Diftat enim,fpargas tua prodigus, an neque fumtum
Invitus facias, nec plura parare labores;
Ac potius, puer ut feftis Quinquatribus olim,
Exiguo gratoque fruaris tempore raptim.
Pauperies immunda procul procul abfit: ego,

utrum

Nave ferar magna an parva; ferar unus et idem.
Non agimur tumidis velis Aquilone fecundo:
Non tamen adverfis aetatem ducimus Auftris.
Viribus, ingenio, fpecie, virtute, loco, re,
Extremi primorum, extremis ufque priores.
"Non es avarus: abi. quid? caetera jam fimul isto
Cum vitio fugere? caret tibi pectus inani
Ambitione? caret mortis formidine et ira?

Somnia, terrores magicos, miraculà, fagas, Nocturnos lemures, portentaque Theffala rides?

NOTES.

VER. 288. But fure no ftatute] Alluding to the statutes made in England and Ireland, to regulate the Succeflion of Papifts, &c.

But sure no statute in his favour fays,
How free, or frugal, I fhall pafs my days:
I, who at fome times fpend, at others spare,
Divided between carelefnefs and care."
'Tis one thing madly to disperse my store;
Another, not to heed to treasure more;
Glad, like a Boy, to snatch the first good day,
And pleas'd, if fordid want be far away.

29.5

'What is't to me (a paffenger God wot)
Whether my veffel be first rate or not?
The Ship itself may make a better figure,
But I that fail, am neither less nor bigger.
I neither ftrut with ev'ry fav'ring breath,
Nor strive with all the tempeft in my teeth.
In pow'r, wit, figure, virtue, fortune, plac'd
Behind the foremost, and before the last.

300

291

"But why all this of Av'rice? I have none." I wish you joy, Sir, of a Tyrant gone; 305 But does no other lord it at this hour, As wild and mad? the Avarice of pow'r? Does neither Rage inflame, nor Fear appall? Not the black fear of death, that faddens all? With terrors round, can Reason hold her throne, Despise the known, nor tremble at th' unknown?

Natales grate numeras? ignofcis amicis?

Lenior et melior fis accedente fenecta?
Quid te exemta levat spinis de pluribus una?
Vivere fi recte nefcis, decede peritis.
Lufifti fatis, edifti fatis, atque bibisti:
Tempus abire tibi eft: ne potum largius aequo

Rideat, et pulfet lasciva decentius aetas.

312

Survey both worlds, intrepid and entire, In spite of witches, devils, dreams, and fire? Pleas'd to look forward, pleas'd to look behind, And count each birth-day with a grateful mind? Has life no fourness, drawn so near its end? 316 Can't thou endure a foe, forgive a friend? Has but melted the rough parts away, age As winter-fruits grow mild ere they decay? Or will you think, my friend, your business done, When, of a hundred thorns, you pull out one? 321 1 Learn to live well, or fairly make your will; You've play'd, and lov'd, and eat, and drank fill:

your

Walk fober off; before a sprightlier age
Comes titt'ring on, and shoves you from the stage:
Leave fuch to trifle with more grace and ease, 326
Whom Folly pleases, and whose Follies please.

NOTES.

VER. 312. Survey both worlds,] It is obfervable with what fobriety he has corrected the licentioufnefs of his Original, which made the expectation of another world a part of that fuperftition, he would explode; whereas the Imitator is only for removing the falfe terrors from the world of fpirits; fuch as the diablerie of witchcraft and purgatory.