THE THIRD SATIRE OF PERSIUS. THE ARGUMENT. Our author has made two Satires concerning study, the first and the third: the first related to men; this to young students, whom he desired to be educated in the Stoic philosophy. He himself sustains the person of the master, or preceptor, in this admirable Satire, where The upbraids the youth of sloth, and negligence in learning. Yet he begins with one scholar reproaching his fellow-students with late rising to their books. After which, he takes upon him the other part of the teacher; and, addressing himself particularly to young noblemen, tells them, that, by reason of their high birth, and the great possessions of their fathers, they are careless of adorning their minds with precepts of moral philosophy: and, withal, inculcates to them the miseries which will attend them in the whole course of their life, if they do not apply themselves betimes to the knowledge of virtue, and the end of their creation, which he pathetically insinuates to them. The title of this satire, in some ancient manuscripts, was, "the Reproach of Idleness;" though in others of the scholiasts it is inscribed, "Against the Luxury and Vices of the Rich." In both of which, the intention of the poet is pursued, but principally in the former. [I remember I translated this satire when I was a king's scholar at Westminster school, for a Thurday-night's exercise; and believe, that it, and many other of my exercises of this nature in English verse, are still in the hands of my learned master, the Rev. Dr Busby.] Is this thy daily course? The glaring sun Yet plunged in sloth we lie, and snore supine, This grave advice some sober student bears, Then rubs his gummy eyes, and scrubs his pate, O wretch, and still more wretched every day! Thou, who wert never meant to be a man ; No more accuse thy pen; but charge the crime Think'st thou thy master, or thy friends, to cheat? * Note I. 4 Yet thy moist clay is pliant to command, Unwrought, and easy to the potter's hand: Now take the mould; now bend thy mind to feel The first sharp motions of the forming wheel. But thou hast land; a country seat, secure By a just title; costly furniture; A fuming pan thy Lares to appease : What need of learning when a man's at ease? Then please thy pride, and search the herald's roll, Such pageantry be to the people shown: But 'tis in vain; the wretch is drenched too deep, Great father of the gods, when for our crimes Thou send'st some heavy judgment on the times; Some tyrant-king, the terror of his age, The type, and true vicegerent of thy rage; Thus punish him: set virtue in his sight, With all her charms, adorned with all her graces bright; * Note II. + Note III. ‡ Note IV. But set her distant, make him pale to see ** Sicilian tortures, and the brazen bull, Are emblems, rather than express the full Of what he feels; yet what he fears is more : The wretch, who, sitting at his plenteous board, Looked up, and viewed on high the pointed sword Hang o'er his head, and hanging by a twine, Did with less dread, and more securely dine. † Even in his sleep he starts, and fears the knife, And, trembling, in his arms takes his accomplice wife; Down, down he goes; and from his darling friend Would blear my eyes with oil, to stay from school: Though much my master that stern virtue praised, But then my study was to cog the dice, *Note V. † Note VI. ✰ Note VII. § Note VIII. Where the shorn youth to midnight lectures rise, Roused from their slumbers to be early wise; Where the coarse cake, and homely husks of beans, From pampering riot the young stomach weans; And where the Samian Y directs thy steps to run To Virtue's narrow steep, and broad-way Vice to shun. * And yet thou snor'st, thou draw'st thy drunken breath, Sour with debauch, and sleep'st the sleep of death: Hast thou not yet proposed some certain end, Perform, and with thy prudence guide thy fate. Learn what thou owest thy country, and thy friend; *Note IX. Two learned physicians of the period, Dryden mentions Guibbons more than once, as a friend. |