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Nature and Art must

Pieriis tentata modis, ludusque repertus,
Et longorum operum finis: ne forte pudori
Sit tibi Musa lyræ solers, et cantor Apollo.

Natura fieret laudabile carmen, an arte,

405

Quæsitum est. Ego nec studium sine divite vena,
Nec rude quid possit video ingenium: alterius sic 410
Altera poscit opem res et conjurat amice.

Qui studet optatam cursu contingere metam,
Multa tulit fecitque puer, sudavit et alsit,
Abstinuit venere et vino: qui Pythia cantat

was solicited in Pierian measures, and games were introduced and commemorated, and the termination of tedious labours was celebrated in verse. So do not allow the muse who is skilled in the lyre, nor Apollo, the god of song, to cause you a blush.

It has been made a subject of inquiry whether a poem worthy of being commended is composed as the result of natural talent or of art. I neither see what study, without a rich vein of natural genius, nor what genius, in its primitive state and uncultivated, can effect. Thus each requires to have the assistance of the other, and both combine amicably for the same end.

The man who exerts himself to reach the desired goal in the race, has endured and done much in the way of practice when a boy; has perspired with heat, and suffered cold; has abstained from improper indulgences and from wine. The musician who sings the Pythian songs

Combine to Form a Poet.

Of life and kings were asked in verse to grant
Whatever favours they who asked might want.
Games were described and patronised in song,

Poems gave pleasure after toils too long;

So do not let the muse that tunes the lyre,
Nor let the god who gives poetic fire,

And binds the poet's brow with wreaths of fame,
Cause you a moment's blush or tinge of shame.

It has been asked, Does nature or does art

Poetic talent to the mind impart?

My voice is this, that neither study can
Succeed without a rich poetic vein,

Nor that great genius, unless polished well,
Can in poetic compositions tell :

Thus each requires to have the other's aid,
By both combined a good result is made.

He who aspires the wished-for prize to gain

In the swift race upon the Olympic plain,
Has toiled in practice, suffered cold and heat,
Abstained from pleasures, sober and discreet;

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720

730

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Rich Amateur Poets

Tibicen, didicit prius extimuitque magistrum.

415

Nunc satis est dixisse, "Ego mira poemata pango;
Occupet extremum scabies; mihi turpe relinqui est,
Et quod non didici sane nescire fateri."

Ut præco ad merces turbam qui cogit emendas,
Assentatores jubet ad lucrum ire poeta
Dives agris, dives positis in fenore nummis.
Si vero est unctum qui recte ponere possit,
Et spondere levi pro paupere, et eripere atris
Litibus implicitum, mirabor si sciet inter-
Noscere mendacem verumque beatus amicum.
Tu, seu donaris seu quid donare voles cui,
Nolito ad versus tibi factos ducere plenum

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425

was first a learner, and feared a master. Now it is enough to have said, "I make wonderful poems. Let a plague seize the hindmost. For me it is disgraceful to be left behind, and, in fact, to confess that I am ignorant of what I have never learned."

As the auctioneer collects a crowd to buy his goods, so a poet who is rich in lands, rich in money laid out at usury, invites obsequious auditors to come to a rehearsal of his poetry for their own gain. But if he is a person who can serve up a splendid banquet in correct style, and can be security for a poor man who has no credit himself, and who can rescue a man who is embarrassed by dismal lawsuits, I shall feel astonished if he shall have the good fortune to know the difference between a false and a true friend. I advise you, whether you have conferred a gift or shall wish to confer a gift upon any one, not to bring him to hear verses made by you when he is full of delight at your generosity;

!

Cautioned against Flatterers,

77

He who desires the Pythian airs to sing,

Has learned the skill which art and lessons bring;

Now 'tis enough to say, "I write in verse;

I care not who's behind or who writes worse;

That I should be surpassed, for me 'twere base,

And though untaught to acknowledge this disgrace."

Just as the crier calls the passing crowd

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To buy his wares, a poet rich and proud

Invites all those he thinks disposed to praise,

To hear for gain his loved poetic lays.

But if he can a sumptuous feast dispense,
And bail a debtor at his own expense,

If he can save him from the griping claws,
Coiling around him, of extracting laws,
I'll be surprised if that man can attend
To know a real from a flattering friend.
"Tis my advice if you intend to show

Some generous kindness to a man you know,
Don't let him come when full of joy to hear

Verses from which he can't withhold a cheer.

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78

and their Insincere

Lætitiæ: clamabit enim, "Pulchre ! Bene! Recte!" Pallescet super his; etiam stillabit amicis

Ex oculis rorem; saliet, tundet pede terram.
Ut qui conducti plorant in funere, dicunt

430

Et faciunt prope plura dolentibus ex animo, sic
Derisor vero plus laudatore movetur.
Reges dicuntur multis urgere culullis,

Et torquere mero quem perspexisse laborant,
An sit amicitia dignus: si carmina condes,
Nunquam te fallant animi sub vulpe latentes.
Quintilio si quid recitares, "Corrige, sodes,
Hoc," aiebat, "et hoc." Melius te posse negares
Bis terque expertum frustra, delere jubebat,
Et male tornatos incudi reddere versus.
Si defendere delictum, quam vertere, malles,

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for he will exclaim, "Admirable! excellent! how correct!" He will grow pale in addition to uttering these exclamations. He will even drop tears of dewy moisture from his friendly eyes. He will leap about; he will beat the ground with his foot. As those who utter lamentations for hire at a funeral say and do nearly more than those who grieve from the heart, so the hypocritical applauder is more visibly affected than the man who tenders sincere praise. Kings are said to ply with many cups, and to rack with wine, a man whom they wish thoroughly to see if he is worthy of their friendship. If you will compose verses, never let treacherous thoughts, lying concealed under the guise of a cunning and hypocritical countenance and attitude, deceive you.

"Cor

If you recited anything to Quintilius, he would say, rect, if you please, this, and this." If you should tell him that you could not possibly do better, having made the attempt two or three times without success, he would desire you to blot out, and again to submit to the anvil your badly constructed verses. If you preferred to defend rather than to correct a fault,