Quo partes agimus, terra est commune theatrum,
Scenaque factorum: instabiles eximus, inimus,
Fabulaque in septem vitæ producitur actus.
Principio in cunis vagit sine viribus infans,
Nutricisque sinu vomit et lallare recusat.
Inde puer querulus doctæ delubra Minervæ
Suspensus dextra loculos, et lucidus ora,
Incessu tardo adrepit: tum tristis amator
Fornacis ritu fervet, caræque puellæ
Molle supercilium lugubri carmine laudat.
Hinc bellator atrox, in jurgia promptus et audax,
Jurans per loca mira, feræ barbatus ad instar,
Vanum et inane decus vel in ipso limine mortis
Quærit ovans, vitamque cupit pro laude pacisci !
Proximus in scenam judex venit. Ille rotundo
Ventre capit pullam, lautæque opsonia mensæ,
Contractos torquens oculos, barbaque timendus;
Verbaque docta loqui solet, et nova promere facta;
Et sibi sic proprias partes agit. Inde senecta
Vacillans curva titubat, macilentus homullus,
Laxa podagrosæ supponens tegmina plantæ;
Cui pera ad latus est, et vitrea lumina nasum ;
Cui, bene servatus, jam major crure cothurnus.
Turning again towards childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
VIRGIN daughter of Locrine,
Sprung of old Anchises' line,
May thy brimmed waves for this
Their full tribute never miss,
From a thousand petty rills,
That tumble down the snowy hills:
Summer drought or singed air
Never scorch thy tresses fair,
Nor wet October's torrent flood
Thy molten crystal fill with mud.
May thy billows roll ashore
The beryl and the golden ore;
May thy lofty head be crowned
With many a tower and terrace round,
And here and there, thy banks upon,
With groves of myrrh and cinnamon
Tum lingua infringi, vox delirare virilis,
Et fundi infantes balba de nare susurri.
Ocius inde ætas succedit septima, finis
Portenti, extremus vitai mobilis actus:
Claudicat ingenium, rediere oblivia rerum;
Gustus hebet, pereunt dentes, caligat ocellus;
Omnia deficiunt atque uno tempore desunt.
VIRGO magni nata Locrini,
Anchisiadům sanguis avorum,
Sic tibi nunquam largus aquarum
Careat plenis fontibus amnis;
Sed desiliant montanarum
Mille crepantes scatebræ nivium.
Tibi nec diri Sirius astri
Crinem attenuet, tostus et aer;
Nec crystalli puros calices
Inquinet atris October aquis.
Sed beryllon, sed tuus aurum
Mollem fluctus volvat ad oram;
Sed tibi frontem turris et agger
Læta semper mole coronent,
Ripæque oleant mixta virenti
CAREFUL observers may foretell the hour,
By sure prognostics, when to dread a shower.
While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o'er
Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more.
Returning home at night, you'll find the sink
Strike your offended sense with double stink.
If you be wise, then go not far to dine;
You'll spend in coach-hire more than save in wine.
A coming shower your shooting corns presage;
Old aches will throb, your hollow tooth will rage;
Sauntering in coffee-house is Dulman seen;
He damns the climate, and complains of spleen.
Meanwhile the South, rising with dabbled wings,
A sable cloud athwart the welkin flings,
That swill'd more liquor than it could contain,
And, like a drunkard, gives it up again.
Brisk Susan whips her linen from the rope,
While the first drizzling shower is borne aslope:
Such is that sprinkling, which some careless quean
Flirts on you from her mop, but not so clean;
Si bene quis varii cognoverit omina cœli,
Non temere huic subitis obfuit imber aquis.
Scilicet in terras ubi sit ruitura procella,
Undique dant certas plurima signa notas.
Desinit assuetos venturi præscia ludos,
Nec sequitur caudam felis, ut ante, suam:
Putrida corruptos sentina emittit odores,
Cum propriam repetis, nocte ineunte, domum.
Si sapias, hodie sit cura domestica cœna;
Mensa nec alterius suadeat ire foras;
Quippe gravis sumptus conductæ, crede, quadriga
Pluris constabit, quam tua cœna domi.
Sæva dabunt importuni præsagia calli,
Et novus a fractis dentibus angor erit.
Oscitat, inque uncta discinctus Natta popina
Multa piger de se, de Jove multa dolet.
Interea madidas Auster quatit humidus alas,
Et tristem nubes occupat atra polum,
Quæ nimio proluta haustu, velut ebrius olim,
Indelibatas evomit ore dapes.
Suspensas Susanna rapit de cannabe vestes,
Fertur ut obliqua prima procella via.
Sic tortis agitur de scopis fœtidus imber,
Præter inexpertas te properante fores:
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