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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Luxury.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Luxury.
See Extravagance. Gluttony.
Mean time his Lordship lolls within at Ease,
Pamp'ring his Paunch with foreign Rarities:
Both Sea and Land are ransack'd for the Feast,
And his own Gut the sole invited Guest:
Such Plate, such Tables, Dishes dress'd so well,
That whole Estates are swallow'd at a Meal.—
Pamp'ring his Paunch with foreign Rarities:
Both Sea and Land are ransack'd for the Feast,
And his own Gut the sole invited Guest:
Such Plate, such Tables, Dishes dress'd so well,
That whole Estates are swallow'd at a Meal.—
59
—Attir'd beyond our Purse we go;
For useless Ornament and flaunting Show.
We take on Trust; in costly Robes we shine;
And poor, are yet ambitious to be fine—
For useless Ornament and flaunting Show.
We take on Trust; in costly Robes we shine;
And poor, are yet ambitious to be fine—
—The lavish Slave
Six thousand Pieces for a Barbel gave:
A Sesterce for each Pound it weigh'd, as they
Give out, who hear great Things, but greater say.
If by this Bribe well plac'd, he would ensnare
Some sapless Usurer that wants an Heir:
Or if this Present the sly Courtier meant,
Should to some Punk of Quality be sent,
Who in her easy Chair in State does ride,
The Glasses all drawn up on ev'ry Side,
I'd praise his Cunning:—but expect not this:
For his own Gut he bought the stately Fish.
Now ev'n Apicius frugal seems, and poor,
Outvy'd in Luxury unknown before.—
Six thousand Pieces for a Barbel gave:
A Sesterce for each Pound it weigh'd, as they
Give out, who hear great Things, but greater say.
If by this Bribe well plac'd, he would ensnare
Some sapless Usurer that wants an Heir:
Or if this Present the sly Courtier meant,
Should to some Punk of Quality be sent,
Who in her easy Chair in State does ride,
The Glasses all drawn up on ev'ry Side,
I'd praise his Cunning:—but expect not this:
For his own Gut he bought the stately Fish.
Now ev'n Apicius frugal seems, and poor,
Outvy'd in Luxury unknown before.—
You ask from whence proceed these monstrous Crimes?
Once poor, and therefore chaste, in former Times
Our Matrons were: No Luxury found Room
In low-roof'd Houses, and bare Walls of Loom:
Their Hands with Labour harden'd while 'twas light,
And frugal Sleep supply'd the quiet Night,
While pinch'd with Want, their Hunger held 'em straight,
And Hannibal was hov'ring at the Gate.
But wanton, now, and lolling at our Ease,
We suffer all th' inveterate Ills of Peace
And wasteful Riot, whose destructive Charms
Revenge the vanquish'd World of our victorious Arms.
No Crime, no lustful Actions are unknown,
Since Poverty, our Guardian God, is gone.
Pride, Laziness, and all luxurious Arts,
Pour like a Deluge in from foreign Parts.
Since Gold obscene, and Silver found the Way,
Strange Fashions with strange Bullion to convey.
And our plain simple Manners to betray.—
Once poor, and therefore chaste, in former Times
Our Matrons were: No Luxury found Room
In low-roof'd Houses, and bare Walls of Loom:
Their Hands with Labour harden'd while 'twas light,
And frugal Sleep supply'd the quiet Night,
While pinch'd with Want, their Hunger held 'em straight,
And Hannibal was hov'ring at the Gate.
But wanton, now, and lolling at our Ease,
We suffer all th' inveterate Ills of Peace
And wasteful Riot, whose destructive Charms
Revenge the vanquish'd World of our victorious Arms.
No Crime, no lustful Actions are unknown,
Since Poverty, our Guardian God, is gone.
Pride, Laziness, and all luxurious Arts,
Pour like a Deluge in from foreign Parts.
Since Gold obscene, and Silver found the Way,
Strange Fashions with strange Bullion to convey.
And our plain simple Manners to betray.—
61
Those fatal Seeds luxurious Vices sow,
Which ever lay a mighty People low.
To Rome the vanquish'd Earth her Tribute paid,
And deadly Treasures to her View display'd:
Then Truth and simple Manners left the Place,
While Riot rear'd her lewd dishonest Face:
Virtue to full Prosperity gave way,
And fled from Rapine and the Lust of Prey.
On every Side proud Palaces arise,
And lavish Gold each common Use supplies:
Their Father's frugal Tables stand abhorr'd,
While foreign Dainties smoke upon the Board:
In silken Robes the minion Men appear,
Which Maids and youthful Brides should blush to wear.
That Age, by honest Poverty adorn'd,
Which brought the manly Romans forth, is scorn'd:
Where-ever ought pernicious does abound,
For Luxury all Lands are ransack'd round,
And dear-bought Deaths the sinking State confound.
Which ever lay a mighty People low.
To Rome the vanquish'd Earth her Tribute paid,
And deadly Treasures to her View display'd:
Then Truth and simple Manners left the Place,
While Riot rear'd her lewd dishonest Face:
Virtue to full Prosperity gave way,
And fled from Rapine and the Lust of Prey.
On every Side proud Palaces arise,
And lavish Gold each common Use supplies:
Their Father's frugal Tables stand abhorr'd,
While foreign Dainties smoke upon the Board:
In silken Robes the minion Men appear,
Which Maids and youthful Brides should blush to wear.
That Age, by honest Poverty adorn'd,
Which brought the manly Romans forth, is scorn'd:
Where-ever ought pernicious does abound,
For Luxury all Lands are ransack'd round,
And dear-bought Deaths the sinking State confound.
Hence Wrath and Rage their ready Minds invade,
And Want could ev'ry Wickedness perswade:
Hence impious Pow'r was first esteem'd a Good,
Sought for by Arms, and bought with Streams of Blood:
With Glory, Tyrants did their Country awe,
And Violence prescrib'd the Rule to Law.
Hence pliant servile Voices were constrain'd,
And Force in popular Assemblies reign'd:
Consuls and Tribunes, with opposing Might,
Join'd to confound and overturn the Right:
Hence shameful Magistrates were made for Gold,
And a base People by themselves were sold:
Hence Slaughter in the venal Field returns,
And Rome her yearly Competition mourns:
Hence Debt unthrifty, careless to repay,
And Usury still watching for its Day:
Hence Perjuries in ev'ry wrangling Court:
And War, the needy Bankrupt's last Resort.—
And Want could ev'ry Wickedness perswade:
Hence impious Pow'r was first esteem'd a Good,
Sought for by Arms, and bought with Streams of Blood:
With Glory, Tyrants did their Country awe,
And Violence prescrib'd the Rule to Law.
Hence pliant servile Voices were constrain'd,
And Force in popular Assemblies reign'd:
Consuls and Tribunes, with opposing Might,
Join'd to confound and overturn the Right:
Hence shameful Magistrates were made for Gold,
And a base People by themselves were sold:
Hence Slaughter in the venal Field returns,
And Rome her yearly Competition mourns:
Hence Debt unthrifty, careless to repay,
And Usury still watching for its Day:
Hence Perjuries in ev'ry wrangling Court:
And War, the needy Bankrupt's last Resort.—
63
— Eutrapelus,
Bestow'd fine Cloaths on those he meant to hurt.
A gaudy Dress will make the Wearer vain,
Thought he, and change his Purposes and Hopes:
He'll sleep till Noon: his Business he'll neglect,
To follow Whores, and deeply run in Debt:
Till, beggar'd quite, a Bully he'll become,
Or drive an Herb-man's Cart for wretched Hire.—
Bestow'd fine Cloaths on those he meant to hurt.
A gaudy Dress will make the Wearer vain,
Thought he, and change his Purposes and Hopes:
He'll sleep till Noon: his Business he'll neglect,
To follow Whores, and deeply run in Debt:
Till, beggar'd quite, a Bully he'll become,
Or drive an Herb-man's Cart for wretched Hire.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |