But man, fond man, exalts thee to the spheres, "Yet grace and prudence bayle our careful bands; Mirr. of Magist. The exclamation in a preceding line, (520) has been thought to savour of the sufficiency of Stoicism, but without reason; since, it must, in fairness, be restricted to the independance of the wise and virtuous man on fortune. Wisdom, and virtue, indeed, Juvenal thought, with the rest of the heathen world, men could attain by their own exertions; but there were some at Rome, as Madan finely observes, at that time, who could have taught him, that, EVERY GOOD GIFT, AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT, IS FROM ABOVE; AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS. I cannot conclude without noticing an observation of Mr. Gibbon on this Satire. After bestowing great, and indeed just praise on its design and execution, he adds: "A propos des dieux, je remarque cette indecision, &c. I remark in Juvenal that want of decision with respect to the gods, which is so common amongst the ancients. This moment nothing can be more pious, more philosophical, than his resignation and his faith; the next, our own wisdom is sufficient for us, and prudence alone supplies the place of all the divinities." And this was written by a sneerer at Revelation! I am not he "that judgeth another man's servant," but methinks, if one rose from the dead, he could not evince the superiority of the pious and humble believer, over the bewildered yet confident infidel, by stronger arguments than are here adduced by this extraordinary man, WHO HAD EYES AND SAW NOT! SATIRE XI. Argument. THIS Satire consists principally of an invitation to Persicus, the poet's friend, to spend the day with him; but it is made the vehicle of much valuable information, and much amusing description. It begins with a severe invective against a person of the Equestrian Order, (here called Rutilus,) who had wasted his property in riot and profusion; and from whose reduced and miserable state, Juvenal takes occasion to draw many admirable maxims for the due regulation of life. These introduce, with sufficient propriety, the little picture of his own domestic economy; which is followed by a most pleasing view of the simplicity of ancient manners, artfully contrasted with the extravagance and luxury of the current times. He then enters at length into the particulars of his purposed entertainment, and concludes with a spirited description of the scandalous excesses practised at the tables of the great, and an earnest recommendation to his friend, to enjoy the present with content, and to await the future with calmness and moderation. I should imagine this to be one of Juvenal's last works. It has all the characteristics of age: the laudator temporis acti, is ever foremost in the scene; and Iplease myself with thinking that time had "mellowed and improved" the social feelings of the author. Here is indeed much to be seen of those strong, dark, and elevated passions, which distinguish his earlier writings; but softer and more amiable sentiments have their turn; and the narrative old man appears as a warm friend, a generous landlord, and a most kind and affectionate master of a family. I do not like his guest. He is a morose and suspicious character: sufficiently unhappy, it seems, in his domestic concerns; but careful about many things, which Juvenal seems to think he had better dismiss from his thoughts. This Satire has always been my favourite. A predilection which I probably received from the friend, and patron of my youth; who was so much pleased with it, that he undertook to translate it for this work. He had proceeded, however, but a very little way, when he returned it to me, with an observation that it was "above his strength." His death followed immediately after. Had he lived, I should probably have suppressed the lines; now, it seems to me a duty to insert them: I have, however, taken great pains to assimilate them to the rest. 'Tis taste; if Rutilus, 'tis madness quite; And what diverts the sneering rabble more In every company, go where you will, Of Rutilus: for, while he now might wield, With firm and vigorous arm, the spear and shield, While youthful blood runs high, (though not compell'd, As by the tribune erst, yet not withheld,) VER. 4. Than an Apicius, &c.] Apicius (see Sat. IV. v. 32,) was, says Stapylton, "so exquisite a glutton, that he wrote a book of cookery; and so rich, that he made all his experiments at his own cost." Nothing, in life, however, "became him, like the leaving of it;" for, after spending near eight hundred thousand pounds in luxurious living, he poisoned himself, while he had yet four-score thousand pounds left, for fear of wanting a meal! VER. 9. (though not compell'd, As by the tribune erst, yet not withheld,)] Juvenal had already observed, in the eighth Satire, that young men of family and fortune entered the He cultivates the gladiator's trade, And learns th' imperious language of the blade. Sure, though deceiv'd at home, to meet them there. Whose fate to all but to himself is clear, Yet one treat more, though but in earthen ware. lists, not, as formerly, by the compulsion of the reigning tyrant; but from a principle of depravity. Here he goes further, and insinuates that it is not sufficient for the magistrates not to compel men to disgrace themselves; they ought, as guardians of the public honour, to do more; to supply the deficiency of the laws, and prohibit so scandalous a prostitution. What he calls the imperious language of the blade, is thought to be the terms used in the schools of the gladiators, such as percute, urge, cæde, &c. VER. 27. Or melt their mother's statue, &c.] Matris imagine fractâ ; “ fractured," Lubin says, that it might not be known by the pawn-broker. Calderinus thinks there is an allusion here to some well-known story, which is probable |