Sylvæ, or, The second part of Poetical miscellanies

HORACE, 18th Epistle, the 1st BOOK Si bene te novi, &c.

DEar Friend, for surely I may call him so, Who doth so well the Law's of Friendship know; I'm sure you mean the kindness you profess, And to be loved by you's a happiness; Not like him who with Eloquence and pains, The specious title of a Friend obtains;

And the next day to please some Man of sence, Break's jests at his deluded Friends expence; As Jilts who by a quick compendious way, To gain new Lovers, do the old betray. There is an other failing of the mind, Equal to this, of a quite different kind, I mean that rude uncultivated skill, Which some have got of using all Men ill; Out of a zealous and unhewn pretence Of freedom and a virtuous innocence; Who 'cause they cannot fawn, betray nor cheat, Think they may push and justle all they meet, And blame what e're they see, complain, and brawl▪ And think their virtues make amends for all. They neither comb their Head, nor wash their Face, But think their virtuous nastiness a grace; When as true virtue in a medium lies, And that to turn to either Hand's a vice.

Others there are who too obsequious grown, Live more for others pleasure than their own; Applauding whatsoe're they hear or see, By a too nauseous civility; And if a Man of Title or Estate, Doth some strange story, true or false, relate; Obsequiously they cringe and vouch it all, Repeat his Words, and catch them as they fall; As School Boys follow what the Masters say, Or like an Actor prompted in a Play. Some Men there are so full of their own Sence, They take the least dispute for an offence. And if some wiser Friend their heat restrains, And says the subject is not worth the pains; Straight they reply, what I have said is true, And I'le defend it against him and you; And if he still dares say 'tis not, I'le dye, Rather than not maintain he say's a lye.

Now, would you see from whence these heats arise, And where th' important contradiction lies; 'Tis but to know if, when a Client's prest, S— or W— plead's his Cause the best: Or if to Windsor he most minutes gains, Who goes by Colebrook, or who goes by Stains; Who spends his Wealth in Pleasure, and at Play, And yet affects to be well cloath'd and gay, And comes to want; and yet dreads nothing more, Than to be thought necessitous and poor: Him his rich Kinsman is afraid to see, Shuns like a Burthen to the Family; And rails at vices, which have made him poor, Though he himself perhaps hath many more: Or tells him wisely, Cousin have a care And your Expences with your Rents compare; Since you inherit but a small Estate, Your pleasures, Cousin, must be moderate.

I know, you think to huff, and live like me, Cousin, my wealth supports my vanity. But they, who 've Wit and not Estate enough, Must cut their Coat according to their Stuff; Therefore forbear t'affect equality, Forget you 've such a foolish Friend as me. There was a Courtier, who to punish those, Who, though below him, he believed his foes; And more effectually to vent his rage, Sent them fine Cloaths and a new Equipage; For then the foolish Sparks couragious grown, Set up for roaring Bully's of the Town; Must go to Plays, and in the Boxes sit, Then to a Whore, and live like Men of Wit; Till at the last their Coach and Horses spent, Their Cloaths grown dirty, and their Ribons rent; Their fortune changed their appetite the same, And 'tis too late their Folly's to reclaim.

They must turn Porters, or in Taverns wait, And buy their pleasures at a cheaper rate; And 'midst their dirty Mistresses and Wifes, Lead out the rest of their mistaken lives. Never be too inquisitive to find The hidden secrets of anothers mind, For when you've torn one secret from his Breast, You run great risque of loosing all the rest; And if he should unimportun'd impart His secret thoughts, and trust you with his Heart, Let not your drinking, anger, pride or lust, Ever invite you to betray the trust. First never praise your own designs, and then Ne're lessen the designs of other Men; Nor when a Friend invites you any where, To sett a Partridge, or to chase a Hare, Beg he'd excuse you for this once, and say, You must go home, and study all the day,

So 'twas that once Amphion jealous grown, That Zethus lov'd no pleasure's but his own; Was forced to give his Brothers friendship o're, Or to resolve to touch his Lyre no more; He chose the safest and the wisest way, And to oblige his Brother, left his Play. Do you the same, and for the self same end, Obey your civil importuning Friend; And when he leads his Dogs into the plain, Quit your untimely labours of the Brain, And leave your serious Studies, that you may Sup with an equal pleasure on the prey. Hunting's an old and honourable sport, Loved in the Country, and esteem'd at Court; Healthful to th' Body, pleasing to the Eye, And practised by our old Nobility: Who see you love the pleasures they admire, Will equally approve what you desire;

Such condescention will more Friendship gain, Than the best rules, which your wise Books contain. Talk not of others lives, or have a care Of whom you talk, to whom, and what, and where; For you don't only wound the Man you blame, But all mankind, who will expect the same. Shun all inquisitive and curious Men, For what they hear they will relate again; And he who hath impatient craving Ears, Hath a loose Tongue to utter all he hears; And Words like th' moving Air of which they're fram'd, When once let loose, can never be reclaim'd. Where you've access to a rich powerful Man, Govern your mind with all the care you can; And be not by your foolish lust betray'd, To court his Cousin, or debauch his Maid: Least with a little Portion, and the pride Of being to the Family allyed;

He gives you either, with which bounty blest, You must quit all pretentions to the rest; Or least incens'd at your attempt, and grieved, You should abuse the kindness you received; He coldly thwarts your impotent desire, Till you at last choose rather to retire, Than tempt his anger any more, and so Loose a great Patron, and a Mistress too. Next have a care, what Men you recommend, To th' service or esteem of your rich Friend; Least for his service or esteem unfit, They load you with the faults, which they commit. But as the wisest Men with all their skill May be deceived, and place their Friendship ill: ••o when you see you 've err'd, you must refuse ••o defend those whom their own crimes accuse. ••ut if through envy of malicious Men, ••hey be accused, you must protect them then,

And plead their Cause your self, for when you see Him you commend, attack'd with infamy, Know that 'tis you they hate, when him they blame; Him they have wounded, but at you they aim; And when your Neighbours House is set on fire, You must his safety as your own conspire. Such hidden fires though in the Suburbs cast, Neglected, may consume the Town at last. They who do n't know the dangers, which attend The glittering Court of a rich powerful Friend; Love no Estate so much, and think they're blest, When they but make a Leg amongst the rest; But they who've try'd it, and with prudent care Do all its honours, and its ills compare, Fear to engage, least with their time and pain, They loose more pleasure, than they hoped to gain•• See you, that while your Vessel's under Sail, You make your best advantage of the Gale;

Least the Wind changes, and some stormy rain Should throw you back to your first Port again. You must endeavour to dispose your mind To please all humours of a different kind; Whose temper's serious, and their humour sad, They think all blithe and merry Men are mad; They who are merry, and whose humour's free, Abhor a sad and serious gravity; They who are slow and heavy cann't admit, The Friendship of a quick and ready Wit; The Slothful hate the busie active Men, And are detested by the same again. They who's free humour prompts them to be gay, To Drink all Night, and Revel all the Day; Abhor the Man, that can his Cups refuse, Though his untimely virtue to excuse; He swears that one such merry drinking Feast, Would make him sick for a whole Week at least.

Suffer no Cloud to dwell upon your Brow, The modest Men are thought obscure and low; And they, who an affected silence keep, Are thought to be too rigid, sower and deep. Amongst all other things do not omit To search the Writings of great Men of Wit, And in the conversation of the Wise, In what true happiness and pleasure lyes; Which are the safest rules to live at ease, And the best way to make all fortunes please, Least through the craving hopes of gaining more, And fear of loosing what you gain'd before: Your poor unsatisfied misguided mind, To needy wishes, and false joys confin'd; Puts its free boundless searching thoughts in chains, And where it sought its pleasure find's it pains; If virtuous thoughts, and if a prudent Heart Be given by nature, or obtain'd by Art.

What lessens cares, the minds uneasie pain, And reconciles us to our selves again; Which doth the truest happiness create, Unblemish'd Honour, or a great Estate; Or a safe private quiet, which betrays It self to ease, and cheats away the days. When I am at — where my kind fate Hath placed my little moderate Estate, Where natur's care hath equally employ'd, Its inward Treasures, and its outward Pride; What thoughts d'ye think those easie Joy's inspire? What do you think I covet and desire? Tis, that I may but undisturb'd possess, The littl' I have, and if Heaven pleases, less; That I to Nature and my self may give, The little time that I have left to live; Some Book's in which I some new thoughts may find, To entertain, and to refresh my mind;

Some Horses, which may help me to partake The lawful pleasures which the seasons make; An easie plenty, which at least may spare The frugal pains of a Domestick care; A Friend, if that a faithful Friend there be, Who can love such an idle life, and me; Then Heav'n, give me but life and health, I'le find A grateful Soul, and a contented Mind.