Let all her gifts the portion be Rebellion, and hypocrisy. Do thou not grieve nor blush to be, And all thy great forefathers, were, from Homer down to Ben. However, by the failing of the forces which I had expected, I did not quit the design which I had resolved on; I cast myself into it a corps perdu, without making capitulations, or taking counsel of fortune. But God laughs at a man, who says to his soul, "Take thy ease:" I met presently not only with many little incumbrances and impediments, but with so much sickness (a new misfortune to me) as would have spoiled the happiness of an emperor as well as mine: yet I do neither repent, nor alter my course. "Non ego perfidum dixi sacramentum:" nothing shall separate me from a mistress which I have loved so long, and have now at last married; though she neither has brought me a rich portion, nor lived yet so quietly with me as I hoped from her: "Nec vos, dulcissima mundi "Nomina, vos Musæ, Libertas, Otia, Libri, "Hortique Sylvæque, animâ remanente, relinquam." Nor by me e'er shall you, You, of all names the sweetest and the best, But this is a very pretty ejaculation.-Because I have concluded all the other chapters with a copy of verses, I will maintain the humour to the last. MARTIAL. LIB. X. EPIGR. XLVII. "Vitam quæ faciunt beatiorem,” &c. SINCE, dearest friend, 't is your desire to see Let exercise a vigorous health maintain, Let mirth and freedom make thy table good. MARTIAL. LIB. X. EPIGR. XCVI. "Sæpe loquar nimiùm gentes," &c. ME, who have liv'd so long among the great, You wonder to hear talk of a retreat; And a retreat so distant, as may show No thoughts of a return, when once I go. The ground about the house maintains it, there; Stay you then here, and live among the great, EPITAPHIUM VIVI AUCTORIS*. "HIC, o viator, sub lare parvulo "Couleius hic est conditus, hic jacet; "Defunctis humani laboris "Sorte, supervacuâque vitâ. "Non indecorâ pauperie nitens, "Et non inerti nobilis otio, * See a translation of this Epitaph among the Poems of Mr. Addison. "Vanóque dilectis popello "Divitiis animosus hostis. "Possis ut illum dicere mortuum; "En terra jam nunc quantula sufficit! "Exempta sit curis, viator, "Terra sit illa levis, precare. "Hic sparge flores, sparge breves rosas, "Nam vita gaudet mortua floribus "Herbisque odoratis corona "Vatis adhuc cinerem calentem." |