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 NINTH SATYR OF JUVENAL, (Book 9)

Translated into ENGLISH VERSE BY STEPHEN HERVEY, Esq

ARGUMENT OF THE Ninth Satyr.

Juvenal here (in Dialogue with Ne∣volus) exposes the detestable Vice then Practis'd in Rome, and the Covetousness of a Rich Old Citizen, which so prevaild over his Plea∣sure, that he would not Gratifie the Drudge who had so often Oblig'd him in the lewd Enjoyment of his Desire.

THE NINTH SATYR.

IUV.

TELL me why, saunt'ring thus from Place to Place, I meet thee (Nevolus) with a Clouded Face? What Humane Ills can urge to this degree; Not Vanquisht 1 1.1 Marsyas had a Brow like thee, Nor Ravola so sneak'd and hung his Head, Catch'd with that lewd Bawd Rhodope in Bed: Our Grand Beau 2 1.2 Pollio seem'd not half so sad When not a Drachma cou'd in Rome be had. When treble Use he proffer'd for a Friend And tempting Bribes did to the Scriv'ners sendLine 10 Yet none he found so much a Fool to lend. Hard Fate! untroll'd is now the Charming Dye, The Play-House and the Parks unvisited must lie; The Beauteous Nymph in vain he does adore, And his guilt Chariot Wheels must Rowl no more.

But why these frightful Wrinckles in thy Prime? That shew old Age so long before the time, At lowest Ebb of Fortune when you lay (Contented then) how Merry was the Day.

But oh the Curse of wishing to be Great:Line 20 Dazled with Hope we cannot see the Cheat; Where wild Ambition in the Heart we find, Farewel Content and Quiet of the Mind. For Glittering Clouds we leave the solid Shoar, And wonted Happiness returns no more; 'Till such aspiring Thoughts had fill'd thy Breast, No Man so pleasant, such a chearful Guest; So Brisk, so Gay, of that engaging Air, No Mirth was Crown'd 'till Nevolus was there: The Scene's now chang'd, that frolick Genius fled,Line 30 And Gloomy Thought seems enter'd in its stead; Thy Cloaths worn out, not Hands nor Linnen clean, And thy bare Skin through the large Rents is seen; Thy Locks uncomb'd like a rough Wood appear, And every Part seems suited to thy Care. Where now that labour'd Niceness in thy Dress, And all those Arts that did the Spark express? A look so Pale no Quartane ever gave, Thy dwindled Legs seem crawling to a Grave: When we are touch'd with some important Ill,Line 40 How vainly silence would our Grief conceal! Sorrow nor Joy can be disguis'd by Art, Our Foreheads blab the Secrets of our Heart; By which (alas) 'tis evident and plain Thy Hopes are dash'd, and thy Endeavours vain; And yet 'tis strange! But lately thou we••t known For the most envied Stallion of the Town.

What conscious 3 1.3 Shrine, what Cell by thee unsought, Where Love's dark Pleasures might be sold and bought? From Human View you hid these Deeds of Lust,Line 50 But Gods in Brass and Marble you cou'd trust: Ceres 4 1.4 her self not scap'd, for where can be From Bawds and Prostitutes an Altar free? Nor didst thou only for the Females burn, The Husband and the Wife succeeded in their Turn.

NEV.

This Life I own to some has Prosp'rous been, But I have no such Golden Minutes seen: Right have you hit the Cause of my Distress, None has Earn'd more, and been Rewarded less: All I can gain is but a Threedbare Coat,Line 60 And that with utmost Pains and Drudging got; Some Single Money too, but that (alas) Broken and Counterfeit will hardly pass. Whilst others, pamper'd in their shameless Pride, Are serv'd in Plate, and in their Chariots Ride; Tell me what Mortal can his Grief contain, That has, like me, such Reason to complain? On Fate alone Man's Happiness depends, To parts conceal'd Fate's prying Pow'r extends: And if our Stars of their Kind Influence fail,Line 70 The Gifts of Nature, what will they avail? The Gifts of Nature! Curse upon the Thought, By that alone I am to Ruin brought.

Old Virro did the Fatal Secret hear, (But Curse on Fame that bore it to his Ear) What soft Address his wooing did begin? What Oaths what Promises to draw me in? Scarce cou'd they fail to make a Virgin Sin. Who wou'd not then swear Nevolus had sped, And Golden Show'rs were dropping on his Head?Line 80 But oh this Wretch, this Prodigy behold! A Slave at once to Leachery and Gold! For in the Act of his lewd Brutal joy, Sirrah! My Rogue (he cries) mine own dear Boy! My Lad, my Life! already ask for more? I paid last Bout, and you must quit the Score: "Poor five 5 1.5 Sestertia have been all my Gains, "And what is that for such detested Pains? Was it an Ease and Pleasure, cou'd'st thou say (Where Nature's Law forbids) to force my wayLine 90 To the digested Meals of yesterday? The Slave more toil'd and harrass'd will be found, Who Digs his Master's Buttocks, than his Ground: But sure old Virro thinks himself a Boy, Whom Iove once more might languish to enjoy: Sees not his wither'd Face and grizly Hair, But would be thought Smooth, Charming, Soft, and Fair: With Female Pride wou'd have his Love be sought, And every Smile with a Rich Present bought.

Say, Goat, for whom this Mass of Wealth you heap?Line 100 For whom thy hoorded Bags in silence sleep? Apulian Farms for the Rich Soil admir'd? And thy large Fields where Falcons may be tyr'd? Thy Fruitful Vineyards on Campanian Hills? (Tho none drinks less, yet none more Vessels fills) From such a Store 'tis barbarous to grudge A small Relief to your Exhausted Drudge: Weigh well the matter, wer't not fitter much The Poor Inhabitants of yonder Thatch Call'd me their Lord (who to Extreams am driven)Line 110 Than to some worthless Sycophant be given? (Yet what smooth Sycophant by thee can gain? When Lust it self strikes thy Flint-Heart in vain?) A Beggar! Fie! 'tis Impudence, (he cry'd) And such mean shifting Answers still reply'd; But Rent unpaid, says Begg till Virro Grant; (How ill does Modesty consist with Want?) My single Boy (like 6 1.6 Polyphemus Eye) Mourns his harsh Fate, and Weeps for a Supply. One will not do, hard Labour'd and hard Fed,Line 120 How then shall Hungry two expect their Bread? What shall I say, when rough December Storms? When Frosts, and Snow, have crampt their Naked Arms What Comforts without Money can I bring? Will they be satisfy'd to think on Spring?

These Motives urg'd to his Obdurate Mind, Is casting Water to the adverse Wind; But one thing yet, base Wretch, I must impart, Thy self shalt own, ungrateful as thou art; At your Intreaties, had not I obey'd;Line 130 Still your deluded Wife had been a Maid: Down on the Bridal-bed a Maid she lay, A Maid she rose, at the approaching Day. Another Night, thy lumpish Love she try'd, But still she rose, a Virgin, and a Bride: What cou'd have touch'd her more! away she flung, And every Street of thy lost Manhood rung. Her speaking Eyes, were full of thy Disgrace; And her vext Thoughts abhorr'd the cold Embrace. Such wrongs, what Wishing Woman cou'd have born?Line 140 In Rage, the Marriage Articles were torn: Yet when she vow'd, to see thy Face no more, And Heartless, thou stood'st whining at the Door, I met the Angry Fair, all over Charms, And catch'd her flying from thy Frozen Arms: Much Pains it cost to Right the injur'd Dame; A whole Night's Vigour, to repair thy shame: Witness your self, who heard the lab'ring Bed, And shrieks at the departing Maiden-Head: "Thus many a Spouse, who wou'd her Choice recant;Line 150 "Is kept Obedient by a Kind Gall••nt▪

Now, cou'd you shift all this and pass it o're, Yet (Monster) I have left one Instance more. Think, if so well her Business I have done, As that Night's service may produce a Son, Our Roman Laws great Priviledge afford To him that stands a Father on Record: Thy self, 'tis true, a Cuckold thou must own, But that Reproach is in my Breast alone, To me the Pleasure be, to thee the Fame,Line 160 My Brat shall thy Abilities proclaim; And free thee ever, from Inglorious Shame. Let circling Wreaths adorn thy crowded Door, Matrons, and Girls, shall hoot at thee no more, But Stories to thy lasting Credit raise, While fumbling Fribbles grudge thy borrow'd Praise.

IUV.

True, Nevolus, most aptly you complain, But tho your Griefs are just, they are in vain; Your Service past, he does with Scorn forget, And seeks some other Fool, like thee, to cheat.Line 170

NEV.

Beware, my Friend, and what I now reveal, As the great Secret of thy Life conceal, A lustful Pathick, when he turns a Foe; He gives like Destiny a wardless Blow▪ His Crimes are such, they will not bear a Jest, And Fire and Sword, pursue the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Brest.

For sweet Revenge no Drugs will be too Dear, In Lust, a Miser, but a Spendthrift here. Then slight him not, nor with his Scandal sport, But be as Mute as was th' 7 1.7 Athenian Court.Line 180

IUV.

Dull 8 1.8 Corydon! Art thou so stupid grown, To think a Rich Man's Faults can be unknown? Has he not Slaves about him? Wou'd not they Rejoyce, and Laugh, such Secrets to betray? What more Effectual to Revenge their Wrongs? Than the unbounded Freedom of their Tongues? Or grant it possible to silence those, Dumb Beasts and Statues wou'd his Crimes expose: Try to imprison the resistless Wind, So swift is Guilt, so hard to be confin'd;Line 190 Tho crafty Tears, shou'd cast a Vail between, Yet in the Dark, his Vices wou'd be seen: And there's a Lust in Man no Charm can tame, Of loudly Publishing our Neighbour's Shame; On Eagles Wings immortal Scaridals flye, While Virtuous Actions are but Born, and Dye.

Let us live well, were it alone for This, The baneful Tongues of Servants to despise, Slander (the worst of Poysons) ever finds An easie Entrance, to ignoble Minds:Line 200 And they whose Vicious Lives, such Abject Foes mu••t fear, More mean and wretched far than their own Slaves appear.

NEV.

Your Counsel's Good and Useful, 'tis confess'd; But (oh) to me it is in vain address'd: Let the Great Man, whom gaping Crowds attend, Fear a scourg'd Slave, or a dissembling Friend; No matter what I do, or what I say, I have no Spies about me to betray: And you advise me now my time is lost, And all my Hopes of Prosp'rous Hours are crost;Line 210 My full-blown Youth already fades apace, (Of our short Being, 'tis the shortest space.) While melting Pleasures in our Arms are found, While Lovers smile•• and while the Bowl goes round; While in surprizing Joys intranc'd we lie, Old Age creeps on us, e're we think it nigh.

IUV.

Fear not, thy Trade will never find an End, While you 9 1.9 Hills stand thou can'st not want a Friend; By Land, and Sea, from every Point they come, Then dread no Dearth of Prostitutes at Rome.Line 220

NEV.

Tell this to Happier Men, for I am sped; If all my Drudging can procure me Bread.

Ye Deities! The Substitutes of Heav••n! To whom the Guide of Humane Life is giv'n; At whose lov'd Altars, with an ample Zeal, (Tho slender Sacrifice) I daily kneel,

His Ebbing Hours let your Poor Suppliant see From the mean Crutch, and a Thatcht Cottage free; No shameful Want, nor troublesom Disease, But easie Death approaching by degrees;Line 230 Necessity supply'd, wou'd Comfort bring: Yet constant Store, wou'd be a Glorious thing: To Treat a Friend, methinks, I wou'd afford, While Silver Bowls stand smiling on my Board: And when the Cares of Rome to Pleasure yield; Two 10 1.10 Maesian Slaves shou'd bear me to the Field: Where, on their Brawny Shoulders mounted high, While the Brave Youth their various Manhood try, I wou'd the Thrones of Emperours defie. Superfluous Wealth, and Pomp, I not desire;Line 240 But what Content, and Decency require. Then might I live by my own Surly Rules, Not forc'd to Worship Knaves, and flatter Fools. And thus secur'd of Ea••e, by s••unning strife, With Pleasure would I Sail down the swift Stream of Life.

But, oh ridiculous vain Wish for one Already lost, and doom'd to be undone. Alas! what Hope remains! For to my Pray'rs, Regardless Fortune stops her wounded Ears; As to the 11 1.11 Syrens Charms, Vlysses Mariners.Line 250

The End of the Ninth Satyr.

EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE NINTH SATYR.

A Phrygian, who challenging Apollo at Musick, was overcome, and flead alive for his Presumption.

A Fop in Rome, that had run out his Estate.

The Temples, and Images of their Gods, were (by Night) the Common Places of Assignation.

To the Temple of Ceres, only the Chast and strictest Matrons were admitted, &c.

A small Coin among the Romans.

A Gyant of Sicily, and one of the Cyclops, who had but one Eye, and that in his forehead, which Vlysses by craft put out, and escap'd from him, &c.

The Areopagus, or Court of Justice at Athens, where they gave Sen∣tence by Characters and Signs, &c.

The common Name of a Shepherd, which he applies to Nevolus, for his ignorance and simplicity, in thinking the Vices of Great Men can be conceal'd.

The 7 Hills on which Rome was built.

M••••sia, a place near Tusca••y, famous for the great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and strength of the Inhabit••••••••••.

Mermaids on the Coast of Sicily, whose Charms Vlysses (being forewarn'd) avoided by stopping his Mariners Ears with Wax, and so Sail'd by them securely; at which Disappointment they threw themselves into the Sea, and were turned into Rocks, &c. Hom. Odyss. l. 12.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  A Phrygian, who challenging Apollo at Musick, was overcome, and flead alive for his Presumption.
• 2 1.2

  A Fop in Rome, that had run out his Estate.
• 3 1.3

  The Temples, and Images of their Gods, were (by Night) the Common Places of Assignation.
• 4 1.4

  To the Temple of Ceres, only the Chast and strictest Matrons were admitted, &c.
• 5 1.5

  A small Coin among the Romans.
• 6 1.6

  A Gyant of Sicily, and one of the Cyclops, who had but one Eye, and that in his forehead, which Vlysses by craft put out, and escap'd from him, &c.
• 7 1.7

  The Areopagus, or Court of Justice at Athens, where they gave Sen∣tence by Characters and Signs, &c.
• 8 1.8

  The common Name of a Shepherd, which he applies to Nevolus, for his ignorance and simplicity, in thinking the Vices of Great Men can be conceal'd.
• 9 1.9

  The 7 Hills on which Rome was built.
• 10 1.10

  M••••sia, a place near Tusca••y, famous for the great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and strength of the Inhabit••••••••••.
• 11 1.11

  Mermaids on the Coast of Sicily, whose Charms Vlysses (being forewarn'd) avoided by stopping his Mariners Ears with Wax, and so Sail'd by them securely; at which Disappointment they threw themselves into the Sea, and were turned into Rocks, &c. Hom. Odyss. l. 12.