Q. HORATII FLACCI

SA TIRAR UM

LIBER I.

Vor. II.

A

AD MÆCENATEM.
Omnibus, maximè verò avaris, sortem suam gravem esse.
Qui fit, Mæcenas, ut nemo, quam sibi sortem
Seu Ratio dederit, seu Fors objecerit, illâ
Contentus vivat; laudet diversa sequentes ?
• O fortunati mercatores,' gravis annis *
Miles ait, multo jam fractus membra labore. 5
Contrà mercator, navim jactantibus Austris,
• Militia est potior.' Quid enim ? Concurritur : hora
Momento cita mors venit, aut victoria læta.
Agricolam laudat juris legumque peritus,
Sub galli cantum consultor ubi ostia pulsat. 10
Ille, datis vadibus, qui rure extractus in urbem est,
Solos felices viventes clamat in urbe.

Cætera de genere hoc (adeo sunt multa) loquacem
Delassare valent Fabium. Ne te morer, audi
Quò rem deducam. Si quis Deus, · En ego,' dicat, 15
• Jam faciam quod vultis : eris tu, qui modò miles,
Mercator ; tu consultus modò, rusticus: hinc vos,

• Armis. Wakef.

THE

SATIRES OF HORACE.

BOOK I.

SATIRE 1.

TO MÆCENAS.

That all, but especially the covetous, think their own condi

tion the hardest. How comes it to pass, Mæcenas, that no one lives content with his condition, whether Reason gave it him, or Chance threw it in his way ; but praises those who have different pursuits ? “O happy merchants !" says the soldier, oppressed with years, and now broken down in his limbs through excess of labour. On the other side, the merchant, when the southwinds toss his ship, cries “ Warfare is preferable ;" for why? the engagement is begun, and in an instant comes there a speedy death, or a happy victory. The lawyer praises the farmer's state, when the client knocks at his door by cockcrow. But he who, having entered into a recognisance, is dragged from the country into the city, cries those only are happy who live in the city. The other instances of this kind (they are so numerous) would weary out the loquacious Fabius to repeat them. Not to keep you in suspense, hear to what an issue I will bring the matter. If any God should say, " Lo! I will effect what you desire : you, that were just now 2 soldier, shall be a merchant ; you, that were lately a lawyer,

20

Vos hinc mutatis discedite partibus. Bia,
Quid statis ? Nolint. Atqui licet esse beatis.
Quid causæ est, meritò quin illis Jupiter ambas
Iratus buccas inflet, neque se fore posthac
Tam facilem dicat, votis ut præbeat aurem ?

Præterea, ne sic, ut qui jocularia, ridens
Perçurram (quanquam ridentem dicere verum
Quid vetat ? ut* pueris olim dant crustula blandi 25
Doctores, elementa velint ut discere prima,
Sed tamen amoto quæramus seria ludo).
Ille gravem duro terram qui vertit aratro,
Perfidus hic caupo t, miles, nautæque, per omne
Audaces mare qui currunt, hâc mente laborem 30
Sese ferre, senes ut in otia tuta recedant,
Aiunt, cum sibi sint congesta cibaria : sicut
Parvula (nam exemplo est) magni formica laboris
Ore trahit quodcunque potest, atque addit acervo,
Quem struit; haud ignara, ac non incauta futuri: 35.
Quæ, simul inversum contristat Aquarius annum,
Non usquam prorepit, et illis utitur antè
Quæsitis sapiens:& cum te neque fervidus æstus
Demoveat lucro, neque hiems, ignis, mare, ferrum ;
Nil obstet tibi, dum ne sit te ditior alter.

40 Quid juvat immensum te argenti pondus et auri Furtim defossâ timidum deponere terrâ ? Quod si comminuas, vilem redigatur ad assem. At, ni id fit, quid habet pulcri constructus acervus ? Millia frumenti tua triverit area centum ;

45 Non tuus hoc capiet venter plus quàm meus : ut si Reticulum panis venales inter onusto Fortè vehas humero; nihilo plus accipias quàm Qui nil portârit. Vel dic, quid referat intra Naturæ fines viventi 1, jugera centum, an

50

I Patiens. I Viventis.
+ Causidicus vafer hic. Markl. Providus hic cautor, Schrad.