But with that mighty rival overthrown, Rome's awful monitor, the foe, was gone; When, proudly eminent, no more she fear'd, Then vigilance with danger disappear'd: As if too long buoy'd up, the publick mind Sunk to the languid level of mankind; All the forc'd qualities by habit taught,
Gave way to appetites which Nature brought.' From pain, and peril, and unceasing toil, The springs of life spontaneously recoil;
And man, soft man, from strong constraint set free, Seeks of himself his own felicity.
Too long had Rome roll'd up the cumb'rous stone; It touch'd the top, and tumbled headlong down: As if her spirit in her armour lay,
Fatigu'd, at once she cast them both away.
9 Potentiæ Romanorum prior Scipio viam aperuerat, luxuriæ posterior aperuit. Quippe remoto Carthaginis metu, sublatâque imperii emulâ, non gradu, sed præcipiti cursu, a virtute descitum, ad vitia transcursum ; vetus disciplina deserta, nova inducta, in somnum a vigiliis, ab armis ad voluptates, a negotiis in otium conversa civitas. VEL. Pat. l. ii, c. 1.
Plain dress, plain roofs, plain fare no more could
And down, not labour, gave their slumbers ease; Asiatick looms the Latian web depose,
And the rough virtues by which first they rose. Now flow'ry chaplets shed their fragrant store 724 Round the tann'd brow the helmet crush'd before; Relaxing baths, and precious ointments, lave The languid limbs once brac'd in Tyber's wave; For beechen bowls wax'd bright for homely use, From gold engrav'd they quaff'd the racy juice:' Fastidious of rich wine, and high-sauc'd meat,* 730 Musick and dance prolong'd the varying treat; All rare and exquisite alone was good,
While earth and sea were ransack'd for their food:
* Και βαθυ κισσυβίον κεκλυσμένον αδεϊ καρώ,
* Non auro, tectisve modus; mensasque priores
Aspernata fames. LUCAN, 1. i.
+ The blush of Vature was extinguished quite, And the rage Probity call'd Hypocrite, Pleasures like Midian's Daughter's sent to entice Plunged their drench'd souls in ev sensual vice. every As the Promethean Liver ever new,
Pregnant with guilt the bloated City me, But harden'd by the birth, and proud of shame, From Heaven no strong beakd Vulture Conscience, came. Not slew nor gradual crept the altering times, One little year produced an'Age of Crimes,
In each refinement of profusion skill'd,
Ears, eyes, and appetite, at once were fill'd.
Then Ostentation sought the admiring guest, Not to partake, but to extol the feast; Deceit, and Fraud, and Vanity stood by,
Wiles in each word, in every look a lie.
No coarse-clad merit at that gaudy board Found glad admittance from its selfish lord; For though like Tully the plain Roman talk'd, What ear would listen?-for the Roman walk'd: But if a chariot roll'd him o'er the road, Or sweating slaves convey'd the living load, 745 O then, what eloquence in all he said! What wisdom ev'n in silence he display'd! The host himself on his proud entrance waits, And reconducts him through his sculptur'd gates ; Or while his viands cram the glutton's throat, 750 Secures his cost, and claims the venal vote.
Thus chang'd the great,—while each inferior tribe With hand outstretch'd expects the welcome bribe;
Lo pale and cloy'd, with what faint smiles they part, While Death who spiced the Banquet, peints the Davr. Thy blessings Temperance to these unknown, Leave the light Heart, and healthful hue thine own. Without the gifts, best portion of the Poor, Grandeuf but pines midst 2.11 his joyless store.
Keen as the noiseless glider through the brook Devours the morsel on the tempting hook. Noxious, like sultry Ethiopia's blast,
Through every rank the dire contagion pass'd; Then wildly grasping with Briarean hands The rich dominion of remoter lands,
For hard-fought combats, and a scanty prize, 760 Lo, feeble foes, and gaudy victories.
The hardy few, who saw and mourn'd the cause
Of pride's increase, and violated laws,
By mockery silenc'd, or in tumult slain, Confirm'd the vices they oppos'd in vain. Rome's boasted virtues blazon'd high by fame, And still suppos'd by children who declaim, (Though sometimes graver senators will join To call the example glorious and divine,) 'Tis own'd, if truth her sage historians tell, With Carthage fallen these ancient virtues fell. Some manly qualities remain'd, 'tis true, Extoll'd by many, but possess'd by few;
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