Quaere fugam morbi. * vis recte vivere? quis non? Si virtus hoc una poteft dare, fortis omiffis Hoc age deliciis. y virtutem verba putes, et Lucum ligna ? cave ne portus occupet alter: Ne Cibyratica, ne Bithyna negotia perdas : • Mille talenta rotundentur, totidem altera, porro et Tertia fuccedant, et quae pars quadret acervum. Scilicet uxorem cum dote, fidemque, et amicos, d Et genus, et formam, regina Pecunia donat ; Ac bene nummatum decorat Saudela, Venufque. Mancipiis locuples, egit aeris Cappadocum rex. NOTES. VER. 65. Who Virtue and a Church alike difowns] The Would ye be bleft? despise low Joys, low Gains; Be virtuous, and be happy for your pains. y But art thou one, whom new opinions sway, One who believes as Tindal leads the way, Who Virtue and a Church alike difowns, 61 65 Thinks that but words, and this but brick and ftones? Fly then, on all the wings of wild defire, Admire whate'er the maddeft can admire: Is Wealth thy paffion? Hence! from Pole to Pole, Where winds can carry, or where waves can roll, 170 For Indian fpices, for Peruvian Gold, Prevent the greedy, and out-bid the bold: a Advance thy golden Mountain to the skies; On the broad base of fifty thousand rise, Add one round hundred, and (if that's not fair) e NOTES. 75 80 one appears from his party pamphlets; the other, from his Rights of the Chrifin Church. Ne fueris hic tu. f chlamydes Lucullus, ut aiunt, Si poffet centum scenae praebere rogatus, Qui poffum tot? ait: tamen et quaeram, et quot habebo h Mittam: poft paulo fcribit, fibi millia quinque * Mercemur fervum, qui dictet nomina, laevum NOTES. VER. 86. Or if three Ladies like a lucklefs Play,] The common reader, I am fenfible, will be always more foli. citous about the names of these three Ladies, the unlucky Play, and every other trifling circumftance that attended this piece of gallantry, than for the explanation of our Author's fenfe, or the illuftration of his poetry; even where he is most moral and fublime. But had it been in Mr. Pope's purpose to indulge fo impertinent a curiosity, he had fought elsewhere for a commentator on his writings. His Wealth brave Timon glorioufly confounds; 85 Or if three Ladies like a lucklefs Play, A noble fuperfluity it craves, 90 Not for yourself, but for your Fools and Knaves; Something, which for your Honour they may cheat, And which it much becomes you to forget. If Wealth alone then make and keep us bleft, Still, ftill be getting, never, never rest. 95 100 But if to Pow'r and Place your paffion lie, If in the Pomp of Life consist the joy ; Then hire a Slave, or (if you will) a Lord To do the Honours, and to give the Word; Tell at your Levee, as the Crouds approach, To whom to nod, whom take into your Coach, Whom honour with your hand: to make remarks, Who rules in Cornwall, or who rules in Berks: "This may be troublefome, is near the Chair: 106 "That makes three Members, this can chufe a m VER. 91. A noble fuperfluity, etc.] These four lines are an admirable paraphrafe on Exilis domus eft, ubi non et multa fuperfunt, Cui volet, importunus ebur: "Frater, Pater, adde: Ut cuique eft aetas, ita quemque facetus adopta. Si P bene qui coenat, bene vivit: lucet, eamus Quo ducit gula: pifcemur, venemur, ut olim Gargilius: qui mane plagas, venabula, fervos, Differtum tranfire forum populumque jubebat, Unus ut e multis populo fpectante referret Emtum mulus aprum. ' crudi, tumidique lavemur, Quid deceat, quid non, obliti; Caerite cera S Digni: remigium vitiofum Ithacensis Ulyssei ; Cui potior patria fuit interdicta voluptas. W Vive, vale. fi quid novifti rectius iftis, Candidus imperti: fi non, his utere mecum. NOTES. VER. 127. Wilmot] Earl of Rochester. |