Possideat, quantum rapuit Nero: montibus aurum Exæquet: nec amet quenquam, nec ametur ab ullo. 129. Nero plunder'd.] Who, contrary to all laws, human and divine, not only plundered the people, but even the temples of the gods. The prodigious sums which he extorted from the provinces, by unreasonable taxes, confiscations, &c. 130 May he possess as much as Nero plunder'd-may gold equal Mountains; nor let him love any body, nor be loved by any body. ten wealth be his torment, and make him a prey to others, as others have been to him. 130. Nor let him love, &c.] This finishes 130 completely the poet's imprecatory climax -for how thoroughly miserable must he be, who lives and dies a total stranger to the sweets of friendship. VOL. II. SATIRA XIII. ARGUMENT. The Poet writes this Satire to Calvinus, to comfort him under the loss of a large sum of money, with which he had entrusted one of his friends, and which he could not get again. Hence Juvenal takes occasion to speak of the villany of the times— EXEMPLO quodcunque malo committitur, ipsi Line 1. With bad example.] Every evil deed which tends to set a bad example to others. -Displeases, &c.] Gives him unpleasant sensations. 2. First revenge, &c.] The vengeance which first seizes upon him arises from himself; his own conscience will condemn him, though he should have no other judge. 4. Should have overcome the urn, &c.] Vicerit--i. e. should have defeated the urn's impartial decision, and have declared him innocent.-The prætor, who was the chiefjudge, had others appointed with him as assistants. The names of these were written upon little balls, and cast into an urn by the prætor: after they were shaken together, he drew out as many as the law required for the 5 10 cause; after which the parties had power to reject such as they thought would be partial. The number of those excepted against were filled up by the prætor's drawing other names out of the urn. Then the judges, which were thus appointed, took an oath to judge according to law; but, on many occasions, others were often substituted by the prætor. The cause being heard, the prætor gave to each of the judges three waxen tables. On one was the letter A, to signify the acquittal or absolution of the defendant. On another C, to imply his condemnation. On another N L, for non liquet,signified that a farther hearing was necessary: which delay of the cause was called ampliation. Then the judges, being called upon, cast the billet, expressing their opinion, into the urn, ac SATIRE XIII. ARGUMENT. shews that nothing can happen but by the permission of Providence and that wicked men carry their own punishment about with them. WHATEVER is committed with bad example, displeases even The author of it. This is the first revenge, that, himself Being judge, no guilty person is absolved; altho' the wicked Favour of the deceitful prætor should have overcome the urn. What do you suppose all to think, Calvinus, of the recent 5 Wickedness, and crime of violated faith? But neither Has so small an income come to your share, that the burden Of a moderate loss should sink you: nor do we see rare Those things which you suffer. This misfortune is known to many, and now Trite, and drawn from the midst of Fortune's heap. cording to which the prætor pronounced sentence. But if the prætor was a wicked judge, and inclined that partiality should get the better of justice, he might so manage matters, in all these many turns of the business, that the defendant, however guilty, might appear to have the urn in his favour. This our poet very properly calls, Improba gratia fallacis prætoris. 5. What do you suppose, &c.] What, think you, are the opinions of people in general, of this injustice which you lately suffered, and of the breach of trust in your friend, of which you so loudly complain? -Calvinus.] Juvenal's friend, to whom he addresses this Satire. And here he comforts him by many considerations: 10 first, that he must have all the world on his side; every body must join with him in condemning such a transaction. 7. So small an income.] Another comfort is, that his circumstances are such, that such a loss won't ruin him. Census means a man's estate, or yearly revenue. The burden, &c.] A metaphor taken from a ship's sinking by being overloaded. 8. Rare, &c.] His case was not singular, but very commonly happened to many as well as to Calvinus: he therefore must not look upon himself as a sufferer beyond others. 10. Trite.] Common. -Drawn from the midst, &c.] Not taken from the top, or summit, of that heap of miseries, which Fortune stores Ponamus nimios gemitus. Flagrantior æquo Quæ tam festa dies, ut cesset prodere farem, up for mankind, but from the middle, 11. Too many sighs.] Immoderate grief. -More violent, &c.] A man's concern should never exceed the proper bounds. 12. Than his wound.] Should not rise higher than that which occasions it requires. Sorrow should be proportioned to suffering. 13. Tho' you, &c.] The poet here reproves the impatience and anger of his friend, who, instead of apportioning his grief to his loss, which was comparatively small, according to the preceding maxim, (1. 11, 12.) shewed a violence of grief and resentment on the occasion, which bespake him unable to bear, in any measure as he ought, a light injury or misfortune. 14. Burning, &c.] Your very bowels on fire with rage and indignation. We often find the intestines, such as the heart, liver, and bowels, or entrails, represented as the seat of moral feelings. 15. Your friend, &c.] The poet calls the money which Calvinus had intrusted his false friend with, and which he was afraid to lose, a sacred deposit, because delivered to him to keep, under the sacred confidence of friendship. 15 20 25 16. Does he wonder, &c.] Does my friend Calvinus, now turned of sixty, and consequently well acquainted with the nature of mankind from many years experience, stand astonished at such a common transaction as this? 17. Fonteius.] L. Fonteius Capito was consul with C. Vipsanius, in the reign of Nero. 18. Of so many things.] Of so many things of a like kind, which your knowledge of the world must have brought to your observation-has all your experience of men and things been of no use or profit to you? 19. Wisdom, indeed, &c.] The volumes of philosophers, held sacred by the followers of them, contain rules for a contempt of fortune; and the wisdom by which they were indited, and which they teach, is the great principle which triumphs over the misfortunes we meet with. So SENECA, epist. 98. Valentior omni fortuna est animus sapientis. The books of moral philosophy abound in maxims of this kind. 22. Nor to toss the yoke.] A metaphor taken from oxen which are restive, and endeavour to get rid of the yoke, by flinging and tossing their necks about. The poet means, that much may be learned on the subject of triumphing over fortune from the sacred volumes of philosophy but those are to be pronounced happy also, who, by the expe |