Madmen, what gain is this, to hoard up bags of gold within? This is not money's use, nor hath to wise men ever been! But part is due unto ourselves, part to the Poet's pen; And many kinsfolk must be pleasured, and many men: And often to the gods thou must do solemn sacrifice. Nor must thou keep a sparing house: but when, in friendly wise, Thou hast receivèd strangers at thy board; when they will thence, Let them depart! But chiefly Poets must thou reverence! That after thou art hidden in thy grave, thou mayest hear well! Nor basely mayest thou mourn when thou in Acheron dost dwell! Like to some ditcher vile, whose hands with work are hard and dry; Who from his parents poor, bewails his life in beggary. In King ANTIOCHUS his Court, and King ALEVAS' too To distribute the monthly bread a many had to do. The Scopedans had many droves of calves, which in their stalls 'Mong oxen lowed; and shepherds kept, in the Cranonian dales, Infinite flocks to bear the hospital [_hospitable_] CREONDAN's charge. } No pleasure should these men enjoy of their expenses large, } When once their souls they had embarked in the Infernal Barge; } But leaving all this wealth behind, in wretched misery Among the dead, without renown, for ever they should lie: Had not SIMONIDES the Chian Poet, with his pen And with his lute of many strings so famous made these men To all posterity. The very horses were renowned; Which, from their races swift returned, with olive garlands crowned. Whoever should have known the Lycian Princes and their race, Or them of Troy, of CIGNUS [_CYCNUS_] with his woman's coloured face: Had not the Poets sung the famous Wars of them of old? Nor yet ULYSSES (who, for ten years space on seas was rolled, By sundry sorts of men; and who at last went down to Hell As yet alive; and from the CYCLOPS' den escapèd well) Had got such lasting fame: and drowned should lie in silence deep Swineherd EUMÆUS, and PHILÆTUS who had to keep A herd of neat; LAERTES eke himself had been unknown-- If far and wide their names, great HOMER's verses had not blown.