Sedulitas autem ftulte, quem diligit, urget;
Praecipue cum fe numeris commendat et arte.

Difcit enim citius, meminitque libentius illud

m

Quod quis deridet, quam quod probat et veneratur.

Nil moror" officium, quod me gravat: ac neque fict

In pejus vultu proponi cereus ufquam,

Nec prave factis decorari verfibus opto:
Ne rubeam pingui donatus munere, et una
Cum fcriptore meo capfa porrectus aperta,
Deferar in vicum vendentem thus et odores,
Et piper, et quicquid chartis amicitur ineptis.

The Zeal of Fools offends at any time,

But most of all, the Zeal of Fools in rhyme.
Befides, a fate attends on all I write,

That when I aim at praife, they fay " I bite.
A vile Encomium doubly ridicules:

There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools.
If true, a° woful likeness; and if lyes,
"Praise undeferv'd is scandal in disguise :"
Well may he blush, who gives it, or receives;
And when I flatter, let my dirty leaves

(Like Journals, Odes, and fuch forgotten things
As Eusden, Philips, Settle, writ of Kings)
Cloath fpice, line trunks, or flutt'ring in a row,
Befringe the rails of Bedlam and Soho.

410

415

THE

SECOND EPISTLE

OF THE

SECOND BOOK

OF

HORACE.

Ludentis fpeciem dabit, et torquebitur. HoR.

EPISTOLA II.

LORE, bono claroque fidelis amice Neroni,

FLO

Si quis forte velit puerum tibi vendere natum

Tibure vel Gabiis, et tecum fic agat:

"Hic et

"Candidus, et talos a vertice pulcher ad imos, "Fiet eritque tuus nummorum millibus octo; "Verna minifteriis ad nutus aptus heriles;

"Litterulis Graecis imbutus, idoneus arti

"Cuilibet: argilla quidvis imitaberis uda:

"Quin etiam canet indoctum, fed dulce bibenti. "Multa fidem promiffa levant, ubi plenius aequo "Laudat venales, qui vult extrudere, merces. "Res urget me nulla: meo fum paupere in aere. "Nemo hoc mangonum faceret tibi: non temere a

66 me

NOTES.

VER. 4. This Lad, Sir, is of Blois :] A Town in Beauce, where the French tongue is spoken in great purity.

VER. 15. But, Sir, to you, with what would I not part?]