LONDON: A POEM: IN IMITATION OF THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAL. WRITTEN IN 1738. Quis ineptæ Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus ut teneat se? Juv. 'THOUGH grief and fondness in my breast rebel Give to St. David one true Briton more. 2 3 For who would leave, unbribed, Hibernia's land, Or change the rocks of Scotland for the Strand? 1 JUV. SAT. III. Quamvis digressu veteris confusus amici: 2 Ego vel Prochytam præpono Suburræ, There none are swept by sudden fate away, prey; 3 While Thales waits the wherry that contains Of dissipated wealth the small remains, On Thames's banks, in silent thought we stood Behold her cross triumphant on the main, 4 Since worth, he cries, in these degenerate days, Wants ev❜n the cheap reward of empty praise; Sed, dum tota domus rhedâ componitur unâ, Substitit ad veteres arcus.- 4 Hic tunc Umbritius: Quando artibus, inquit, honestis Nullus in urbe locus, nulla emolumenta laborum, Res hodie minor est, heri quam fuit, atque eadem cras Ire, fatigatas ubi Dædalus exuit alas; Dum nova canites. * Queen Elizabeth, born at Greenwich. In those cursed walls, devote to vice and gain, Some secret cell, ye Pow'rs, indulgent give, 6 Let live here, for has learn'd to live. * And plead for pirates in the face of day; "Let such raise palaces, and manors buy, Collect a tax, or farm a lottery; With warbling eunuchs fill our † licensed stage, 3 et pedibus me Porto meis, nullo dextram subeunte bacillo. • Cedamus patriâ: vivant Arturius istic Et Catullus: maneant qui nigrum in candida vertunt. * The invasions of the Spaniards were defended in the houses of parliament. †The licensing act was then lately made. Heroes, proceed! what bounds your pride shall hold? What check restrain your thirst of pow'r and gold? Behold rebellious virtue quite o'erthrown, Behold our fame, our wealth, our lives, your own. 8 To such, the plunder of a land is giv❜n, When publick crimes inflame the wrath of Heav'n: But what, my friend, what hope remains for me, Who start at theft, and blush at perjury? Who scarce forbear, though Britain's court he sing, A statesman's logick unconvinced can hear, Well may they rise, while I, whose rustick tongue 10 For what but social guilt the friend endears? Who shares Orgilio's crimes, his fortune shares. 8 Quid Romæ faciam ? mentiri nescio: librum, Si malus est, nequeo laudare et poscere.— 9 Ferre ad nuptas quæ mittit adulter, Quæ mandat norint alii: me nemo ministro Fur erit, atque ideo nulli comes exeo. ΙΟ Quis nunc diligitur nisi conscius ? Carus erit Verri, qui Verrem tempore, quo vult, Accusare potest. * The paper which at that time contained apologies for the court. 11 But thou, should tempting villany present 12 The cheated nation's happy fav'rites see! 14 Illustrious Edward! from the realms of day, The land of heroes and of saints survey; Nor hope the British lineaments to trace, The rustick grandeur, or the surly grace; But, lost in thoughtless ease and empty show, Behold the warrior dwindled to a beau; Sense, freedom, piety, refined away, Of France the mimick, and of Spain the prey. All that at home no more can beg or steal, Or like a gibbet better than a wheel; Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur aurum, 12 Quæ nunc divitibus gens acceptissima nostris, Et quos præcipue fugiam, properabo fateri. 13 Non possum ferre, Quirites, Græcam urbem. 14 Rusticus ille tuus sumit trechedipna, Quirine, Et ceromatico fert niceteria collo. |