IMITATORS.

Ep. i. 19. 19.

O imitatores, servum pecus, ut mihi sæpe Bilem, sæpe jocum vestri movere tumultus! Ye wretched mimics, whose fond heats have been, How oft! the objects of my mirth and spleen.

ORIGINALITY.

Ep. i. 19. 21.

Libera per vacuum posui vestigia princeps; Non aliena meo pressi pede: qui sibi fidit, Dux regit examen.

Through open worlds of rhyme I dared to tread In paths unknown, by no bold footsteps led: Who on himself relies with conscious pride, Most certainly the buzzing hive shall guide.

APPLAUSE OF THE POPULACE.
Ep. i, 19. 37.

Non ego ventosæ plebis suffragia venor.
I purchase not the venal critic's vote.

TEARS.

Ep. i. 19. 41.

Hinc illæ lacrymæ.

And hence these tears of spleen and anger rise.

INGRATITUDE OF MANKIND.
Ep. ii. 1. 9.

Ploravere suis non respondere favorem

Speratum meritis.

Complain'd their virtues and their toils could raise But slight returns of gratitude and praise.

ENVY.
Ep. ii. 1. 12.

Comperit invidiam supremo fine domari.
Found that the monster Envy never dies,
Till low in equal death her conqueror lies.

SUPERIOR MERIT.

Ep. ii. 1. 13.

Urit enim fulgore suo, qui prægravat artes
Infra se positas: extinctus amabitur idem.
For he who soars to an unwonted height,
Oppressive dazzles with excess of light

The arts beneath him; yet, when dead, shall prove
An object worthy of esteem and love.

AN ABSURDITY.
Ep. ii. 1. 31.

Nil intra est oleam, nil extra est in nuce duri. There is nothing hard within in the olive; there is nothing hard without in the nut.

THE VULGAR.

Ep. ii. 1. 63.

Interdum vulgus rectum videt; est ubi peccat.
Sometimes the crowd a proper judgment makes,
But oft they labour under gross mistakes.

POETASTERS.
Ep. ii. 1. 115.

Quod medicorum est,

Promittunt medici; tractant fabrilia fabri :
Scribimus indocti doctique poëmata passim.

A doubtful drug unlicensed doctors fear;
Musicians are to sounds alone confined;
And each mechanic hath his trade assign'd:
But every desperate blockhead dares to write;
Verse is the trade of every living wight.

GREECE.

Ep. ii. 1. 156.

Græcia capta ferum victorem cepit, et artes
Intulit agresti Latio.

When conquer'd Greece brought in her captive arts,
She triumph'd o'er her savage conquerors' hearts.

CORRUPTION OF TASTE.
Ep. ii. 1. 187.

Verum equitis quoque jam migravit ab aure voluptas
Omnis ad incertos oculos et gaudia vana.

But even our knights from wit and genius fly
To pageant shows, that charm the wandering eye.

DULNESS.

Ep. ii. 1. 244.

Bootûm in crasso jurâres aëre natum.
This king was born in thick Boeotian air.

THE POET.
Ep. ii. 1. 248.

Nec magis expressi vultus per ænea signa,
Quam per vatis opus mores animique virorum
Clarorum apparent. Nec sermones ego mallem
Repentes per humum, quam res componere gestas,
Terrarumque situs et flumina dicere, et arces
Montibus impositas, et barbara regna, tuisque
Auspiciis totum confecta duella per orbem,
Claustraque, custodem pacis, cohibentia Janum.
Nor form'd in brass, with more expression shines
The hero's face, than in the poet's lines
His life and manners; nor would Horace choose
These low and grovelling numbers, could his Muse
The rapid progress of your arms pursue;

Paint distant lands and rivers to the view,

Up the steep mountain with thy war ascend,

Storm the proud fort, and bid the nations bend;
Or bid fell war's destructive horrors cease,

And shut up Janus in eternal peace.

THE RIDICULOUS.

Ep. ii. 1. 262.

Discit enim citius meminitque libentius illud
Quod quis deridet, quam quod probat et veneratur.
For quickly we discern,

With ease remember, and with pleasure learn
Whate'er may ridicule and laughter move,
Not what deserved our best esteem and love.

SOFT CLAY.
Ep. ii. 2. 8.

Argillâ quidvis imitaberis udâ.

Like clay, well temper'd with informing skill
He may be moulded to what shape you will.

THE POOR.
Ep. ii. 2. 40.

Ibit eo, quo vis, qui zonam perdidit.
The rustic shrewd replies:
"An't please you, captain, let another trudge it;
The man may venture who has lost his budget."

ATHENS.

Ep. ii. 2. 43.

Adjecere bonæ paulo plus artis Athenæ ;
Scilicet ut possem curvo dignoscere rectum,
Atque inter sylvas Academi quærere verum.
Dura sed emovere loco me tempora grato.
Indulgent Athens then improved my parts,
With some small tincture of ingenuous arts,
Fair truth from falsehood to discern, and rove
In search of wisdom through the museful grove.
But lo! the time, destructive to my peace,
Me rudely ravish'd from that charming place.

ADVANCING YEARS.
Ep. ii. 2. 55.

Singula de nobis anni prædantur euntes;
Eripuere jocos, Venerem, convivia, ludum.

The waning years apace

Steal off our thoughts, and rifle every grace.
Alas! already have they snatch'd away
My jokes, my loves, my revellings, and play.

DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
Ep. ii. 2. 58.

Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque.
In short, the race of various men admire

As various numbers.

DIFFERENCES OF TASTE.
Ep. ii. 2. 62.

Poscentes vario multum diversa palato.

Quid dem? quid non dem ? renuis tu, quod jubet alter; Quod petis, id sane est invisum acidumque duobus.

And all appear to have a different taste.

What shall I give them? What shall I refuse?
What one dislikes the other two shall choose,
And even the very dish you like the best

Is acid or insipid to the rest.

IRRITABILITY OF THE POET.
Ep. ii. 2. 102.

Multa fero, ut placem genus irritabile vatum,
Cum scribo, et supplex populi suffragia capto.
Much I endured, when writing I would bribe
The public voice, and soothe the fretful tribe
Of rival poets.

SELF-CONCEIT OF A POET.
Ep. ii. 2. 126.

Prætulerim scriptor delirus inersque videri,
Dum mea delectent mala me, vel denique fallant,
Quam sapere, et ringi.

A stupid scribbler let me rather seem,

While of my faults with dear delight I deem,
Or not perceive, than sing no mortal strain,
And bear this toil, this torture of the brain.

PLEASING DELUSIONS.

Ep. ii. 2. 138.

Pol me occidistis, amici,
Non servastis, ait; cui sic extorta voluptas,
Et demtus per vim mentis gratissimus error.
"Ah! cruel friends!" he cried,

"Is this to save me? Better far have died
Than thus be robb'd of pleasure so refined,
The dear delusions of a raptured mind."

RICHES.
Ep. ii. 3. 155.

At si divitiæ prudentem reddere possent,