After a warm debate in spite Of a provoking appetite, I sturdily resolved at last To balk it, and pronounce a fast, And in a moody humour wait, While my less dainty comrades bait. Now o'er the spangled hemisphere Diffused the starry train appear, When there arose a desperate brawl; The slaves and bargemen, one and all, Rending their throats (have mercy on us!) As if they were resolved to stun us. "Steer the barge this way to the shore ! I tell you we'll admit no more! Plague! will you never be content?" Thus a whole hour at least is spent, While they receive the several fares, And kick the mule into his gears. Happy, these difficulties past,
Could we have fallen asleep at last!
But, what with humming, croaking, biting, Gnats, frogs, and all their plagues uniting, These tuneful natives of the lake
Conspired to keep us broad awake. Besides, to make the concert full, Two maudlin wights, exceeding dull, The bargeman and a passenger, Each in his turn, essayed an air In honour of his absent fair. At length the passenger, opprest With wine, left off, and snored the rest. The weary bargeman too gave o'er, And hearing his companion snore, Seized the occasion, fixed the barge, Turned out his mule to graze at large, And slept forgetful of his charge. And now the sun o'er eastern hill, Discovered that our barge stood still; When one, whose anger vexed him sore, With malice fraught, leaps quick on shore, Plucks up a stake, with many a thwack Assails the mule and driver's back. Then slowly moving on with pain, At ten Feronia's stream we gain, And in her pure and glassy wave Our hands and faces gladly lave. Climbing three miles, fair Anxur's height We reach, with stony quarries white. While here, as was agreed, we wait, Till, charged with business of the state, Maecenas and Cocceius come,
The messengers of peace from Rome.
My eyes, by watery humours blear And sore, I with black balsam smear. At length they join us, and with them Our worthy friend Fonteius came ; A man of such complete desert, Antony loved him at his heart. At Fundi we refused to bait, And laughed at vain Aufidius' state, A prætor now, a scribe before, The purple-bordered robe he wore, His slave the smoking censer bore. Tired at Muræna's we repose, At Formia sup at Capito's.
With smiles the rising morn we greet, At Sinuessa pleased to meet
With Plotius, Varius, and the bard
Whom Mantua first with wonder heard. The world no purer spirits knows; For none my heart more warmly glows. Oh! what embraces we bestowed,
And with what joy our breasts o'erflowed! Sure while my sense is sound and clear, Long as I live, I shall prefer
A gay, good-natured, easy friend, To every blessing heaven can send. At a small village, the next night, Near the Vulturnus we alight; Where, as employed on state affairs, We were supplied by the purveyors Frankly at once, and without hire, With food for man and horse, and fire. Capua next day betimes we reach, Where Virgil and myself, who each Laboured with different maladies, His such a stomach,―mine such eyes,--- As would not bear strong exercise, In drowsy mood to sleep resort; Mæcenas to the tennis-court.
Next at Cocceius' farm we're treated, Above the Caudian tavern seated; His kind and hospitable board
With choice of wholesome food was stored.
Now, O ye Nine, inspire my lays ! To nobler themes my fancy raise ! Two combatants, who scorn to yield The noisy, tongue-disputed field, Sarmentus and Cicirrus, claim A poet's tribute to their fame; Cicirrus of true Oscian breed, Sarmentus, who was never freed,
We don't defame him, His lady lives, and still may claim him.
Thus dignified, in harder fray
These champions their keen wit display, And first Sarmentus led the way.
"Thy locks, (quoth he), so rough and coarse, Look like the mane of some wild horse." We laugh: Cicirrus undismayed—
"Have at you !"—cries, and shakes his head. "Tis well (Sarmentus says) you've lost That horn your forehead once could boast; Since maimed and mangled as you are, You seem to butt." A hideous scar Improved ('tis true) with double grace The native horrors of his face. Well. After much jocosely said Of his grim front, so fiery red, (For carbuncles had blotched it o'er, As usual on Campania's shore) "Give us, (he cried), since you're so big, A sample of the Cyclops' jig!
Your shanks methinks no buskins ask, Nor does your phiz require a mask." To this Cicirrus. "In return
Of you, sir, now I fain would learn, When 'twas, no longer deemed a slave, Your chains you to the Lares gave. For though a scrivener's right you claim, Your lady's title is the same.
But what could make you run away, Since, pigmy as you are, each day A single pound of bread would quite O'erpower your puny appetite?"
Thus joked the champions, while we laughed, And many a cheerful bumper quaffed.
To Beneventum next we steer; Where our good host by over care In roasting thrushes lean as mice Had almost fallen a sacrifice. The kitchen soon was all on fire, And to the roof the flames aspire. There might you see each man and master Striving, amidst this sad disaster,
To save the supper. Then they came With speed enough to quench the flame. From hence we first at distant see The Apulian hills, well known to me, Parched by the sultry western blast ; And which we never should have past, Had not Trivicus by the way Received us at the close of day. But each was forced at entering here To pay the tribute of a tear,
For more of smoke than fire was seen;
The hearth was piled with logs so green. From hence in chaises we were carried Miles twenty-four and gladly tarried At a small town, whose name my verse (So barbarous is it) can't rehearse. Know it you may by many a sign, Water is dearer far than wine. There bread is deemed such dainty fair, That every prudent traveller
His wallet loads with many a crust; For at Canusium, you might just As well attempt to gnaw a stone As think to get a morsel down. That too with scanty streams is fed; Its founder was brave Diomed.
Good Varius (ah, that friends must part!) Here left us all with aching heart. At Rubi we arrived that day, Well jaded by the length of way,
And sure poor mortals ne'er were wetter. Next day no weather could be better; No roads so bad; we scarce could crawl Along to fishy Barium's wall.
The Ignatians next, who by the rules Of common sense are knaves or fools, Made all our sides with laughter heave, Since we with them must needs believe, That incense in their temples burns, And without fire to ashes turns. To circumcision's bigots tell Such tales! for me, I know full well, That in high heaven, unmoved by care, The gods eternal quiet share :
Nor can I deem their spleen the cause Why fickle nature breaks her laws. Brundusium last we reach : and there Stop short the Muse and Traveller.
THE NINTH SATIRE OF THE FIRST BOOK OF HORACE. THE DESCRIPTION OF AN IMPERTINENT.
ADAPTED TO THE PRESENT TIMES, 1759.
SAUNTERING along the street one day, On trifles musing by the way, Up steps a free familiar wight; (I scarcely knew the man by sight.) "Carlos (he cried), your hand, my dear! Gad, I rejoice to meet you here!
Pray heaven I see you well!" "So, so;
Even well enough as times now go The same good wishes, sir, to you." Finding he still pursued me close, "Sir, you have business, I suppose?" 'My business, sir, is quickly done, 'Tis but to make my merit known. Sir, I have read "O learned sir,
You and your learning I revere." Then, sweating with anxiety, And sadly longing to get free, Gods, how I scampered, scuffled for't, Ran, halted, ran again, stopped short, Beckoned my boy, and pulled him near, And whispered nothing in his ear.
Teased with nis loose unjointed chat, "What street is this? What house is that?' O Harlow, how I envied thee
Thy unabashed effrontery,
Who darest a foe with freedom blame,
And call a coxcomb by his name! When I returned him answer none, Obligingly the fool ran on,
"I see you're dismally distressed, Would give the world to be released, But, by your leave, sir, I shall still Stick to your skirts, do what you will. Pray which way does your journey tend?" "Oh, 'tis a tedious way, my friend,
Across the Thames, the Lord knows where: I would not trouble you so far."
"Well, I'm at leisure to attend you."
'Are you? (thought I) the deil befriend you!" No ass with double panniers racked,
Oppressed, o'erladen, broken-backed, E'er looked a thousandth part so dull As I, nor half so like a fool. "Sir, I know little of myself (Proceeds the pert conceited elf), If Gray or Mason you will deem Than me more worthy your esteem. Poems I write by folios,
As fast as other men write prose. Then I can sing so loud, so clear,
That Beard cannot with me compare.
In dancing too I all surpass,
Not Cooke can move with such a grace." Here I made shift, with much ado,
To interpose a word or two.
"Have you no parents, sir, no friends,
Whose welfare on your own depends?"
Parents, relations, say you? No.
They're all disposed of long ago."
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