Dura fed emovere loco me tempora grato; Civilifque rudem belli tulit aeftus in arma, Caefaris Augufti non refponfura lacertis. Unde fimul primum me dimifere Philippi, Et laris et fundi, paupertas impulit audax Ut verfus facerem: fed, quod non defit, habentem, Quae poterunt unquam fatis expurgare cicutae, Ni melius dormire putem, quam fcribere versus ? Eripuere jocos, venerem, convivia, ludum; h Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque. NOTES. VER. 69. Indebted to no Prince or Peer alive,] For it would be very hard upon Authors, if the fubfcribing for a Book, which does honour to one's Age and Country, and confequently reflects back part of it on the Subfcribers, fhould be esteemed a debt or obligation. And certain Laws, by fuff'rers thought unjust, Hopes after hopes of pious Papifts fail'd, 60 While mighty WILLIAM's thund'ring arm prevail'd. For Right Hereditary tax'd and fin'd, He stuck to poverty with peace of mind; 65 And me, the Muses help'd to undergo it; But (thanks to Homer) fince 1 live and thrive, Sure I fhould want the care of ten Monroes, 70 If I would fcribble, rather than repose. * Years foll'wing years, fteal something ev'ry day. At last they steal us from ourselves away; In one our Frolics, one Amufements end, In one a Mistress drops, in one a Friend : That turn'd ten thousand verses, now stands ftill. NOTES. 75 80 VER. 70. Monroes.] Dr. Monroe, Phyfician to Bedlam-Hofpital. P. VER. 73. At laft they feal us from ourselves away;] i. e. Time changes all our paffions, appetites, and inclinations. Carmine tu gaudes: hic delectatur iambis ; Ille Bioneis fermonibus, et fale nigro. Tres mihi convivae prope diffentire videntur, 1 Quid dem? quid non dem? renuis quod tu, jubet alter: Quod petis, id fane eft invifum acidumque duobus. Scribere poffe, inter tot curas totque labores ? Hic extremo in Aventino; vifendus uterque. Intervalla vides humane commoda. "Purae funt plateae, nihil ut meditantibus obftet." Feftinat calidus mulis gerulifque redemtor: Torquet nunc lapidem, nunc ingens machina tignum: NOTES. VER. 87. Oldfield-Dartineuf] Two celebrated Gluttons. This inftance adds a beauty to the whole passage, When this Heroics only deigns to praise, Sharp Satire that, and that Pindaric lays? One likes the Pheafant's wing, and one the leg; 85 90 In crouds, and courts, law, bufinefs, feafts, and friends? My counsel fends to execute a deed: A Poet begs me, I will hear him read: In Palace-yard at nine you'll find me there At ten for certain, Sir, in Bloomfb'ry fquare- 95 NOTES: 100 as intimating that the demand for verfe is only a fpecies of luxury, Triftia robuftis luctantur funera plauftris:" Hac rabiofa fugit canis, hac lutulenta ruit sus. *I nunc, et verfus tecum meditare canoros. Scriptorum chorus omnis amat nemus, et fugit urbis, Rite cliens Bacchi, fomno gaudentis et umbra. Tu me inter ftrepitus nocturnos atque diurnos Vis canere, et contracta fequi veftigia vatum ? 1Ingenium, fibi quod vacuas defumfit Athenas, Et ftudiis annos feptem dedit, infenuitque Libris et curis, ftatua taciturnius exit Plerumque, et rifu populum quatit: hic ego rerum Fluctibus in mediis, et tempeftatibus urbis, VER. 104. NOTES. Have you not feen, etc.] The fatirical pleafantry of this image, and the humourous manner of reprefenting it, raises the imitation, in this place, far above the original. VER. 113. Would drink and doze, etc.] This has not the delicacy, or elegant ambiguity of, Rite cliens Bacchi, fomno gaudentis et umbra. |