human
Right; and to-morrow this shall be our care. 115 Alas! to-morrow, like to-day, will fare.
gpt
What! is one day, forsooth, so great a boon? But when it comes (and come it will too soon), Reflect, that yesterday's to-morrow's o'er.-- Thus
human
120 Have seen long years before them fade away; And still appear no nearer than to-day! So while the wheels on different axles roll, In vain (though governed by the self-same pole) The hindmost to o'ertake the foremost tries: 125 Fast as the one pursues the other flies! FREEDOM, in truth, it steads us much to have: Not that by which each manumitted slave, Each Publius, with his tally, may obtain A casual dole of coarse and damaged grain. 130 --O souls! involved in Error's thickest shade, Who think a Roman with one turn is made! Look on this paltry groom, this Dama here, Who at three farthings would be prized too dear; This blear-eyed scoundrel, who your husks would steal, 135 And outface truth to hide the starving meal; Yet--let his master twirl this knave about, And MARCUS DAMA in a trice steps out! Amazing! MARCUS surety?--yet distrust! MARCUS your judge?--yet fear a doom unjust! 140 MARCUS avouch it?--then the fact is clear. The writings!--set your hand, good MARCUS, here.
gpt
Sure, there's no other. All mankind agree 145 That those who live without control are free: _I_ live without control; and _therefore_ hold Myself more free than Brutus was of old.
human
No? From the Prætor's wand when I withdrew, Lord of myself, why, might I not pursue My pleasure unrestrained, respect still had 155 To what the rubric of the law forbad?
gpt
Prætor's wand,
human
Forbear to venture, with preposterous toil, On what, in venturing, you are sure to spoil.
gpt
THESE ARE MINE, And THIS I CAN:
human
See.
gpt
Still I am free.
human
Go, bear these scrapers to the bath with speed; What! loitering, knave?
gpt
Up! up!
human
and to business hie; Nay, stir.
gpt
Rise!
human
But you must and shall,
gpt
This a question! Go, 235 Bear fish to Pontus, and bring wines from Co; Bring ebon, flax, whate'er the East supplies, Musk for perfumes, and gums for sacrifice: Prevent the mart, and the first pepper take From the tired camel ere his thirst he slake. 240 Traffic forswear, if interest intervene
human
Hold, my spleen! O dolt; but, mark--that thumb will bore and bore The empty salt (scraped to the quick before) For one poor grain, a vapid meal to mend, 245 If you aspire to thrive with Jove your friend!
gpt
Ho, madman, whither, in this hasty plight? What passion drives you forth? what furies fright? Whole urns of hellebore might hope in vain 255 To cool this high-wrought fever of the brain. What! quit your peaceful couch, renounce your ease, To rush on hardships, and to dare the seas! And while a broken plank supports your meat, And a coiled cable proves your softest seat, 260 Suck from squab jugs that pitchy scents exhale, The seaman's beverage, sour at once and stale! And all for what? that sums, which now are lent, At modest five, may sweat out twelve per cent.!--
human
O rather cultivate the joys of sense, 265 And crop the sweets which youth and health dispense; Give the light hours to banquets, love, and wine: THESE are the zest of life, and THESE are mine! Dust and a shade are all you soon must be: Live, thou, while yet you may. Time presses.--See! 270 Even while I speak, the present is become The past, and lessens still life's little sum. Now, sir, decide; shall this, or that, command? Alas, the bait, displayed on either hand, Distracts your choice:--but, ponder as you may, 275 Of this be sure; both, with alternate sway, Will lord it o'er you, while, with slavish fears, From side to side your doubtful duty veers. Nor must you, though in some auspicious hour You spurn their mandate, and resist their power, 280 At once conclude their future influence vain:-- With struggling hard the dog may snap his chain; Yet little freedom from the effort find, If, as he flies, he trails its length behind.
gpt
Yes, I am fixed; to Love a long adieu!-- 285 Nay, smile not, Davus; you will find it true. So, while his nails, gnawn to the quick, yet bled, The sage Chærestratus, deep-musing, said.--
human
Shall I my virtuous ancestry defame, Consume my fortune, and disgrace my name, 290 While, at a harlot's wanton threshold laid, Darkling, I whine my drunken serenade! Tis nobly spoken:--Let a lamb be brought To the Twin Powers that this deliverance wrought.
gpt
But--if I quit her, will she not complain? 295 Will she not grieve? Good Davus, think again. Fond trifler! you will find her
human
too late; When the red slipper rattles round your pate, Vindictive of the mad attempt to foil Her potent spell, and all-involving toil. 300 Dismissed, you storm and bluster: hark! she calls And, at the word, your boasted manhood falls.
gpt
Mark, Davus; of her own accord, she sues! Mark, she invites me! Can I now refuse? Yes, Now, and EVER. If you left her door 305 Whole and entire, you must return no more. Right. This is He, the man whom I demand; This, Davus; not the creature of a wand Waved by some foolish lictor.--And is he, This master of himself, this truly free, 310 Who marks the dazzling lure Ambition spreads, And headlong follows where the meteor leads?
human
Watch the nice hour, and on the scrambling tribes Pour, without stint, your mercenary bribes, Vetches and pulse; that, many a year gone by, 315 Graybeards, as basking in the sun they lie, May boast how much your Floral Games surpast, In cost and splendor, those they witnessed last!