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1956

By sufferance alone with them he reign'd;
The tool they wanted, but the man disdain'd.
Determin'd to deserve the people's hate,
Each felt it less, while three sustain'd the weight.
On his dull head the load of wrongs they heap,
The little merit to themselves they keep;
Shelt'ring their crimes behind his ready name, 1960
They shar'd the spoil, and he endur'd the blame :
But when their height beyond his reach was grown,
Then to contempt and scorn they hurl'd him down.
So with the building does the scaffold rise,
Which once completed, in the dust it lies: 1965
So the loose garb that bears the winter sky,
In kindlier warmth is cast neglected by.
Private and poor they left him, to lament

The irksome memory of a life ill spent ;

Whence no past act new comfort can afford, 1970 But keen reflection turns a bosom'd sword.

Sad state! and such the worthless only feel;

In their own breasts anticipated hell :
X

And

And when cold eve in dusky pall draws near, 1974
The shades, then lengthen'd, of their crimes appear;
Forms, which the day-time's fury could control,
Embodying conscience wakes, to haunt the soul;
Each casual voice croaks, like the raven hoarse,
THE PRESENT WRETCHED, AND THE FUTURE WORSE:
Reproaches in the stagnant calm they hear, 1980
And in each bush a vengeful minister.

One hour his statue in Rome's fanes we see,
The next proclaims him Rome's worst enemy;"
And in these pois'd discordant acts appear
Distracted counsels, and the senate's fear.
The threats by furious Antony sent forth,
Gave e'en to Lepidus a moment's worth.

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1985

eique [sc. Lepido] statuam equestrem inauratam-ex hujus ordinis sententiâ statui placere. CIC. Philip. v.

' Lepidus sententiis omnibus hostis a senatu judicatus est.

CIC. Epist. ad Famil. 1. xii. ep. 10.

Lepidus was not ruined by the vote of the senate, which demolished his statue, and declared him a publick enemy, but, as may be seen below, by his presuming to think he could control Augustus, who was too wise and too powerful to fear him.

As

As chance had rais'd him to the triple throne,
His fall involv'd no ruin but his own.
Great deity of fools! to thee should rise

More frequent fumes from grateful sacrifice,
Would man, vain man, thy dispensations see,
Nor give to merit what is due to thee.
Obsequious ever to great Cæsar's will,

1990

The legions which he led, obey'd him still; 1995
And with the confidence of strength elate,
His pride provok'd, and they allow'd his fate.'

In the first conflicts of the doubtful field,
His wavering hand awhile the balance held ;

So from conjuncture, not from worth or sense,
Arose his transitory consequence.

Sure to forsake the friends he chose at first,
With all he tamper'd, but espous'd the worst;

2001

'Post Pompeii fugam, collegarum alterum M. Lepidum, quem ex Africâ in auxilium evocarat, superbientem xx legionum fiduciâ, summasque sibi partes terrore ac minis vindicantem, spoliavit exercitu, supplicemque, concessâ vitâ, Circeios in perpetuum religavit. [A. U. C. 718.] SUET. in Aug 16.

Lepidus died in obscurity, A. 741.

X 2

False

False to the senate, of their foes afraid,

He flatter'd both alike, and both betray'd:

Unfit for power, this wonder fill'd the throng, 2005 Not how he lost it, but preserv'd so long.

The weak man oft to fortune greatness owes,

But sense alone can keep what chance bestows.

Who without wisdom fortune would command,
Writes but on water, or erects on sand.

2010

ANTONY AND CLEOPAT R A.

A. U. C. 717.

But not content with half the world's domain,

Cæsar and Antony alone would reign:
The first, a steady sceptre born to wield,
O'er all his acts extends the publick shield;"
The last, abhorrent from the toils of state,
Rots on the Nile, a hoary profligate:

2

Qui n'agit que pour soi, feignant d'agir pour Rome.

2015

CINNA, par Corneille.

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