![[blocks in formation]](https://books.google.co.id/books/content?id=-13AqDgScIsC&hl=id&output=html_text&pg=PA68&img=1&zoom=3&q=earth&cds=1&sig=ACfU3U3UC4XHtEN0u3Dy7-K78aQAunqpPQ&edge=0&edge=stretch&ci=74,245,845,228)
The defign of this Satire is to expofe and reprehend all manner of intemperance and debauchery; but more particularly that exorbitant luxury ufed by the Romans in their feafting. The Poet draws the occafion from an invitation, which he here makes to his Friend to dine with him; very artfully preparing him with what he was to expect from his treat, by beginning the Satire with a particular invective against the vanity and folly of fome perfons, who, having but mean fortunes in the world, attempted to live up to the height of men of great eftates and quality. He fhews us the miferable end of such spendthrifts and gluttons, with the manner and courfes which they took to bring themselves to it; advifing men to live within bounds, and to proportion their inclinations to the extent of their fortune. He gives his Friend a bill of fare of the entertainment he has provided for him; and from thence he takes occafion to reflect upon the temperance and frugality of the greatest men in former ages: to which he opposes the riot and intemperance of the prefent; attributing to the latter a vifible remiffnefs in the care of heaven over the Roman state. He inftances fome lewd practices at feasts, and, by the bye, touches the nobility with making vice
IMITATED. 69 and debauchery confift with their principal pleasures. He concludes with a repeated invitation to his Friend; advifing him (in one partcular fomewhat freely) to a neglect of all cares and difquiets for the prefent, and a moderate use of pleasures for the future.
F noble Atticus make fplendid feasts,
And with expenfive food indulge his guests; His wealth and quality support the treat : Nor is it luxury in him, but state.
But when poor Rutilus fpends all he's worth, In hopes of fetting one good dinner forth; 'Tis downright madness: for what greater jests, Than begging gluttons, or than beggars' feasts? But Rutilus is now notorious grown,
And proves the common theme of all the town.
A man in his full tide of youthful blood, Able for arms, and for his country's good Urg'd by no power, restrain'd by no advice, But following his own inglorious choice: 'Mongft.common fencers practifes the trade, That end debafing for which arms were made; Arms which to man ne'er-dying fame afford, But his difgrace is owing to his fword. Many there are of the fame wretched kind, Whom their despairing creditors may find Lurking in fhambles; where with borrow'd coin They buy choice meats, and in cheap plenty dine; Such, whofe fole blifs is eating; who o can g But that one brutal reason why they live.
And yet what's more ridiculous: of thefe, The pooreft wretch is ftill moft hard to please; And he whofe thin tranfparent rags declare How much his tatter'd fortune wants repair, Would ranfack every element for choice Of every fish and fowl at any price; If, brought from far, it very dear has coft, It has a flavour then, which pleases moft, And he devours it with a greater guft.
In riot thus, while money lafts, he lives, And that exhausted, still new pledges gives; Till forc'd of mere neceffity to eat, He comes to pawn his difh to buy his meat. Nothing of filver or of gold he spares, Not what his mother's facred image bears; The broken relic he with fpeed devours, As he would all the reft of 's ancestors, If wrought in gold, or if expos'd to fale, 'They'd pay the price of one luxurious meal. Thus certain ruin treads upon his heels,
The ftings of hunger, foon, and want, he feels; of&f And thus is he reduc'd at length, to serve
Fencers, for miserable scraps, or starve. Imagine now, you fee a plenteous feast : The question is, at whofe expence 'tis dreft. In great Ventidius we the bounty prize; In Rutilus the vanity defpife.
Strange ignorance! that the fame man who knows How far yon mount above this mole-hill fhows,
Should not perceive a difference as great,
Between fmall incomes and a vast eítate!
From heaven to mortals fure that rule was fent, Of "Know thyself," and by fome god was meant To be our never-erring pilot here,
Through all the various courfes which we steer. Therfites, though the most prefumptuous Greek, Yet durft not for Achilles' armour speak; When fcarce Ulyffes had a good pretence, With all th' advantage of his eloquence. Whoe'er attempts weak caufes to fupport, Ought to be very fure he's able for 't; And not mistake ftrong lungs and impudence, For harmony of words and force of fenfe : Fools only make attempts beyond their skill; A wife man's power's the limit of his will.. If Fortune has a niggard been to thee, Devote thyself to thrift, not luxury;
And wifely make that kind of food thy choice, To which neceffity confines thy price...
Well may they fear some miserable end, Whom gluttony and want at once attend; Whose large voracious throats have fwallow'd all, Both land and stock, intereft and principal: Well may they fear, at length, vile Pollio's fate, Who fold his very ring to purchafe meat;
And though a knight, 'mongft common flaves now ftands, Begging an alms, with undistinguish'd hands.
Sure fudden death to fuch fhould welcome be, On whom each added year heaps misery,
Scorn, poverty, reproach, and infamy. F 4
But there are steps in villainy, which these Obferve to tread and follow by degrees. Money they borrow, and from all that lend, Which, never meaning to restore, they spend; But that and their small stock of credit gone, Left Rome should grow too warm, from thence they run: For of late years 'tis no more fcandal grown,
For debt and roguery to quit the town,
Than, in the midft of fummer's fcorching heat, From crouds, and noife, and business to retreat. One only grief fuch fugitives can find, Reflecting on the pleasures left behind; The plays and loose diverfions of the place, But not one blush appears for the disgrace. Ne'er was of modefty fo great a dearth, That out of countenance Virtue 's fled from earth; Baffled, expos'd to ridicule and scorn,
She's with Aftrea gone, not to return.
This day, my Perficus, thou shalt perceive Whether myself I keep thofe rules I give, Or elfe an unfufpected glutton live; If moderate fare and abftinence I prize In public, yet in private gormandize. Evander's feaft reviv'd, to-day thou 'lt fee; That poor Evander, I, and thou shalt be Alcides and Eneas both to me.
Mean time, I fend you now your bill of fare; Be not furpriz'd, that 'tis all homely cheer: For nothing from the shambles I provide, But from my own small farm the tenderest kid,
« SebelumnyaLanjutkan » |