That vestal Fire of undecaying Hate, Which Time's cold Tide itself can ne'er abate, But like _Domitian_, with a murd'rous Will, Rather than nothing, Flies he likes to kill. And in his Closet stabs some obscure Name, [n]Brought by this Hangman first to Light and Shame. Such now his Works to all the World are known, Who undeceiv'd, their former Error own; Whilst not one Man who likes his rhyming Art, Allows him Genius, or defends his Heart: But thus from Triumph snatch'd, and giv'n to Shame Lash'd _into_ Penitence, and _out_ of Fame. Since all Mankind these certain Truths allow, And speak so freely what so well they know; No wonder doom'd such Treatment to receive, That he _can_ feel, and that he _can't_ forgive. Were I dispos'd to curse the Man I hate, Such would I wish his miserable Fate. Thus striving to inflict, to meet Disgrace, And wasted to the Ghost of what he was; And like all Ghosts which Men of Sense despise, Only the Dread of Folly's coward Eyes. Thus would I have him despicably live, Himself, his Friends, and Credit to survive, Into Contempt from Reputation hurl'd, His own Detractor thro' a scoffing World. _FINIS._ Footnotes: [a] Beatus ille qui procul negotiis, &c. Epod. 2. Cum magnis vixisse invita fatebirur usque invidia. _Sat. 1. Lib. 2._ [b] Nunc quia Mæcenas tibi sum convictor. _Sat. 6. Lib. 1._ ----Tu pulses omne quod obstat Ad Mæcenatem memori si mente recurras. Hoc juvat, & melli est; ne mentiar. _Sat. 6. Lib. 2._ [c] All his Works are full of Examples of Flattery to _Augustus_. [d] Epod. 4. _Mænas_ was a Freedman of _Pompey_ the younger; and he deserted from him to _Augustus_, then back from _Augustus_ to _Pompey_, and then from _Pompey_ to _Augustus_ again. This is in all the Histories. _Appian. Dion._ [e] Et Appiam mannis terit. _Epod. 4._ [f] O sæpe mecum tempus in ultimum Deducte, Bruto militiæ Duce.---- Tecum Philippos & celerem fugam Sensi, relictâ non bene parmulâ Cum fracta virtus, & minaces Turpe solum tetigere mento. HOR. _Ode. 7. B. 2._