Hor.
There are to whom I seem excessive
sour,
And past a satire’s law t’
extend my power:
Others, that think whatever I have
writ
Wants pith and matter to eternise
it;
And that they could, in one day’s
light, disclose
A thousand verses, such as I compose.
What shall I do, Trebatius? say.
Treb. Surcease.
Hor. And shall my muse admit no more increase?
Treb. So I advise.
Hor.
An ill death let me die,
If ’twere not best; but sleep
avoids mine eye,
And I use these, lest nights should
tedious seem.
Treb.
Rather, contend to sleep, and live
like them,
That, holding golden sleep in special
price,
Rubb’d with sweet oils, swim
silver Tyber thrice,
And every even with neat wine steeped
be:
Or, if such love of writing ravish
thee,
Then dare to sing unconquer’d
Caesar’s deeds;
Who cheers such actions with abundant
meeds.
Hor.
That, father, I desire; but, when
I try,
I feel defects in every faculty:
Nor is’t a labour fit for
every pen,
To paint the horrid troops of armed
men,
The lances burst, in Gallia’s
slaughter’d forces;
Or wounded Parthians, tumbled from
their horses:
Great Caesar’s wars cannot
be fought with words.
Treb.
Yet, what his virtue in his peace
affords,
His fortitude and justice thou canst
shew
As wise Lucilius honour’d
Scipio.
Hor.
Of that, my powers shall suffer
no neglect,
When such slight labours may aspire
respect:
But, if I watch not a most chosen
time,
The humble words of Flaccus cannot
climb
Th’ attentive ear of Caesar;
nor must I
With less observance shun gross
flattery:
For he, reposed safe in his own
merit,
Spurns back the gloses of a fawning
spirit.
Treb.
But how much better would such accents
sound
Than with a sad and serious verse
to wound
Pantolabus, railing in his saucy
jests,
Or Nomentanus spent in riotous feasts?
In satires, each man, though untouch’d,
complains
As he were hurt; and hates such
biting strains.
Hor.
What shall I do? Milonius shakes
his heels
In ceaseless dances, when his brain
once feels
The stirring fervour of the wine
ascend;
And that his eyes false numbers
apprehend.
Castor his horse, Pollux loves handy-fights;
A thousand heads, a thousand choice
delights.
My pleasure is in feet my words
to close,
As, both our better, old Lucilius
does:
He, as his trusty friends, his books
did trust
With all his secrets; nor, in things
unjust,
Or actions lawful, ran to other
men:
So that the old man’s life
described, was seen
As in a votive table in his lines:
And to his steps my genius inclines;
Lucanian, or Apulian, I know not