Mores hominum = The manners of men / described in sixteen satyrs by Juvenal, as he is published in his most authentick copy, lately printed by command of the King of France ; whereunto is added the invention of seventeen designes in picture, with arguments to the satyrs ; as also explanations to the designes in English and Latine ; together with a large comment, clearing the author in every place wherein he seemed obscure, out of the laws and customes of the Romans, and the Latine and Greek histories, by Sir Robert Stapylton, Knight.

THE PREFACE.

AGathocles, that being Son to a Potter,* 1.1 raised himself by mi∣litary virtue to be King of Sicily, commanded earthen pots to be set upon his Cupboard of gold-plate, and pointing to them, when he would incourage his young Souldiers, said, Look friends, from these, I am come to this. It may as much incourage the Youth of England, if they consider, how high this Nation is in prosperity and ho∣nour, purchased by the industry and valour of their Ancestors, from the low beginnings of the Britons, mentioned in these Satyrs. Juvenal takes no∣tice of one great Souldier here, Arviragus,* 1.2 and names him as the terrour of Domitian Caesar: but this only shews the Gallantry of our Country-men; what was then their Art of War, their Fortifications? poor huts:* 1.3 what their Manufacture? baskets: what their Erudition? Lawyers Rhetorick,* 1.4 taught them by the French: what their Breeding? to be ranked with the Scythian Picts, the Agathyrsians; But now, if Juvenal could live to review the World,* 1.5 he would find, that the spirit of Arviragus is diffused into thousands of our Souldiers, every one of them able to lead an Army against his Romans, That our Island is famous for the noblest Merchants, the greatest Scholars: and the civilest persons living; which I have a particular ingagement to acknow∣ledge, for the acceptance of my first Translation: wherein they not only par∣doned mine and the Printer's Errours, but likewise the corruptions of those Copies which I then steered by. Therefore, when the most perfect and authen∣tick Impression came to my hands from Paris, I thought my self obliged to render it in English; as well in Gratitude to, as for the Benefit of, the pub∣lique. Yet I could not rest altogether satisfied, without making some (as I con∣ceive

necessary) Additions of my own. In the first place, from the subject-mat∣ter of Juvenal, I have given a Title to his Satyrs, viz. Mores Hominum, The Manners of Men, not without the warrant of a president from Horace, that calls his own Satyrs, Sermones. Withall, I have invented a Frontispice conteining in one Picture my Authors generall Designe, together with sixteen other Pieces, expressing the particular of every Satyr, whereunto I have writ Explanations in English, and also in Latin; that foreiners, if they please, may understand the Cuts, and our Country-men make use of their interpretation, as my former Arguments inlarged. Lastly, that nothing within my power might be wanting, I have taken care, in a new Comment, to set down clearly, though briefly, every Grecian and Roman Custome, Law, and History; for all which I quote my Authors: yet I am not ignorant, that our new Mode of writing will no more allow of quotations in the body of a Work, then in the beginning of a Preface; but I shall desire to be excused in both; for I humbly conceive, that reason is never out of fashion: and in matter of weight or controversie, he can∣not justly hope for credit, that shews not authority, and he that doth it well, makes a Book a Library. By the way, I must give you this caution, that you will find the Historie of the Ante-Trojan Times more pleasant then true, be∣ing wrapt up by the Greeks in Allegories, in whose respective Mythologie, I have endeavoured to unfold the mysterious Wisdome of the Ancients. How this will be taken, I know not; but I am sure, 'tis not conclusive, from a former favour to infer the necessity of a second: Howsoever, I am no Alcibiades, for I dare trust my Country with my Life, much more with my Book.

I shall conclude with a Request to my Reader, that he will not charge up∣on me the literall or other coincident errours of the Printer, which for the most part (if not totally) are corrected in the Table.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plutarch in A∣pophth.
• * 1.2

  Sat. 4.
• * 1.3

  Sat. 14.
• * 1.4

  Sat. 12. Sat. 15.
• * 1.5

  ibid.