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 THIRTEENTH SATYR OF JUVENAL,

Translated into ENGLISH VERSE, BY Mr. THOMAS CREECH, Fellow of All-Souls College in OXFORD.

ARGUMENT OF THE Thirteenth Satyr.

Corvinus had trusted one of his Old Friends and Acquaintance with a Bag of Money; this Friend denies the Trust, and forswears it too: Corvi∣nus is very much disturb'd at this Cheat, storms and rages, accuses Providence, and is ready to conclude that God takes no care of Things be∣low, because some Sudden and Remarkable Ven∣geance did not fall upon this perjur'd false Wretch: Juvenal hearing of Corvinus's Loss, and un∣manly Behaviour, writes this Satyr to him, both to comfort him after his Loss, and instruct him how to bear it; and thence takes occasion to speak of the Vileness, and Villany of his Times. He begins with the Condition of the wicked Man; and tells him; i. That the Sinner must needs hate him∣self; and, ii. That he will be hated by all Man∣kind. iii. He puts Corvinus in mind that he hath a good Estate, and that this Loss will not break him. iv. and, v. That a great many have suffer'd the

like Misfortunes; that Cheats were common; his Loss but little, and therefore not to be resented with so violent a Passion. Hence, vi. He expatiates on the Vileness of the Times; And, vii. compares his Age with the Golden One, which he tediously describes. viii. He continues his Reflections on the genera•• Wickedness of the Times: ix. Makes some Obser∣vations on the Confidence of some Sinners: And, x. Endeavours to give some account of this: He ob∣serves that some are Atheists. xi. Others believe a God, but fancy the Money they get by their Per∣jury will do them more good, than the Punishments he inflicts will do them harm: At least, xii. that God is Merciful, they may be pardon•• d, or scape in the Crowd of Sinners; since some are forgiven, and all do not meet with Punishments equal to their Deserts. xiii. He Corrects his Friend for his Atheistical Passion, and rude Accusations of Providence; And, xiv. advises him to be more Cool, and consider, That, xv. such Cheats are common, and he hath suffer'd no more than other Men; And xvi. that every Day he may meet with greater Crimes, which require his Concernment. That, xvii. his Passion is Idle and Fruitless; because Revenge, which is the only end of Passion, will do him no good, it will not retrieve his Loss, and besides is an Ar∣gument of a Base Mind, and Mean Temper. Then coming closer to his Point, he tells him, xviii. The Wicked are severely punisht by their own Con∣sciences; xix. Vengeance waits upon them: And, xx. describes the Miserable Life, and Terrible Death

of the Wicked Man. And, xxi. closes all with ob∣serving that few Men stop at their first Sin, but go on till their Crimes provoke Providence: And therefore, xxii. Corvinus need not fear but this Perjur'd Friend of his would do so too, and then be should see some remarkable Iudgment fall ••pon him.

THE THIRTEENTH SATYR.

I.

H•• that commi••s a Sin, shall 1 quickly find The pressing Guilt lie heavy on his Mind; Tho' Bribes or Favour shall assert his Cause, Pronounce him 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and elu'de the La••s: None quits himself, his own impartial Thought Will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will record the Fault.

II.

This first the Wicked f••els▪ Then publick Hate Pursues the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and proves the Villain's Fate.

III.

But more, Corvinus, thy Estate can bear A greater Loss, and not implore thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉;Line 10 Thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sufficient, and thy Wealth too great To feel the Damage of a Potty Cheat.

IV.

Nor are such Losses to the World unknown, A rare Example, and thy Chance alone; Most feel them, and in Fortune's L••tt••ry li••s A heap of Blanks, like this, for one small Prize.

V.

Abate thy Passion, nor too much complain, Grief shou'd be forc'd, and it becomes a Man To let it rise no higher than his Pain: But you, too weak the slightest loss to bear,Line 20 Too delicate the common Fate to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Are on the Fre•• of Passion, Boil and Rage, Bacause, in so Debaucht and Vile an Age, Thy Friend and Old Acquaintance dares disown The Gold you lent him, and forswear the Loan.

What, start at this? When Sixty Years have spread Their gray Experience o're thy hoary Head! Is this the All observing Age cou'd Gain, Or hast Thou known the World so long in vain?

Let Stoicks Ethicks haughty Rules advance,Line 30 To combat Fortune, and to conquer Chance; Yet Happy those, tho' not so Learn'd, are thought, Whom Life instructs, who by Experience taught, For new to come from past Misfortunes look; Nor shake the ••oke, which galls the more 'tis shook▪

VI.

What Day's so Sacred, but its Rest's profan'd By violent Robbers, or by Murders stain'd? Here hir'd Assassins for their Gain invade, And treacherous Poys'ner urge their Fatal Trade.

Good Men are scarce, the I••st are thinly sown,Line 40 They thrive but ill, nor can they last when grown. And shou'd we count them, and our Store compile, Yet 2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more Gates wou'd shew, more Mouths the Nile.

Worse than the Iron Age, and wretched Times Roul on; and Vse hath so improv'd our Crimes, That baffled Nature knows not how to frame A Metal base enough to give the Age a Name: Yet you exclaim, as loud as those that Praise For Scraps and Coach-hire a Young Noble's Plays; You thunder, and, as Passion rouls along,Line 50 Call Heaven and Earth to witness to your Wrong.

Gray-headed Infant! and in vain grown Old! Art Thou to learn that in Another's Gold Lie Charms resistless? That all laugh to find Unthinking Plainness so o're-spread thy Mind, That Thou could'st seriously perswade the Crowd To keep their Oaths, and to believe a God?

VII.

This They cou'd do whilst Saturn fill'd the Throne, E're Iuno burnisht, or Young Iove was grown; E're private He left Ida's close retreat,Line 60 Or made Rebellion by Example great: And whilst his Hoary Sire to Latium fled Usurp'd his Empire, and defil'd his Bed.

Whilst Gods din'd singly, and few Feasts above, No Beauteous Hebe mixt the Wine with Love; No Phrygian Boy: But Vulean stain'd the Pole With Sooty Hands, and fill'd the sparing Bowl. E're Gods grew numerous, and the Heavenly Crowd Prest wretched Atlas with a lighter load: E're Chance unenvy'd Neptune's Lot confin'dLine 70 To rule the Ocean, and oppose the Wind: E're Proserpine with Pluto shar'd the Throne, E're Furies lasht, or Ghosts had learn'd to Groan: But free from Punishment as free from Sin The Shades liv'd jolly, and without a King. Then Vice was rare; ••'en Rudeness kept in awe Felt all the rigour of avenging Law; And had not Men the Hoary Heads rever'd, Or Boys paid Reverence when a Man appear'd, Both must have dy'd, tho' 3 Richer Skins they wore,Line 80 And saw more heaps of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in their store: Four years Advance did such Respect engage, And Youth was Reverenc'd then like sacred Age.

VIII.

Now if one Honest Man I chance to view, Contemning Interest, and to Virtue true; I rank him with the Prodigies of Fame, With Plough'd-up Fishes, and with Icy Flame; With Things which start from Nature's common Rules, With Bearded Infants, and with Te••ming Mules:

As much amaz'd at the prodigious sign,Line 90 As if I saw 4 Bees cluster'd on a Shrine; A Shower of Stones, or Rivers chang'd to Blood Roul wond'rous Waves, or urge a Milky Flood.

IX.

A little Sum you Mourn, whilst Most have met With twice the Loss, and by as Vile a Cheat: By treacherous Friends, and secret Trust betray'd, Some are undone; Nor are the Gods our Aid. Those Conscious Powers we can with ••ase comtemn, If hid from Men, we trust our Crimes with them.

Observe the Wretch who hath his Faith forsook,Line 100 How clear his Voice, and how assur'd his Look! Like Innocence, and as ser••nely bold As Truth, how loudly He forswears they Gold! By Neptune's Trident, by the Bolts of Iove, And all the Magazine of Wrath above. Nay more, in Curses He goes boldly on, He Dams himself, and thus devotes his Son: If I'm forsworn, you injur'd Gods renew Thyestes 5 Feast; and prove the Fable true.

X.

Some think that Chance rules all, that Nature streetsLine 110 The moving Seasons, and turns round the Years. These run to every Shrine, These boldly swea••, And keep no Faith, because they know no 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

XI.

Another doubts, but as his Doubts decline, He dreads just Vengeance, and he starts at Sin; He owns a God: And yet the Wretch forswears; And thus he Reasons to relieve his Fears. Let 6 Isis Rage, so I securely hold The Coin forsworn, and keep the ravisht Gold; Let Blindness, Lameness come; are Legs and EyesLine 120 Of equal Value to so great a Prize? Wou'd starving 7 Ladas, had he leave to chuse, And were not frantick, the Rich Gout refuse? For can the Glory of the swistest pace Procure him Food? Or can he Feast on Praise?

XII.

The Gods take Aim before they strike their blow, Tho' sure their Vengeance, yet the Stroak is slow; And shou'd at every Sin their Thunder fly, I'm yet secure, nor is my Danger nigh: But they are Gracious, but their Hands are free,Line 130 And who can tell but they may reach to Me? Some they forgive, and every Age relates That equal Crimes have met unequal Fates; That Sins alike, unlike Rewards have found, And whilst This Villain's Crucifi'd, The other's Crown'd.

The Man that shiver'd on the brink of Sin, Thus steel'd and hard'ned ventures boldly in;

Dare Him to swear, He with a chearful Face Flies to the Shrine, and bids Thee mend thy pace; He urges, goes before Thee, shews the way,Line 140 Nay pulls Thee on, and chides Thy dull delay: For Confidence in Sin, when mixt with Zeal, Seems Innocence, and looks to most as well.

XIII.

Thus like the waggish Slave in—Play, He spreads the Net, and takes the easie Prey. You Rage and Storm, and Blasphemously loud, As 8 Stentor bellowing to the Grecian Crowd, Or 9 Homer's Mars with too much warmth exclaim; Iove, dost Thou hear, and is thy Thunder tame? Wert Thou all Brass, thy Brazen Arm shou'd rage,Line 150 And fix the Wretch a Sign to future Age: Else why shou'd Mortals to thy Feasts repair, Spend useless Incense, and more useless Prayer? Bathyllus 10 Statue at this rate may prove Thy equal Rival, or a greater Iove.

XIV.

Be cool, my Friend, and hear my Muse dispence Some Soveraign Comforts, drawn from Common Sense; Not fe••cht from Stoicks rigid Schools, nor wrought By Epicurus more indulgent Thought;Line 160 Who led by Nature, did with ease pursue The Rules of Life; guess'd best, tho' miss'd the True. A desperate Wound must skillful Hands employ, But thine is curable by 11 Philip's Boy.

XV.

Look o're the present and the former time, If no Example of so Vile a Crime Appears, then Mourn; admit no kind Relief, But beat thy Breast, and I applaud thy Grief. Let Sorrow then appear in all her State, Keep Mournful silence, and shut fast thy Gate. Let solemn Grief on Money lost attend,Line 170 Greater than waits upon a dying Friend; None feigns, none acted Mourning's forc'd to show, Or squeeze his Eyes to make that Torrent flow, For Money lost demands a heartier due; Then Tears are real, and the Grief is true.

But if at each Assize, and Term, we try A thousand Rascals of as deep a Dye; If Men forswear the Deeds and Bonds they draw, Tho' Sign'd with all formality of Law, And tho' the Writing and the Seal proclaimLine 180 The barefac'd Perjury, and fix the shame; Go Fortune's Darling, nor expect to bear The common Lot, but to avoid thy share! Heaven's Favourite Thou, for better Fates design'd, Than we the Dregs and Rubbish of Mankind!

XVI.

This petty Sinner scarce deserves thy Rage, Compar'd with the great Vill••••••s of the Age.

Here hir'd Assassins kill, there Sulphur thrown, By treacherous Hands, destroys the frighted Town. Bold Sacriledge, invading things Divine,Line 190 Breaks through a Temple, or destroys a Shrine, The Reverened Goblets, and the ancient Plate, Those grateful Presents of a Conquering State, Or pious King; or if the Shrine be poor, The Image spoils: Nor is the God secure. One seizes Neptune's Beard, one Castor's Crown, Or Iove himself, and melts the Thunderer down.

Here Poys'ners murder, there the impious Son, With whom a guiltless 12 Ape is doom'd to drown, Prevents old Age, and with a hasty blowLine 200 Cuts down his Sire, and quickens Fates too slow.

Yet what are these to those vast heaps of Crimes, Which make the greatest B••siness of our Times, Which Terms prolong, and which from Morn to Night Amaze the Iuries▪ and the Iudges fright?

Attend the Court, and thou shalt briefly find In that one place the Manners of Mankind; Hear the Indictments, then return again, Call thy self Wretch, and, if thou dar'ft, complain.

Whom midst the Alps do hanging throats surprize?Line 210 Who stares in Germany at watchet Eyes?

Or who in Meroe, when the Breast reclin'd, Hangs o're the Shoulder to the Child behind, And bigger than the Boy? For Wonder's lost When Things grow common, and are found in most.

When Cranes invade, his little Sword and Shield The Pigmy takes, and streight attends the Field; The Fight's soon o're; the Cranes descend, and bear The sprawling Warriors through the liquid Air: Now here, shou'd such a Fight appear to view,Line 220 All Men wou'd split, the Sight wou'd please whilst new: There none's concern'd, where every day they fight, And not one Warrior is a Foot in height.

XVII.

But shall the Villain scape? Shall Perjury Grow Rich and Safe, and shall the Cheat be free?

Hadst thou full power (Rage asks no more) to kill, Or measure out his Torments by thy Will; Yet what cou'dst thou, Tormentor, hope to gain? Thy Loss continues, unrepaid by Pain, Inglorious Comfort thou shalt poorly meet,Line 230 From his mean Blood. But oh Revenge is sweet.

Thus think the Crowd, who, eager to engage, Take quickly fire, and kindle into rage; Who ne're consider, but, without a pause, Make up in Passion what they want in Cause.

Not so mild 13 Thales, not Chrysippus thought, Nor that Good Man, who drank the poys'nous Draught With Mind serene; and cou'd not wish to see His Vile Accuser drink as deep as He: Exalted Socrates! Divinely brave!Line 240 Injur'd He fell, and dying He forgave, Too Noble for Revenge; which still we find The weakest Frailty of a feeble Mind; Degenerous Passion, and for Man too base, It seats its Empire in the Female Race, There Rages; and, to make its blow secure, Puts Flattery on, until he Aim be sure.

XVIII.

But why must those be thought to scape, that feel Those Rods of Scorpions, and those Whips of Steel Which Conscience shakes, when she with Rage controuls,Line 250 And spreads Amazing Terrors through their Souls?

Not sharp Revenge, not Hell it self can find A fiercer Torment, than a Guilty Mind, Which Day and Night doth dreadfully accuse, Condemns the Wretch, and still the Charge renews.

XIX.

A trusted Spartan was inclin'd to Cheat▪ (The Coin lookt lovely, and the Bag was great, Secret the Trust) and with an Oath defend The Prize, and baffle his deluded Friend:

But weak in Sin, and of the God•• afraid,Line 260 And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 well vers'd in the forswearing Trade, He goes to Delphos; humbly begs advice, And thus the Priestess by Command replies: Expect sure Vengeance by the Gods decreed, To punish Thoughts, not yet improv'd to Deed. At this he started, and forbore to swear, Not out of Conscience of the Sin, but Fear. Yet Plagues en••u'd, and the contagious Sin Destroy'd himself, and ruin'd all his Kin.

Thus suffer'd He for the imperfect WillLine 270 To sin, and bare Design of doing ill: For he that but conceives a Crime in thought, Contracts the danger of an Actual Fault: Then what must he expect that still proceeds To fi••••••h Sin, and work up Thoughts to Deeds▪

XX.

Perpetual Anguish fills his anxious Breast, Not stopt by Business, nor compos'd by Rest: No Musick chears him, and no Feasts can please, He sits like discontented 14 Damocles, When by the sportive Tyrant wisely shownLine 280 The dangerous Pleasures of a flatter'd Throne.

Sleep flies the Wretch, or when his Care's oppr••st, And his toss'd Lambs are weary'd into rest,

Then Dreams invade, the injur'd Gods appear, All arm'd with Thunder, and awake his Fear. What frights him most, in a Gigantick size, Thy sacred Image flashes in his Eyes; These shake his Soul, and, as they boldly press, Bring out his Crimes; and force him to confess.

This Wretch will start at every flash that flies,Line 290 Grow pale at the first murmur of the Skies, E're Clouds are form'd, and Thunder roars, afraid, And 15 Epicurus can afford no aid; His Notions fail: And the destructive Flame Commission'd falls, not thrown by Chance, but Aim: One Clap is past, and now the Skies are clear, A short reprieve, but to increase his Fear: Whilst Arms Divine, revenging Crimes below, Are gathering up to give the greater Blow.

But if a Fever fires his sulphurous Blood,Line 300 In ev'ry Fit he feels the Hand of God, And Heaven-born Flame: Then, drown'd in deep Despair, He dares not offer one repenting Prayer; Nor vow one Victim to preserve his Breath, Amaz'd he lies, and sadly looks for Death: For how can Hope with desperate Guilt agree? And the worst Beast is worthier Life than He.

XXI.

He that once Sins, like him that slides on Ice, Goes swiftly down the slippery ways of Vice; Tho' Conscience checks Him, yet, those rubs gone o're,Line 310 He slides on smoothly, and looks back no more; What Sinners finish where they first begin? And with one Crime content their Lust to Sin? Nature, that, rude and in her first Essay, Stood boggling at the roughness of the way, Us'd to the Road, unknowing to return, Goes boldly on, and loves the Path when worn.

XXII.

Fear not, but pleas'd with this successful Bait, Thy Perjur'd Friend will quickly tempt his Fate; He will go on, until his Crimes provokeLine 320 The Arm Divine to strike the Fatal Stroke; Then thou shalt see him plung'd, when least he fears, At once accounting for his deep Arrears; Sent to those narrow Isles, which throng'd we see With mighty Exiles, once secure as He; Drawn to the Gallows, or condemn'd to Chains: Then thou shalt tri••mph in the Villain's pains, Enjoy his Groans; and with a grateful Mind Confess that Heaven is neither Deaf nor Blind.

The End of the Thirteenth Satyr.

EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE THIRTEENTH SATYR.

SOme Read, Extemplo quodcun{que} malum, &c.

Thebes had but seven Gates, and the River Nile but seven Mouths.

That is, were of better Quality, and had more Wealth. Skins and Acorns being the primitive Cloaths and Food, according to the Poets.

If a swarm of Bees pitcht upon a Temple, it was lookt upon as an Omen of some very great Mischief.

Thyestes was treated with a Ha••h made of his own Son.

Isis. An Aegyptian Goddess, suppos'd to be much concern'd in in∣flicting Diseases, and Maladies on Mankind.

Ladas. An Excellent Footman, who wan the Prize in the Olympian Games.

Stentor. A famous Crier in the Grecian Army, whose single voice was as loud as that of fifty Men together.

Homer says that Mars being wounded by Diomedes, made as great an out-cry, as ten thousand Men shouting to the Battel.

Bathyllus. A Fidler and a Player: But put here for any idle Scoundrel, or insignificant Fellow.

A Surgeon of no great Credit and Reputation.

The Villain that kill'd his Father was to be put into a Bag with a Dog, a Cock, a Serpent, and an Ape, and thrown into the Sea.

Philosophers of great Credit, and Worth.

Damocles having very much extoll'd the Happiness of Kings, in the presence of Dionysius King of Syracuse; Dionysius invited him to Dinner, plac'd him in a rich Throne, and gave him a very splendid En∣tertainment; but just over his Head hung a Sword by a Hair, with the point downward.

A Philosopher, who thought all things were by Chance.

Notes

• 1

  SOme Read, Extemplo quodcun{que} malum, &c.
• 2

  Thebes had but seven Gates, and the River Nile but seven Mouths.
• 3

  That is, were of better Quality, and had more Wealth. Skins and Acorns being the primitive Cloaths and Food, according to the Poets.
• 4

  If a swarm of Bees pitcht upon a Temple, it was lookt upon as an Omen of some very great Mischief.
• 5

  Thyestes was treated with a Ha••h made of his own Son.
• 6

  An Aegyptian Goddess, suppos'd to be much concern'd in in∣flicting Diseases, and Maladies on Mankind.
• 7

  An Excellent Footman, who wan the Prize in the Olympian Games.
• 8

  A famous Crier in the Grecian Army, whose single voice was as loud as that of fifty Men together.
• 9

  Homer says that Mars being wounded by Diomedes, made as great an out-cry, as ten thousand Men shouting to the Battel.
• 10

  A Fidler and a Player: But put here for any idle Scoundrel, or insignificant Fellow.
• 11

  A Surgeon of no great Credit and Reputation.
• 12

  The Villain that kill'd his Father was to be put into a Bag with a Dog, a Cock, a Serpent, and an Ape, and thrown into the Sea.
• 13

  Philosophers of great Credit, and Worth.
• 14

  Damocles having very much extoll'd the Happiness of Kings, in the presence of Dionysius King of Syracuse; Dionysius invited him to Dinner, plac'd him in a rich Throne, and gave him a very splendid En∣tertainment; but just over his Head hung a Sword by a Hair, with the point downward.
• 15

  A Philosopher, who thought all things were by Chance.