A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace With the Original Text, and Critical Notes collected from his best Latin and French Commentators. By the Revd Mr. Philip Francis...The third edition |
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Epist. XV. To Vala.
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 | A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace |  |
335
Epist. XV. To Vala.
By my Physician's learn'd Advice I fly
From Baia's Waters, yet with angry Eye
The Village views me, when I mean to bathe
The middle Winter's freezing Wave beneath;
Loudly complaining that their Myrtle Groves
Are now neglected; their sulfureous Stoves,
Of ancient Fame our feeble Nerves to raise,
And dissipate the lingering cold Disease,
While the sick Folks in Clusium's Fountains dare
Plunge the bold Head, or seek a colder Air.
From Baia's Waters, yet with angry Eye
The Village views me, when I mean to bathe
The middle Winter's freezing Wave beneath;
Loudly complaining that their Myrtle Groves
Are now neglected; their sulfureous Stoves,
Of ancient Fame our feeble Nerves to raise,
And dissipate the lingering cold Disease,
While the sick Folks in Clusium's Fountains dare
Plunge the bold Head, or seek a colder Air.
The Road we now must alter, and engage
Th' unwilling Horse to pass his usual Stage:
Ho! whither now? his angry Rider Cries,
And to the left the restive Bridle plies.
We go no more to Baiæ prithee hear—
But in his Bridle lies an Horse's Ear.
Th' unwilling Horse to pass his usual Stage:
337
And to the left the restive Bridle plies.
We go no more to Baiæ prithee hear—
But in his Bridle lies an Horse's Ear.
Dear Vala, say, how temperate, how severe,
Are Velia's Winters, and Salernum's Air:
The Genius of the Folks, the Roads how good:
Which eats the better Bread, and when a Flood
Of Rain descends, which quaffs the gather'd Shower,
Or do their Fountains purer Water pour?
Their Country-Vintage is not worth my Care,
For though at home, whatever Wine, I bear,
At Sea-port Towns I shall expect to find
My Wines of generous and of smoother Kind,
To drive away my Cares, and to the Soul,
Through the full Veins, with golden Hopes to roll;
With flowing Language to inspire my Tongue,
And make the listening Fair-one think me young.
Are Velia's Winters, and Salernum's Air:
The Genius of the Folks, the Roads how good:
Which eats the better Bread, and when a Flood
Of Rain descends, which quaffs the gather'd Shower,
Or do their Fountains purer Water pour?
Their Country-Vintage is not worth my Care,
For though at home, whatever Wine, I bear,
At Sea-port Towns I shall expect to find
My Wines of generous and of smoother Kind,
To drive away my Cares, and to the Soul,
Through the full Veins, with golden Hopes to roll;
With flowing Language to inspire my Tongue,
And make the listening Fair-one think me young.
With Hares or Boars which Country's best supplied?
Which Seas their better Fish luxurious hide?
That I may home return in luscious Plight—
'Tis ours to credit, as 'tis yours to write.
Which Seas their better Fish luxurious hide?
That I may home return in luscious Plight—
'Tis ours to credit, as 'tis yours to write.
When Mænius had consum'd, with gallant Heart,
A large Estate, he took the Jester's Art:
A vagrant Zany, of no certain Manger,
Who knew not, ere he din'd, or Friend or Stranger:
Cruel, and scurrilous to all, his Jest;
The ruin'd Butcher's Gulph, a Storm, a Pest.
Whate'er he got his ravening Guts receive,
And when or Friend or Foe no longer gave,
A Lamb's fat Paunch was a delicious Treat,
As much as three voracious Bears could eat;
Then like Reformer Bestius would he tell ye,
That Gluttons should be branded on the Belly.
A large Estate, he took the Jester's Art:
A vagrant Zany, of no certain Manger,
Who knew not, ere he din'd, or Friend or Stranger:
Cruel, and scurrilous to all, his Jest;
The ruin'd Butcher's Gulph, a Storm, a Pest.
Whate'er he got his ravening Guts receive,
And when or Friend or Foe no longer gave,
339
As much as three voracious Bears could eat;
Then like Reformer Bestius would he tell ye,
That Gluttons should be branded on the Belly.
But if, perchance, he found some richer Fare,
Instant it vanish'd into Smoke and Air—
“By Jove I wonder not, that Folks should eat,
“At one delicious Meal, a whole Estate,
“For a fat Thrush is most delightful Food,
“And a Swine's Paunch superlatively good.”
Instant it vanish'd into Smoke and Air—
“By Jove I wonder not, that Folks should eat,
“At one delicious Meal, a whole Estate,
“For a fat Thrush is most delightful Food,
“And a Swine's Paunch superlatively good.”
Thus I, when better Entertainments fail,
Bravely commend a plain and frugal Meal;
On cheaper Suppers shew myself full wise,
But if some Dainties more luxurious rise—
“Right sage and happy they alone, whose Fate
“Gives them a splendid House, and large Estate.”
Bravely commend a plain and frugal Meal;
On cheaper Suppers shew myself full wise,
But if some Dainties more luxurious rise—
“Right sage and happy they alone, whose Fate
“Gives them a splendid House, and large Estate.”
| A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace | |