The Works of Horace In English Verse By several hands. Collected and Published By Mr. Duncombe. With Notes Historical and Critical |
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 | The Works of Horace In English Verse |  |
178
SATIRE II. Of Frugality.
What, and how great, the Benefits, that flow
From Temperance, here learn, my Friends, with Me;
(For 'tis not I, but good Ofellus speaks,
Taught by pure Nature, wise without the Schools)
But come not to his Lecture, gorg'd with Food,
From splendid Tables and luxurious Feasts,
Where foolish Pomp corrupts the Judgment's Eye;
But fasting come: Why fasting, you will say?
You strait shall hear. Can any Judge, when brib'd,
Sift out the Truth, and follow Reason's Lore?
‘Go hunt,’ he cry'd, ‘or rein th'unbroken Steed,
‘Or Roman Arms, in mimic Warfare, wield;
‘But if, soft-train'd to Grecian Revelries,
‘You think this manly Exercise too hard,
‘At Tennis play, or hurl the massy Bar;
‘The pleasing Sport will lessen all your Toil.
‘When thus you have remov'd your sickly Qualms,
‘When hungry and a-thirst, scorn simple Fare;
‘Nor drink the harsh Falernian Wine, unless
‘With Attic Honey mellow'd to the Taste.
‘The Butler is abroad; the wintry Sea,
‘Black'ning with Storms, defends its Tenant-Fish;
‘Yet now with Bread and Salt you can allay
‘Your craving Appetite: What is the Cause?
‘'Tis plain the Relish from yourself proceeds,
‘And not from Meats high-flavour'd: But do You
‘Cook Dainties for Yourself by Sweat and Toil.
‘The Man, with late Debauch so puff'd and pale,
‘Nor foreign Ortolans, nor Turbots please.’
From Temperance, here learn, my Friends, with Me;
(For 'tis not I, but good Ofellus speaks,
Taught by pure Nature, wise without the Schools)
But come not to his Lecture, gorg'd with Food,
From splendid Tables and luxurious Feasts,
Where foolish Pomp corrupts the Judgment's Eye;
But fasting come: Why fasting, you will say?
You strait shall hear. Can any Judge, when brib'd,
Sift out the Truth, and follow Reason's Lore?
‘Go hunt,’ he cry'd, ‘or rein th'unbroken Steed,
‘Or Roman Arms, in mimic Warfare, wield;
‘But if, soft-train'd to Grecian Revelries,
‘You think this manly Exercise too hard,
‘At Tennis play, or hurl the massy Bar;
‘The pleasing Sport will lessen all your Toil.
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‘When hungry and a-thirst, scorn simple Fare;
‘Nor drink the harsh Falernian Wine, unless
‘With Attic Honey mellow'd to the Taste.
‘The Butler is abroad; the wintry Sea,
‘Black'ning with Storms, defends its Tenant-Fish;
‘Yet now with Bread and Salt you can allay
‘Your craving Appetite: What is the Cause?
‘'Tis plain the Relish from yourself proceeds,
‘And not from Meats high-flavour'd: But do You
‘Cook Dainties for Yourself by Sweat and Toil.
‘The Man, with late Debauch so puff'd and pale,
‘Nor foreign Ortolans, nor Turbots please.’
But, spite of all I say, I doubt, if now
A Peacock and a Pullet came before ye,
You would regale on that, and this reject,
Misled by Show. For the rare Bird is bought
At a high Price, and with its painted Tail
Delights. What to the Purpose this? In Taste
It is no better than a common Fowl.
You cannot eat the Feathers you admire,
Nor does it boast these Honours in the Dish.
A Peacock and a Pullet came before ye,
You would regale on that, and this reject,
Misled by Show. For the rare Bird is bought
At a high Price, and with its painted Tail
Delights. What to the Purpose this? In Taste
It is no better than a common Fowl.
You cannot eat the Feathers you admire,
Nor does it boast these Honours in the Dish.
180
Say, by what wond'rous Instinct you discern,
Whether this Pike was in the River caught,
Or in the Sea; and if between the Bridges,
Or near the Fountain of the Tuscan Stream?
Whether this Pike was in the River caught,
Or in the Sea; and if between the Bridges,
Or near the Fountain of the Tuscan Stream?
You fondly praise a Mullet of three Pounds,
Though cut in Pieces, ere it can be stew'd.
The outward Form of Things deceives the Mind.
You hate small Mullets, Pikes when large; because
Nature has made these large, and smaller those.
Though cut in Pieces, ere it can be stew'd.
The outward Form of Things deceives the Mind.
You hate small Mullets, Pikes when large; because
Nature has made these large, and smaller those.
‘Give me,’ the harpy-throated Glutton cries,
‘A mighty Turbot in a mighty Dish!’—
O haste, propitious South-winds, haste, and taint
His Food! But why should I invoke your Aid?
His own Excess will pall his Appetite,
And make the Boar and Turbot, freshly caught,
Rank to his Taste; and soon he must repair
To acid Herbs and Radish for Relief.
‘A mighty Turbot in a mighty Dish!’—
O haste, propitious South-winds, haste, and taint
His Food! But why should I invoke your Aid?
His own Excess will pall his Appetite,
And make the Boar and Turbot, freshly caught,
Rank to his Taste; and soon he must repair
To acid Herbs and Radish for Relief.
Yet some Remains of our old simple Fare
Are seen at royal Banquets; there cheap Eggs
And sable Olives still maintain a Place.
Not many Years ago, of Luxury
Gallonius was convicted, on his Board
Because a Sturgeon smok'd. But did not then
The Sea as many Turbots feed, as now?
But safely in their watry Bed they slept;
And safely in her Nest the Stork repos'd;
'Till longing to be Prætor, Rufus first
Instructed you to eat this dainty Food.
And even now, if any one will vouch,
That roasted Cormorants are excellent,
Our Youth, soon warp'd to Ill, will follow him,
And Cormorant will be the reigning Dish.
Are seen at royal Banquets; there cheap Eggs
And sable Olives still maintain a Place.
Not many Years ago, of Luxury
Gallonius was convicted, on his Board
Because a Sturgeon smok'd. But did not then
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But safely in their watry Bed they slept;
And safely in her Nest the Stork repos'd;
'Till longing to be Prætor, Rufus first
Instructed you to eat this dainty Food.
And even now, if any one will vouch,
That roasted Cormorants are excellent,
Our Youth, soon warp'd to Ill, will follow him,
And Cormorant will be the reigning Dish.
Wide is the Difference, Ofellus thinks,
Between a lavish and a frugal Meal:
Then with Discretion in the Middle steer,
Careful to shun th'Extremes on either Hand;
Frugal, not mean; and free without Excess.
Between a lavish and a frugal Meal:
Then with Discretion in the Middle steer,
Careful to shun th'Extremes on either Hand;
Frugal, not mean; and free without Excess.
Avidiënus, who was styl'd the Dog,
And merited the Name, was wont to eat
Olives of five Years old, and Cornels wild;
Nor other Wine would for Libations grant
Than what was eager; and, when rob'd in white,
He kept his natal, or his wedding Day,
He from a Cruet, which contain'd a Quart,
Distill'd upon the Coleworts Oyl so rank,
His Guests were almost poison'd with the Stench;
But plenteous pour'd the mothery Vinegar.
What sort of Life should now the wise Man chuse?
Here stands Extravagance; there Penury;
Frugality points out the middle Road;
Bids him be neat, and yet Profusion shun.
He will not be severe, like old Albutius,
Who to each Slave assign'd his proper Post,
When Guests he summon'd; and, without Remorse,
Punish'd the least Mistake: Nor yet, like Nævius,
So slovenly, to give them greasy Water.
This a wide Error on the other side.
And merited the Name, was wont to eat
Olives of five Years old, and Cornels wild;
Nor other Wine would for Libations grant
Than what was eager; and, when rob'd in white,
He kept his natal, or his wedding Day,
He from a Cruet, which contain'd a Quart,
Distill'd upon the Coleworts Oyl so rank,
His Guests were almost poison'd with the Stench;
But plenteous pour'd the mothery Vinegar.
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Here stands Extravagance; there Penury;
Frugality points out the middle Road;
Bids him be neat, and yet Profusion shun.
He will not be severe, like old Albutius,
Who to each Slave assign'd his proper Post,
When Guests he summon'd; and, without Remorse,
Punish'd the least Mistake: Nor yet, like Nævius,
So slovenly, to give them greasy Water.
This a wide Error on the other side.
Now learn the various Blessings that will flow
From Temperance: Of these, the first is Health.
Reflect how sprightly were the Days of Youth,
When on one Dish you could contented dine.
But since, at once, Meat boil'd and roast you mix,
Shell-fish and Fowls; the sweet and acid jar,
And wretched Tumults in your Bowels raise;
Cold Phlegm, and Bile adust, fermenting there.
From Temperance: Of these, the first is Health.
Reflect how sprightly were the Days of Youth,
When on one Dish you could contented dine.
But since, at once, Meat boil'd and roast you mix,
Shell-fish and Fowls; the sweet and acid jar,
And wretched Tumults in your Bowels raise;
Cold Phlegm, and Bile adust, fermenting there.
How pale, from Treats luxurious, rise the Guests!
Nay more; the Body, heavy with the Load
Of Yester-night's Debauch, chains down to Earth
That Particle of Breath divine, the Soul!
Nay more; the Body, heavy with the Load
Of Yester-night's Debauch, chains down to Earth
That Particle of Breath divine, the Soul!
The temperate Man snatches a frugal Meal,
Resigns his weary Limbs to sweet Repose,
And rises active to his daily Toil.
Yet he can sometimes take a chearful Glass,
When circling Years bring round a festal Day,
Or to invigorate his feeble Form,
Or when weak Age a milder Treatment claims.
If now, while young and strong, you waste your Days
In Blandishments, what Solace can you hope,
Oppress'd with languid Health, or listless Years?
Resigns his weary Limbs to sweet Repose,
183
Yet he can sometimes take a chearful Glass,
When circling Years bring round a festal Day,
Or to invigorate his feeble Form,
Or when weak Age a milder Treatment claims.
If now, while young and strong, you waste your Days
In Blandishments, what Solace can you hope,
Oppress'd with languid Health, or listless Years?
Our Fathers prais'd a tainted Boar; and yet
They had a Nose. Their Meaning, as I guess,
Was this: They kept it 'till their Friends should come,
And share the Feast; nor would, Curmudgeon-like,
Devour it by themselves entire and sweet.
O that the vigorous Earth had brought me forth
Among the Heroes of that Golden Age!
They had a Nose. Their Meaning, as I guess,
Was this: They kept it 'till their Friends should come,
And share the Feast; nor would, Curmudgeon-like,
Devour it by themselves entire and sweet.
O that the vigorous Earth had brought me forth
Among the Heroes of that Golden Age!
Regard'st thou Fame, which ought to sooth the Ear
Beyond the sweetest Verse? or know'st thou not,
That costly Treats will hurt thy Character
No less than thy Estate? Nay, add to this,
That, by thy Children, Friends, and Self, accurs'd,
Thou wilt not have a single Penny left,
To buy a Cord, and end thy wretched Life!
‘Why aye, 'tis right,’ the wealthy Trasius cries,
‘Thus to rebuke the Man, whose small Estate
‘Will not support the Table that he keeps.
‘But what is this to Me, who am possess'd
‘Of Wealth enough to dignify a King?’
Indeed! why therefore dost thou not employ
That Wealth superfluous to a nobler End?
Why does a worthy Man repine in Want,
Whilst thou art rich? Wherefore in Ruins lie
The ancient Temples of the Gods? O say,
Wretch as thou art, why dost thou not bestow
Some Portion of thy Pelf to serve thy Country?
Beyond the sweetest Verse? or know'st thou not,
That costly Treats will hurt thy Character
No less than thy Estate? Nay, add to this,
That, by thy Children, Friends, and Self, accurs'd,
Thou wilt not have a single Penny left,
184
‘Why aye, 'tis right,’ the wealthy Trasius cries,
‘Thus to rebuke the Man, whose small Estate
‘Will not support the Table that he keeps.
‘But what is this to Me, who am possess'd
‘Of Wealth enough to dignify a King?’
Indeed! why therefore dost thou not employ
That Wealth superfluous to a nobler End?
Why does a worthy Man repine in Want,
Whilst thou art rich? Wherefore in Ruins lie
The ancient Temples of the Gods? O say,
Wretch as thou art, why dost thou not bestow
Some Portion of thy Pelf to serve thy Country?
What! will kind Fortune smile on thee alone,
And never, never change? Hereafter, thou,
Scorn'd by thy Foes, shalt dearly rue thy Folly.
Say, which is most secure, should Fortune shift,
The Man, who gratifies each Appetite,
Pamper'd each Day in Body and in Mind;
Or he, who, blest with little, fears the worst,
And prudently in Peace provides for War?
But, by an Instance to confirm my Words,
Ofellus I remember when a Boy,
Who with the same Frugality then liv'd
In Affluence, as now he lives reduc'd.
You still may see this sturdy Hind, who ploughs
Those Fields for Hire, of which he once was Lord;
And, as he works, he thus accosts his Sons:
And never, never change? Hereafter, thou,
Scorn'd by thy Foes, shalt dearly rue thy Folly.
Say, which is most secure, should Fortune shift,
The Man, who gratifies each Appetite,
Pamper'd each Day in Body and in Mind;
Or he, who, blest with little, fears the worst,
And prudently in Peace provides for War?
But, by an Instance to confirm my Words,
Ofellus I remember when a Boy,
Who with the same Frugality then liv'd
185
You still may see this sturdy Hind, who ploughs
Those Fields for Hire, of which he once was Lord;
And, as he works, he thus accosts his Sons:
‘On common Days I was content to dine
‘On a smok'd Flitch, with savoury Coleworts join'd.
‘But when a Friend, long absent, came from far,
‘Or a kind Neighbour on a rainy Day,
‘And by foul Weather we were kept at home,
‘I feasted them with home-bred Kid and Fowl,
‘And not with Fish from Rome. Grapes long preserv'd,
‘Walnuts and Figs, adorn'd our second Course.
‘The Dinner o'er, with grateful Hearts we paid
‘To Ceres due Libations; and implor'd
‘Her Influence, to bless the springing Corn;
‘Then chearly circled round the generous Bowl,
‘And smooth'd our wrinkled Brows with Bacchus' Gift:
‘Yet was each Guest from all Compulsion free,
‘And Temperance reign'd sole Mistress of the Feast.
‘On a smok'd Flitch, with savoury Coleworts join'd.
‘But when a Friend, long absent, came from far,
‘Or a kind Neighbour on a rainy Day,
‘And by foul Weather we were kept at home,
‘I feasted them with home-bred Kid and Fowl,
‘And not with Fish from Rome. Grapes long preserv'd,
‘Walnuts and Figs, adorn'd our second Course.
‘The Dinner o'er, with grateful Hearts we paid
‘To Ceres due Libations; and implor'd
‘Her Influence, to bless the springing Corn;
‘Then chearly circled round the generous Bowl,
‘And smooth'd our wrinkled Brows with Bacchus' Gift:
‘Yet was each Guest from all Compulsion free,
‘And Temperance reign'd sole Mistress of the Feast.
‘Let Fortune frown, and farther Tumults raise,
‘From Me how little can she take? Have I,
‘My Boys, liv'd worse, or are your Looks less sleek,
‘Since this new Tenant came, and seiz'd our Land?
‘I call him Tenant, whom you deem your Lord;
‘That Farm, which by Ofellus' Name once past,
‘Is now Umbrenus's; the Use alone,
‘Not Property; which can to none belong:
‘For neither him, nor me, nor any one,
‘Hath Nature truly form'd Proprietor
‘Of what he holds. This Man ejected me;
‘Him, or his own Debaucheries, or Quirks
‘Of wicked Law unknown, may soon eject;
‘Or on his Heir it must at last devolve.
‘From Me how little can she take? Have I,
‘My Boys, liv'd worse, or are your Looks less sleek,
186
‘I call him Tenant, whom you deem your Lord;
‘That Farm, which by Ofellus' Name once past,
‘Is now Umbrenus's; the Use alone,
‘Not Property; which can to none belong:
‘For neither him, nor me, nor any one,
‘Hath Nature truly form'd Proprietor
‘Of what he holds. This Man ejected me;
‘Him, or his own Debaucheries, or Quirks
‘Of wicked Law unknown, may soon eject;
‘Or on his Heir it must at last devolve.
‘Live then, my Sons, contented with your Lot,
‘And meet each adverse Chance with steady Mind!’
‘And meet each adverse Chance with steady Mind!’
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