, figure, virtue, fortune, placed Behind the foremost, and before the last. "But why all this of Avarice? 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 power? Does neither rage inflame, nor fear appal? Not the black fear of death that saddens 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 spite of witches, devils, dreams, and fire? Pleased to look forward, pleased to look behind, And count each birth-day with a grateful mind? Has life no sourness, drawn so near its end? Can'st thou endure a foe, forgive a friend? Has age but melted the rough parts away, As winter-fruits grow mild ere they decay? Or will you think, my friend, your business done, When, of a hundred thorns, you pull out one? "Learn to live well, or fairly make your will; You've play'd, and loved, and eat, and drunk your fill: Lusisti satis, edisti satis, atque bibisti: Tempus abire tibi est: ne potum largiùs æquo Rideat, et pulset lasciva decentius ætas. Walk sober off; before a sprightlier age Comes tittering on, and shoves you from the stage: Leave such to trifle with more grace and ease, Whom folly pleases, and whose follies please. NOTES. Ver. 326. Leave such to trifle] It, perhaps, might have been better to have omitted these two last lines, the second of which has a quaint and modern turn; and the humour consists in being driven off the stage, potum largius aquo. The word lusisti in the original, is used in a loose and naughty sense, says Upton. As also line 4, 13 Od. and in Propertius: 66 · populus lusit Ericthonius." Warton. |