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A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace

With the Original Text, and Critical Notes collected from his best Latin and French Commentators. By the Revd Mr. Philip Francis...The third edition
  

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Epist. XIV. To His Steward in the Country.
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Epist. XIV. To His Steward in the Country.

Thou Steward of the Woods and Country-Seat,
That give me to myself: whose small Estate,
Which you despise, five worthy Fathers sent,
One from each House, to Varia's Parliament:
Let us enquire, if You, with happier Toil,
Root out the Thorns and Thistles of the Soil,
Than Horace tears his Follies from his Breast;
Whether my Farm or I be cultur'd best.

331

Though Lamia's pious Tears, that ceaseless mourn
A Brother lost, have hinder'd my Return,
Thither my warmest Wishes bend their Force,
Start from the Goal, and beat the distant Course.
Rome is your Rapture, mine the rural Seat;
Pleas'd with each other's Lot, our own we hate;
But both are Fools, and Fools in like Extreme;
Guiltless the Place, that we unjustly blame,
For in the Mind alone our Follies lie,
The Mind, that never from itself can fly.
A Slave at Rome, and discontented there,
A Country-Life was then your silent Prayer:
A Rustic grown, your first Desires return,
For Rome, her public Games and Baths you burn.
More constant to myself, I leave with Pain,
By hateful Business forc'd, the rural Scene.
From different Objects our Desires arise,
And thence the Distance, that between us lies;
For what you call inhospitably drear
To me with Beauty and Delight appear,
For well I know, a Tavern's greasy Steam
And a vile Stews with Joy your Heart enflame,
While my small Farm yields rather Herbs than Vines,
Nor there a neighbouring Tavern pours its Wines,
Nor Harlot-Minstrel sings, when the rude Sound
Tempts You with heavy Heels to thump the Ground.
But you complain, that with unceasing Toil,
You break, alas! the long unbroken Soil,
Or loose the wearied Oxen from the Plow,
And feed with Leaves new-gather'd from the Bough.
Then feels your Laziness an added Pain,
If e'er the Rivulet be swollen with Rain;

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What mighty Mounds against its Force You rear
To teach its Rage the sunny Mead to spare!
Now hear, from whence our Sentiments divide;
In Youth, perhaps with not ungraceful Pride,
I wore a silken Robe, perfum'd my Hair,
And without Presents charm'd the venal Fair:
From early Morning quaff'd the flowing Glass;
Now a short Supper charms, or on the Grass
To lay me down at some fair River's Side,
And sweetly slumber as the Waters glide;
Nor do I blush to own my Follies past,
But own those Follies should no longer last.
None there with Eye askance my Pleasures views,
With Hatred dark, or poison'd Spite pursues;
My Neighbours laugh to see with how much Toil
I carry Stones, or break the stubborn Soil.
You with my City-Slaves would gladly join,
And on their daily Pittance hardly dine;
While more refin'd they view with envious Eye
The Gardens, Horses, Fires, that You enjoy.
Thus the slow Ox would gaudy Trappings claim;
The sprightly Horse would plough amidst the Team;
By my Advice, let each with chearful Heart,
As best he understands, employ his Art.