Horace. The best of lyrick poets. Containing much morality, and sweetnesse. Together with Aulus Persius Flaccus, his satyres. Translated into English by Barten Holyday sometime student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

Ode XV. Against the excesse of that Age.

Jam pauca aratro.

MAgnifique buildings will leave shortly now, Few Akers of firme land, unto the Plough; Now many are beheld huge Pooles to make Of much more wide extent, then Lucrine Lake. The solitary Plane, the Elme supplants, And now no sort of od'rous flowers wants, As Roses, Violets, and Venus-Mittle, Where th'Olive grew, to former Lords so fertile. The Lawrell now, to Phoebus piercing eye, Through his thick branches passage doth denie. No such Praescript did Romulus exact, Nor Elders, nor rough Cato did enact.

Private Revenues, then, were short, and low, And each man sought to make the publique flow. Proud Galleries no private man, then made, Of ten foot wide to let in Northerne shade. Nor did our Lawes, then suffer us, disdaine, A casuall Turse, for pillow to retaine; Commaunding townes to build, at publique charge, And the gods Temples with new stone enlarge.