LONDON: A POEM, In Imitation of the Third SATIRE of JUVENAL. Samuel Johnson Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.001 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. I. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 186-199. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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LONDON : A POEM , In Imitation of the Third SATIRE of JUVENAL . By Mr. Samuel Johnson . — — Quis ineptae Tam patiens urbis , tam ferreus ut teneat se ? Juv. "Who is so patient of the foolish [wicked] city, so iron-willed, as to contain himself?" (Michael Ortiz, The Heights School). Juvenal, Satires 1.1, lines 30-31. JUV. Sat. III . Quamvis digressu veteris confusus amici ; Laudo , tamen , vacuis quod sedem figere Cumis Destinet , atque unum civem donare Sibyllae . THO' grief and fondness in my breast rebel , When injur'd THALES bids the town farewel , Yet still my calmer thoughts his choice commend , I praise the hermit , but regret the friend ; Who now resolves , from vice and LONDON far , To breathe in distant fields a purer air , And , fix'd on Cambria's solitary shore , Give to St. David one true Briton more . — Ego vel Prochytam praepono Suburrae . Nam quid tam miserum , tam solum vidimus , ut non Deterius credas horrere incendia , lapsus Tectorum assiduos , et mille pericula saevae Urbis , & Augusto recitantes mense poetas ? For who wou'd leave , unbrib'd , Hibernia's land , Or change the rocks of Scotland for the Strand ? There none are swept by sudden fate away , But all whom hunger spares , with age decay : Here malice , rapine , accident , conspire , And now a rabble rages , now a fire ; Their ambush here relentless ruffians lay , And here the fell attorney prowls for prey ; Here falling houses thunder on your head , And here a female atheist talks you dead . Sed , dum tota domus rhedâ componitur unâ , Substitit ad veteres arcus . — While THALES waits the wherry that contains Of dissipated wealth the small remains , On Thames's bank in silent thought we stood , Where Greenwich smiles upon the silver flood . Struck with the seat that gave Queen Elizabeth born at Greenwich . Eliza birth , We kneel , and kiss the consecrated earth ; In pleasing dreams the blissful age renew , And call Britannia's glories back to view ; Behold her cross triumphant on the main , The guard of commerce , and the dread of Spain . Ere masquerades debauch'd , excise oppress'd , Or English honour grew a standing jest . A transient calm the happy scenes bestow , And for a moment lull the sense of woe . At length awaking with contemptuous frown , Indignant THALES eyes the neighb'ring town . Hic tunc Umbricius : Quando artibus , inquit , honestis Nullus in urbe locus , nulla emolumenta laborum , Res hodie minor est , heri quam fuit , atque eadem cras Deteret exiguis aliquid : proponimus illuc Ire , fatigatas ubi Daedalus exuit alas ; Dum nova canities — Since worth , he cries , in these degen'rate days Wants ev'n the cheap reward of empty praise ; In those curs'd walls , devote to vice and gain , Since unrewarded science toils in vain ; Since hope but sooths to double my distress , And ev'ry moment leaves my little less ; While yet my steddy steps no — et pedibus me Porto meis , nullo dextram subeunte bacillo . staff sustains , And life still vig'rous revels in my veins ; Grant me , kind heaven , to find some happier place , Where honesty and sense are no disgrace ; Some pleasing bank where verdant offers play , Some peaceful vale with nature's painting gay ; Where once the harrass'd Briton found repose , And safe in poverty defy'd his foes ; Some secret cell , ye pow'rs , indulgent give : Cedamus patriâ : vivant Arturius istic Et Catulus : maneant qui nigrum in candida vertunt . Let — live here , for — has learn'd to live . Here let those reign , whom pensions can incite To vote a patriot black , a courtier white ; Explain their country's dear-bought rights away , And plead for pirates in the face of day ; With slavish tenets taint our poison'd youth , And lend a lye the confidence of truth . Queis facile est aedem conducere , flumina , portus , Siccandam eluviem , portandum ad busta cadaver . — Munera nunc edunt . Let such raise palaces , and manors buy , Collect a tax , or farm a lottery , With warbling eunuchs fill a licens'd stage , And lull to servitude a thoughtless age . Heroes , proceed ! what bounds your pride shall hold ? What check restrain your thirst of pow'r and gold ? Behold rebellious virtue quite o'erthrown , Behold our fame , our wealth , our lives your own . To such , a groaning nation's spoils are giv'n , When publick crimes inflame the wrath of heav'n : Quid Romae faciam ? mentiri nescio : librum , Si malus est , nequeo laudare & poscere . — But what , my friend , what hope remains for me , Who start at theft , and blush at perjury ? Who scarce forbear , tho' BRITAIN'S court he sing , To pluck a titled poet's borrow'd wing ; A statesman's logick unconvinc'd can hear , And dare to slumber o'er the Gazetteer ; Despise a fool in half his pension dress'd , And strive in vain to laugh at H—Y'S jest . — Fere ad nuptas , quae mittit adulter , Quae mandat , norint alii : me nemo ministro Fur erit , atque ideo nulli comes exeo. Others with softer smiles , and subtler art , Can sap the principles , or taint the heart ; With more address a lover's note convey , Or bribe a virgin's innocence away . Well may they rise , while I , whose rustick tongue Ne'er knew to puzzle right , or varnish wrong , Spurn'd as a beggar , dreaded as a spy , Live unregarded , unlamented die , Quis nunc diligitur , nisi conscius ? Carus erit Verri , qui Verrem tempore , quo vult , Accusare potest . — For what but social guilt the friend endears ? Who shares Orgilio's crimes , his fortune shares : — Tanti tibi non sit opaci Omnis arena Tagi , quodque in mare volvitur aurum , Ut somno careas . — But thou , should tempting villainy present , All Marlb'rough hoarded , or all Villiers spent , Turn from the glitt'ring bribe thy scornful eye , Nor sell for gold , what gold could never buy , The peaceful slumber , self-approving day , Unsullied fame , and conscience ever gay . Quae nunc divitibus gens acceptissima nostris , Et quos praecipue fugiam , properabo fateri . The cheated nation's happy fav'rites see ; Mark whom the great caress , who frown on me . LONDON ! the needy villain's gen'ral home , The common sewer of Paris and of Rome , With eager thirst , by folly or by fate , Sucks in the dregs of each corrupted state . Forgive my transports on a theme like this , — Non possum ferre , Quirites , Graecam urbem . — I cannot bear a French metropolis . Rusticus ille tuus sumit trechedipna , Quirine , Et ceromatico fert niceteria collo . Illustrious EDWARD ! from the realms of day , The land of heroes and of saints survey ; Nor hope the British lineaments to trace , The rustick grandeur , or the surly grace , But lost in thoughtless ease , and empty show , Behold the warrior dwindled to a beau ; Sense , freedom , piety , refin'd away , Of France the mimick , and of Spain the prey . All that at home no more can beg or steal , Or like a gibbet better than a wheel ; Hiss'd from the stage , or hooted from the court , Their air , their dress , their politicks import ; Ingenium velox , audacia perdita , sermo Promptus . — Obsequious , artful , voluble and gay , On Britain's fond credulity they prey . No gainful trade their industry can 'scape , Augur , schoenobates , medicus magnus : omnia novit , Graeculus esuriens , in coelum , jusseris , ibit . They sing , they dance , clean shoes , or cure a clap ; All sciences a fasting Monsieur knows , And bid him go to hell , to hell he goes . Usque adeo nihil est , quod nostra infantia coelum Hausit Aventini ? Ah ! what avails it , that , from slav'ry far , I drew the breath of life in English air ; Was early taught a Briton's right to prize , And lisp the tales of HENRY'S victories ; If the gull'd conqueror receives the chain , And flattery subdues when arms are vain ? Quid quod adulandi gens prudentissima , laudat Sermonem indocti , faciem deformis amici ? Studious to please , and ready to submit , The supple Gaul was born a parasite : Still to his int'rest true , where-e'er he goes , Wit , bravery , worth , his lavish tongue bestows ; In ev'ry face a thousand graces shine , From ev'ry tongue flows harmony divine . Haec eadem licet & nobis laudare : sed illis Creditur . These arts in vain our rugged natives try , Strain out with fault'ring diffidence a lye , And gain a kick for aukward flattery . Besides , with justice this discerning age Admires their wond'rous talents for the stage : Natio commoedia est . Rides ? majore cachinno Concutitur , &c. Well may they venture on the mimick's art , Who play from morn to night a borrow'd part ; Practis'd their master's notions to embrace , Repeat his maxims , and reflect his face ; With ev'ry wild absurdity comply , And view each object with another's eye ; To shake with laughter ere the jest they hear , To pour at will the counterfeited tear , And as their patron hints the cold or heat , To shake in dog-days , in December sweat . Non sumus ergo pares : melior , qui semper & omni Nocte dieque potest alienum sumere vultum : A facie jactare manus : laudare paratus , Si bene ructavit , si rectum minxit amicus . How , when competitors like these contend , Can surly virtue hope to fix a friend ? Slaves that with serious impudence beguile , And lye without a blush , without a smile ; Exalt each trifle , ev'ry vice adore , Your taste in snuff , your judgment in a whore ; Can Balbo's eloquence applaud , and swear He gropes his breeches with a monarch's air . For arts like these prefer'd , admir'd , caress'd , They first invade your table , then your breast ; Scire volunt secreta domûs , atque inde timeri . Explore your secrets with insidious art , Watch the weak hour , and ransack all the heart ; Then soon your ill-plac'd confidence repay , Commence your lords , and govern or betray . — Materiem praebet causasque jocorum Omnibus hic idem ? si foeda & scissa lacerna , &c. By numbers here from shame or censure free , All crimes are safe , but hated poverty . This , only this , the rigid law pursues , This , only this , provokes the snarling Muse . The sober trader at a tatter'd cloak , Wakes from his dream , and labours for a joke ; With brisker air the silken courtiers gaze , And turn the varied taunt a thousand ways . Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se , Quam quod ridiculos homines facit . Of all the grief that harrass the distress'd ; Sure the most bitter is a scornful jest ; Fate never wounds more deep the gen'rous heart , Than when a blockhead's insult points the dart . — Agmine facto Debuerant olim tenues migrasse Quirites . Has heaven reserv'd , in pity to the poor , No pathless waste or undiscover'd shore ? No secret island in the boundless main ? No peaceful desart yet unclaim'd by SPAIN ? Quick let us rise , the happy seats explore , And bear oppression's insolence no more . This mournful truth is ev'ry where confess'd , Haud facile emergunt , quorum virtutibus obstat Res angusta domi ; sed Romae durior illis Conatus — — Omnia Romae Cum pretio — Cogimur , & cultis augere peculia servis . SLOW RISES WORTH , BY POVERTY DEPRESS'D : But here more slow , where all are slaves to gold , Where looks are merchandise , and smiles are sold ; Where won by bribes , by flatteries implor'd , The groom retails the favours of his lord . But hark ! th' affrighted crowd's tumultuous cries Roll through the streets and thunder to the skies : Rais'd from some pleasing dream of wealth and power , Some pompous palace or some blissful bow'r , Aghast you start , and scarce with aking sight Sustain th' approaching fire's tremendous light ; Swift from pursuing horrors take your way , And leave your little ALL to flames a prey ; — Ultimus autem , Aerumnae cumulus , quod nudum , & frustra rogantem Nemo cibo , nemo hospitio , tectoque juvabit . Then thro' the world a wretched vagrant roam , For where can starving merit find a home ? In vain your mournful narrative disclose , While all neglect , and most insult your woes . Si magna Asturici cecidit domus , horrida mater , Pullati proceres . — Should heaven's just bolts Orgilio's wealth confound , And spread his flaming palace on the ground , Swift o'er the land the dismal rumour flies , And publick mournings pacify the skies ; The laureat tribe in servile verse relate , How virtue wars with persecuting fate ; Jam accurrit , qui marmora donet , Conferat impensas : hic , &c. Hic modum argenti . — With well-feign'd gratitude the pension'd band Refund the plunder of the beggar'd land . See ! while he builds , the gaudy vassals come , And crowd with sudden wealth the rising dome ; The price of boroughs and of souls restore ; And raise his treasures higher than before . Now bless'd with all the baubles of the great , The polish'd marble , and the shining plate , Meliora , ac plura reponit Persicus orborum lautissimus . — Orgilio sees the golden pile aspire , And hopes from angry heav'n another fire . Si potes a velli Circensibus , optima Sorae , Aut Fabrateriae domus , aut Frusinone paratur , Quanti nunc tenebras unum conducis in annum . Hortulus hic — Vive bidentis amans , & culti villicus horti , Unde epulum possis centum dare Pythagoraeis . Could'st thou resign the park and play content , For the fair banks of Severn or of Trent ; There might'st thou find some elegant retreat , Some hireling senator's deserted seat ; And stretch thy prospects o'er the smiling land , For less than rent the dungeons of the Strand ; There prune thy walks , support thy drooping flow'rs , Direct thy rivulets , and twine thy bow'rs ; And , while thy beds a cheap repast afford , Despise the dainties of a venal lord . There ev'ry bush with nature's musick rings , There ev'ry breeze bears health upon its wings ; On all thy hours security shall smile , And bless thy evening walk and morning toil . — Possis ignavus haberi , Et subiti casus improvidus , ad coenam si Intestatus eas . Prepare for death , if here at night you roam , And sign your will before you sup from home . Ebrius et petulans , qui nullum forte cecidit , Dat paenas , noctem patitur lugentis amicum Peleidae . — Some fiery fop , with new commission vain , Who sleeps on brambles till he kills his man ; Some frolick drunkard , reeling from a feast , Provokes a broil , and stabs you for a jest — Sed , quamvis improbus annis , Atque mero fervens , cavet hunc , quem coccina laena Vitari jubet , et comitum longissimus ordo , Multum praeterea flammarum , atque aenea lampas . Yet ev'n these heroes , mischievously gay , Lords of the street , and terrors of the way ; Flush'd as they are with folly , youth and wine , Their prudent insults to the poor confine ; Afar they mark the flambeau's bright approach , And shun the shining train , and golden coach . Nec tamen hoc tantum metuas : nam qui spoliet te Non deerit : clausis domibus , &c. In vain these dangers past , your doors you close , And hope the balmy blessings of repose : Cruel with guilt and daring with despair , The midnight murd'rer bursts the faithless bar ; Invades the sacred hour of silent rest , And plants , unseen , a dagger in your breast . Maximus in vinclis ferri modus : ut timeas ne Vomer deficiat , ne marrae et sarcula desint . Scarce can our fields , such crowds at Tyburn die , With hemp the gallows and the fleet supply . Propose your schemes , ye senatorian band , Whose ways and means support the sinking land ; Lest ropes be wanting in the tempting spring , To rig another convoy for the k—g . Felices proavorum atavos , felicia dicas Secula , quae quondam sub regibus atque tribunis Viderunt uno contentam carcere Romam . A single jail , in ALFRED'S golden reign , Could half the nation's criminals contain ; Fair Justice then , without constraint ador'd , Held high the steady scale , but deep'd the sword ; No spies were paid , no special juries known , Blest age ! but ah ! how diff'rent from our own ! His alias poteram , & plures subnectere causas : Sed jumenta vocant . — Much could I add , but see the boat at hand , The tide retiring calls me from the land : — Ergo vale nostri memor : & quoties te Roma tuo refici properantem reddet Aquino , Me quoque ad Eleusinam Cererem , vestramque Dianam Convelle a Cumis : satirarum ergo , ni pudet illas , Adjutor gelidos veniam caligatus in agros . Farewel ! — When youth , and health , and fortune spent , Thou fly'st for refuge to the wilds of Kent ; And tir'd like me with follies and with crimes , In angry numbers warn'st succeeding times ; Then shall thy friend , nor thou refuse his aid , Still foe to vice , forsake his Cambrian shade ; In virtue's cause once more exert his rage , Thy satire point , and animate thy page .