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made *

a healthy place, and walk upon an open terrace, where lately the melancholy passengers beheld the ground frightful with white bones : though both the thieves and wild beasts used to infest this place put together, do not occasion me so much care and trouble, as do these hags, that turn people's minds by their incantations and drugs. These I cannot by any means destroy nor hinder, but that they will gather bones and noxious herbs, as soon as the fleeting moon has shown forth her beauteous face.

I myself saw Canidia, with her sable garment tucked up, walk with bare feet and dishevelled hair, yelling together with the elder Sagana. Paleness had rendered each of them horrible to behold. They began to claw up the earth with their nails, and to tear a black ewe lamb to pieces with their teeth. The blood was poured into a ditch, that from thence they might charm out the shades of the dead, ghosts that were to give them answers. There was a woollen effigy too, another of wax: the woollen one larger, which was to inflict some sort of punishment on the little one of wax. The waxen stood in a suppliant posture, as ready to perish, in a servile manner. the hags invokes Hecate, and the other fell Tisiphone. Then might you see serpents and infernal bitches crawl about them; and the moon with blushes withdrawing behind the lofty monuments, that she might not be a witness to these infamous aoings. But if I lie, even a tittle, about this affair, may my head be contaminated with the white filth of ravens; and may Julius, and the

* By Maecenas.

One of

effeminate Miss Pediatia, and the knave Voranus, come to urine upon me, and befoul me. Why should I mention every particular? viz. in what manner, speaking alternately with Sagana, the ghost uttered dismal and piercing shrieks; and how clandestinely they hid in the earth a wolf's beard, with the teeth of a spotted snake; and how great a blaze flamed forth from the waxen image? and how I was shocked at the voices and actions of these two furies, a spectator, however, by no means incapable of revenge; for from my cleft* bum of fig-tree I let a fart, which made as great an explosion as a bursten bladder. But they immediately ran into the city: and then, with exceeding laughter and diversion might you have seen Canidia's artificial teeth, and Sagana's towering tete of false hair falling off, and the herbs, and the enchanted bracelets from her arms.

SATIRE IX.

He describes his sufferings from the loquacity of an im pertinent fellow.

I WAS accidentally going along the Via Sacra, meditating on some trifle or other, as is my custom, and totally intent upon it. A certain person, known to me by name only, runs up; and having seized my hand, "How do you do, my dearest man alive?" Tolerably well, says I, as times go;

* The wood of which he was made, not being perfectly dry, his Godship burst; the witches took the crack for what the poet says it was, and the God boasts of it, as a signal mark of his vengeance.

and I wish you every thing you can desire. When I perceived he still followed me, Would you any thing? says I to him. But he, "You know me," says he: "I am a man of learning." Upon this account, says I, you will have more of my esteem. Wanting sadly to get away from him, sometimes I walked on apace, now and then I stopped, and whispered something to my boy. When the sweat ran down to the bottom of my ancles; O, says I to myself,t Bollanus, how hap py are you in a head-piece! Meanwhile be kept prating on any thing that came uppermost; praised the streets, the city; and when I made him no answer, "You want terribly, says he, to get away; I perceived it long ago; but you are never the nearer: I shall still stick close to you; I shall follow you hence;-where are you at present bound for?" There is no need for your being carried so much about: I want to see a person who is unknown to you; he lives a great way off across the Tiber, just by Cæsar's gardens. "I have nothing to do, and am not lazy; I will attend you thither." I hang down my ears like a surly ass, when a heavier load than ordinary is put upon his back. He begins again: "If I am tolerably acquainted with myself, you will not esteem Viscus or Varius, as a friend, more than me; for who can write more verses, or in a shorter time, than I? Who can move his limbs with softer grace in the dance? And then I sing, that even Hermogenes may envy me."

*Or, but, says he, you know me.

+ Nothing is recorded of him, but that he was either a very choleric or a very stupid fellow. The latter sense is preferred.

Here there was an opportunity of interrupting him: Have you, Sir, a mother, or any relations, that are interested in your welfare? "Not one have I: I have buried them all." Happy they! now I remain. Despatch me: for the fatal moment is at hand, which an old Sabine sorceress, having shaken her divining urn, foretold when I was a boy: "This child, neither shall cruel poison, nor the hostile sword, nor the crippling gout, nor pleurisy, nor cough destroy: a babbler shall one day demolish him: if he is wise, let him avoid talkative people, as soon as he comes to man's estate."

One fourth of the day being now past, we came to Vesta's: and, as good luck would have it, he was obliged to appear to his recognisance; which unless he did, he must have lost his cause.

me.

"If

you love me, says he, step in here a little." May I die, if I be either able to stand it out or have any knowledge of the civil laws: and, besides, I am in a hurry, you know whither. "I am in doubt what I shall do, says he; whether to desert you, or my cause." Me, I beg of you, Sir. "I will not do it," says he; and began to take the lead of I, as it is difficult to contend with one's master, follow him. "How stands it with Mecenas and you?" Thus he begins his prate again. "He is one of few intimates, and of a very wise way of thinking. No man ever made use of opportunities with more cleverness. You should have a powerful assistant, who could play an underpart, if you were disposed to recommend this man: :* may I perish, if you would not supplant all the rest."

* Pointing to hims‹ 1f.

99

We do not live there in the manner you imagine; there is not a house in Rome that is freer or more remote from evils* of this nature. It is never of any disservice to me, that any particular person is wealthier, or a better scholar than I am; every individual has his proper rank. "You tell me a marvellous thing, scarcely credible." But it is even so. "You the more inflame my desire to be near his person." You need only be inclined to it: such is your merit, you will accomplish it: and he is very capable of being won; and on that account, the first access to him he makes difficult. "I will not be wanting to myself; I will corrupt his servants with presents; if I am excluded today, I will not desist; I will see proper opportunities; I will meet him in the public streets; I will wait upon him home. This world allows nothing to mortals without great labour." While he was running on at this rate, lo! Fuscus Aristius comes up, a dear friend of mine, and one who knew the fellow well. We make a stop. "Whence come you? Whither are you going?" he asks and answers. I began to twitch him by the elbow, and to take hold of his arms that were affectedly passive, nodding and distorting my eyes, that he might rescue me. Cruelly arch, he laughs, and pretends not to take the hint: anger galled my liver. Certainly, says I, Fuscus, you mentioned, that you wanted to communicate something to me in private. "I remember it very well; but will tell it you at a better opportunity: to-day is the thirtieth Sabbath.† Would you affront the circum

*Family broils and jealousies.

The Jews began their year the first of September, and celebrated their passover about the middle of April, at the

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