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 SECOND SATYR OF JUVENAL,

Translated into ENGLISH VERSE BY Mr. TATE.

ARGUMENT OF THE Second Satyr.

The Poet, in this Satyr, inveighs against the Hypocrisie of the Philosophers, and Priests of his Time: the Effemi∣nacy of Military Officers, and Ma∣gistrates. Which Corruption of Man∣ners in General, and more Particu∣larly of Unnatural Vices, he im∣putes to the Atheistical Principle that then prevail'd.

THE SECOND SATYR.

I'M sick of Rome, and wish my self convey'd Where freezing Seas obstruct the Merchants Trade, When Hypocrites read Lectures, and a Sot, Because into a Gown and Pulpit got, Tho surfeit-gorg'd, and reeking from the Stews, Nothing but Abstinence for's Theam will chuse. The Rakehells too pretend to Learning—Why? Chrysippus Statue decks their Library. Who makes his Closet finest is most Read; The Dolt that with an Aristotle's Head,Line 10 Carv'd to the Life, has once adorn'd his Shelf, Streight sets up for a Stagyrite himself. Precise their Look, but to the Brothel come, You'll know the Price of Philosophick Bum. You'd swear, if you their Bristled Hides survey'd, That for a Bear's Caresses they are made; Yet of their Obscene Part they take such care, That (like Baboons) they still keep Podex bare; To see't so sleek and trimm'd the Surgeon smiles, And scarcely can for laughing launce the Piles.Line 20

Since Silence seems to carry Wisdom's Pow'r, Th' affected Rogues, like Clocks, speak once an Hour. Those grizled Locks which Nature did provide, In plenteous growth, their Asses Ears to hide, The formal Slaves reduce to a degree Short of their Eye-brows.—Now I honour Thee, Thee Peribonius, thou profest He-Whore, And all thy Crimes impute to Nature's Score: Thou, as in Harlots Dress thou art attir'd, For ought I know, with Harlots Itch art fir'd,Line 30 Thy Form seems for the Pathick Trade design'd, And generously thou dost own thy Kind. But what of those lewd Miscreants must become, Who Preach Morality and Shake the Bum?

Varillus cries, shall I fear Sextus Doom, Whose Haunches are the common Sink of Rome? Let him cry Blackmoor-Devil, whose skin is white, And Bandy-Legs, who treads himself upright; Let him reprove that's Innocent—In vain The Gracchi of Sedition must complain.Line 40 'Twou'd make you swear the Planets from their Spheres, Shou'd Verres peach Thieves, Milo Murderers, Clodius tax Bawds, Cethegus Catiline, Or 1 Scylla's Pupils Scylla's Rules decline. Yet we have seen a Modern Magistrate Restore those rigid 2 Laws that did create

In Mars and Venus dread; himself the while, With impious Drugs and Potions, did beguile The teeming Iulia's Womb, and thence did wrest Crude 3 Births, that yet th' Incestuous Sire confest.Line 50 How shall such Hypocrites Reform the State, On whom the Brothels can Recriminate?

Of this we have an Instance great and new In a Cock-Zealot of this Preaching Crew, Whose late Harangue the gaping Rabble drew. His Theme, as Fate wou'd have't, was Fornication, And as i'th' fury of his Declamation, He cry'd, Why sleeps the Iulian Law, that aw'd This Vice?—Laronia, an industrious Bawd, (As Bawds will run to Lectures) nettled muchLine 60 To have her Copy-hold so nearly toucht, With a disdainful Smile, reply'd, Blest Times, That made thee Censor of the Age's Crimes! Rome now must needs Reform, and Vice be stopt, Since a Third Cato from the Clouds is dropt. But tell me, Sir, what Perfume strikes the Air From your most Rev'rend Neck o'regrown with Hair? For modestly we may presume, I trow, 'Tis not your Nat'ral Grain—The Price I'd know, And where 'tis sold; direct me to the Street,Line 70 And Shop, for I with no such Essence meet.

Let me entreat you, Sir, for your own sake, Use Caution, and permit the Laws to take A harmless Nap, left the 4 Scantinian wake. Our wise Forefathers took their Measures right, Nor wreak'd on Fornicators all their spight, But left a Limbo for the Sodomite. If you Commission-Courts must needs erect For Manners, put the Test to your own Sect. But you by Number think your selves secure,Line 80 While our thin Squadron must the Brunt endure. With grief I must confess our Muster's few, And much with Civil Broils impair'd, while you Are to the Dev'l and to each other true. Your Penal Laws against Us are enlarg'd, On whom no Crimes, like what you act, are charg'd. Flavia may now and then turn up for Bread, But chastly with Catulla lies a Bed. Your Hispo acts both Sexes parts, before A Fornicator; and behind, a Whore:Line 90 We ne're invade your Walks; the Clients Cause We leave to your confounding and the Laws. If now and then an Amazonian Dame Dares fight a publick Prize, 'tis sure less shame, Than to behold your unnerv'd Sex set in To Needle-Work, and like a Damsel Spin. How Hister's Bondman his sole Heir became, And his conniving Spouse so rich a Dame,

Is known; that Wife with Wealth must needs be sped, Who is content to make a Third in Bed.Line 100 You Nymphs that would to Coach and Six arrive, Marry, keep Counsel, and y'are sure to thrive! Yet these Obnoxious Men, without Remorse, Against our Tribe will put the Laws in force, Clip the Dove's Wing, and give the Vulture course.

Thus spoke the Matron—The convicted Crew From so direct a Charge like Lightning flew. It must be so—Nor, vain Metellus, shall From Rome's Tribunal, thy Harangues prevail Gainst Harlotry, while thou art clad so thin,Line 110 That through thy Cobweb-Robe we see thy Skin As thou Declaim'st—Fabulla is, you say, A Whore—I own it; so's Carsinia; Rank Prostitutes, therefore without remorse Punish the Strumpets, give the Law its course: But when y'ave sentenc'd them, Metellus, know They'd blush t'appear so loosly Drest as you. You say the Dog-Star reigns, whose ••ultry Fire Melts you to death ev'n in that light Attire; Go naked then, 'twere better to be mad,Line 120 (Which has a priv'ledge) than so lewdly clad! How wou'd our Mountain Sires, return'd from Plow Or Battel, such a Silken Judge allow? Canst thou restore old Manners, or retrench Rome's Pride, who com'st transparent to the Bench?

This Mode in which thou singly do'st appear, By thy Example shall get footing here, Till it has quite deprav'd the Roman Stock As one infected Sheep confounds the Flock.

Nor will this Crime, Metellus, be thy worst,Line 130 No Man e're reach'd the heights of Vice at first: For Vice like Virtue by Degrees must grow; Thus, from this wanton Dress, Metellus, thou With those 5 polluted Priests at last shall join, Who Female Chaplets round their Temples twine, And with 6 perverted Rites profane the Goddess Shrine. Where such vile Practices 'twixt Males are past, As makes our Matrons lewd Nocturnals chast. Cotyttus 7 Orgies scarce are more obscene, For thus th' Effeminate Priests themselves demean.Line 140 With Jet-black Pencils one his Eye-brows dyes, And adds new Fire to his lascivious Eyes: Another in a Glass-Priapus swills, While twisted Gold his platted Tresses fills; A Female Robe, and to compleat the Farce, His 8 Servant not by Iove but Iuno swears. One holds a Mirrour, pathick Otho's Shield, In which he view'd before he march'd to Field, Nor Ajax with more Pride his seven-fold Targe did wield▪ Oh Noble Subject for new Annals fit,Line 150 In musty Fame's Records unmention'd yet!

A Looking-Glass must load th' Imperial Car, The most important Carriage of the War! Galba to kill he thought a Gen'ral's Part, But, as a Courtier, us'd the nicest Art To keep his Skin from Tan: before the Fight Wou'd paint, and set his soil'd Complexion right. A Softness which Semiramis ne're knew, When once she had the Field and Foe in view, Nor Egypt's Queen, when she from Actium flew.Line 160

No chast Discourse their Festivals afford, Obsceneness is the Language of their Board: Soft lisping Tones, taught by some bald-pate Priest, For skillful Palate, Master of the Feast. A Pack of Prostitutes, un-nerv'd, and rife For th' operation of a 9 Phrygian Knife; For from such Pathicks 'twere but just to take Those Manly Parts, of which no use they make.

Gracchus, 'tis said, gave to his Trumpeter Four Hundred Sesterce's—For what?—in Dow'r.Line 170 The Motion's lik'd, the Parties are agreed; And for Performance seal a formal Deed; Guests are bespoke, a Wedding-Supper made, The wonted Joy is wisht, that done— The He-Bride in his Bridegroom's Arms is laid! O Peers of Rome! need these stupendious Times A 10 Censer or Aruspex for such Crimes?

The Prodigy less Monstrous wou'd appear, If Women Calves, or Heifers Lambs shou'd bear! In Bridal Robe and Veil the Pathick's drest,Line 180 Who 11 bore the pondrous Shield at M••rs his Feast.

12 Father of Rome, say what detested Clime Taught Latian Shepherds so abhorr'd a Crime? Say, thundring Mars, from whence the Nettle sprung, Whose Venom first thy Noble Offspring stung? Behold! a Man by Birth and Fortune Great Weds with a Man; yet from th' Etherial Seat No ratling of thy Brazen Wheels we hear, Nor is Earth pierc'd with thy avenging Spear! Oh! if thy Jurisdiction (Mars) falls shortLine 190 To punish Mischiefs of so vast import, Complain to Iove, and move the higher Court. For shame redress this Scandal, or resign Thy Province to some Pow'r that's more Divine.

To Morrow early in Quirinus Vale I must attend—Why?—Thereby hangs a Tale, A Male-Friend's to be marry'd to a Male. 'Tis true the Wedding's carry'd privately, The Parties being at present somewhat shy; But that they own the Match, e're long you'll hear,Line 200 And see it in the Publick Register.

But one sore grief does ••hese He•• Brides perplex; Though they deb••••e, they cannot change their Sex; Nor yet, by help of all their wicked Art, Bring Offspring to secure their Husband's Heart. Nature too much i'th' dire Embrace is forc'd, But ne're joins Influence with Desires so curs'd: Incestuous Births, and Monst••rs may appear, But teeming Males not Earth nor Hell can bear.

Yet Gra••••hus, thou degen'rate Son of Fame,Line 210 Thy Pranks are stigmatiz'd with greater blame: Theirs was a priva••e, thine an open Shame. Who like a Fencer on a Publick Stage, Hast made thy self the Scandal of the Age. Nor can Ro••••••'s Noblest Blood with thine compare, While thou ma••'st P••stime for the Theatre.

To what dir•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 can we assign these Crimes, But to that reigning Atheism of the Times? Ghosts, Stygian Lakes, and Frogs with croaking Note, And Charon wafting Souls in leaky Boat,Line 220 Are now thought Fables, to fright Fools conceiv'd. Or Children, and by Children scarce believ'd. Yet give thou Credit. What can we suppose The Temperate Curii, and the Scipio's; What will Fabricius or Camillus think, When they behold, from their Elisium's brink, An Atheist's Soul to last Perdition sink?

How will they from th' assaulted Banks rebound, And wish for Sacred Rites to purge th' unhallow'd ground.

In vain, O Rome! thou dost thy Conquest boastLine 230 Beyond the Orcades short-nighted Coast, Since free the conquer'd Provinces remain From Crimes that thy Imperial City stain: Yet Rumour speaks, if we may credit Fame, Of one Armenian Youth, who since he came Has learn'd the impious Trade; and does exceed The lewdest Pathicks of our Roman Breed. Blessings of Commerce! he was sent, 'tis said, For Breeding hither: And he's fairly bred. Fly Foreign Youths from our polluted Streets,Line 240 And, e're unman'd, regain your Native Seats; Lest, while for Traffick here too long you stay, You learn at last to trade th' Italian way; And, with curs'd Merchandise returning home, Stock all your Country with the 13 Figs of Rome.

The End of the Second Satyr.

EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE SECOND SATYR.

SUppos'd by some, to be Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus; but by o∣thers (more probably) Augustus, Anthony, and Lepidus.

The Lex Iulia against Adultery.

Viz. Deform'd, and so resembling Domitian.

The Law so called, from Scantinius, against whom it was put in Execution.

Suppos'd to be the Colledge of Priests, appointed by Domitian to Celebrate the Quinquatria to Minerva.

Perverted Rites. Because here Women were Excluded from the Mysteries, as Men were elsewhere from Ceres's Worship.

Cotyttus Orgies. The Goddess of Impudence Worshipp'd at Athens. A Strumpet in her Life time, that us'd to Dance Naked with most Obscene Gestures.

An Instance of Extraordinary Effeminacy, it being the Custom for only Women to Swear by Goddesses; the Men by Iove, Her∣cules, &c.

Alluding to the Priests of the Phrygian Goddesses, who were castrated.

Viz. The One to Punish, the Other to Expiate such Unnatural Crimes.

He means one of the Salii, or Priests of Mars, who carry'd his Shield and Implements, and was Brawny enough to Dance under them at his Festival. C••elestia Martis Arma ferunt Salii. Ov. Fast. 3.

Mars, Father of Romulus, who Founded Rome.

Emrods, call'd in Latin, Ficus.

Notes

• 1

  SUppos'd by some, to be Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus; but by o∣thers (more probably) Augustus, Anthony, and Lepidus.
• 2

  The Lex Iulia against Adultery.
• 3

  Viz. Deform'd, and so resembling Domitian.
• 4

  The Law so called, from Scantinius, against whom it was put in Execution.
• 5

  Suppos'd to be the Colledge of Priests, appointed by Domitian to Celebrate the Quinquatria to Minerva.
• 6

  Because here Women were Excluded from the Mysteries, as Men were elsewhere from Ceres's Worship.
• 7

  The Goddess of Impudence Worshipp'd at Athens. A Strumpet in her Life time, that us'd to Dance Naked with most Obscene Gestures.
• 8

  An Instance of Extraordinary Effeminacy, it being the Custom for only Women to Swear by Goddesses; the Men by Iove, Her∣cules, &c.
• 9

  Alluding to the Priests of the Phrygian Goddesses, who were castrated.
• 10

  Viz. The One to Punish, the Other to Expiate such Unnatural Crimes.
• 11

  He means one of the Salii, or Priests of Mars, who carry'd his Shield and Implements, and was Brawny enough to Dance under them at his Festival. C••elestia Martis Arma ferunt Salii. Ov. Fast. 3.
• 12

  Mars, Father of Romulus, who Founded Rome.
• 13

  Emrods, call'd in Latin, Ficu••.