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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Vice.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
465
Vice.
No Age can go beyond Us: future Times
Can add no farther to the present Crimes:
Our Sons but the same things can wish and do:
Vice is at stand, and at the highest Flow.—
Can add no farther to the present Crimes:
Our Sons but the same things can wish and do:
Vice is at stand, and at the highest Flow.—
Well, art Thou really freed from Avarice?
But what avails it, if some other Vice
Be suffer'd to bear sway?—Say, art Thou free
From Pride, and empty Popularity?
Art free from raging Anger, and the Fear
Of certain Death, that dreadful Messenger?
Canst laugh at all the idle fond Conceits
Of Sprights, Dreams, Omens, all those vulgar Cheats?
Art thankful for thy Age that's past and gone?
And being older art Thou wiser grown?
For, as it cannot much abate thy Pain
To draw one Thorn, while twenty more remain:
To hate one Vice is nothing, whilst the Mind
Indulges Vices of another Kind.—
But what avails it, if some other Vice
Be suffer'd to bear sway?—Say, art Thou free
From Pride, and empty Popularity?
Art free from raging Anger, and the Fear
Of certain Death, that dreadful Messenger?
Canst laugh at all the idle fond Conceits
Of Sprights, Dreams, Omens, all those vulgar Cheats?
Art thankful for thy Age that's past and gone?
And being older art Thou wiser grown?
For, as it cannot much abate thy Pain
To draw one Thorn, while twenty more remain:
To hate one Vice is nothing, whilst the Mind
Indulges Vices of another Kind.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |