The satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis translated into English verse by Mr. Dryden and several other eminent hands ; together with the satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus, made English by Mr. Dryden ; with explanatory notes at the end of each satire ; to which is prefix'd a discourse concerning the original and progress of satire ... by Mr. Dryden.

THE SEVENTH SATYR.

ON Caesar all our Studies must depend; For Caesar is alone the Muses Friend: When now the Celebrated Wits, for need Hire Bagnio's, to the Cryer's Trade succeed, Or get their own, by Baking other's Bread: Or by the Porter's Lodge with Beggars wait, For greazy Fragments at the Great Man's Gate. Tis better, so; if thy Poetick Fob Refuse to pay an Ordinary's Club; And much more Honest, to be hir'd, and standLine 10 With Auctionary Hammer in thy Hand, Provoking to give more, and knocking thrice For the sold Houshold Stuff, or Picture's price; Exposing Play-Books, full of Fustian Lines, Or the dull Libraries of Dead Divines.

Ev'n this is better, tho 'tis hardly got, Than be a Perjur'd Witness of a Plot, To Swear he saw three inches through a Door; As Asiatick Evidences Swore;

Who hither coming, out at Heels and Knees,Line 20 For this had Pensions, Titles, and Degrees.

Henceforward let no Poet fear to Starve, Caesar will give, if we can but deserve. Tune all your Lyres, the Monarch's Praise invites The lab'ring Muse; and vast Reward excites. But if from other hands than his, you think To find supply, 'tis loss of Pen and Ink: Let Flames on your unlucky Papers prey, Or Moths through written Pages eat their way: Your Wars, your Loves, your Praises, be forgot,Line 30 And make of all an Universal blot. The Muses ground is barren Desart all; If no support from Caesar's Bounty fall; The rest is empty Praise, an Ivy Crown, Or the lean 1 1.1 Statue of a starv'd Renown.

For now the cunning Patron never pays; But thinks he gives enough in giving Praise, Extols the Poem, and the Poet's Vein, As Boys admire the Peacok's Gawdy Train: Mean while thy Manhood, fit for Toils and Wars,Line 40 Patient of Seas, and Storms, and Houshold Cares, Ebbs out apace, and all thy Strength impairs. Old Age, with silent pace, comes creeping on, Nauseates the Praise, which in her Youth she won, And hates the Muse by which she was undone.

The Tricks of thy base Patron now behold, To spare his Purse, and save his darling Gold; In his own Coin the Starving Wit he Treats; Himself makes Verses, which himself repeats, And yields to Homer, on no other scoreLine 50 Than that he liv'd a Thousand Years before. But if, to Fame alone, thou dost pretend, The Miser will his empty Palace lend; Set wide his Doors, adorn'd with plated Brass, Where droves, as at a City-gate may pass; A spacious Hall afford thee to reherse, And send his Clients to applaud thy Verse; But not one Far••••ing to defray the costs Of Carpenters, the 2 1.2 Pulpit, and the Posts.

House-room that costs him nothing, he bestow••Line 60 Yet still we Scribble on, tho still we lose: We drudge, and cultivate with care, a Ground Where no return of Gain was ever found: The Charms of Poetry our Souls bewitch; The Curse of Writing is an endless Itch.

But he whose Noble Genius is allow'd; Who with stretch'd Pinions soars above the crow'd; Who mighty Thought can cloath with Manly Dress, He, whom I fancy, but can ne're e••press;

Such, such a Wit, tho rarely to be found,Line 70 Must be secure from Want, if not abound. Nice is his make, impatient of the War, Avoiding Bus'ness, and abhorring Care; He must have Groves; and lonely Fountains chuse, And easie Solitudes to bait his Muse; Unvex'd with thought of Wants, which may betide, Or for to Morrow's Dinner to provide. Horace 3 1.3 ne're wrote but with a Rosie Cheek; His Belly pamper'd, and his Sides were sleek. A Wit should have no care; or this alone,Line 80 To make his rising Numbers justly run. Phoebus and Bacchus, those two Jolly Gods, Bear no Starv'd Poets to their Blest Abodes. 'Tis not for Hungry Wit, with Wants control'd, The Face of Iove in Council to behold: Or fierce 4 1.4 Alecto, when her Brand she toss'd, Betwixt the Trojan, and Rutilian Hoast: If Virgil's Suit 5 1.5 Mecenas had not sped, And sent 6 1.6 Alexis to the Poet's Bed; The Crested Snakes had dropt upon the groundLine 90 And the loud Trumpet languish'd in the sound.

Yet we expect that 7 1.7 Lappa's Muse shou'd please, As much as did Immortal 8 1.8 Sophocles: When he his Dishes and his Cloaths has sent To Pawn, for payment of a Quarter's Rent:

His Patron 9 1.9 Numitor will nothing lend, Pleads want of Mony to his wretched Friend, Yet can large Presents to his Harlot send: Can purchase a tame Lion, and can Treat The Kingly Slave with sev'ral sorts of Meat:Line 100 It seems, he thinks th' Expence is more, to Feast The Famish'd Poet, than the Hungry Beast.

Lucan 10 1.10 , content with Praise, may lye at ease In costly Grots, and marble Palaces: But to Poor 11 1.11 Bassus what avails a Name, To starve on Compliments, and empty Fame?

All Rome is pleas'd, when 12 1.12 Statius will Reherse, And longing Crowds expect the promis'd Verse: His lofty Numbers with so great a gust They hear, and swallow with such eager Lust:Line 110 But, while the common Suffrage Crown'd his Cause, And broke the Benches with their loud Applause; His Muse had Starv'd, had not a piece unread, And by a 13 1.13 Player bought, supply'd her Bread.

He cou'd dispose of Honours, and Commands, The Pow'r of Rome, was in an Actor's Hands, The Peaceful Gown, and Military Sword: The bounteous Play'r out-gave the pinching Lord. And wouldst Thou, Poet, rise before the Sun.Line 120 And to his Honour's lazy Levée run?

Stick to the Stage; and leave thy fordid Peer; And yet Heav'n knows, 'tis earn'd with hardship there. The former Age, did one Mecenas see, One giving Lord of Happy Memory. Th••n, then, 'twas worth a Writer's pains, to pine, Look Pale, and all 14 1.14 December tast no Wine.

Such is the Poet's Lot: What luckier Fate Does on the Works of Grave Historians wait? More time they spend, in greater Toils ingage; Their Volumes swell beyond the thousandth Page:Line 130 For thus the Laws of History Command; And much good Paper suffers in their Hand. What Harvest rises from this labour'd Ground? Where they get Pence, a 15 1.15 Clerk can get a Pound. A lazy Tribe, just of the Poet's pitch, Who think themselves above the growing Rich.

Next shew me the well-lung'd 16 1.16 Civilian's Gain, Who bears in Triumph an Artillery Train Of Chancery Libels; opens first the Cause, Then with a Picklock-Tongue perverts the Laws;Line 140 Talks loud enough in Conscience for his Fee, Takes care his Client, all his Zeal may see; Twitch'd by the Sleeve, he Mouths it more and more, Till with white froth his Gown is slaver'd o're. Ask what he gains by all this Lying Prate, A Captain's Plunder, trebbles his Estate.

The Magistrate assumes his Awful Seat; Stand forth 17 1.17 pale Ajax, and thy Speech repeat: Assert thy Clients Freedom; bawl, and tear So loud, thy Country-Judge at least may hear,Line 150 If not discern; and when thy Lungs are sore, Hang up the 18 1.18 Victor's Garland at thy Door: Ask, for what Price thy Venial Tongue was sold; A rusty Gammon of some sev'n Years old: Tough, wither'd 19 1.19 Treuffles; ropy Wine, a Dish Of shotten Herrings, or stale stinking Fish. For four times talking, if one piece thou take, That must be cantled, and the Judge go snack. 'Tis true, 20 1.20 Emilius takes a five-fold Fee, Tho some plead better, with more Law than he:Line 160 But then he keeps his Coach, six Flanders Mares Draw him in State, when ever he appears: He shews his Statue too, where plac'd on high, The Ginnet, underneath him, seems to fly; While with a lifted Spear, in Armour bright, His aiming Figure meditates a Fight. With Arts like these, Rich Matho when he speaks, Attracts all Fees, and little Lawyers breaks.

Tongillus, very Poor, has yet an Itch Of gaining Wealth, by feigning to be Rich;Line 170 Baths often, and in State, and proudly vain, Sweeps through the Streets, with a long dirty Train:

From thence, with Lackeys running by his side, High on the backs of brawny Slaves will ride, In a long Litter, through the Market-place; And with a nod the distant Rabble grace: Clad in a Gown, that glows with Tyrian dye, Surveys Rich Moveables with curious Eye, Beats down the Price, and threatens still to buy. Nor can I wonder at such Tricks as these,Line 180 The Purple Garments raise the Lawyer's Fees: And sell him dearer to the Fool that buys; High Pomp, and State, are useful Properties. The Luxury of Rome will know no end; For still the less we have, the more we spend.

Trust Eloquence to shew our parts, and Breeding! Not 21 1.21 T••lly now cou'd get Ten Groats by Pleading; Unless the Diamond glitter'd on his Hand; Wealth's all the Rhetorick Clients understand: Without large Equipage, and loud Expence,Line 190 The Prince of Orators would scarce speak Sense. Paulus 22 1.22 , who with Magnificence did Plead, Grew Rich, while Tatter'd Gallus Begg'd his Bread. Who to Poor Basilus his Cause would trust, Tho ne're so full of pity, ne're so just▪ His Clients, unregarded, claim their due: For Eloquence in Rags was never true. Go Wretch, thy pleadings into 23 1.23 Africk send; Or France, where Merit never needs a Friend.

But oh, what stock of Patience wants the Fool,Line 200 Who wasts his Time and Breath in Teaching School! To hear the Speeches of declaiming Boys, Deposing Tyrants with Eternal noise: Sitting, or standing, still confin'd to roar In the same Verse, the same Rules o're and o're: What kind the Speech, what colours, how to purge Objections, state the Case, and Reasons urge. All would Learn these; but at the Quarter day, Few Parents will the Pedant's Labour pay. Pay, Sir, for what? The Scholar knows no moreLine 210 At six Months end, than what he knew before: Taught, or Untaught, the Dunce is still the same, Yet still the wretched Master bears the blame. Once ev'ry week, poor Hannibal is maul'd; The Theme is giv'n, and straight the Council's call'd, Whether he should to Rome directly go To reap the Fruit of the dire 24 1.24 overthrow; Or into Quarters put his harrass'd Men Till Spring returns, and take the Field agen, The Murder'd Master cryes, would Parents hearLine 220 But half that stuff, which I am bound to bear, For that Revenge I'le quit the whole Arrear.

The same Complaints most other Pedants make; Plead real Causes, and the feign'd forsake: Medea's 25 1.25 Poyson, Iason's Perjury, And 26 1.26 Philomela's Rape, are all laid by;

Th' Accusing 27 1.27 Stepdame, and the Son Accus'd: But if my Friendly Counsel might be us'd, Let not the Learn'd, this course or t'other try, But, leaving both, profess plain Poverty:Line 230 And shew his 28 1.28 Tally for the dole of Bread, With which the Parish-Poor are daily fed: Ev'n that exceeds the price of all thy pains.

Now look into the Musick Master's gains, Where Noble Youth at vast Expence is Taught: But Eloquence not valu'd at a Groat. On sumptuous Baths the Rich their Wealth bestow, Or some expensive airy Portico; Where safe from Show'rs, they may be Born in State, And free from Tempests, for fair Weather wait:Line 240 Or rather, not expect the clearing Sun, Through thick and thin, their Equipage must run: Or staying, 'tis not for their Servants sake, But that their Mules no prejudice may take. At the Walks end, behold, how rais'd on high, A Banquet-House salutes the Southern Skye; Where from afar, the Winter Sun displays The milder influence of his weaken'd Rays.

The Cook, and Sewer, each his Tallent tries; In various Figures Scenes of Dishes rise:Line 250 Besides, a Master-Cook, with greazy Fist, Dives in Luxurious Sawces to the Wrist▪

Amidst this wastful Riot, there accrews But poor Ten Shillings for 29 1.29 Quintilian's dues: For, to Breed up the Son to common Sence Is evermore the Parents least Expence. From whence then comes Quintilian's vast Estate? Because he was the Darling Son of Fate; And Luck, in scorn of Merit made him Great. Urge not th' Example of one single Man,Line 260 As rare as a white Crow, or sable Swan, Quintilian's Fate was to be counted Wise, Rich, Noble, Fair, and in the State to rise: Good Fortune grac'd his Action, and his Tongue; His Colds became him, and when Hoarse he Sung. O, there's strange difference, what Planets shed Their influence, on the New-Born Infant's Head! 'Tis Fate that casts the Dice, and as she flings, Of Kings makes Pedants, and of Pedants Kings. What made 30 1.30 Ventidius rise, and 31 1.31 Tullus Great,Line 270 But their kind Stars, and hidden Pow'r of Fate?

Few Pedagogues, but Curse the Barren Chair; Like 32 1.32 Him, who Hang'd himself for meer Despair And Poverty; 33 1.33 or Him, whom Caius sent For liberty of Speech to Banishment. Ev'n Socrates in Rags at Athens Taught, And wanted to 34 1.34 defray the deadly Draught.

In Peace, ye Shades of our Great Grandsires rest, No heavy Earth your Sacred Bones molest: Eternal Spring, and rising Flow'rs AdornLine 280 The Relicks of each Venerable Urn, Who Pious Reverence to their Tutors paid, As Parents Honour'd, and as Gods Obey'd. Achilles 35 1.35 , grown in Stature, fear'd the Rod, And stood Corrected at the Centaur's Nod; His Tender Years in Learning did employ, And promis'd all the Hero in the Boy. The Scene's much alter'd in the Modern School, The Boys of Rufus call their Master Fool; A just 36 1.36 Revenge on him, who durst defameLine 290 The Merit of Immortal Tully's Name.

But ask, what Fruit 37 1.37 Palemon's pains have earn'd, Or who, has paid the price of what he Learn'd; Though Grammar profits less than Rhetorick are, Yet ev'n in those his Usher claims a share; Besides the Servants Wages must be paid: Thus of a little, still a less is made: As Merchants Gains come short, of half the Mart, For he who drives their Bargains, dribs a part. The Covetous Father now includes the Night,Line 300 And Cov'nants, thou shalt Teach by Candle-light; When puffing Smiths, and ev'ry painful Trade Of Handycrafts in peaceful Beds are laid:

Then, thou art bound to smell on either hand As many stinking Lamps, as School-Boys stand; Where Horace could not Read in his own sully'd Book: And 38 1.38 Virgil's Sacred Page is all besmear'd with Smoke:

But when thou Dun'st their Parents, seldom they Without a Suit before the 39 1.39 Tribune, pay, And yet hard Laws upon the Master lay.Line 310 Be sure he knows exactly Grammar Rules, And all the best Historians Read in Schools; All Authours, ev'ry Poet to an hair; That, ask'd the Question, he may scarce Despair, To tell, who Nurst 40 1.40 Anchises; or to Name Anchemolus's 41 1.41 Stepmother, and whence she came: How long 42 1.42 Acestes liv'd, what stores of Wine He gave to the departing Trojan Line. Bid him besides, his daily pains employ To form the Tender Manners of the Boy;Line 320 And work him, like a Waxen Babe, with Art To perfect Symmetry, in ev'ry part: To be his better Parent, to beware No young obscenities his Strength impair, No mutual filth; to mark his Hands and Eyes, Distorted with Unnatural Extasies: This be thy Task; and yet for all thy pains At the Years end, expect no greater gains, Than what 43 1.43 a Fencer at a Prize, obtains.

The End of the Seventh Satyr.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  A Statue Erected in Honour of a Poet.
• 2 1.2

  In which the Poets Rehears'd.
• 3 1.3

  A Famous Poet, who was in great Favour with the Emperour Augustus Caesar, by the means of his Patron Mecaenas.
• 4 1.4

  One of the three Furies.
• 5 1.5

  A Favourite to Augustus, and a great Patron of Poets.
• 6 1.6

  Mecenas his Boy; with whom Virgil was in Love.
• 7 1.7

  A poor Tragick Poet.
• 8 1.8

  An excellent Poet of Athens, who wrote Greek Tragedies.
• 9 1.9

  A Rich Nobleman of Rome.
• 10 1.10

  A great Poet, who was put to Death by Nero, part∣ly out of Envy to his Poetry, partly, for being in a Plot with his Unckle Seneca and Piso.
• 11 1.11

  A poor Poet.
• 12 1.12

  Sirnam'd Papinius, a Famous Poet in the ti•••• of Caesar Domitian.
• 13 1.13

  Paris, a Famous Actor; and Favourite to Domitian; the Patron of Statius.
• 14 1.14

  The Romans Celebrated their gr••••t Holydays, call'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in December; when every one Drank freely; and the Slaves were in a manner, Masters.
• 15 1.15

  Or rather a publick Notary.
• 16 1.16

  In those times the Lawyers got little.
• 17 1.17

  Alluding to that of Ovid; consedere Duces, &c.
• 18 1.18

  When an Orator had won a Cause; a Garland was hung up, before his Door.
• 19 1.19

  Treuffles, in English, call'd Ground Chest-nuts, or Pignuts: but perhaps the Authour means Onyons, or Scallions.
• 20 1.20

  A Rich Lawyer.
• 21 1.21

  The greatest Orator that ever Rome Bred.
• 22 1.22

  Was a Rich Lawyer, Basilus and Gallus were very poor.
• 23 1.23

  France and Affrica were then, Famous for great Lawyers, and fat Fees.
• 24 1.24

  The Victory obtain'd by Hannibal at Cannae; after which, if he h••d immediately attempted Rome, in all probability, he had carried it.
• 25 1.25

  A notable Sorceress, Daughter of Aetes King of Col∣chos, and Wife to Iason, who left her afterwards, and Married ano∣ther.
• 26 1.26

  Daughter of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, was Ravish'd by Tereus King of Thrace, who cut out her Tongue that she might not disclose the Secret.
• 27 1.27

  Phaedra Wife of Theseus, who fell in Love with her Son in Law Hippolytus, and because she could not obtain her ends of him, Accus'd him to his Father that he would have forc'd her.
• 28 1.28

  In any Dole, made by the Emperour or one of the City Magi∣strates, the poor Citizens had each a Talley given them; which they shew'd first, and then receiv'd their proportion.
• 29 1.29

  A Famous Man both in Rhetorick and Oratory, who Taught School in the times of Galba, Domitian, and Trajan, and receiv'd his Salary out of the Emperour's Treasury.
• 30 1.30

  〈…〉〈…〉 was Lieutenant to Marc Antony; and the first who beat the Parthians in three Battels.
• 31 1.31

  Here is meant Tullus Servius, one of the Roman Kings.
• 32 1.32

  Thrasymachus, a Rhetorician of Carthage, who Hang'd himself by Reason of his Poverty.
• 33 1.33

  Secundus Carinas; who ws Banish'd from Rome, by the Emperour Caligula, for declaiming against Tyrants.
• 34 1.34

  When Socrates was Condemn'd to Dye by Poyson, he wanted Money to pay for the juice of Hemlock which he was ••o Drink; and desir'd one of his Friends, to lay it down for him, and satisfie the Fees of the Executioner.
• 35 1.35

  The Son of Peleus and Thetis, who had Chiron the Centaur for his Tutor.
• 36 1.36

  call'd Tully an Allobroge; as if his Latine were Barbarous, and not truly Roman.
• 37 1.37

  A poor Grammarian, but of great esteem.
• 38 1.38

  Sirnam'd Maro; the Favourite Poet of Augustus C••sar.
• 39 1.39

  Here is meant Tribunus Aerarius, who took cognizance only of Causes of less moment, not the Tribunus Pl••bis, as Britannicus imagin'd.
• 40 1.40

  Was Father of Aeneas the Trojan, who was the Foun∣der of Rome.
• 41 1.41

  The Son of Rhaetus, a King in Italy, Ravish'd his Stepmother Casperia.
• 42 1.42

  A King of Sicily; who kindly Entertain'd Aenaeas in his Voyage.
• 43 1.43

  The People were us'd at their Sword-plays, to gather Money for the Conquerour.