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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Parents.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Parents.
See Education. Example.
Opidius did, as Story goes, divideHis Farms between his Sons before he dy'd:
And said, and as he said he gravely smil'd,
My Aulus, I observ'd Thee from a Child:
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And freely give thy Nuts to other Boys:
And You, Tiberius, count them o'er and o'er,
And hoard them up, increasing still your Store:
I fear'd, both mad, would diff'rent Vices chuse,
And One be covetous, and One profuse.
Wherefore I charge You both, by all that's dear,
As You my Blessing hope, or Curses fear,
That neither You consume your small Estate,
Nor You increase, but live content on That:
Since all your proper Wants it will supply,
And Nature thinks enough as well as I.
And lest You be Ambitious, hear my Oath:
Observe, I leave this Curse upon You both:
He that of You shall be Ædilis first,
Or ev'n a Prætor, let him be accurs'd!—
Observe, how ancient Marsus did advise:
My Sons! let these small Cotts and Hills suffice:
Let Us the Harvest of our Labour eat:
'Tis Labour makes the coarsest Diet sweet.
My Sons! let these small Cotts and Hills suffice:
Let Us the Harvest of our Labour eat:
'Tis Labour makes the coarsest Diet sweet.
The wiser Antients these Instructions gave:
But now a covetous old crafty Knave,
At dead of Night, shall rouze his Son, and cry,
Turn out, You Rogue! how like a Beast You lie:
Go, buckle to the Law: is this an Hour
To stretch your Limbs!—You'll ne'er be Chancellor.
Or else, yourself to Lelius recommend,
To such broad Shoulders Lelius is a Friend:
Fight under him, there's Plunder to be had:
A Captain is a very gainful Trade:
And when in Service your best Days are spent,
In time You may command a Regiment.
But if the Trumpet's Clangor You abhor,
And cannot undergoe the Toils of War,
Take to a Shop, behind a Counter lie,
Cheat half in half: none thrive by Honesty.
Never reflect upon the sordid Ware
Which You expose: be Gain your only Care.
He that grows rich by scouring of a Sink,
Gets wherewithal to justify the Stink.
This Sentence, worthy Jove himself, record
As true, and take it on a Poet's Word:
“That you get Money, is a needful Task,
“But how you get it, none will ever ask.—
But now a covetous old crafty Knave,
At dead of Night, shall rouze his Son, and cry,
Turn out, You Rogue! how like a Beast You lie:
Go, buckle to the Law: is this an Hour
To stretch your Limbs!—You'll ne'er be Chancellor.
Or else, yourself to Lelius recommend,
To such broad Shoulders Lelius is a Friend:
Fight under him, there's Plunder to be had:
A Captain is a very gainful Trade:
And when in Service your best Days are spent,
In time You may command a Regiment.
But if the Trumpet's Clangor You abhor,
And cannot undergoe the Toils of War,
Take to a Shop, behind a Counter lie,
Cheat half in half: none thrive by Honesty.
Never reflect upon the sordid Ware
Which You expose: be Gain your only Care.
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Gets wherewithal to justify the Stink.
This Sentence, worthy Jove himself, record
As true, and take it on a Poet's Word:
“That you get Money, is a needful Task,
“But how you get it, none will ever ask.—
Would any one think now that he's my Father, or that I am his Son!—If he had been a Friend or a Brother, could he have shewn more Kindness or Complaisance? Ought I not to love him! ought I not to wear him next my Heart!—This wonderful Goodness of his engages me to be always upon my Guard, least I should imprudently do any thing to disoblige him.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |