A Modern Essay On the Tenth SATYR OF JUVENAL.
By HENRY HIGDEN, Esquire.
Licensed June 2d. 1686. Ro. L'Estrange.
Ridendo Monet.
LONDON: Printed by T. M. and are to be Sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers-Hall, 1687.
To the Right Honourable RICHARD, LORD LUMLEY, Baron of LƲMLEY, AND Viscount LƲMLET in Ireland, &c.
THE Knowledge I have of Your Lordships Great Worth and Honour, is the Motive that pushes me to Publish this Piece under Your Lordships Patronage, whose Name and Character is so Illustrious, that it was impossible for me to Resist such a Powerful Attraction: But when I reflect on the Poorness of the Present and Presenter, and from thence advance my Thoughts, to consider the Grandeur of my Patron, I discover my Want of Ability to render You the Just Attributes of your Merit: Who besides Your Lordships Hereditary Vertues, possess so many Excellent acquired Ones, the Contemplation whereof [Page] fills me with Raptures and Transports too Exquisite for a Description. With this Impotence I wholly desist from a Panegyrick in this Epistle, the general Topick of Dedications, having so Just an Excuse for the Want of Mine, which would be wholly unnecessary, since Your Lordships Vertues are so Eminent and Conspicuous, they want neither a Herauld nor an Historian.
I was conscious to my Self (My Lord) of an unpardonable piece of Confidence in this Address, in laying so Poor a Trifle at Your Lordships Feet. But, alas! What boots the Sense of a Fault, without being able to Resist the Temptation of Committing it? Besides, the Consideration that I was already Listed in the Gang of Scriblers, and commenced a Brother of the Quill, who of all Mankind are the least apt to have their Modesty or Conscience fly into their Faces: The Muses themselves (under favour) being thought but a sort of light Rambling Gypsies; and of so deep an Affrican Complexion, that they were never observed to Redden, for all their daily Presumptions and Extravagancies; and Whipping (as Experience has Taught us) does but raise and provoke their Mettle to more Waggish Pranks. Do not we daily see, that the Lowest Fluttering Dogrell shall with as great an assurance perch under a Noble Umbrage, as the Highest Soarer in Heroick Flights? The Carrion Crow shall aspire to Build in the Cedar's Top, and the Noble Eagle can pretend to no more. This Hereditary Liberty allowed; as also, That all Modesty [Page] is directly against the Rules of our Order, and the Charter of our Company; And that these Cogent Poetical Reasons being maturely weighed, may, I hope, Warrant my Obedience to Custome, and Apologize for a Troublesome and Impertinent Dedication; to suffer in which Case will be for me much more tolerable, than by my omitting so Necessary a Ceremony, provoke a Revengeful and Offended Brotherhood, that will assuredly Damn me by a Universal Consent, for presuming to hope for Salvation, and to Stand and Fall by my own Merits, without praying the Assistance of an able Patron, according to the Laudable Custome.
As for this Tenth Satyr of Juvenal, by All approved for the Gravest, and most Phylosophical, both for Argument and Matter, of all our Authors, (if his Sense have not lost too much of the Spirit by Transfusion from one Language to another) I should esteem a Suitable Present to Your Lordship, who has Justly established a Noble and Spotless Reputation from Worthy and Honest Actions: yet have Wisely learnt betimes to take up from a too eager and precipitate Chase of Fame, which Hurries many intemperately through Thick and Thin, violently breaking through the Fences to pursue and master their Game; who often (according to the many Examples in this Satyr described) do meet with a Disasterous Conclusion, which in them is the Effect of an Immoderate Thirst and Desire of a Name; and does not proceed from the Principles of Steddy Virtue. Your Lordships [Page] Wiser Consideration having denyed Your Self to the Courtship and Blandishments of the World, rather than to give the least Violence to your Mind and Repose; chusing rather a Noble Retirement within the Bounds of a Plentiful Fortune; of which few Noble Men can boast a Greater, or have given so Early a Proof of their Knowledge and Skill to use and manage it to Improvement. Which that Your Lordship may live Long to enjoy with all Happiness and Honour, is the Constant Wish of,
To my Ingenious Friend, MR. Henry Higden, Esq; On his Translation of the Tenth SATYR OF JUVENAL
TO Henry Higden, Esq; On his Translation of the Tenth SATYR OF JUVENAL.
TO H. HIGDEN, Esq; On his Modern Way of Translating JUVENAL'S Tenth SATYR.
THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
I Did not think to have given you or my self this Trouble, resolving what I had said before my Thirteenth Satyr should have served the Turn: But since my Friend Mr. Shadwell, before his late Ingenious Translation, has taken some notice of this Essay of mine, I could not in good Manners, but make his Civility a Return in Print.
This English Essay of mine was Perfect, and Licensed above a Year since, as intended to have been Printed in last Trinity Term was Twelve-month, but was by some Accident prevented. In the following Vacation Mr. Shadwell did me the Favour to peruse it, keeping it for a considerable Time by him: At the Return he told me, He had a mind to Translate it for his Diversion, as liking the Author and Subject; which has taken so good Effect, that I perceive the Younger Brother has by the Common-Mother the Press outstript the Elder, and lurch'd him of the Blessing: Which I shall not much bewail, since I had not set my Heart upon it: Nor will I blame his Haste to Christen his Own Child first, which is but the way of the World. But I thought it very hard, that his Fondness to his own way, should make him (in crying up his own) fall so severely upon all others; proclaiming his own for an Exact and Standard Translation, close to the Words and Sence of the Author, which must be so, lest it should happen, (as he says it does in all Paraphrases) That the Sense and Spirit of the Author be quite deaded and lost; Adding further, that When any presume to Rank and Intermix their sense and thoughts with those of the Noble Roman Authors, they look like Patches of homely Woollen on the Richest Silks; this Modern Age producing no Genius like theirs, and therefore their Imaginations must be Unequal, and short of the Author's. [Page] A very fine Complement put upon this Age and Nation, which without Vanity have produced Men Eminent and Learned in all Arts and Sciences, and all manner of Learning, surpassing the last preceding Ages, and beyond the pitch of other Nations. And as for Poetry, being the matter in Question, I will only instance Mr. Cowley, who perhaps had as great a Genius in all sorts of Poetry, both Latin and English, as any one of the Ancients: But, it seems, he would Monopolize and Confine the Wit of this Age (like the Caballistical Learning of the Jews) to a Club of his Acquaintance, who (it seems) are no professed Poets, but choice Spirits, and by much the greatest Wits in England, and so transcending others, that he thinks England never produced the like in any Age.
This frank way of dealing with the World, and imposing his own Fancy for Laws on others, led me to consider how my Friend had gone through with the Irksome drudgery of his Translation; and how his Genius had comported with so mean an Imployment, not doubting but he had nicely observed those Rules he had so Magisterially laid down for others, and in Modesty had forborn to mingle any Thought of his own with his Noble Roman Author, which might possibly nauseate our stomachs like Wine of two tasts; presuming he had surpassed the Elaborate Translations of Stapleton and Holliday; of which I will not pretend to judge: When upon Perusal, I found he had not strictly followed his Author, but made bold to Paraphrase and Embroider his Author's Rich Silken Garment with homely Woollen Patches of his own, I shall instance only in four Verses, being the first that came to Hand, the two first taken out of his Son's Translation of Cato's Speech, printed before his Translation; the later two Verses being in the First Page of his Satyr, and printed with a different Character, to denote something extraordinary.
In Cato's Speech:
which he renders thus:
Now I would have our nice Translator point out where the Author so much as hints any thing of this Mighty Chain; or instruct his tolerable Grammarian where to find it: which Chain must (like Jacob's Ladder) be Mighty enough to reach from Earth to Heaven: Of which I can find no more in our Author, than of a Cable or Sheet-Anchor. Besides, it will allow of a Dispute, whether God has any Parts.
The other Instance is in the First Page of his Satyr:
Which he Translates thus:
Which Mr. Holliday has more truly and comprehensively translated in One Verse, thus: ‘[Page] Before the Thief, who travels empty, Sings.’
There was no necessity the Authors Traveller should be a Poor Man; for if he had nothing of Value about him, he might sing without Fear, though he were Wealthy at home: And if we allow him a Poor Man we might guess he was Void of all Precious things. Which word Void is very seldome used in the sence there intended: May be the Poor Man voided his precious Stones long before he came into the Thieves Company, that the Capon might sing the sweeter in his Journey. Besides, I can perceive nothing in the Author that warrants that Heroick Phrase, (joggs on.) The Author's meaning is, that the empty Traveller having no cause of fear, might sing before the Thief: Yet there is no necessity he should Jog on in Company of Thieves, who perhaps had other Designs on foot, than to listen to his Melody. But I suppose, the next time he will mend his Hand, and not brew and dash his Verse, till 'tis like Wine of two lasts, that when we have pallated the New, we shall have no reason to say the Old is better. Let Milo in the Satyr be an Example to him, not to presume too much on his own strength, despising others, lest being wedged in a trap of his own making, he become a Prey to the merciless Criticks.
And thus much I thought my self obliged to say upon this occasion, since the Translator was not only content styly to top his Translation upon his Friend; but by way of Anticipation, would arrogantly cry down all but his own Translation.
I should now say something for this Essay of mine, which I never designed for a just Translation, though I have alwaies kept the Author in my Eye, and not willingly rambled too far from him, (except in the Description of the Praetor and his Equipage) which was too stubborn to work into my Verse, endeavouring to make his sence, English, and such as is now currant; All Satyr having a strong taste of the Humour and particular Hints of the Times wherein they were writ, which is indeed the Life and Beauty of Satyr. And I am the more confirmed in the Opinion of my way, since I have read a Verbal Translation, done by so able a hand as Mr. Shadwell's. In mine I have rather imitated that Admirable Translation of Quevedo, that gives Life and Spirit to his Author, by making him English, in a Modish and Familiar way, which I hope you will approve of, and excuse
JUVENAL's TENTH SATYR, Made English.
THE ANNOTATIONS ON THE Tenth SATYR.
(1.) IN this Wise Satyr, the Author does reprove and accuse the Ignorance of Mankind, imploring things of the Gods, which often prove prejudicial; As, Riches, Honours, Martial-Glory, Long-Life, & Beauty: But neglect to ask Endowments and Blessings of the Mind; as, Wisdom, Vertue, Justice, and Integrity of Life, which alone can be esteemed Real Good, of which neither Chance, Violence, nor Shipwrack can deprive us; true and solid Happiness consisting in the Indolency of the Body, and tranquility of the Mind; and shews that very few men in the World, viz. from Cadiz an Island in Spain, at the Mouth of the Streights of Gibralter, which in our Authors time, was thought the Bounds of the Western World, and where Hercules placed his Pillars, to the Famous River Ganges, Eastward, whose Head ariseing in Mount Caucasus in Scythia, runs a long Course through the Eastern-Indies, whose Channel where narrowest, is 8 miles broad, and about 20 where widest; and in the shallowest place 100 Foot deep. Page 1st.
(2) Milo: The Poet observing, that many Eminent in Civil and Military Affairs, & fam'd for Eloquence, trusting to their own Abilities have been ruin'd; gives a lively Instance of one betray'd by his own strength; in Milo the Crotan, who unfortunately presuming on his Gygantick strength, in an Attempt to rive an Oak, had his Arm wedged in the Trunk; whence not having power to disengage himself, he was held in a Trapp in the solitary Woods, where he became a Prey to Wild Beasts. This Milo in the Olympick Games carryed an Ox on his back a furlong, and after slew him at one Blow of his Fist, and the same day intirely eat him up. Page 4th.
(3) In Neroes: The Poet observes this Emperour infamous for Tyranny, Injustice, and all manner of Villany & Wickedness; who took all unjust advantages to trappan and take away the Lives of his wealthiest Subjects, thereby to possess himself of their Estates, and proceeded to such a height, he did not spare the Lives of his Domestick Servants and Favourites, imbrewing his hands in the [Page] Blood of his Mother, Brother, and Wife; and others of his nearest Relations. Page 5th.
(4) Longinus: Caius Cassius Longinus the Lawyer, whom Nero commanded to be slain, being charged with no other Crime, but having the Statue of Caessius (one of Casar's Murderers) in his house. But his great Riches and Possessions was the true reason of his Death. Page 6th.
(5) Seneca: The Tutor of Nero, who by the favour of the Emperour, in his ten years sole Ministry of Affairs, had amassed together a vast Treasure, and got splendid Gardens and Possessions; but lost them all by the Command of his cruel Pupil, with his life. As also did the rich Family of the Laterani. Page 6th.
(6) The brace of Wise-men: Are meant Democritus of Abdera the laughing, and Heraclitus of Ephesus, the weeping Philosopher; the first, in a careless merry humour, continually scoffing and deriding the Vanity and Foppery of Mankind; the other bewailing their Folly and Misfortune. Page 8th.
(7) Knees: It was customary with the Antients, when they had any great or considerable Request or Boon to beg of the Gods, to write their Request in Paper or waxen Tables; together, with a Conditional Vow, which they promised to perform if they obtained their suit; which being sealed, they left fastned to the Knees of the God, from whom the Blessing was expected; in which if they proved successful, they took off the Paper so fastened, and performed their Vow. Page 12th
(8) Clius Sejanus: A Tuscan born, he was in so great favour with the Emperour Tyberius, that he denyed him nothing: He was made Colleague in the Consulship and Roman Empire with Tyberius, was likewise Prefect of the Pretorian Bands, and grand Master of the Pallace: Publick Statues were erected to him, and the Romans used to swear by his Fortune; his Birth-day was kept a Festival: Yet falling into Disgrace with Tyberius, by whom, he with others, were suspected to have conspired his Death; the Emperour from the Island of Capra sent a long Epistle to the Senate, charging Sejanus with Ingratitude against the life of Caesar; whereupon he was by the Senate forthwith Condemned with his whole Family; and the same day having his hands bound behind him, was by the Executioner drawn through the street to the Scalae Gemoniae; his Statues pulled down with Contempt and Ignominy, his only daughter then but a child was deflour'd and executed by the Hangman. A Notable Example of the mutability of Humane Affairs. Page 13th.
(9) Capra: An Island near Naples, whither Tyberius retired, spending his time in obscene [...]ilthy Pleasures, whence he wrote to the Senate against Sejanus. Page 14th.
[Page] (10) Old-Fox: Tyberius who may well merit that Name, being a most profound dissembler, and subtil Politician, whose Actions had rendred him so odious to the Romans, that as Suetonius relates on the first news of his Death, some of the People cryed out, that he should be thrown into the Tyber; others would allow no sepulchre; others threatned to drag the Body to the Scalae Gemoniae. Page 15th.
(11) Cicero: The Author shews by the Examples of Cicero and Demosthenes, that Wit and Eloquence have been pernicious to Orators: Cicero the Chief of the Roman Orators and Philosophers, as appears by his works; he being the first that transplanted the Grecian Learning into the Roman Language: He raised himself through all the degrees of civil Imployments to the Consulship, being the highest pitch of Honour in the Roman Common-wealth; and in his year of Consulship, broke and defeated the Conspiracy of Cataline: He made several invective Orations against Mark Anthony, which he with evil O men Intituled his Phillippicks, in imitation of Demosthenes, who in like manner declaymed against Phillip of Macedon; but in the turn of the Roman State he was in revenge proscribed by Anthony and Augustus, and had his Head and Hands nailed on the Rostrum or Pulpet, whence he declaimed against Anthony. Page 21st.
(12) Demosthenes the Athenian, the most famous Grecian Orator, and Stout Champion for the Liberty of Greece; he declaimed against King Phillip, as one who designed to destroy the Publick Liberty and enslave Greece; for which he was expelled his Country; and again, after Phillips Death recalled: but after Alexanders Death, under the Government of Antipater, discovering some Designs against his Life, he fled and took Sanctuary in Neptune's Temple, whither Archias the Tragedian came, endeavouring to wheadle him to recourse to Antipater; affirming he had no design against him; but their Plott being well understood by Demosthenes, he told Archias, that he had never pleased him on the Stage as an Actor, and much less now when he played the Part of an Ambassador: but Archias threatning he would draw him out by Force; the Orator told him, he perceived now he was in earnest, whereas before he did but act his Part, and desiring his Patience till he dispatched some necessary Orders to his Domesticks; he retired to some distance, and drew out his Table-Book as if he would write, when sucking Poyson from a quill which he had always kept therein for a dead lift, He expired: thereby mocking the malice and revenge of his Adversaries. Page 21st.
(13) Barbari [...]n: When Greece Flourished, She called all the World besides Barbarous: which Title Plautus as freely bestows on the Romans; but when Rome came in Power, and Arts Flourished, she treated the World with the same language. Page 24th.
(14) Hannibal: Here the Poet passes from Eloquence to Martial-Glory, and inquires what Advantages it brought to that Captain Hannibal, the son of Amilcar, the Carthaginian General, by whom he was in his youth solemnly worn an [Page] Irreconcileable Enemy to the Romans; the Poet traces his life through all the traverses of his prosperous & adverse Fortune, demonstrating he had been happier, had he limited his Ambition, and not harassed and consumed Himself and Country, about such vain and improbable Designs of Conquering Italy. Page 25th.
(15) Affrick: He taxes the Haughty and Restless Spirit of Hannibal, who esteemed Affrick, though then one full third part of the known World, too narrow a Stage and obscure a Scene for his Boundless and Ambitious Actions. Page 25th.
(16) Alps: A continued ridge of high Mountains, extending one hundred thousand paces, & dividing France & Germany from Italy: they are continually covered with Snow, from whose whiteness they took their Denomination in Greek, a [...] strong and safe barricade to the Roman Empire, against the Gauls and Barbarous Nations. Page 26th.
(17) With Vinegar: Our Author laughs at the ridiculous Relation given by Livy, of Hannibals passing the Alps, reporting, that when the Army was obstructed by a Rock in their passage; they made a vast Pile of Trees, and with the advantage of the Wind, setting them on Fire, they poured Vinegar on the red-hot Stone, which softned, dissolved, and rotted them away; which idle Invention of the Historian, is by Polibius omitted as fabulous; for what needs such an Operation, when before Hannibal's time, the Gauls had five times passed the Alps: It might be necessary the Army making so long a passage, and so tedious, by reason of the number, and the narrowness, where no Garriages could come up; that each Souldier should carry his proportion of Bread & Vinegar for the whole Passage; the Vinegar being necessary to make Beveredge with the Mountain Water: Which great Preparation of Vinegar provided for the March, might give occasion to such Fabulous Report, Page. 26th.
(18) Bythinian Tyrants Gate: Hannibal being overcome by Scipio Affricanus at the Battle of Zama, near Carthage in Affrick; despairing of success or safety, fled to Antiochus the King of Syria; but suspecting that King was in Treaty to deliver him to the Romans; he left him and went to Prusius King of Bythinia, where, as his General he overcame Eumenes; but the Romans not thinking themselves secure, while so Politick and Inveterate an Enemy survived, dealt with Prusius by Embassy to deliver him up; which Hanibal discovering, to prevent shame, dispatched himself by Poyson, which he always carryed in his Ring for that purpose: A poor Revenge of Rome, and below the Consideration of so Great and Victorious a Common-wealth. Page 28th.
(19) Canna: Where Hannibal in a pitch't Battle overcame Paulus Emilius, and Terentius Varro, the two Roman Consuls, together with their whole Army, being the Flower of the Roman Militia, killing most of their Horse, and above [Page] 40000 Foot upon the Place; he filled three bushels of Rings, taken from the Fingers of the slain Nobility, which he sent to Carthage as a Witness of his Victory; and therefore our Poet wittily Remarks, that Hannibals own Ring did revenge the slaughter of the Owners of so many Rings at Canna. Page 28th.
(20) Macedonian King: He laughs at the Vanity of Young Alexander, for being melancholly because there was but one World could fall to his share, as not a sufficient Prize for his Ambition: 'tis said, Alexander hearing a Philosopher endeavouring to prove there were many Worlds, he burst into tears, to his Friends complaining that he had not as yet Conquered One among so many. Page 29th.
(21) Jove: Alexander was so puft up with his Success against the Cowardly Effeminate Persians, and transported to that degree of Pride and Vanity, that he procured and corrupted the Priests of Jupiter Ammon, to receive and own him as the true Son of that God; and set on foot a formal story, that the God had in a visible Figure conversed with his Mother about the time of his Conception; which though it might be politickly done, to awe the superstitious Persians and barbarous Nations, who might think it vain to resist the power of a God, yet it lessened him in the Hearts & Opinions of his Gallant & Victorious Macedonians; and by ascribing all to sole Valour and Conduct of his Godship, he robbed every brave Souldier & Commander of his share of the Honour and Victory. Page 30th.
(22) Babylon: A City of the Persians, built by Semiramis the Wife of Ninus, the Founder of the Assyrian Monarchy; it was surrounded with Walls of brick, being 60 Miles in Compass, 50 Foot in Height, and 200 Foot in Breadth, where Alexander dyed by Poyson: Pythagoras the Magician had foretold, that Babylon should be fatal to him, where, notwithstanding the Oracle, he was found mortal. Page 30th.
(23) Athos: Here the Poet confirms his Argument with the Example of Xerxes, the Persian King, who not content with his vast Dominions, makes an expedition with a numerous Army into Greece; and as the Greek Historians relate, cut a deep trench, wherein he let the Sea, and thereby divided that high Mountain, which was a Promontory from the main Land, and caused Vessels to sail round; which is the Exposition the Commentators give of Velificatus Athos; which does not satisfy me, who rather conjecture that Mount Athos abounding with Pines; they were by Xerxes cut down and made into Vessels, and then Veleficati or put to sail, and afterwards with them composed a Bridge over the Hellespont, he adding immediately, constatum classibus eisdem—suppositumque rotis solidum mare. Which if allowed, the sence will be parallel, as if we should say; The King in his great Navy put the Forrest of D [...]an to sea, calling the Wood by the name of the Place where it grew: the Poet reflecting on the Greeks, who writing their own History, magnify their own Courage and Conduct, by stuffing their Legends with monstrous Fables, expose their Enemies to derision, such as the [Page] making a trench about Athos, and the drinking Rivers dry at one Meal. Page. 30th.
(24) Eolus: the Grecian Histories tell us, that Xerxes, to hold a Correspondence between Asia and Europe, laid a Bridge of Boats over the Hellespont, at the Place where Sestos and Abidos stood, and the Place where now the Dardanelli are placed, where the sea is about a mile broad; where the Current being deep, the Vessels could not ride at Anchor against the stream, but must be fastened to each other; which long line of Boats upon the first stiff Gale of Wind, at East, then called a Levant, and blowing with the Currant, must necessarily separate and brake, which was the Fate of Xerxe's Bridge: who to be revenged on Eurus or the East Wind, caused several Thousands of his Army being drawn up upon the shoar, with rods to strike and whip against the Winde; the Poet reflecting on the folly of the interprize, says in a jeer, Eolus the Prince of the Winds, under whose Government and restraint they are kept in the Caverns of the Earth, never used his Subjects the Winds so Barbarously. Page 31.
(25) Neptune: An Ironical Relation of a freak of Xerxe's, who being offended with Neptune, as well as the VVinds, for breaking his Bridge; did cast Fetters and Manacles into the Sea, to shew he had dominion over Neptune, & could chain him at his pleasure as well as scourge the VVinds: & perhaps to as much purpose as the Duke of Venice with solemn Pompe and State does yearly espouse the Adriatick by throwing a Ring with Ceremony into that Sea; the Poet observes, that Neptune was kindly dealt with, that he was not branded as fugitive slaves used to be served. Page 32.
(26) Ferrys: Xerxe's being overcome by the Greeks neer Salamine, under the Conduct of Themistocles with great slaughter, and a Total defeat of his Navy, fled with a few by Land to Abidos; and finding the Bridge broken, was in a great Terrour wafted over in a small fisherboat, concluding so great and glorious an expedition with a base and shameful flight. Page 32.
(27) Nestor King of Pylos: The VVisest and most Eloquent of all the Greeks, who continued strong and vigorous at an extream age, being near 300 years old when he went to the Seige of Troy: by his rare Example, the Poet shews the unavoidable grief and calamities, that necessarily attend old age, when at the death of his Son he introduced him in a bitter complaint against the destinies, for prolonging his miserable life. Page 41.
(28) Peleus the Son of Eacus, and Father of Achilles the valiant Greek, who could not be comforted for the death of his valiant Son slain in the Temple of Apollo by Paris and Diaphobus, in the instant when he attended to Marry Pollixena their Sister. Page 42.
(29) Priam: the last King of Troy, who surviving to a great age, lived to see [Page] his chief City taken, sacked and burnt with the slaughter of his numerous issue, and subjects, having Fifty Sons, and was himself slain in the Temple of Jupiter. The Poet observes he had been happy, had he dyed before these Calamities, which was-all he gained by his Long-Life; yet pursuing his Argument against Long-Life, he prefers his Fate, though it met a distastrous Conclusion before his Wife Hecuba's who surviveing him, was transformed into a Bitch. Page 43d.
(30) The Pontick King: Mithridates, who lived 69 years, and reigned 57, and waged continual war with the Romans 40 years; by whom he was thrice overcome under the Conduct of Scylla, Lucullus, and Pompey; his affairs were at last reduced to that extreamity, that he attempted to destroy himself by Poyson, but finding by Antidotes, he had so fortified his Body, it would not work the desired Effect: he perfected his Intention with a Dose of cold Iron. Page 45th.
(31) Caius Macius: Produced as another Instance of the misfortune of Long-Life; he led the beginning of his Life as a labouring Husband-man, and after served as a common Souldier, and passing through several degrees of the Army, at length obtained the supream Command and Consulship. He Conquered Jugurtha in Affrick, and led him in Triumph: So great was the opinion of his Valour and Conduct, that when the Invasion of the Cimbrians and Teutons, had filled Italy with Terror and Confusion; Marius was the only Man that was thought fit to defend his Country, and on that occasion was five times successively chosen Consul; and at last in two Battles overcame the vast Armyes of the Cimbrians and Teutons, and Triumphed with a general Admiration and Applause, as the Deliverer of his Country. The Poet pursuing his Argument, shews his Long-Life was incommodious to him, for had he (says the Poet) dyed the day of Triumph, no man had ever left behind him a more glorious Memory and Character: whereas, he after sullyed the Glory of his Reputation and Actions, and survived his great Reputation, and for his Folly and Cruelty was scorned and detested of all, and so wearisome to himself, that he at last dispatched his miserable Life. Page 45th.
(32) Great Pompey: Who having before the Civil Wars performed several great Actions, fell sick at Capua of a Feavor; his death (the Poet says) was then prevented by the publick Prayers that were made for his Recovery; but had he then dyed, his Head had happily escaped an ignominious Death; Fortune seeming then to reserve it, to be cut off by the treachery of Achillas in Aegypt, and presented to his great Rival of the World, Julius Caesar, who (Crocodile like) shed tears (no doubt of joy) over it. Page 46th.
(33) Cataline: The Poet observes that Lentulus and Cethegus Traytors and Conspirators with Cataline, dyed a more decent death, than unfortunate Pompey, as not being beheaded or mangled, which was esteemed unfortunate and dishonoured: Cataline the Arch Traytor, dyed at the Head of his Army Gallantly fighting, and made a good Figure, covering the Spot where he sought. Page 47th.
[Page] (34) Lucretia: He passes now from Long-Life, & considers the many disastrous fates have attended Innocent & Beautiful Persons; producing the Roman Lucrece for an Example, who being ravished by Tarquinius Sextus, was the occasion of many troubles, and nobly ended her Life & Dishonor with a Ponyard. Page 48th.
(35) Virginia: With whose rare Beauty, Appius Claudius the Decemvir fell desperately in Love, and having tryed all means to corrupt her Chastity without success, at last suborns a Creature of his own, to swear before him as Judge, that Virginia was not the true Daughter of Lucius Virginius the Centurion her reputed Father, but a slave born, and consequently, ought not to be free, and was judged as a slave; by which judgment, she was abandoned (without her Fathers Protection) to the Lust of her Ravisher; which Virginius perceiving, seeming satisfyed with the Sentence, desired to take leave off his supposed Daughter, & approaching her, stabbed Her with his Dagger; whereby he prevented her Dishonor, & disapointed the Intent of the unjust Judge; it not being punishable in him to kill Her, being adjudged a slave, & taking the bleeding Body on his shoulders, he returned with it to the Camp, where shewing the bloody Corps, and declaring his Injury, the Souldiers were stirred up to revenge his Wrong, which was punished in the unjust Judge with Death, and occasioned the Extinguishing of the Government, in the Decem-viri. Page 48th.
(36) Mullet: The Poet observes, that beautiful Sons are obnoxious to the Temptations of Great Men, and often Caressed by wanton Wives and Ladies; though they must expect sometimes to be taken, like their Predecessor Mars, who notwithstanding his Planet and his Sentinel the Cock was taken in Vulcans Net; where they must expect all the Cruelty and Outrage, Injured and Revengful Men can commit: and mentions here the Roman Revenge, that used to force a Mullet up the Fundament of the Offender, with the Head foremost, which having Bristles on the Back, and Finns like a Pearch, was no way to be pulled out. Page 51st.
(37) Bellerephon: The Author shews that Beauty in young men, accompanied with a Resolution of rigied Vertue, turns very often to the disadvantage of the Possessor, which is made out by the Examples of Belerephon & Hippolito: with the Shape and Beauty of the first of which Sthenobea the Wife of Praetus, the King of the Argives being Inamoured, sollicited him to unlawful Pleasures, which he refused; whereupon she accused him for attempting a Rape upon her; which occasioned many Hazards and Dangers, which his Vertue at last overcame: Hippolito being a very Beautiful Youth, gave himself up wholly to the Diversion of Hunting, regardless of the Charms and Conversation of Women, with whom his Step-Mother P [...]aedra [...]ell in love, and Courted him to her Bed, but was by him refused; she accuses him to her Husband, for attempting a Rape upon her, Hiplito perceiving she had gained Belief of her easy Husband, and that his Life was in danger, Flies in his Chariot; but in the way his Horses being affrightened, [Page] would not be governed, but running down a Precipice, dragged the unfortunate Youth in peices. These with the Story of Joseph may be a Caution to Cuckolds, not to be over Credulous. Page 53d.
(38) The Emperors Wife Messalina: She was married young, to Claudius the Old doating Emperor: Her salacious Appetite was not to be satisfied, though with many Incumbents: She played a tryal of skill for a prize, with one of the Ablest, and most Famous Roman Courtezans, who should endure the most Assailants; in which Contest, the Empress bore away the Bell, and out-did the profest Harlot in her own Art: She used in a disguise, to go to the Publick Stews by night, and there accoutred like a common Courtezan, she maintained her Post against all Commers, and in several Incounters was found Invincible, staying till the Brothel Tap-too went about, as desirous to see the last Man born: At last she grew so openly Extravagant, that being in love with Caius Silius a handsome Youth, and of a most Noble Family; made him put his Wife away and openly marry Her, though the Emperor her Husband was alive, and not twenty miles from Rome; for which Purpose all Ceremonies were prepared for the Wedding, and the Portion ready down upon the nayle, the Wedding Bed prepared in a sumptuous Pavilion in the Garden, of which the Emperour being advertised, forbid the Banes, and causing both to be seised, they both were slain; the Unfortunate Silius, first suffering before the eyes of the Lustful Emperess. Page 56th.
(39) Alcides: Hercules the Son of Jupiter and Al [...]mena; he was for his Justice, Valour, and hardy Exploits, worthily translated among the Gods. The Poet proposes his Toyles and Labours, rather to be imitated and undergone, by a Brave and Virtuous Man, and preferrable to the Indulgence and Debauchery of a Sloathful and Voluptuous Person. Page Ʋlt.
(40) Sardanapalus: The last of the Assyrian Monarchs, and the 30th. from Ninus the Founder: He so degenerated into all the sorts of Lust and Debauchery; that he was not ashamed to sit and spin among a Multitude of Strumpets, And therefore was by the Assyrian Nobility worthily despised and deposed. Page Ʋlt.