I was highest, and next me was Viscus Thurinus; and below, if I remember right, was Varius; Vibidius, with Servillius Balatro, whom Mæcenas had brought along with him, *unbidden guests. Above Nasidienus himself, was Nomentanus, below him Porcius, who made himself ridiculous in swallowing whole cakes at once. Nomentanus.. was present for this purpose, that if any thing elegant should chance to be unobserved, he might show it with his pointing finger. For the other company, we, I mean, eat promiscuously of fowls, oysters, fish, which had concealed in them a juice far different from the known and common: as presently appeared, when he reached to me the entrails of a plaice and of a turbot, such as had never been tasted before. After this, he informed me that honey-apples were most ruddy, when gathered under the waning moon. What difference this makes, you will hear best from himself. Then says Vibidius to Balatro, we, if we do not drink to his cost, shall die in his debt; and he calls for larger tumblers. A paleness presently changed the countenance of our host, who fears nothing so much as hard drinkers; either because they are more freely censorious, or because heating wines deafen the subtile judgment of the palate. Vibidius and Balatro, all following their example, pour whole casks into Aliphanians. The guests‡ indeed of the lowest couch did no hurt to the flagons. A lamprey next is brought, extended in

a dish, in the midst of floating shrimps. Whereupon, this, says the master, was caught when pregnant; which, after having young, would have been less delicate in its flesh. For these a sauce is mixed up with oil which the best cellar of Venafrum pressed; with pickle from the juices of the Iberian fish, with wine of five years old, but produced on this side the sea while it is boiling; after it is boiled, the Chian wine suits it so well, that no other does better than it with white pepper; not without the vinegar, which, by being* vitiated, turned sour the Methymnean grape. I first showed the way to stew it in green rockets, and the bitter elicampane; Curtillus to stew in it the seaurchin unwashed, as being better than the pickle which the sea shell-fish yields.

In the mean time, the suspended tapestry made a heavy downfall upon the dish, bringing down along with it as much black dust as the north wind never raises on the plains of Campania. Having been fearful of something worse, as soon as we perceived there was no danger, we rise up. Rufus, hanging his head, began to weep, as if his son had died an untimely death: What would have been the end, had not the discreet Nomentanus thus raised his friend? Alas! O fortune, what god is more cruel to us than thee? How dost thou always take pleasure in sporting with human affairs? Varius could scarce smother a laugh with his napkin. Balatro, sneering at every thing, observed, This is the condition of human life; and therefore a suitable glory will never answer your labour. Must you be rent and tortured with all manner of anxiety, that I may be entertained sumptuously; lest burnt bread, lest ill-seasoned soup, should be set before us; that all your slaves should wait properly attired and neat? Add, besides these accidents; if the hangings should tumble down, as just now; if the groom, slipping with his foot, should break a dish. But adversity uses to disclose, prosperity to conceal, the abilities of a host, as of a general. To this Nasidienus: May the Gods give you all the blessings that ever you can pray for; you are so good a man, and so civil a guest; and calls for his sandals. Then on every couch you might see divided whispers buzzing in each secret ear.

I would not choose to have seen any theatrical entertainments sooner than these things. But come recount what you laughed at next. While Vibidius is inquiring of the slaves, whether the flagon was also broken, because cups of wine were not brought when he called for them; and while a laugh is continued on feigned pretences, Balatro seconding it; you, Nasidienus, returned with an altered countenance, as if to repair your ill fortune by art. Then followed the slaves, bearing on a large charger the several limbs of a crane, besprinkled with much salt, not without flour, and the liver of a white goose, fed with fattening figs, and the wings of hares torn off, as a much daintier dish than if one eats them with the loins. Then we saw blackbirds also set out before us with *scorched breasts, and ring-doves without the rumps: Delicious morsels, did not the master give us the history of their causes and natures; whom we in revenge fled from, so as to taste nothing at all; as if Canidia, more venomous than African serpents, had poisoned them with her breath.

THE

EPISTLES OF HORACE.

BOOK I.

EPISTLE Ι.

TO MÆCENAS.

The poet renounces all verses of a ludicrous turn, and resolves to apply himself wholly to the study of philosophy, which teaches to bridle the desires, and postpone every thing to virtue.

MECENAS, the subject of my former song, justly entitled to my latest, you seek to engage me again in the old lists, having been tried sufficiently, and now presented with the rod of freedom. My age is not the same, nor is my genius. Veianius, his arms consecrated on a pillar of Hercules's temple, lives snugly retired in the country, that he may not, from the extremity of the sandy amphitheatre,t so often supplicate the people's favour. Some one seems frequently to ring in my quick ear; wisely in time dismiss the aged courser, lest, derided, he miscarry at last, and break his wind. Now, therefore, I lay aside both verses, and all other sportive matters; my study and inquiry is