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 FIFTH SATYR.

Inscrib'd to The Reverend Dr. Busby. The Speakers Persius, and Cor∣nutus.

PERS.

OF ancient use to Poets it belongs, To wish themselves an hundred Mouths and Tongues: Whether to the well-lung'd Tragedians Rage, They recommend their Labours of the Stage, Or sing the Parthian, when transfix'd he lies, Wrenching the Roman Javelin from his thighs.

CORN.

And why wou'd'st thou these mighty Morsels chuse, Of Words unchaw'd, and fit to choak the Muse? Let Fustian Poets with their Stuff be gone, And suck the Mists that hang o're Helicon;Line 10 When 1 1.1 Progne's or 2 1.2 Thyestes's Feast they write; And, for the mouthing Actor, Verse indite▪ Thou neither, like a Bellows, swell'st thy Face, As if thou wert to blow the burning Mass Of melting Ore; nor can'st thou strain thy Throat; Or murmur in an undistinguish'd Note; Like rowling Thunder till it breaks the Cloud, And rattling Nonsense is discharg'd aloud.

Soft Elocution does thy Stile renown; And the sweet Accents of the peaceful Gown:Line 20 Gentle or sharp, according to thy choice, To laugh at Follies, or to lash at Vice. Hence draw thy Theme; and to the Stage permit Raw-head, and Bloody-Bones, and Hands and Feet. Ragousts for Tereus or Thyestes drest; Tis Task enough for thee t'expose a Roman Feast.

PERS.

Tis not, indeed, my Talent to engage In lofty Trifles, or to swell my Page With Wind and Noise; but freely to impart, As to a Friend, the Secrets of my heart:Line 30 And, in familiar Speech, to let thee know How much I love thee; and how much I owe. Knock on my Heart; for thou hast skill to find If it sound solid, or be fill'd with Wind; And, thro the veil of words, thou view'st the naked Mind.

For this a hundred Voices I desire; To tell thee what an hundred Tongues wou'd tire; Yet never cou'd be worthily exprest, How deeply thou art seated in my Breast.

When first my 3 1.3 Childish Robe resign'd the charge;Line 40 And left me, unc••••fin'd, to live at large;

When now my golden B••lla (hung on high To House-hold Gods) declar'd me past a Boy; And my 4 1.4 white Shield proclaim'd my Liberty: When, with my wild Companions, I cou'd rowl From Street to Street, and sin without controul; Just at that Age, when Manhood set me free; I then depos'd my self, and left the Reins to thee. On thy wise Bosom I repos'd my Head; And, by my better 5 1.5 Socrates, was bred.Line 50 Then, thy streight Rule, set Virtue in my sight; The crooked Line reforming by the right. My Reason took the bent of thy Command; Was form'd and polish'd by thy skilful hand: Long Summer-days thy Precepts I reherse; And Winter-nights were short in our converse: One was our Labour, one was our Repose▪ One frugal Supper did our Studies close▪

Sure on our Birth some friendly Planet shone: And, as our 6 1.6 Souls, our Horoscope was one:Line 60 Whether the 7 1.7 mounting Twins did Heav'n adorn, Or, with the rising 8 1.8 Ballance, we wore born; Both have the same Impressions from abov••; And both have 9 1.9 Saturn's rage, repell'd by love. 〈…〉〈…〉 Has giv'n Thee an Ascend〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••o're my Mind.

CORN.

Nature is ever various in her Frame: Each has a different Will; and few the same: The greedy Merchants, led by lucre, run To the parch'd Indies, and the rising Sun;Line 70 From thence hot Pepper, and rich Drugs they bear, Bart'ring for Spices, their Italian Ware. The lazy Glutton safe at home will keep; Indulge his Sloth, and batten with his Sleep: One bribes for high Preferments in the State, A second shakes the Box, and sit up late: Another shakes the Bed; dissolving there, Till Knots upon his Gouty Joints appear, And Chalk is in his crippled Fingers found; Rots like a Doddard Oke, and piecemeal falls to ground.Line 80 Then, his lewd Follies he wou'd late repent: And his past years, that in a Mist were spent.

PERS.

But thou art pale, in nightly Studies, grown: To make the 10 1.10 Stoick Institutes thy own: Thou long with studious Care hast till'd our Youth; And sown our well purg'd Ears with wholsom Truth: From thee both old and young, with profit, learn The bounds of Good and Evil to discern▪

CORN.

Unhappy he who does this Work adjourn;Line 90 And to To Morrow wou'd the s••arch delay; His lazy Morrow will be like to day.

PERS.

But is one day of Ease too much to borrow?

CORN.

Yes sure: For Yesterday was once To Morrow. That Yesterday is gone, and nothing gain'd; And all thy fruitless days will thus be drain'd: For thou hast more To Morrows yet to ask, And wilt be ever to begin thy Task: Who, like the hindmost Chariot Wheels, art curst; Still to be near; but ne're to reach the first.

O Freedom! first Delight of Humane Kind!Line 100 Not that which Bondmen from their Masters find, The 11 1.11 Priviledge of Doles; nor yet t'inscribe Their Names in 12 1.12 this or t'other Roman Tribe: That false Enfranchisement, with ease is found: Slaves are 13 1.13 made Citizens, by turning round. How, replies one, can any be more free? Here's Dama, once a Groom of low degree, Not worth a Farthing, and a Sot beside; So true a Rogue, for lying's sake he ly'd But, with a turn, a Freeman he became;Line 110 Now 14 1.14 Marcus Dama is his Worship's Name▪ Good Gods! who wou'd refuse to lend a Sum, If Wealthy Marcus Surety will become! Marcus is made a Judge, and for a Proof Of Certain Truth, He said it, is enough.

A Will is to be prov'd; put in your Claim; Tis clear, if 15 1.15 Marcus has subscrib'd his Name▪ This is 16 1.16 true Liberty, as I believe▪ What farther can we from our Caps receive, Than as we please, without Control to live?Line 120 Not more to 17 1.17 Noble Brutus cou'd b••long. Hold, says the Stoick, your Assumption's wrong: I grant true Freedom you have well defin'd: But living as you list, and to your mind, Are loosely tack'd▪ and must be left behind. What, since the Praetor did my Fetters loose, And left me freely at my own dispose, May I not live without Control or Awe, Excepting still the 18 1.18 Letter of the Law?

Hear me with patience, while thy Mind I freeLine 130 From those fond Notions of false Liberty: Tis not the Praetor's Province to bestow True Freedom; no•• to teach Mankind to know What to our selves, or to our Friends we owe. He cou'd not set thee free from Cares and Strise▪ Nor give the Reins to a lewd vicious life: As well he for an Ass a Harp might string; Which is against the Reason of the thing: For Reason still is whisp'ring in your Ear, Where you are sure to fail, th' Attempt forbear.Line 140

No need of Publick Sanctions, this to bind, Which Nature has implanted in the Mind: Not to pursue the Work, to which we're not design'd.

Unskill'd in Hellebore, if thou shou'd'st try, To mix it, and mistake the Quantity, The Rules of Physick wou'd against thee cry. The High-stoo'd Ploughman, shou'd he quit the Land, To take the Pilot's Rudder in his hand, Artless of Stars, and of the moving Sand, The Gods wou'd leave him to the Waves and WindLine 150 And think all Shame was lost in Human-Kind.

Tell me, my Friend, from whence hadst thou the skill, So nicely to distinguish Good from Ill? Or by the sound to judge of Gold and Brass; What piece is Tinkers Metal, what will pass? And what thou art to follow, what to flye, This to condemn, and that to ratifie▪ When to be Bountiful, and when to Spare, But never Craving, or oppress'd with Care? The Baits of Gifts, and Money to despise,Line 160 And look on Wealth with undesirng Eyes? When thou can'st truly call these Virtues thine, Be Wise and Free, by Heavn's consent and mine▪

But thou, who lately of the common strain, Wer't one of us, if still thou do'st retain

The same ill Habits, the same Follies too, Gloss'd over only with a Saint-like show, Then I resume the freedom which I gave, Still thou art bound to Vice, and still a Slave. Thou can'st not wag thy Finger, or beginLine 170 The least light motion, but it tends to si••▪

How's this? Not wag my Finger, he replies? No, Friend; nor fuming Gums, nor Sacrifice, Can ever make a Madman free, or wise. "Virtue and 19 1.19 Vice are never in one Soul: "A Man is wholly Wise, or wholly is a Fool. A heavy Bumpkin, taught with daily care, Can never dance three steps with a becoming air.

PERS.

In spight of this my Freedom still remains.

CORN.

Free, what and fetter'd with so many Chains?Line 180 Can'st thou no other Master understand▪ Than 20 1.20 him that freed thee, by the P••aetor's Wand? Shou'd he, who was thy Lord, command thee now, With a harsh Voice, and supercilious Brow, To servile Duties, thou wou'd'st fe••r no more▪ The Gallows▪ and the Whip are out of door. But if thy Passions lord it in thy Breast, Art thou not still a Slave, and still opprest▪

Whether alone, or in thy Harlot's Lap, When thou wou'd'st take a lazy Morning's Nap;Line 190 Up, up, says Avarice; thou snor'st again, Stretchest thy Limbs, and yawn'st, but all in vain; The Tyrant Lucre no denyal takes; At his Command th' unwilling Sluggard wakes: What must I do, he cri••s? What, says his Lord? Why rise, make ready, and go streight aboord: With Fish, from Euxine Seas, thy Vessel freight; Flax, Castor, Coan Wines, the precious Weight Of Pepper, and Sabean Incense, take With thy own hands, from the tir'd Camel's back:Line 200 And with Post-haste thy running Markets make. Be sur•• to turn the Penny, lye and swear, Ti•• wholsom sin: But Iove, thou say'st, will hear? Swear, Fool, or starve; for the Dilemma's even: A Tradesman thou! and hope to go to Heav'n?

Resolv'd for Sea▪ the Slaves thy Baggage pack; Each saddled▪ with his Burden on his back: Nothing retards thy Voyage, now▪ unless Thy other Lord forbids; Voluptuousness▪ And he may ask thi•• civil Question▪ Friend▪Line 210 What do'st thou make a Shipboord? ••o what end▪ Art thou of Bethlem's Noble College free▪ Stark, staring mad; that thou wou'd'st tempt the Sea?

Cubb'd in a Cabbin, on a Mattress laid, On a Brown George, with lowsie Swobbers fed, Dead Wine that stinks of the Boracchio, sup From a fowl Jack, or greasie Maple Cup? Say, wou'd'st thou bear all this, to raise thy store From Six i'th' Hundred, to Six Hundred more? Indulge; and to thy Genius freely give:Line 220 For, not to live at ease, is not to live: Death stalks behind thee, and each flying Hour Does some loose Remnant of thy Life devour. Live, while thou liv'st: For Death will makes us all, A Name, a nothing but an Old Wife's Tale.

Speak; wilt thou Avarice, or Pleasure chuse To be thy Lord: Take one, and one refuse. But both, by turns, the Rule of thee will have: And thou, betwixt 'em both, wilt be a Slave.

Nor think when once thou hast resisted one,Line 230 That all thy Marks of Servitude are gone: The strugling Greyhound gnaws his Leash in vain; If, when 'tis broken, still he drags the Chain.

Says 21 1.21 Phaedria to his Man, Believe me, Friend, To this uneasie Love I'le put an End: Shall I run out of all? My Friends Disgrace, And be the first lewd unthrift of my Race?

Shall I the Neighbours Nightly rest invade At her deaf Doors, with some vile Serenade? Well hast thou freed thy self, his Man replies;Line 240 Go, thank the Gods; and offer Sacrifice. Ah, says the Youth, if we unkindly part, Will not the Poor fond Creature break her Heart? Weak Soul! And blindly to Destruction led! She break her Heart! She'll sooner break your Head. She knows her Man, and when you Rant and Swear Can draw you to her, with a single Hair. But shall I not return? Now, when she Sues? Shall I my own, and her Desires refuse? Sir, take your Course: But my Advice is plain:Line 250 Once freed, 'tis Madness to resume your Chain.

Ay; there's the Man, who loos'd from Lust and Pelf, Less to the Praetor owes, than to himself. But write him down a Slave, who, humbly proud, With Presents begs Preferments from the Crowd; That early 22 1.22 Suppliant who salutes the Tribes, And sets the Mob to scramble for his Bribes: That some old Dotard, sitting in the Sun, On Holydays may tell, that such a Feat was done: In future times this will be counted rare.Line 260

Thy Superstition too may claim a share: When Flow'rs are strew'd, and Lamps in order plac'd, And Windows with Illuminations grac'd,

On 23 1.23 Herod's Day; when sparkling Bouls go round, And Tunny's Tails in savoury Sauce are drown'd, Thou mutter'st Prayers obscene; nor do'st refuse The Fasts and Sabbaths of the curtail'd Iews. Then a crack'd 24 1.24 Eggshell thy sick Fancy frights: Besides the Childish Fear of Walking Sprights. Of o'regrown Guelding Priests thou art afraid;Line 270 The Timbrel, and the Squintifego Maid Of Isis, awe thee; lest the Gods, for sin, Shou'd, with a swelling Dropsie, stuff thy skin: Unless three Garlick Heads the Curse avert, Eaten each Morn, devoutly, next thy heart.

Preach this among the brawny Guards, say'st thou, And see if they thy Doctrine will allow: The dull fat Captain, with a Hound's deep throat, Wou'd bellow out a Laugh, in a Base Note: And prize a hundred Zeno's, ••ust as muchLine 280 As a clipt Sixpence, or a Schilling Dutch.

The End of the Fifth Satyr.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  PRogne was Wife to Tereus, King of Thracia: Tereus fell in Love with Philomela, Sister to Progne; ravish'd her, and cut out her Tongue: In Revenge of which Progne kill'd Itys, her own Son by Te∣reus; and serv'd him up at a Feast, to be eaten by his Father.
• 2 1.2

  Thyestes and Atre••s were Brothers, both Kings: Atre••s to Revenge himself of his unnatural Brother, kill'd the Sons of Thyestes; and in∣vited him to eat them.
• 3 1.3

  By the Childish Robe, is meant the Praetexta, or first Gowns which the Roman Children of Quality wore: These were W••lted with Purple: And on those Welts were fasten'd the Bullae; or little Bells; which when they came to the Age of Puberty, were hung up, and Con∣secrated to the Lares, or Household Gods.
• 4 1.4

  The first Shields which the Roman Youths wore, were white, and without any Impress, or Device on them; to shew they had yet At∣chiev'd nothing in the Wars.
• 5 1.5

  Socrates, by the Oracle was declar'd to be the wisest of Man∣kind: He instructed many of the Athenian Young Noblemen, in Mora∣lity; and amongst the rest, Alcibiades.
• 6 1.6

  Astrologers divide the Heaven into Twelve parts, according to the Number of the 12 Signs of the Zodiack: The Sign or Constellation which rises in the East, at the Birth of any Man, is call'd, the Ascen∣dant: Persius, therefore, judges that Cornutus and he had the same, or a like Nativity.
• 7 1.7

  The Sign of Gemini.
• 8 1.8

  The Sign of Libra.
• 9 1.9

  Astrologers have an Axiome, that whatsoever Saturn ties, is loos'd by Iupiter: They account Saturn to be a Planet of a Malevolent Na∣ture; and Iupiter of a Propitious Influence.
• 10 1.10

  Zeno was the great Master of the Stoick Philosophy: And Clean∣thes was second to him, in Reputation: Cornutus, who was Master or Tutor to Persius, was of the same School.
• 11 1.11

  When a Slave was made free; he had the Priviledge of a Roman Born; which was to have a share in the Donatives or Doles of Bread, &c. which were Distributed, by the Magistrates amongst the People.
• 12 1.12

  The Roman People was Distributed into several Tribes: He who was made free was inroll'd into some one of them; and thereupon en∣joy'd the common Priviledges of a Roman Citizen.
• 13 1.13

  The Master, who intended to infranchise a Slave, carried him before the City Praetor, and turn'd him round, using these words; I will that this Man be free.
• 14 1.14

  Slaves had only one Name before their Freedom: After it, they were admitted to a Praenomen, like our Christen'd Names: so Dama▪ is now call'd Marcus Dama.
• 15 1.15

  At the Proof of a Testament, the Magistrates were to subscribe their Names; as allowing the Legality of the Will.
• 16 1.16

  Slaves, when they were set free, had a Cap given them, in Sign of their Liberty.
• 17 1.17

  Brutus freed the Roman People from the Tyranny of the Tar∣quins; and chang'd the Form of the Government, into a glorious Common-wealth.
• 18 1.18

  The Text of the Roman Laws, was written in Red Letters; which was call'd the Rubrick; Translated here, in more general words, The Letter of the Law.
• 19 1.19

  The Stoicks held this Poradox, That any one Vice, or Notorious Folly, which they call'd Madness, hinder'd a Man from being Virtu∣ous: That a Man was of a piece, without a Mixture; either wholly Vicious, or Good; one Virtue or Vice, according to them, including all the rest.
• 20 1.20

  The Praetor held a Wand in his hand; with which he softly struck the Slave on the Head, when he declar'd him free.
• 21 1.21

  This alludes to the Play of Terence, call'd the Eunuch; which was excellently imitated of late in English, by Sir Charles Sedley: In the first Scene of that Comedy, Phoedria was introduc'd with his Man Pam∣philus, Discoursing, whether he shou'd leave his Mistress Thais, or return to her, now that she had invited him.
• 22 1.22

  He who sued for any Office, amongst the Romans was call'd a Candidate; because he wore a white Gown: And sometimes Chalk'd it, to make it appear whiter. He rose early, and went to the Levees of those who headed the People: Saluted also the Tribes severally, when they were gather'd together, to chuse their Magistrates; and Distri∣buted a Largess amongst them, to engage them for their Voices: Much resembling our Elections of Parliament-Men.
• 23 1.23

  The Commentators are divided, what Herod this was, whom our Author mentions: Whether Herod the Great, whose Birth•• day might possibly be Celebrated, after his Death, by the Herodians, a Sect a∣mongst the Iews, who thought him their Messiah; or Herod Agrippa, living in the Author's time, and after it. The latter seems the more probable Opinion.
• 24 1.24

  The Ancients had a Superstition, contrary to ours, concerning Egg-shells: They thought that if an Egg-shell were crack'd, or a Hole bor'd in the bottom of it, they were Subject to the Power of Sor∣cery: We as vainly, break the bottom of an Egg-shell, and cross it, when we have eaten the Egg; lest some Hag shou'd make use of it, in bewitching us, or sailing over the Sea in it, if it were whole.

  The rest of the Priests of Isis, and her one-ey'd, or squinting Priestess, is more largely treated in the Sixth Satyr of Iuvenal, where the Superstitions of Women are related.