A Modern Essay On the Thirteenth SATYR OF JUVENAL

By HENRY HIGDEN.

—Ridiculum acri
Fortius & melius magnas plerunque secat res.

Licensed November 11th. 1685. Roger L'Estrange.

LONDON, Printed for Jacob Tonson, at the Judge's Head in Chancery-Lane, near Fleet-street. 1686.

To the Right Honourable, GEORGE, EARL OF DARTMOUTH, &c.

My Lord,

THE high Station Your Lord­ships Vertues have plac [...]d You in, have signally marked You out for Addresses and Dedications, (a troublesome Persecution that must always attend the Great and Fortu­nate) and possess me (among the Crowd) with assurance enough to think, that being warranted by ancient Custom, I may e'en venture to play [Page]the bold Britain, and pin a Dedi­cation upon Your Lordship. Since no teeming Heroick Muse, though (after hard Labour) it produce but a Mouse; Or Puny Scribler, that makes a shift to grunt out a Souterkin of a Farce or Novel, but strait some Noble Person must be pickt out, and an Illustrious Name prefixt: So that the Pillars of the Nation, like those of the Exchange, are daily hung round with Advertisements of [Outward and Homeward bound, &c.] by every Skipper that hoists Sail for Parnassus, though but in a Dogger or Cock-boat. And truly, though so poor a Trifle is altogether unworthy of your Lord­ships Acceptance, or Patronage, yet that must not bar our Plea to your Protection: For by a certain sort of Right, which we Scriblers, with the rest of the Liberty and Property Men, [Page]call Prescription, Your Lordship is as liable to suffer in this kind, as the Gravest and most Gouty Judge is ob­liged to hobble the Measures about the Temple fire.

'Tis under this claim I presume to give your Lordship this trouble, espe­cially in this Censorious and Captious Age, when the undoubted Worth of the Patron is absolutely necessary to give it an Authentick Pass-port in the World, where not only the Book, but the Author's Principles and Pra­ctice must fall under the Censure of the severest Observators. And there­fore I could not beg Protection under a more secure and glorious Umbrage than Your Lordship: A Person whose unshaken Loyalty has been so eminent­ly signal, and whose Courage and Conduct both by Sea and Land, have been so highly Serviceable to His Ma­jesty, [Page]and the Defence and Honour of our Nation. So that Your Lord­ships many accumulated Preferments are but the Meede of that rising Ver­tue, which was ever the Darling of your ROYAL MASTER; who besides being worthily stiled the GREATEST, has gained the high Attribute of being the JUSTEST of Princes. But one yet farther En­couragement to Dedicate this slight Essay, upon so fam'd an Author as Ju­venal, more particularly to Your Lord­ship, is, That I tender it into His hands who is so able to judge of the Ori­ginal.

But now having laid so inconsidera­ble an Offering at Your Lordships Feet, though I must own my self that puny Brother of the Quill, as not to be Rich enough to adorn your Tri­umphs with Flowers, and Garlands, [Page]however my Zeal and Veneration for Your Lordship is no less, though I strow your way but with Rushes and Daisies: which at present is the highest Tribute can be rendred You by,

My Lord, Your Lordships Most Obedient, Humble Servant, HENRY HIGDEN.

TO THE READER.

I Was once minded to have dropp'd this Brat in the wide World without further Consideration; till the Stationer plainly told me, That without a Customary Preface it would never pass Muster, and so prove his damage. And faith I was easily per­swaded that such an ill rigg'd Companion would hardly meet with a tolerable Reception, without a civil Introduction and Recommendation.

Therefore bethinking my self to say something to humour him, turning to the Title Page, I found I had Christen'd it, A Modern Essay: And how, thought I, can it be Modern, without so much as one Recommendatory Copy of Verses before it, though written perhaps by the Author in praise of himself and his Poem, and father'd upon some unknowing Friend:

Nor huffing Picture in the front,
With Bays and wicked Rhime upon't.

Without which necessary Ornaments and Imbel­lishments, a Poem will no more be valued, than a Quack without his Velvet Jump, and the Silver-headed Cane to put off his Gravity; or Holy-day Artillery-man without a new-scoured Head-piece, and a tawdry Plume waving in his Crest. Which most alluring recommendations being at present want­ing, I have thought it fitting to bespeak the gentle Readers kindness in a few lines, which if obtained, may encourage us to mend all in a Second Edition, if the Fates permit.

And here again I was more at a loss than ever: For should I run division in praise of my Author, or the excellence of his Satyrick Vein, some captions Brother-Paper-stainer would strait have a sting at me, with a Who disputed the one, or doubted the other? Should I, to shew my pretended Reading, or Judgment, go about to give a Character of our Poet, and make Comparisons betwixt him and his other Rivals in Satyr, I might draw an unnecessary Quarrel upon my own Head: Therefore I have wa­ved that point, and thought good to squander the little Paper I have allowed me, in defence of my self; which I hope the severest Judges will allow me in my own Cause, since scarce one in a hundred; were he to re print Tom Thumb, but would find some­thing to say on so fair an occasion; Pro dignitate suscepti.

Well then, A Modern Essay let it be; for as a Transsation I could not, and as a Paraphrase I would not own it: If I have ventured at something between both, I hope I may be the less censured, since the Vices here taxed by our Satyrist, are not so antiquated, but a slight Inquisition may discover them amongst our selves, though perhaps something altered in Dress and Fashion. As near therefore as I could, I have equipp'd them Al-a-mode; though nevertheless you'll find little other than the Old Shock new Trim'd, and that our present Age comes not much behind our Author's, in all sorts of Genteel Vice and Debauchery. But as to the par­ticular Argument of this Satyr, viz. Breach of Trust, and Perjury, we need not the aid of SALAMANCA, since our own and our Neighbouring Island have in that long Bow out-shot all the World beside.

Some Criticks cavil our Author's Humour is too stiff, morose, and over-serious in down-right lash­ing and chastising Crimes: Whereas a jocular and facetious Jeer and Reproof, laughs Vice out of Countenance, and often works a perfect Cure and Conversion; and merrily discovering the odious de­formity of Vice, shames ingenious spirits into Ver­tue. Another sort of Well-willers to our Author have concluded with themselves, his Verse being al­together stately, he ought, Spaniard-like, to main­tain [Page]his Gate and Gravity; nor must descend from his lofty Buskins, to Act the least part of the Comick Droll; which point I will not here discuss. But if I have aimed to abate something of his serious Ri­gour, and expressed his sense in a sort of Verse more apt for Raillery, without debasing the dignity of the Author, I hope the first will not be offended, and the latter will be entreated for a Pardon. As for the Notes, I have compos'd them as short and plain as I could, to point out and illustrate the meaning of our Author; and though abler Readers may despise their help, yet I doubt not but they will be assisting to the weaker Brethren.

To conclude, shall any of Calvinus's fraternity think to rally off his Crime with a depositum custo­di; Or to excuse the matter, as having been so from the beginning: And if it were not for credulous Fools, how should wiser men live? I shall desire him to place this Satyr as a Mirrour before him in a clear light, and 'tis odds 'twill reflect his own likeness, and possibly make him see his own dear self at full length, where I will leave him in Contemplation, and con­clude,

That brevity is very good
When w' are, or are not understood.

JUVENAL's THIRTEENTH SATYR.

THE ARGUMENT.

Our Author comforts his Friend Cal­vinus, who afflicts himself over-much for the loss of a Sum of Money, committed to the secret Trust of a supposed Friend, who denies and for­swears it; shewing such Deceipts and Losses are frequent in this Corrupt Age, and familiar at Rome. That though the cunning Knave may avoid the Censure and Punishment of the Laws, yet he shall not escape the Scourge and Terror of his own Con­science.

NOne can a Crime in secret act,
But Conscience first condemns the Fact;
From whose dumb Checks Offenders find
A lasting Torment in their Mind.
And though a well-brib'd (1) Sh'riff ensure ye
A byass'd IGNORAMUS Jury;
Who, for the purpose, cull'd and pack'd,
Regard their Int'rest, not the Fact.
How ere absolv'd, yet still, the stains
On Memory's Record remains;
And though they may the Guilt out-face,
Good Men detest an Act so base.
Thy Loss, thank Heaven, is not so great,
Scarce to be felt in thy Estate;
And since the Fraud by which you smart,
Is usual, take't not to Heart:
Both Law and Equity afford
A Thousand Precedents on Record;
Demonstrating, That Breach of Trust is
So frequent, 'tis scarce thought Injustice.
Let Fools torment themselves, and grieve
For each slight Loss which they receive;
It cannot be the part of Wisdom,
Vainly to mourn, when Mischief is done:
For Trifles, Grief should not abound,
But bear proportion with the Wound.
Thou, like a Bedlamite, dost rage,
Because in so debauch'd an Age,
A confident and ancient Crony,
Sunk, and forswore a Bag of Money.
And this a Miracle appears
To a gray Fopp of Threescore years.
Shall Lessons by Experience taught,
Be thrown away, and go for nought?
Can't thy dull Genius edify
By Precepts of Philosophy?
Whose saving Truths the wise advance,
To vanquish all th' Attacks of Chance;
Custom ev'n the unlearn'd convincing,
To bear the Yoke, and without wincing;
Since vain Reluctaney and Strife,
Increase the irksom load of Life.
When was there yet a Holy-day,
Did not new Frauds and Tricks betray?
Money's by Murder, Treason, got,
Cheats, Poyson, Padding, and the Plot:
Bullies, Buffoons, Knights of the Post,
Roar, domineer, and rule the Roast;
And Dagger, Pistol, Poyson's made
The Implements of gainful Trade;
Since Good Men are so rare, that even
In Rome it self you'll scarce find seven:
Why should we fondly dream, a dozen
Of Jurors may not bribe and cozen,
When Sodom might (in times of Yore)
Have been preserv'd for Half-a-score?
With Iron, Brass, Silver, and Gold,
Past (2) Ages did resemblance hold;
To name this last degenerate Race,
Nature no Metal yields so base.
Yet we for want of Faith, in vain
Aloud of God and Man complain;
Loud, as a Pleader in the Hall,
Resolv'd t' out-noise, and brazen all.
Thou, Grandsire, that for nothing grieves,
Deserv'st a Bibb and Hanging-sleeves:
Know'st not, that others hoarded Riches
With Tantalizing Charms bewitches;
And powerful Lechery allure 'em,
That Locks and Bars cannot secure 'em?
Who can but laugh at Sot so idle,
That swears an Atheist on a Bible,
Flatt'ring himself he will be just,
Because an Oath secures his Trust?
Think'st he believes a Power Divine
Inhabits every Church and Shrine?
Thy Folly makes the sly Rogue laugh,
To see old Birds so caught with Chaff:
Such Rules the Infant World obey'd,
When (3) Saturn first the Scepter sway'd;
Ere fore'd he lay'd his Kingship down,
And for a Scythe exchang'd a Crown.
When (4) Juno was a Tomring Lass,
And (5) Jove without a hair on's Face,
Play'd at Bo-peep in Ida's Cave,
Before plain Heaven turn'd Courtly brave:
Ere Foreign Tricks, old Rights invading,
Brought in Balls, Treats, and Masquerading,
(6) No handsom Boy or (7) Wench did Skink
To add a Gusto to their Drink.
Or Clownish (8) Vulcan, all besmear'd
With Soot, wip'd Nectar from his Beard.
Then frugal Gods and eke Goddesses,
Din'd privately on homely Messes;
Scant Bills of Fare serv'd mod'rate wishes,
Plain wholesome, no Luxurious Dishes.
There Godships in the Upper House
Were not as now so numerous,
When for good Husbandry the Skies
Were manag'd by few Deities.
Nor did their Number, Pomp, and State
Make (9) Atlas groan beneath the weight;
None rul'd the (10) Ocean, or did keep
His Court and Revels in the Deep,
Or surly Tyrant Rul'd in Holl
Ghosts, that in gloomy Minsions dwell:
Nor tortur'd Souls as yet did feel
Whips, Futies, Vulture, or the Wheel.
The jolly shades, frolick and free,
Found no restraint of Liberty.
Vertue was then at such a height,
Dishonesty was wondred at,
Had then a Boy not capp'd a Beard,
Or, That not risen when Age appear'd,
Though his own happier home afforded
More Nuts and Acorns larger hoarded,
It was so Capital a Crime,
Deserv'd no Clergy at that time
For Beards then swept preheminence
From Valour, Beauty, Birth, and Sense.
Now find a Friend so firm and just;
Who never broke his Faith, or Trust;
So to a secret promise true,
He ne'er conceal'd one penny due:
Let Fame such an Example tell,
We'll register't in Chronicle;
And who but him, the Town shall ring,
And for the News, Te Deum sing;
Him, him, I'll like a Moon-calf view,
Or Monster shewn at Barthol' mew;
And wonder more, than if't had rain'd
Milstones an hour, and no one brain'd;
Than Sea of Milk, fresh-water Oyster,
Mule pregnant, or Bees swarm'd in Cloyster;
Or what has been devis'd by Fiction,
When bantring Drolls the World put tricks on;
This Man our Wonder shall engage,
As the sole Phoenix of the Age.
And is it so?—why then is't wondred,
If you are bilkt of paltry hundred?
By Chamber, and Bankers of London,
Orphans, and herds of Fools are undone,
Which like a Deluge, in a day
Their whole Estates have swept away.
If slight of Hand, and queint Disguise
Conceal our Cheats from Mortal Eyes,
What matter is't, what Heaven 'spies?
Such Witnesses we'll ne'er dispute,
That seeing all things will be mute;
The point resolv'd, with demure look
The formal Knave salutes the Book;
With Canting tone, and turn'd-up Eyes,
The brazen Rogue vents Perjuries;
Varnishing Tales Apochryphal,
With colours most Canonical.
Avouching (Verbo Sacerdotis)
Slight matters that occur to's notice;
Confirms untruths he does depose,
With Vollies of the deepest Oaths;
And can with confidence desie
Jove, and his whole Artillery:
By two-edg'd Sword of Bully Mars,
Apollo's Bow and Shafts he swears;
By chast Diana's Murdring Quiver,
And Trident of the Sea's Law-giver;
By Pallas Spear, and by the Club
Wherewith Alcides us'd to drub;
And all the dreadful Weapons seen
In Heaven's warlike Magazine;
And wishes (if he Married be)
The Devil take's Wife, and Family.
Some do believe the World's advance
From Club of Atoms, jump'd by chance,
Which jumbled in a Chaos lay,
Struggling to hit this lucky way;
Then Order from Confusion rose,
And Matter, fitly did dispose,
Which has subsisted ever since,
By Nature, not by Providence;
That no God steers the course of things,
Event from wild Chance-medly springs;
The Sun by his own virtue burns,
Whose crooked course the Year returns,
Dispensing influence to all,
Makes Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall;
To the dull mass fresh life does give,
Makes Plants and Trees shoot forth and live;
Wholly cashiering Providence,
Religion, as a sham pretence,
Devis'd to prop weak Humane Law,
And Superstitious Fools to aw;
Whence unconcern'd, they'll swear upon
Both Testaments, or Alchoran;
And turning serious things to Jest,
Swear, swallow, or take any Test.
Another Mungrel sort revere
A God, and Vengeance, yet forswear;
Thus arguing with themselves; For me
Let Heaven, what it please decree;
Strike me with ev'ry Malady,
Stone, Palsie, Gout, or Leprosy;
Content I'll live deaf, dumb, and blind,
So I may keep what I purloyn'd;
I'd rather grope my envy'd store,
Than live without it, scorn'd and poor:
What starving wretch did ever doubt
To swop his Health for the Rich Gout?
Or Foot-man having won the Race,
To Sup high, would not pawn his Bays?
In vain you humm haranging Vicar,
If he want Coin to purchase Liquor;
What can reward his pains, and studying,
But Money, Sunday's Beef, and Pudding?
Or what damn'd Poet ere would write,
That did not hope a good third Night?
It is not Zeal for a good Cause,
But Fees stir up the Man o'th' Laws;
Nor thirst of Fame, but hope of Plunder,
Makes Heroes charge thro' Pikes & Thunder.
Heaven's Vengeance heavy is we know,
But heavy things move always slow;
And if to punish all they doom,
When will my day of rec'ning come?
If courteous Heaven he as we find,
Still to repenting sinners kind,
Who knows but I may find a place
In some free gen'ral Act of Grace?
Besides, Jove's more a (11) Gentleman,
Than for each petty fault to damn;
And will for frailties pardon grant,
Which in our Nature they did plant;
Men pushing the same Game of sin,
With diff'ring Fates, some lose, some win;
While one in Cart meets with Reproaches,
The other Lords it in gilt Coaches;
A Traytor once successful grown,
Heaven his prevailing Cause does own;
Else why should Providence permit
Usurpers on the Throne to sit?
With Arguments like these they keep,
And lull their Consciences asleep;
Till by degrees they lose all sense
Of shame, and ev'ry act dispense;
As Women having broke the Ice
Of Honour, plunge in ev'ry Vice:
From paths of Vertne newly stray'd,
Out-do Professors of the Trade;
By their old Tempter once drawn in,
They boggle at no sort of sin:
These Qualms once over, 'twill be sport
To see him dare thee to the Court,
Proffer ye Answer, Affidavit,
Speak which you please, Sir, you shall have it.
Perhaps the matter so he'll handle,
He'll bring an Action for the Scandal,
Where, Confidence will Guilt out-face,
And for meer Innocence will pass;
The Cause by a right Jury try'd,
Get a fat Verdict on his side;
Or if you chance to guard that blot,
Perhaps he'll swear you into th' Plot;
While you roar our like a whip'd Strumpet
At Bridewell, loud as speaking Trumpet,
And in Blasphemous terms in vain
Of God and Man alike complain.
Can there be Gods above, and bear
Audacious Perjury to hear?
So unresenting, tame, and base,
T' endure Affronts done to their Face:
'Twould move a perfect stone or stock,
To see a Villain thus to mock;
Why offer we vain Sacrifice,
Or court regardless Deities?
What need we either Church or Steeple,
Or Priests to spunge upon the People,
If blindly no regard be had
To Men, or Actions good or bad?
If in Truth's Quarre (they')l not arm,
Or do us either good or harm?
Why should they baulk us or encourage,
If they are no more than Chips in Porridge?
Or why allow their Pictures room,
Or Rev'rence then each Common Tomb?
Or pay respect to Heavenly Madams,
More than the Statue of (12) Jack Adams?
Cease thus to rave and calmly try,
What Comforts Reason can apply:
Stiff Precepts from the Stoicks brought,
Or Books by rigid Cynicks wrought,
Or the Calm Epicure, content
With Herbs and Roots weak Nourishment,
Are useless here: This easy Cure
Is done without the help of Lower.
If the Misfortune which you tell,
Want in the World a Parallel,
Then I'll not hinder you to maul,
Your Rev'rent Head against the wall,
Or Grief extravagant to show;
Let Tears as from a Fountain flow:
For desperate Debts we seldom look,
But write them on the back o'th Book:
In vain with Locks, after the Deed,
We would secure the pilfer'd Steed.
The Funerals of our Friends with State,
And mournful Pomp, we celebrate,
Condoling their Deceased Souls,
With Bellowings loud, as Irish howls;
Content to grieve in outward show,
And squeeze a feigned Tear or two;
With real Sorrow truer hearted,
We mourn our Money that's departed;
While all agree in this belief,
We do not Counterfeit our Grief.
If Law and Equity produces
Each Day fresh instance of Abuses,
'Tis each Defendants usual practice,
For to disown their Bond their Act is;
Proceed to Juries when they've pack'd em,
Find Money paid, or non est factum,
A Counterfeit Bill of Exchange
No Man does now admire as strange:
When for to make the Cheat pass better,
Post brings advice in feigned letter.
To those Intrigues who is a Stranger
That ever heard the name of (12) Granger?
And all this vouch'd by witnesses,
That make a trade of Perjuries,
And daily are at Change-time found,
In Temple-Walks, or the Church-round;
Though Fortune sometimes vilely nicks 'em,
And in the Wooden-ruff fast sticks 'em.
Why then are you too delicate
To share with us the common Fate?
Why you so great a Favourite,
That no Mischance on you must light?
While we predestin'd Reprobates,
Are persecuted by the Fates.
Like Slaves must drudge and carry double,
Tugging the labouring Oar of Trouble:
Thy wrongs are scarcely worth regard,
If with known Villainies compar'd,
Th' effects of Rapine, Lust, and Rage,
Which every day amaze the Age:
Murder is to each hectoring Blade,
A gainful, fashionable Trade;
While Bravoes let themselves to hire,
As hackney Seconds, to each Squire.
For drunken Brawls, notorious Misses,
(13) Gilt makes them Combat like the Swisses.
Examples of all Crimes appear
In ev'ry (14) Newgate-Calendar:
Rape, Incest, Murder, Sodomy,
Theft, Sacrilege, and Burglary;
Here Papists set the Town on Fire;
Or else the (15) Monument's a Lyer;
But who will Credit Patience Ward,
A Knight o'th Post upon Record?
Villains the Sacrament receive,
Only with a Design to thieve;
And after Service staying late,
Both watch and pray to steal the Plate.
Presented as I well remember,
To bribe the Town, to choose a Member:
These make no more to strip a Shrine,
Then Buccaneers beyond the Line;
A Saint or Demy-God melt down,
Remorseless as Blood stole the Crown.
For which and other famous Pranks,
Some purchase Punishment, some Thanks.
These are but slight and trivial Crimes,
Mere Peccadillios of our times,
Did you your private Wrongs compare
With Poys'ners, Treason, Massacre;
All which, with far more useful Lessons,
From Dawn till Night you'll hear at Sessions,
Consider well Mens manners, then
Say you're ill treated if you can.
Why should you grumble if you meet
Fowl play, where ev'ry Man's a Cheat?
Who wonders at a crafty Scot?
Or Dutchman given to the Pot?
Who would admire a Black in Guiny?
Or Church land should produce a Nynny?
Or Daughter bred by Mother lewd,
That has the self same Course pursu'd?
Or fulsom Bawd with half a Nose,
Confirm her wheedling Shamms with Oaths?
All this unto a Man of Sense,
Being but natural Consequence.
(18) When Hostil Cranes, with clamors loud,
In Squadrons make a noisy cloud,
The Pygmy-land Militia rise
T' oppose their common Enemies;
With force united Puny-Nation,
Joyn to resist threatning Invasion;
If from the Body any stray,
Pickeering Crane sweepes him away,
And does in gripeing Tallons bear,
The sprawling Warriour through the Air.
Doubtless so Comical a sight,
Would with the Novelty delight;
But in that numerous dwarfish Host,
Where none's but a foot high at most,
And such Incounters happen daily,
None on the accident will rally.
But shall so base a Perjury,
Pass unrewarded, and shot-free?
Shan't Vengance dog him at the Heel,
And he divine resentment feel?
Suppose the Wretch this very hour,
Wholly consign'd into your Power;
And suffer'd for his punishment
The sharpest Pains you could invent;
Impal'd, gashook'd, wrackt or strappado'd,
Or on live Coals were Carbonado'd,
In some unthought of manner dies,
That Malice yet is to devise;
All this will not retrieve your loss,
Or make you richer by a Cross:
But then Revenge in these Intrigues
Sweeter than Muskadine and Eggs;
Is by fond Mortals understood,
Above all sublunary good:
So do the Mad cap, hare-brain'd crow'd
Of Dam-me-Boys, roar out aloud,
Who for a frolick, or but flight
Occasions, will lug out and fight;
And when the Brutes are mad or drunk,
Swagger for nothing, or a Punk;
Huff, Bully, Bounce Rhodomontadoes,
And quarrel with their very Shadows.
Such Practice has been in all Ages,
Condemn'd by sober Men and Sages:
Passions in narrow Compass pent,
Like winds, will strugle for a vent;
While Souls inlarg'd, do seldom find
Such Storms in their serener mind;
Who can with ease and scorn surmount,
All sense of Wrong, and an Affront:
For so the wise (19) Crysippus thought,
And (20) Thales mild Example taught:
(21) Socrates suffer'd without strife,
Sworn and trappan'd out of his life;
Undaunted, drank the Poyson up,
Nor wish'd his Foes might pledge the Cup:
Wisdom apt Remedies can find,
To cure each Sickness of the Mind,
With weeding Errors from the Ground,
Plants in their Room, what's true and sound:
Revenge by Nature growing wild,
By care is rooted out, and kill'd:
But if the Soyl Indulgence give;
No Plants of Justice there will live;
O'er-run, and choak'd, thrive there no longer,
Where Reason's weak, Passions grow stronger,
The certain cause that still we find,
It domineers in Woman-kind,
And leads their easy Minds astray,
Like Will i'th Wisp, out of the way;
Hood-wink'd they rove the crooked Path,
Of Head strong Lust, Pride, Fraud & Wrath,
Till tyr'd, and torn, with Bush and Bryer,
In Bogs of Infamy they mire.
Can you then fondly think, because
Crimes scape the Censure of the Laws,
They pass unpunish'd? No: within,
Conscience afflicts them for their sin;
While sharper pains their Souls torment,
Than Judge, or Tyrant can invent:
No sense of Torture can compare
With Pangs of Sinner in dispair:
That's sharp, but momentary Grief;
This knows no End, nor hopes Relief;
While in their Breasts condemn'd, they feel,
And antedate the Pains of Hell.
A Story just pat to this Case
I've read, but cannot quote the place,
Tho in Authentick writ, I'm certain;
That once upon a time, a Spartan
Unto whose trust, a friend like you,
Had left a bag of Coin or two,
Of which possest, the Rascal grutches
To part with's Booty out of's Clutches;
To be resolv'd of what he doubted,
Consults the Oracle about it,
If he might use Equivocation,
Or else forswear it on occasion;
And so might bite his Friend confiding:
Which made the inraged Priestess chide him,
And plainly told him from Apollo,
Due punishment such Crimes should follow.
Worthy the God was the Prediction
Which prov'd a true one, and no Fiction;
With Thunder of the Sentence stunn'd,
He hasts his Purchace to refund:
Now 'twas not Honesty, but Fright,
Which made the Knave at last do Right;
Nor did Compliance save his Bacon,
That would have Virtues Paths forsaken;
Himself with his whole Fire-side,
At once for an example dy'd,
Together with Remote Relations,
Unto the Third, Fourth Generations.
If Perjury altho but meant;
Met with so Tragical Event:
What dreadful Vengeance must impend,
So base, and treacherous a Friend?
Whoever but designs a Crime,
Is guilty, at the self same time,
Altho perhaps he ne'er proceeds
To ripen his intent to Deeds;
If the foul Crime he perpetrate,
Perpetual horrors on him wait;
Th' Effects of black Despair he feels
That haunt and dog him at the heels;
Grief, Sorrow, each unwelcom Guest,
Take Lodgings in his anxious Breast:
If to divert his Pangs he try
Choice Musick, Mirth or Company,
Like Bancoe's Ghost, his ugly Sin,
To marr his Jollity, stalks-in;
At Costly Banquet, 'twill not cease
To haunt, and to disturb his peace;
And tho the chief Guest at the Treat
He nauseats all, and cannot eat,
The Morsel chew'd he cannot swallow,
As if his Teeth were clog'd with Tallow:
To rowse him from his Dumps, they try
A Glass of noble Burgundy;
That friendly God's a sure relief,
From ev'ry Soul to banish Grief.
His vitiated Tast (alas!)
Receives no pleasure from the Glass;
And at old Hock makes as severe
A face, as if 'twere Vinegar.
At night in Bed tosses and turns
Restless, while watchful Taper burns;
Or if by chance, slumber allows
His harass'd Limbs a short repose,
His working fancy represents
Fresh Argument for discontents
Dreams he th' abused Temple fees
And the affronted Dieties,
You his wrong'd friend before his Eyes,
Stalking in a Gygantick size,
Ready upon his Corps to fieze
To revenge Theft and Perjuries.
Bath'd in cold Sweats he frighted Shreiks
At Visions bloodier than (24) King Dick's.
These are the trembling Cowards start
At ev'ry chance with akeing Heart,
Look pale and are of Wits bereaven
To hear th' Artillery of Heaven.
Not guessing Chance can make so lowd
A Crack, when Winds break through a Cloud,
And flash, when each the other shocks,
Like Flint and Steel in Tinder-box:
The Wretches, in a sad Condition,
Fancy each Bolt brings its (25) Commission,
From Heavens avenging Arm being sent,
And aim'd at them for punishment;
Which if they scape, then they believe
That respit's, but a short reprieve
From an inevitable Doom,
That with surprise will surely come;
If Pulse uneven restless night,
With Symptoms of a Fever fright,
They think the dreadful Summon's come
To hurry 'em to eternal Doom;
To Heaven they dare not send a Prayer,
Least they wake fleeping Vengeance there;
And to their own destruction raise
Anger, they know not to appease.
Sin's of unconstant fickle Nature,
Varying its Object, shape and Matter;
To start fresh Game is always ranging:
Like Proteus makes no end of changing;
Cameleon Trimmer shifting dye,
By turns, wears ev'ry Livery.
Set the Door open to one Sin
All sorts of Crimes will strait rush in;
Decoy'd to swallow by the Devil
Quickly distinguish Good from Evil;
Fruits of Apostacy we find
Too soon in the debauched mind;
And though perhaps, sometimes within
Pangs of Remorse are felt for Sin;
When with like appetite we burn,
To our old haunts again, return;
Nature and Custom draws us in,
For who can bound or stint his Sin?
Reproofs, are Arguments for laughter,
To those have eat Shame, and drank after;
Grown resolute, like Man of Mettle,
They burnish face with brazen Kettle.
For Men, in the Career of Vice,
Like those that slide upon the Ice,
Can't on the sudden stop, but run
Push't by their Passions Headlong on;
Nor on the Precipice can stay,
For Hell is down hill all the way:
Who ever yet made stop at Sin,
When with Success, his hand is in?
A lucky Entrance makes him flush,
And at all Games his Fortune push,
Till he the Gentle Habit get,
Of Vice, and dance into the Net,
With Irons cramp'd in Dungeon close,
The (26) Devil brings him his old shooes:
There jilting Fortune will deceive him,
Feign'd Friends, the World and Pleasure leave him;
Then lying pensive and forlorn,
Expos'd to Miseries and Scorn,
Must in base humble suppliant fashion,
The favour beg of Transportation.
Or to teach others useful Lesson,
Must to the Gallows make procession,
Where the poor Wretch, on sad Triangle,
A publick Spectacle shall dangle,
Doubtless so long a wish'd for sight,
Cannot but ravish with delight;
And then at last with joyful mind
You'll own, Heaven's neither deaf nor blind.
EXEMPLO. Vel facinore, cu­jus malum exemplum nocet, alios peccare docens.
Exemplo quodcunque malo committitur, ipsi
Displicet ductori, prima est baec ultio, quod se
Judice, nemo nooens absolvitur.
IMPROBA. Quamvia gra­tia, fallacis & corrupti Praetoris, vel Judicis, Urnam, & Judicium, (i. e.) jus, & equitatem, viceric, & superaverit: Qua nocentes saepissime absolvuntur.
Improba quamvis
Gratia fallacis praetoris vicerit urnam.
QUID SENTIRE. Secundum argumentum, quod omnes factum islud tanquam sceleratissimum damnent, & detestentur.
Quid sentire put a omnes, Calvine, recenti
De scelere, & fidei violatae crimine? Sed
SED NEC. Tertium ar­gumentum quod Calvinus satis dive [...], & in re adeo tenui natus non sit, ut levi [...] jactur [...], decem nimirum H. S. quae valent 250 Anglicanas Coronas aut circiter, obruat illum, & ad desperationem adigat.
nec
Tam tenuis census tibi contigit, ut mediocris
Jacturae te mergat onus: Nec(c) rara videmus
Quae pateris: casus multis hic cognitus, & jam
Tritus, & è medio fortunae ductus acervo.
Ponamus nimios gemitus, flagrantior
FLAGRANTIOR. Vehemen­tior.
aequo
Non debet dolor esse
VIRI. Prudentis, magna­nimi.
viri, nec vulnere major.
Tu quamvis levium minimam, exiguamque malorum
Particulam vix ferre potes, spumantibus
SPUMANTIBUS. Aestuanti­bus visceribus, quasi bili, ira &c fervore spument.
ardens
Visceribus, sacrum tibi quod non reddat amicus
Depositum, stupet
STUPET HAEC. Objurgat admirationem Calvini cum inter­rogatione. An Calvinus qui Fon­teio Consule natus est, & jam Sexaginta annos vixit, haec & corsin [...]lia, quae passim & ubique sunt, cum stupore deminatur?
haec, qui jam post terga reliquit.
Sexaginoa annos Fonteio consule Natus?
AN NIHIL. Profecisti arte­vitae humanae, tot rerum usu, & tanta aetate.
An nihil in melius tot rerum proficis usu?
Magna quidem, sacris quae dat praecepta
LIBELLIS. Ethici docentes Philosophiam, moralem humani­tatem & sapientiam, exultare fortunae, & valida esse contra omnia adversa fortunae tela.
libellis,
Victrix fortunae sapientia.
DUCIMUS. Id est, illos eti­am merito felices & sapientes di­cimus, qui sine libris Philosophorum, per vitae humanae usum & experientiam, omnia vitae incommoda ferre didicerunt, & necessitatis jugo non reluctari.
Ducimus autem
Hos quoque felices, qui ferre incommoda vitae,
Nec jactare jugum vitâ didicere Magistra.
Quae
FESTA DIES. Id est quae dies adeo sacra & festa est quae non prodat furem, aut manifestat aliquod sceleraturn fecinus cujusedam furis vel perfidi, aut nummos gladio vel veneno in pixide parata partos.
tam festa dies, quae cesset prodere furem,
Perfidiam, fraudes, atque omni ex crimine lucrum
Quaesitum; & gladio
GLADIO. Notat latrones & sicarios.
p [...]rtos, &
PIXIDE. Intelligit, venifi­cas & venenum in pixide clausum & paratum.
Pixide nummos?
Rari(c) quippe boni numero vix sunt totidem, quot
Thebarum(d) portae, vel(e) divitis(f) ostia Nili.
Nunc
NUNC AETAS. Id est, nunc aguntur à nobis pejora saecula &c deterioria quam fuit ferreum, quorum sceleri & vitio ipsa Natura nullum nomen invenit, nec metallum adeo vile habeat, ut pravitatem hujus saeculi torrupti satis apte possit expri­mere. Quemadmodum priora saecula ab auro, argento, &c. de­nominata fuerunt.
aetas agitur, pejoraque saecula ferri
Temporibus, quorum sceleri non invenit ipsa
Nomen, & à nullo posuit natura metallo.
Nos(b) hominum divumque fidem clamore ciemus.
Quanto Fessidium(c) laudat vocalis agentem
Sportula, die senior(d) bulla(e) dignissime, nescis
Quas(f) habeat Veneres aliena pecunia? —
Quem tua simplicitas risum vulgo moveat, cum
Exigis
EXIGIS. Fidem & pietatem ab illo, qui Deum non credit, nec ultorem fore perjurii, & ob id stolida tua simplicitas merito ir­ridetur.
à quoquam ne pejeret, & putet ullis
Esse aliquod numen Templis, aereque rubenti?
Quondam hoc indiginae(b) vivebant more,—
PRIUSQUAM. Impe­rante adhuc Saturno, quo aureum saeculum fuit, cum Satur [...]us non­dum à filio love regno esset pul­sus, qui profugus a Creta in Ira­liam pervenis, ibi que a Jano lio spitio exceptus est.
— priusquam
Sumeret agrestem posito diademate falcem
Saturnus fugiens, tunc cum virguncula
JUNO. Nondum adulta, & Jovi fratri suo nupta.
Juno,
Et privatus adhuc Idaeis
JUPITER. Cum Jupiter nondum Rex esset, sed privatus in Idaeis antris à Rhea matre abscon­debatur, ne à patre Saturno devoraretur.
Jupiter antris.
Nulla super nubes convivia coelicolarum,
Nec(d) puer Iliacus, formosa nec Herculis(e) uxor,
Ad Cyathos, & jam siccato nectare tergens
Brachia(f) Volcanus Lyparaea nigra taberna.
Prandebat sibi quisquis Deus, nec turba deorum
Talis, ut est hodie, contentaque sidera paucis
Numinibus, miserum urgebant
ATLANTA. Quia fingunt Atlanta coelum sustinere.
Atlanta minori
Pondere: nondum aliquis sortitus triste
PROFUNDI. Nepunum intelligit quimari imperat.
profundi
Imperium,—
— Aut Sicula torvus cum conjuge
PLUTON. Cum nondum esser Pluto deus ille inferni immi­tis horrendusque cum conjuge Pro­serpina, Ceteris, filia in Aerna Si­e [...]e monte rupià.
Pluton,
Nec
NEC RO [...]A. Que exion [...] volume & Jutions to [...] inferece
Rota, nec
NEC FURIAE. [...] sce [...], Alecto, Tisiphona & Me­gaera, quae variis cruciatibus nocen­tes persequuntur.
furiae, nec(d) saxum, aut(e) vulturis atri
Poena, sed infernis(f) bilares sine regibus umbrae.
Improbitas illo fuit admirabilis aevo.
Credebant hoc grands nefas, & morte piandum,
Si juvenis vetulo non assurrexerat, & si
Barbato cuicunque puer, licet ipse videret
Plura domi fraga, & majores(g) glandis acervos.
Tam venerabile erat praecedere quatuor annis,
Primaque par adeo sacrae lanugo senectae.
Nunc si depositum non inficietur amicus,
Si reddat veterem cum tota aerugine
FOLLEM. Cruinenam & sa [...] ­ [...]ilum è corio [...]nquam follem.
follem,
Prodigiosa fides, &
THUSCIS. Quae digna sit cum reliquis portentis & prodigiis, ob inusitatam novitatem scriptis Aruspicum Thuscorum inserari.
Thuscis digna libellis,
Quaeque coronata lustrari debeat agna.
EGREGIUM. Innuit ulterius virum integrum & inculpatum, Romae monstro biformi &c prodi­gioso partim esse similem.
Egregium, sanctumque virum si cerno,
BIMEMBRI PUERO. Veluri si puer natus esset semibos, ut Mi­notaurus; vel semiequus, ut Centauri.
bimembri
Hoc monstrum puero, vel mirandis sub aratro
Piscibus inventis; & foetae comparo
MULAE. Gravidae & praeg­nantis, quia mulae nunquam conci­piunt. Ratio est qui [...] mula gignitu [...] & constat ex animalibus specie differentibus, viz. Equo & Asina.
mulae?
Sollicitus tanquam lapides effuderit imber,
Examenque apium longa consederet uva
Culmine delubri, tanquam in mare fluxerit amnis
Gurgitibus miris, & lactis vortice torrens.
Intercepta decem quereris sestertia fraude
Sacrilega. Quid si bis centum perdidit alter
Hoc arcana modo? majo [...]em tertius illa
Summam, quam patulae caperet vix angulus arcae?
Tam
TAM FACILE. Egregia haec sententia notat, homines pronos & proclives esse ad fallendum, deos qui omnia vident ut testes facile contemnentes, modo homines ig­norent.
facile & pronum est superos contemnere testes,
Si mortalis idem nemo sciet.
ADSPICE. Accurate & graphice depingit talium hominum constantem malitiam, audaciam & impudentiam, qui alta voce, & constantia ficti & simulati vultûs, audacter & pertinaciter pejerare audent.
Adspice quanta
Voce neget, & quae sit ficti constantia vultus!
Per solis radios, Tarpeiaque fulmina jurat,
Et Martis frameam, & Cirrhaei spicula vatis:
Per calamos venutricis pharetramque puellae,
Perque tuum pater Aegei Neptune tridentem:
Addit & Herculeos arcus, hastamque Minervae,
Quidquid habent telorum armamentaria coeli.
Si vero & pater est, comedam, inquit, flebile nati
Sinciput elixi, Pharioque madentis aceto.
SUNT. Impii homines om­nia casu, nihil autem providentia dei fieri censeant, (juxta Epicurum qui deum & providentiam sustulit.) ignorantes, naturam, fatum, fortunam, casum esse ejusdam dei nomina; quae falsa & impia opinio, causa est tantorum scelerum & perjuriorum.
Sunt in fortunae qui cafibus omnia ponunt,
Et nullo credunt mundum Rectore moveri,
NATURA. Quasi natura bruta & irrationalis sit causa rerum naturalium; & omnium rerum vicissitudinem, ortum, & interirum producat. Cum tamen vere loquendo Natura nihil aliud est quam Deus.
Natura volvente(b) vices, & lucis, & anni,
Atque ideo(c) intrepidi quaecunqne(d) altaria tangunt.
Est alius, metuens ne crimen poena sequatur:
Hic putat esse Dees, & pejerat, atque ita secum:
Decernat quodcunque volet de corpore nostro
ISIS. Haec Dea cum Harpo­crate corporibus morbos immittere credebatur.
Isis, &(b) irato(c) feriat w [...]en lumina(d) sistro [...].
Dummodo vel coecus teneam quos abnego nummos.
Et phthisis, & vomicae putres, & dimidium crus
Sunt
TANTI. Judicand [...] scilicet & estimanda: Innuit enim longe satius aegrotare cum divitiis quam sanum esse & p [...]uperem.
tanti?
PAUPER LADAS. Licet velocissimus cursor, non dubiter optare locupletem podagram; si non eget helleboro ex insula Anticyra proveniente; nec nobilissimo aliquo medico, qualis fuit Archiginal.
Pauper locupletem optare podagram
Nec dubitat Ladas, si non eget Anticyra, nec
Archigine. Quid enim velocis gloria plantae
PRAESTAT. Id est, inanis gloria & corona ex ramo olen victoribus data, nihil prosunt pauperi & esurienti cur­soti.
Praestat, & esuriens Piseae ramus olivae?
UT SIT. Verba sunt per­juri cum concessione conjuncta, (l. e.) licet Dei ira sit vehemens & gravis, tamen consolatur me quòd lenta & tarda sit; interea nos ge­nio & voluptati indulgebimus.
Ut sit magna, tamen certe lenta ira deorum est.
Si curant igitur cunctos punire nocentes,
QUANDO. Post longum tempus ad me veniat, ridiculè cogitans deum more hominum per temporum intervalls agere.
Quando ad me venient? Sed & exorabile numen
Fortasse experiar: solet his ignoscere.—
MULTI. Homines cadem scelera saepe committupt, sed di­versa sorte, eventu & successu.
Multi
Committunt cadem diverso crimina faro:
ILLE CRUCEM. Supplicium crucis, furcae, vel mortis atrocis pretium& mercedem sceleris tulit.
Ille crucem sceleris pretium tulit, hic
HIC DIADEMA. Coronam, laudes & honores.
diadema.
SIC. Id est, talibus & similibus consolationibus se in scelere adversus poenam impii confirmant.
Sic animum dirae trepidans formidine culpae
Confirmant,—
TUNC TE. Id est, postquam animum ita obfirmavit, ultro te ad aram cum alacritate praecedit, & ibi se jummen [...]o purget.
— Tunc te ad delubra voeantem
Praecedit,(b) trahere immo ultra, ac vexare paratus.
NAM. Id est, ubi cum mala causa seeleratiff [...]ni homlrtis saepe audacia conjungitur, illa audacia apod multos speciem innocenti [...]e & integrit obsence, putant enim tan [...]m aud [...]m & sid [...]am ex recta conseremia prosi [...]sci.
Nam cum magna malae superest audacia causae,
Creditur à multis fiducia.
MIMUM. Pe [...]ju [...]us [...] calumniatur, non secus ut dominum suum vexat servus ille fugitivus & confidens, quem mimus repres [...]at in fabu [...] mimo­graphi Catulli urbani & faceti.
Mimum agit ille,
Urbani qualem fugitivus scurra Catulli.
TU MISER. Tu innocens à perjuro vexatus deo inclamas voce Stentorea.
Tu miser exclamas, ut
STENTORA. Hic in exercitu Graecorum ad Trojam, tantam vocis altitudinem habuit ut solus clamaret quantum alii quinquaginta. Hinc prover bium, Stentore clamofior.
Stentora vincere possis,
Vel potius quantum
GRADIVUS. Mars, apud eundem Homerum à Diomede vulneratus, exclamavit quantum decem mill'a virorum.
Gradivus Homericus: —
JUPITER HAEC. Jovem ip­sum ut socordem increpat, qui videt, & audit tam manifesta perjuria, & non punit; & homi­num stuporem arguit qui simula­cris aeneis & marmoceis numen inesse aliquod sibi persuaserunt.
Jupiter haec? nec labra moves, cum mittere vocem
Debueras, vel marmoreus, vel aheneus?
AUTCUR. Id est, siper­juris non vis punire, & nos non audire, non etiam dignus es cui sacrificemur.
Aut cur
In carbone tuo chartâ pia thura solutâ
Ponimus, & sectum vituli jecur albaque porci
Omenta?
—Ʋt video, nullum discrimen habendum est
Effigies inter vestras, statuam (que)
VAGELLI. Hominis stolidis­simi.
Vagelli.
Accipe quae contra valeat solatia ferre,
Et qui nec
CYNICI. Duplici pallio, STO­ICI. fimplici utebantur, caeteturn in doctrina ni [...]il erat discriminis.
Cymicos, nec Stoica dogmata legit
A Cynicis tunica distantia;—
—Non
NON EPICURUM. Epicurum non admicatin, quisummum bonum in volupeate & tranquillirate ponit, fuit tamen Epicurus (teste Seneca) sobrius admodum parvo horto & oleribus contentus.
Epicurum
Suspicit exigui
LAETUM. Non sine voluptate contentum.
laetum
PLANTARIBUS. Olusculis.
plantaribus horti.
CURENTUR. Aflicti gravibus aerumnis, gravem poscunt Phi­losophum, qui consoletur & cu­ter.
Curentur dubii medicis majoribus agri:
(e) Tu venam vel(f) discipulo committe Philippi.
Si nullum interris(g) tam detestabile factum
Ostendis, taceo, nec pugnis cedere pectus
Te veto, nec plana faciem contundere palma:
Quandoquidem accepto(h) claudenda est janua damno,
Et majore domus gemitu, majore tumultu
Planguntur nummi, quam funera. Nemo dolorent
Fingit in hoc
IN HOC CASU. In amission [...] bonorum.
casu, vestem
DIDUCERE. Dil [...]cerare.
diducere summam
Contentus,
VEXARE. Lachrymis misere [...] rendo oculos vix viexpressis.
vexare oculos, humore coacto.
Ploratur lachrymis amissa pecunia veris.
Sed si cuncta vides simili for a plena querela,
Si
SI DECIES. Si [...]sitatissimum Romae est, ut instrumenta obligato­ria ceratis tabulis inscripta vel de­cies legantur obsignenturque, suam tamen chirographam debitores ne­gant se unquam scripsisse, & di­cunt adulterinam vanam & super­vacuam esse.
decies lectis diversa parte tabellis
Vana supervacui dicunt chirographa ligni,
Arguit ipsorum quos littera, gemmaque princeps
SARDONICHUM. Sigilium in gemma preciosa soulp [...].
Sardonychum, loculis quae custoditur eburnis:
Tenunc delicias
EXTRA-Comminem & vulga­rem sortem.
extra communia censes
Ponendum, quia tu
TU GALLINAE FILIUS AL­BAE. Proverbium in illos qui aliquid peculiare esse volunt: vel sibi vide­antur egregii & super alios feliciter nati.
gallinae filius albae,
NOS VILES. In allegoria perse­rerat. Tu singularis & nobilis com­munem hominum sortem detre­ctas, quam nos è vili turba nullius pretii homunculi sustincre cog [...] ­mur.
Nos vile pulli nati infelicibus ovis.
Rem pateris modicam, & mediocri bile ferendam,
Si flectas oculos majora ad crimina: confer
Conductum
LATRONEM. Sicarium ad oc­cidendum conductum notat.
latronem,
INCENDIA. O [...]m sulfure nunc pulvere [...]rmentario facta.
Incendia sulfure coepta
At (que) dolo, primos cum janua colligit ignes:
CONFER. Compara spoliatio­nem templorum cum dene [...]tion [...] depositi tui.
Confer & hos verteris qui rollunt grandia templi
Pocula adorandae rubiginis, & populorum
Dona, vel antiquo posit as à Rege coronas.
Haec ibi si non sunt, minor extat sacrilegus, qui
Radat inaurati femur Herculis, & faciem ipsam
Neptuni, qui bracteolam de Castore ducat.
An dubitat solitus totum conflare
TONANTEM. Jovis Statuam.
Tonantem?
Confer &
ARTIFICES. Veneficos qui venennum parant.
artifices,
MERCATOREMQUE. Vendi­torem simul & emptorem.
mercatoremque veneni;
Et
DEDUCENDUM. Parrici­dam intelligit includendum cul­l [...]o, cum gallo, cane, fimia, & ser­pente.
deducendum corio bovis in mare, cum quo
Clauditur adversis innoxia
SIMIA. Innoxia adversis fatis, in sociam poenam destinat [...], cum [...]ps [...] non occiderit parentem.
sinia fatis.
Haec
QUOTA. Minima s [...]ilicet.
quota pars scelerum, quae
CUSTOS. Rutillium Gallicum intelligit qui sub Domitiano praefe­ctus fuit Rome & Custos urbis.
custos Gallicus urbis
Ʋsque à Lucifero, donec lux occidat, audit?
Humani generis mores tibi nosse volenti
Sufficit una
UNA DOMUS. Illius Rutillii.
domus, paucos consume dies, et
Dicere te miserum, postquam illinc veneris,
AUDE. Si potes juste.
aude.
QUIS TUMIDUM. Quis ea quae vulgo accidunt, & quae quoti­diana, & quasi è loci natura sunt, miranda putet; Romae videre om­nes scelere profligatos, non magis mirum est quam in Alpibus omnes strumosos vitio aquae quam ibi po­tant, tanquam mammosas in Me­roe Aegypti civitate: Germanos cum Or coerulis oculis & flava caesarie.
Quis tumidum guttur miratur in Alpibus? aut quis
It Meroe crasso majorem infante mamillam?
Coerula quis stupuit Germani lumina? flavam
Caesariem, & madido torquentem cornua cirro?
Nempe quod hic illis
NATURA. Uthaec illis Natu­ra & more, ita & nobis Romanis. [...]elera.
Natura est omnibus una.
Ad subitas Thracum volucres, nubemque sonoram
Pygmaeus parvis currit bellat or in armis:
Mox impar hosti, raptusque per aëra curvis
Ʋnguibus à saeva fertur grue, si videas hoc
Gentibus in Nostris, risu quatiere; —
—sed illic,
Quanquam eadem assidue spectentur praelia, ridet
Nemo, ubi tot a cohors pede non est altior uno.
NULLANE. Objectio; Ita ne ille perjurus impune evader?
Nullane perjuri capitis fraudisque nefandae
Poena erit? —
—
ABREPTUM. Puta majoribus poenis afficitur, quam animus tuus exposcit, quid tibi prodest, nec damnum ex hac re refarciari po­test.
Abreptum crede hunc graviore catena
Protinus, & nostro (quòd plus velit ira?) necari
Arbitrio; manet illa tamen jactura, nec unquam
Depositum tibi sospes erit, sed corpore trunco
Invidiosa dabit minimus solatia sanguis.
AT VINDICTA. Per objectio­nem, id est vindicta quae in ocu­los incur [...]it, vel per carnificem vel per nosmet ipsos gratissima est.
At vindicta bonum vita jucundius ipsa.
NEMPE. Respondet Poeta ad objectionem; & dicit homines stul­tos, indoctos, imperitos, rudes, & im­becilles, iracundos esse, & vindictae cupides, etiam ob nullas causas ira­scentes, non viros sapientes.
Nempe hoc indocti,
QUORUM. Cor s [...]pe praeter­rem, ob nullam causam vel nullius momenti, videas incandescere, & ira flagrari.
quorum praecordia nullis
Interdum, aut levibus videas flagrantia causis,
Quantulacunque adeo est occasio, sufficit irae.
Crysippus non dicit idem, nec mite Thaletis
Ingenium, dulcique senex
VICINUS HYMETTO. Socra­tes.
vicinus Hymetto,
Qui partem acceptae saeva inter vincla cicutae
Accusatori nollet dare. —
— plurima felix
Paulatim vitia, at (que) errores exuit omnes,
Prima docens rectum
SAPIENTIA. Philosophia mo­r [...]lis, quae imprimis irae & reliquis af­fectibus froema inji [...]i; & vindictam docet obedire, & morigerare, do­cens otiam quod justum & Naturae conveniens est.
sapientia: quippe minuti
Semper, & infirmi est animi, exigui (que) voluptas
Ʋltio, continuo sic
COLLIGE. Argue, conclude, mulieres sunt Vindictae cupidissimae, at mulieres sunt infirmi animi, Ergo &c. Quo enim minor est animus, eo affectibus magis percellitur & supe­ratur.
collige, Quod vindictae
Nemo magis gaudet, quam foemina—
—
CUR TAMEN. Probat jam se­quentibus neminem sceleratorum imp [...]tem habere.
Cur tamen hos tu
Evasisse putes,
QUOS. Certe illi impune non evaserunt, qui suam poenam, & vin­dictam, semper comitem habent.
quos diri conscia facti
Mens habet attonitos, &
SURDO. (i. e.) tacito & la­tenti tormento, quod animum & interiora affligit, quod nominant oc­cultum flagellum; hae sunt furiae illae infernales, quibus Oreftes, Alc­meon & alii fuerunt agitati.
surdo verbere caedit
Occultum quatiente animo tortore flagellum?
Poena autem vehemens, & multo saevior illis,
Quas &
CAEDITIUS. Index illius temporis apud Vitellium crudelissi­mus; qui semper graviotibus sup­pliciis delectabatur.
Caeditius gravis invenit, &
RHADAMANTUS. Inferorum index justissimus, & maxime seve­rus Jovis & Europae filius, Rex Ly­ciae.
Rhadamantus.
NOCTE. Conscientiam Testem quae nunquam cessat accusare & re­um convincere, & de illo supplici­um sumere. Quo nulla poer [...], nul­lus cruciatus, gravior & truculentior excogitari potest, quam est ipsa revera poena infernalis.
Nocte, dieque suum gestare in pectore testem:
SPARTANO, &c. Glauco per hanc historiam oftendit, fieri non posse, ut qui depo [...]um abnegarit poenam effugiat. Hanc histociam re­citat Herodotus Lib. 60.
Spartano cuidam respondit
PYTHIA VATES. Apollinis sa­cerdos fatidica, qui Pythius dictu [...], à Serpente Pythone o [...]cis [...].
Pythia vates:
HAUD. Illam malam mentem & quod deum tentaret.
Haud impunitum quondam foret, quod dubitaret
DEPOSITUM. Fidci commissum non reddere.
Depositum retinere, & fraudem
JURE. (i. e.) suum scelus ac dolum Jure jurando tueri, ac con­formare vel palliare, & excusare.
jure tueri
Jurando:
QUAEREBAT explorabat & tentabat ec quid etiam deus hanc frandem esset approbaturus.
quaerebat enim quae numinis esset
Mens, & an hoc illi facinus suaderet Apollo.
Reddidit ergo
METU. Poenarum quai Ora [...] ­lum minitabatur.
metu,
NON MORIBUS. Non amore virtutis & Justitiae, quia timuit, non quia sponte voluit.
non moribus, & tamen omnem
VOCEM. Oraculi veram esse o­stendit.
Vocem
ADITI. Vatis ex adito (i.e.) loco Templi intimo & ab al [...]s in­accesso.
aditi dignam templo, veram (que) probavit:
Extinctus tota pariter cum prole, domoque,
Et quamvis longo deductis gente propinquis.
Has partitur poenas peccandi sola
VOLUNTAS. Si in Spartano voluntas sola peccandi, (facto non commisso) tem severe puniatur, quanto magis sceleratum factum sui perfidi amici puniendum sit?
voluntas.
NAM SCELUS. Egregia sen­tentia cum sacris literis conspirans; (i. e.) qui apud se cogitavit & deliberavit scelus committere, reus est aequè arque si cogitatum feelus perpetrasset.
Nam scelus intra se tacitum qui cogitat ullum
(c) Facti crimen habet,(d) cedo si conata peregit?
(e) Perpetua anxietas,—
—nec Mensae tempore cessa [...]t
Faucibus ut morbo siccis, interque molares
Difficili cresente cibo.—
—Sed vina miselhis
Expuit, Albani veteris pretiosa senectus
Displicet. Ostendas melius, densissima ruga
Cogitur in frontem,
VELUT. Non'secus ao si acetum ex falerno vino acerrimum bibisset.
velut acri ducta Falerno.
NOCTE (i. est) si sollicitudo cor urens ex mala Conscientia, post­quam diu multumque in lecto ver­savit, brevem somnum quod rectum non est vel saltem rarissimum, ipsi indulsit, paulo post Conscientiâ ex­itatus rursus evigilat.
Nocte brevem si forte indulsit cur a soporem,
Et toto versata toro jam membra quiescunt,
Continuo templum, & violati numinis aras,
Et quòd praeciquis mentem sudoribus urget,
Te videt in somnis: tua sacra, & major imago
Humanâ turbat pavidum, cogitque
FATERI. Se scelus summum ad­misisse, & summa etiam poena dig­num esse.
fateri:
Hi
HI SUNT. Mali semper pevidi sant, & timent quoties fulgura au­diunt, quae-à Jove irato mitti gu­tant sceleratis puniendis.
sunt qui trepidant & ad omnia fulgura pallent,
Cum tonat, exanimes primo quoque murmure coeli,
Non quasi
FORTUITU. Casuex opinione Epicuri.
fortuitu,
NEC VENTORUM RABIE. Cum illi violenter inter se confli­gunt, Physici scribunt, quod ex col­lisione ventorum & nubium, non secus ut lapidum ignis eliciatur.
nec ventorum rabie, sed
IRATUS. Sceleribus hominum tanquam vindex eorundem.
Iratus cadat in terras, &
ET JUDICET. Alii vindicet, ut supplicium de sceleratis sumat.
judicet ignis.
ILLANIHIL. Tempestas praeter­ita nihil nocuit, proxima quae se­quitur sollicitudine majori timetur; hujus exemplum habuimus in Ca­ligula.
Illa nihil nocuit, curae graviore timetur
Proxima tempestas: velut hoe dilata sereno.
PRAETEREA. Praeterea si in Pleuritida incidant, cujus calor som­num adimit, censent illum vindictae loco à deo immissum.
Praeterea lateris vigili cum febre dolorem
Si coepere pati, missum ad s [...] corporae morbum
Infesto credunt à Numine: Saxa deorum
Haec, & rela putant: Pecudem spondere Sacello
BALANTEM. Pro sanitate re­cupetanda Ovem vel Agnum of­ferre on audent.
Balantem, & laribus
CRISTAM. Gallorum diis gra­tissi [...]ae 'credebatur' quà Lares, & penates praecipoe plac [...]ti. Et Gal­lum [...]sculapio solvebat, qui con­valuerat.
cristam promitters Galli
Non audent. Quid enim
SPERARE. Nocentes aegri mi­serri [...]i sunt, quibu [...]spes negata [...], quae omnibus hominibus reli­cta credebatur.
sperare nocentibus aegris
Concessum? vel quae non dignior
HOSTIA. Quae hostia adeo vi­lis est, quae pro sceleratorum vita mactari debeat, quae potius vivere debeat, quam homines impii & scelerati.
hostia vitae?
Mobilis, & varia est firme naturae malorum.
CUM. [...]d perp [...]d [...] sc [...]us venerins, in calem [...]stamis per­stant, abundat in illi [...] cons [...]nem.
Cum scelus admittunt superest constantia: quod fas,
Atque nefas; tandem incipiunt sentire peractis
Criminibus.
TAMEN. Sibi sceleris ma [...]e [...]o [...]iscie [...]fipi [...]èse Volunt, non ra­ [...] abstinere n [...]q [...]ui [...], ad vicis pro­ [...]i [...] d [...]icedine [...]m [...] con [...]ine capti & p [...]pediti.
Tamen ad mores naturae recurrit
Damnatos, fixa & mutari nescia: Nam quis
Peccandi finem posuit sibi?—
—
QUANDO Ille [...] perfidus qui semes vercum [...] [...] li [...]tes praeter [...] [...] recipiet, queim [...]met de per [...] [...]on [...]e dejecit.
Quando recepit,
Ejectum semel attrirae de snome rubor [...]?
QUISNAM. Qui [...] est [...] qui semel cum per [...]e [...] [...] non hoc fromeiter de [...]derat [...] sum vitlum deficit [...].
Quisnam hominibus est, quem tu [...] videris [...] ­slagitio?—
—
DABIT Pedibus vincietur olim [...] signbitur qui te perside decepit.
Dabit in laqueum vestigia noster
Perfidus, & nigri patietur carceris
UNCUM. (i. e) in renebrico­so carcere unco ferreo constringe­tur; vel potius sub unco carnificis ad s [...]alas Gemonias.
uncum.
AUT. In insulum eju [...] Maris ex­ [...]io deportabitur, intelligit Gyaram [...] Cyc [...]lus.
Aut Maris Aegaei rupem, scopulosque fraequentes
Exulibus magnis.—
—
POENA. Crudeli et [...] quam sceletatus dabit.
Poena gamies is amarae
Numinis invist,
TANDENQUEL. La [...]eris per­jorum sui pe [...]cati deum plenrem semisse.
tandemque Iute [...]ere [...]eth,
Nec
NEC SURDUM. Qui [...]on an­ [...]liat peri [...]ria hominum, & preces oppre [...]ore [...] via [...] [...]i [...]ina [...] [...].
surdum, nec
NEC TIRESIAM. Nec [...] Tire [...].
Tiresiam quemquam esse deorum.
FINIS.

ANNOTATIONS.

(1) SHeriff. Our Author observes, That Offenders often escape the Cen­sure of the Laws, by corrupting the Prator or Judge, and swaying his Ʋrn or Judgment, which I have been bold to change into a more Modem way of Corruption, by bribeing Sheriffs and packing Juries, a very parallel Practice. But for the better explanation of our Author, I have thought it con­venient, to say something here of the Manner of the Roman Tryals at Law. The Praetor sate as Judge or President of the Court, to whom by the draw­ing of Lotts was added a certain Number of Assistants, who were upon their Oaths to give a true Judgment or Verdict: Which after the hearing the Cause they signified by casting certain Balls or Tables of Wax into the Prator's Ʋrn; who collecting their Votes according to the majority pronounced the Opinion or Sentence of the Court, as the Lord High Steward does a­mong our Peers. If the Majority of the Votes were marked with the letter A. the Defendant was Acquitted, if with C. he was Condemned: If with N. L. (i. e.) N [...] Lia [...]et, it betokened they were not satisfied with the fulness of the Proof. And then the Cause was deferred to a further hearing, which many Turns in the transacting the Business by the Praetor, might give op­portunity for a Bribe to slip in upon occasion.

(2) Past Ages. The common Copies of our Author in this place have it, Nona aetas. To make out which the Commentators have been put upon se­veral Fancies and Shiffs, of which Number Lubin seems the plainest, affirm­ing, That the Poet reckons here not after the Roman, but the Grecian man­ner; The Greeks counting eight Ages viz. Gold, Silver, Electrum (or a mixture of Gold and Silver) Brass, Copper, Lead, Tin and Iron, and so by consequence the Age worse than Iron, must be the Ninth; in which reck­oning, he is forced to strain hard to make the Metals reach to eight, mak­ing the Iron which, is the fourth in the Roman, the eight in the Grecian ac­count, [Page]which is very liable to suspicion, since it is apparent in our Authors, 6th. Satyr Verse the 24th. our Author counting the Ages by the Metals, makes no such distance between the Silver and the Iron Age, saying, ‘Omne alind crimen Mox ferrea protulit Aetas.’ where the word Mox implies the Iron was not long after the Silver Age. And therefore I have followed Nunc aetas, according to the Roman account. Page 7th.

(3) Saturn. Here our Poet takes an occasion to lash out into a large de­scription of the Golden Age, for the largeness of which Digression, he has been censured, and might well have deserved it, if he had had no other de­sign in it, than a bare description. But his satyrick Vein lays hold on so fair an occasion, to rally and deride the folly of the Roman Theology, and multiplicity of Deities, and to expose their Vanity to the derision of sevener Judgments; the wiser Heads, even in those Dark Times, concluding it most absurd to imagine there could be more or other than one immense and incom­prehensible Being. Our Author says the World lived simply and honestly in the Golden Age, before Saturn was expelled from his Kingdom of Co [...]et, and forced to fly into Italy, where he was kindly received and harboured by Janus. Page 8th.

(4) Juno. Before Juno was grown into her Teens, and Married to her Bro­ther Jupiter. Page 9th.

(5) Jove. When Jupiter skulked in the Caves of Mount Ida, where he was concealed by his Mother from his Father Saturn, who had bound himself by Contract with his elder Brother Titan, to devour all his Male Children. That after him Titan or his Children might inherit their Birth-right in the Kingdom. Page 9th.

(6) No handsom Boy. Before Ganymede was perferr'd to be Page and some­thing else to Jupiter, and to fill Nectar in the place of Hebe. Page 9th.

(7) Or Wench. Hebe the Goddess of Youth and Daughter of Juno, she was removed from her Office of filling Nectar for the Gods, to make room for Ga­nymede Son to the King of Troy, which made Juno have a perfect Aversion for that City, and to plague Aeneas in his Travails, she was married to Hercules after his deification. Page 9th.

(8) Vulcan. Before Vulcan was made the Smith of Heaven, and kept his Forge in the Island of Lypary, whence coming all besmear'd with Smoak, they made Smug wash, before he was admitted to the Table. Page 9th.

(9) Atlas. A high Mountain in Mauritania, whose Top is invisible, being ob­scured with Clouds, and covered with constant Snow, which made the igno­rant Inhabitants conjecture the Mountain prop'd up Heaven. And might give occasion to the Poets to fancy the Heavens were supported by a Gyant of that Name, who might well be sensible, and sink under the oppression of so many new created Godheads. Page 10th.

(10) Ocean and Hell. When Jupiter with the help of his Brothers, Neptune and Pluto, had deposed their old Father Saturn, they divided the Dominion a­mongst them in this manner. Jupiter obtained Heaven for the Seat of his Govern­ment, Neptune ruled the Ocean, and Pluto the Souls in Hell: which fabulous division might fall out real in this manner: Jupiter the eldest had the Crown, Neptune was Admiral, and Pluto High Priest and Chief Justice, governing their Souls and Bodies, with Terrors of Laws and Conscience. Page 10th.

(11) Gentleman. Captain Ʋrats his Opinion in the Case, doubtless of great consolation at the Gallows. Page 20th.

(12) Graunger. A Person very notorious for his prodigious Science and dexterity in Counterfeiting all manner of Hands and Writing, who being at last detected, performed the Exercises usual in those Cases, and through the Pillory over-saw several Markets according to his Sentence in the Court of King's Bench, where he lately dyed.

(13) Gelt. The German Word for Money, often and clamorously repeat­ed by the Mercenary Switzers when they mutiny for Pay; to which de­mand, if they have not present satisfaction, they have often in the face of their Enemy thrown down their Arms, rather chooseing to expose their Lives to the Enemy, than fight for ill Pay-Masters. Page 30.

(14) Newgate Calendar. The Judges at the Old Bayly and all Assizes, have a Calendar or Writing given them wherein the Names and Orimes of eve­ry particular Prisoner is set down. Page 31.

(15) Monument. The Pillar erected by the City of London in Memory [Page]of the great and dreadful Fire 1666, whereon Sir Patient Ward in his Majoralty caused an Inscription to be ingraven, charging the Fire of Lon­don to have been procured by the Contrivance and Treachery of the Papists. Which Inscription has been since expunged by Authority. Page 31.

(16) Buccaneirs. The Jamaica Rovers or Free-booters so called, famous and terrible in the West, Judges for their many and desperate Exploits, whose Custom is, when they surprize and sack a Town, first to plunder the Church, and then make it a Prison for the Spaniards. Page 32.

(17) Blood. Famous for his attempt to steal the Crown, and sieze the Per­son of the Duke of Ormond.

(18) The Pygmy-land. Here our Author to divert his Friend, describes the ridiculous War between the Cranes and the Pygmies, a dwarfish Nation inha­biting the remote Mountains of India, at continual Wars with their Mortal Foes the Cranes, who infest their Country. They make a yearly expedition to the Sea side, armed with Bows and Arrows, and riding on Rams and Goats, about the Spring time, when the Cranes hatch, where they destroy their Eggs and Young ones, least growing too numerous they might over­power them and force them from their Country, as they once drove a Colony of their Nation out of Thrane. Page 34.

(19) Crysippus. A Stoick of a meek Temper, a subtil Logician. He dyed laughing. Page 38.

(20) Thales. One of the Seven wise Men of Greece. Page. 38.

(21) Socrates. A most excellent Philosopher, of a mild and pleasant Hu­mor, he was falsly accused by Anitus, Lycon and Melitus, for holding some wrong Opinion of the Gods: Being brought before the Judges, and by them asked what in his own Opinion he deserved; He answered, to be maintain­ed at the publick Charge, which free Answer so distasted the Bench, That they Condemn'd him to dy by Poyson, which he drank without Concern. Page 38.

(22) Whoever. A worthy Opinion of a Heathen Poet, agreeing with the Principles of Christian in Holy Writ. Page 44.

(23) Bancoes Ghost. In the Tragedy of Mackbeth, where the coming-in of the Ghost disturbs and interrupts the Entertainment. Page 45.

(24) Vision Dicks. In the Tragedy of Richard the 3d.

(25) Commission. A fort of Turkish Opinion held amongst the Seamen, that every Bullet has his Commission to hit the person predestinated, and no other, which stroak of Fate is inevitable.

(26) The Devil. Alluding to a Fable in Aesop, where the Malefactor in Prison summons his Famillar to his Assistance according to their Contract, the Spirit appearing with a Bundle of old Shooes, which he pretended he had worn out on his Errands; and told him without a Recruit he could not budge one foot further; not quite so treacherous a trick as he served the Conjurer in the Tragedy of the Duke of Guise. Page the last.

FINIS.

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