The Works of Horace In English Verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

With steady Wing between Extremes to soar,
Not proudly vain, nor despicably poor;
Our even Soul in Virtue's Scale to poize,
Not sunk by Cares, nor buoy'd by idle Joys;
In a calm Medium to secure our State,
Deaf to uneasy Love and restless Hate:
This golden Lesson ancient Sages taught,
Thus Tully acted, and thus Horace thought.
Cato for this disdain'd Rome's little Pride,
And Scipio threw his worthless Wreaths aside.
These Rules alone insure untainted Bliss,
And point the easy Path to Happiness.
Stay thy fix'd Breast, by flattering Scenes unbent;
Fond Admiration dwells not with Content.
Some lurking Ills the gaz'd-at Pomp destroy,
Delights fatigue, tumultuous Pleasures cloy.

367

While abject Crowds are ruffled with Surprize,
And ideot Wonder stares from vulgar Eyes;
No sudden Turn the settled Thought can move;
Philosophers admire not, but approve.
No glaring Meteors can disturb their Soul,
Nor all the starry Worlds above that roll:
Since what the dastard Populace affright,
A Newton or a Derham may delight.
They trace, unmov'd, the Comet's swift Career,
Though Monarchs shudder, and though Nations fear;
They view the countless Terrors of the Sky
With cool Reflection, and through Reason's Eye.
Let us then spurn all vain terrestrial Joys,
Think Honours Trifles, Diadems but Toys:
Shall the Mind lie unhing'd by each mad Flight,
And gaudy Objects catch the giddy Sight?
Shall we from Paint and Stone our Bliss receive,
Hang o'er a Statue, on a Picture live?

Go, purchase Gewgaws, and at Auctions pine
For Mummies, Urns, a Pebble, or a Coin.
Peru its Birds or Butterflies shall bring,
And India's Womb be tortur'd for a Ring.

368

A Tea-board from Japan thy Wish attends;
Persia a Screen, a Carpet Turkey sends.

Yet know, whate'er you are, whom Pleasure's Bait
Tempts to Delight, or Grandeur prompts to State;
Whether for Trifles of a higher Sphere
You long, perhaps, a Coronet to wear,
Or your vain Breast beats fondly for a Star;
Pleas'd from your gilded Chariot to bestow
A Look on bending Crowds that gaze below;
Or, more exalted, ev'n at Courts preside,
And cringing Levees feed your swelling Pride:
Though you in Senates every Taste could hit
With Compton's Eloquence, and Stanhope's Wit,
Know your gay Sunshine swiftly hastes to set:
You to that common fatal Goal must run,
Where Tudors and Plantagenets are gone.

If through your Blood contagious Humours glide,
If torturing Pains afflict your aching Side,
If Agues chill, or Fevers scorch your Brain,
Quick seek a Refuge from Disease and Pain.
Do you (as sure all must) desire with Ease
And true Content to tread Life's dangerous Ways,

369

If Virtue can alone that Blessing give,
And her Attendants only happy live,
Pursue the Goddess with unceasing Pain
O'er the bleak Mountain, or the barren Plain,
While Wealth invites and Pleasure smiles in vain.

But if strict Virtue's Laws your Soul denies,
As holy Cheats impos'd on vulgar Eyes,
To Interest's Call your Honesty postpone,
Bid Widows weep, and plunder'd Orphans groan;
Add Plumb to Plumb, your swelling Stock increase,
Till a Director's Wealth your Labours bless;
Till your full Warehouses can hold no more,
And your heap'd Treasures bend the groaning Floor.

The Man whom Wealth surrounds no Want laments,
Each Charm, each Grace his every Wish prevents;
Obsequious Friends his crowded Levee grace,
And willing Beauty yields to his Embrace:
Less Hervey's Form could tempt th'enamour'd Maid,
Less Murray's strongest Eloquence persuade.

If then Content by Gold alone is bought,
Let that alone employ your every Thought.

370

But should vain Pomp and Grandeur sooth your Breast,
Convinc'd that all who haunt the Court are blest,
Quick to the Park and Drawing-room repair,
Like Savage, know each Staff and Ribbon there;
Bow to the Minister, accost his Grace,
And talk familiar with the Peer in Place;
Inroll each noble Lord among your Friends,
Who makes a Bishop, or a Member sends.

If more substantial Bliss Ragouts supply,
And all the Joys of Life in eating lie,
The Dictates of your Palate swift pursue,
Search all that's costly, elegant, and new:
Be it the Business of each Day to dine,
While Meats Pontac supplies, and Jephson Wine.

Thus Serjeant Miller, deaf to Mammon's Call,
Oft chang'd his Wig, and hurry'd from the Hall;
And if the luscious Turbot fill'd his Eye,
Threw Littleton and all his Tenures by;
Or while the Venison bent his loaded Fork,
Left Eloquence and Law to Pratt and Yorke.

If your soft Senses Mirth and Music charm,
And Wit and Love alone your Soul can warm,

371

Be seen at every Masquerade and Play,
Wear at Quadrille the tedious Nights away;
The Joys most exquisite that Life can give
From Heidegger's alluring Arts receive,
And every Wish that fires your wanton Will,
In Epicurus' modern Groves fulfill.

Pleasures like these low vulgar Minds affect;
From these the People Happiness expect.
But Virtue Minds of nobler Stamp invites
To her sincere and more refin'd Delights.
In Paths where soft enchanting Pleasures play,
An Orleans or a Rochester may stray;
But a Nassau approves the thorny Way.