Not Oenomaus*, who commits himself wholly to a charioteer, that may break his neck; but the man Who governs his own course with steady hand; This, I confess, is a freeman: but it may be said, that many persons are so shackled by their fortune, that they are hindered from enjoyment of that manumission which they have obtained from virtue. I do both understand, and in part feel, the weight of this objection: all I can answer to it is, that we must get as much liberty as we can, we must use our utmost endeavours, and, when all that is done, be contented with the length of that line which is allowed us. If you ask me, in what condition of life I think the most allowed; I should pitch upon that sort of people, whom king James was wont to call the happiest of our nation, the men placed in the country by their fortune above *Virg. Georg. iii. 7. * an high constable, and yet beneath the trouble of a justice of peace; in a moderate plenty, without any just argument for the desire of increasing it by the care of many relations; and with so much knowledge and love of piety and philosophy (that is, of the study of God's laws, and of his creatures) as may afford him matter enough never to be idle, though without business; and never to be melancholy, though without sin or vanity. I shall conclude this tedious discourse with a prayer of mine in a copy of Latin verses, of which I remember no other part; and (pour faire bonne bouche), with some other verses upon the same subject: Magne Deus, quod ad has vitæ brevis attinet horas, "Da mihi, da panem libertatemque, nec ultrà "Sollicitas effundo preces: si quid datur ultrà, 66 Accipiam gratus; si non, contentus abibo." For the few hours of life allotted me, Give me, (great God !) but bread and liberty, MARTIAL. LIB. I. EP. LVI. "Vota tui breviter," &c. WELL then, Sir, you shall know how far extend Would Be no lord, but less a lord would Have; MARTIAL. LIB. II. EP. LIII. "Vis fieri liber?" &c. WOULD you be free? "T is your chief wish, you say; Come on; I'll shew thee, friend, the certain way: While bounteous God does bread at home bestow; MARTIAL. LIB. II. EP. LXVIII. "Quod te nomine," &c. THAT I do you with humble bows no more, And danger of my naked head, adore; That I, who" Lord and master," cry'd erewhile, By your own name, a scandal to you now; By loss of all things, by all others sought, ODE UPON LIBERTY. FREEDOM with Virtue takes her seat; Her proper place, her only scene, Is in the golden mean, She lives not with the poor nor with the great. The wings of those Necessity has clipt, And they're in Fortune's bridewell whipt To the laborious task of bread; These are by various tyrants captive led. Now wild Ambition with imperious force Rides, reins, and spurs, them, like th' unruly horse; And servile Avarice yokes them now, Like toilsome oxen, to the plough; And sometimes Lust, like the misguided light, By custom, business, crowds, and formal decency; |