Medulla Poetarum Romanorum Or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed under proper Heads,) Of such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, as may best serve to shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker |
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Extravagance.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Extravagance.
See Gluttony. Luxury.
Centronius does high costly Villas raiseWith Grecian Marble, which the Sight amaze:
Some stand upon Cajeta's winding Shore;
At Tyber's Tow'r, and at Præneste more.
The Dome of Hercules and Fortune show,
To his tall Fabricks, like small Cots below.
In mighty Buildings his Estate out-run,
Descends diminish'd greatly to his Son.
His Son builds on, and cannot be content,
Till the last Farthing is in Structure spent.—
A costly Gem from his Metella's Ear,
Æsop's loose Son dissolv'd in Vinegar:
And drank it down, and then profusely laugh'd,
To think he drank a Province at a Draught.
Was't not as mad as to have thrown the Gem,
Into some common Shore, or rapid Stream.—
Many there are of the same wretched Kind,
Whom their despairing Creditors may find
Lurking in Shambles: where with borrow'd Coin
They buy choice Meats, and in cheap Plenty dine:
Such whose sole Bliss is eating: who can give
But that one brutal Reason why they live.
And yet, what's more ridiculous; of these
The poorest Wretch is still most hard to please:
And he whose thin transparent Rags declare
How much his tatter'd Fortune wants Repair,
Would ransack ev'ry Element, for Choice
Of ev'ry Fish and Fowl, at any Price:
If brought from far, if very dear it cost,
It has a Flavour then, which pleases most,
And he devours it with a greater Gust.
Whom their despairing Creditors may find
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They buy choice Meats, and in cheap Plenty dine:
Such whose sole Bliss is eating: who can give
But that one brutal Reason why they live.
And yet, what's more ridiculous; of these
The poorest Wretch is still most hard to please:
And he whose thin transparent Rags declare
How much his tatter'd Fortune wants Repair,
Would ransack ev'ry Element, for Choice
Of ev'ry Fish and Fowl, at any Price:
If brought from far, if very dear it cost,
It has a Flavour then, which pleases most,
And he devours it with a greater Gust.
In Riot thus, while Money lasts, he lives,
And that exhausted, still new Pledges gives:
Till forc'd of meer Necessity, to eat,
He comes to pawn his Dish to buy his Meat.
Nothing of Silver or of Gold he spares,
Nor what his Mother's sacred Image bears:
Nor can his earthen Ware escape the Sale,
To help defray a dear luxurious Meal.—
—Thou, Damasippus,
And that exhausted, still new Pledges gives:
Till forc'd of meer Necessity, to eat,
He comes to pawn his Dish to buy his Meat.
Nothing of Silver or of Gold he spares,
Nor what his Mother's sacred Image bears:
Nor can his earthen Ware escape the Sale,
To help defray a dear luxurious Meal.—
Art forc'd to make the Stage thy last Retreat,
And pawn thy Voice, the All thou hast, for Meat:
For now Thou must, (since thy Estate is lost,)
Or represent, or be thyself a Ghost.—
As I was coming along to Day, I stumbled upon one of my own Rank and Quality, who had made a shift to guzzle away an Estate. Seeing such a rough, nasty, meager Fellow, rigg'd out with Rags and Rheumatisms, What's the Meaning of this fine Dress? (quoth I,) Alas! (said he,) I had an Estate once, but play'd the Fool, and cou'd n't keep it, and you see what I am brought to: All my Friends and Acquaintance fly me as they wou'd the Plague.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |