The close of this passage, by which every reader is now disappointed and offended, was probably the delight of the Roman Court: it cannot be imagined, that Horace, after having given to gold the force of thunder, and told of its power to storm cities and to conquer kings, would have concluded his account of its efficacy with its influence over naval commanders, had he not alluded to some fact then current in the mouths of men, and therefore more interesting for a time than the conquests of Philip. Of the like kind may be reckoned another stanza in the same book: --_Jussa coram non sine conscio Surgit marito, seu vocat_ institor, _Seu_ navis Hispanae magister, _Dedecorum pretiosus emptor_. HOR. Lib. iii. Ode. vi. 29. The conscious husband bids her rise, _When some rich factor courts her charms_, Who calls the wanton to his arms, And, prodigal of wealth and fame, Profusely buys the costly shame. FRANCIS. He has little knowledge of Horace who imagines that the _factor_, or the _Spanish merchant_, are mentioned by chance: there was undoubtedly some popular story of an intrigue, which those names recalled to the memory of his reader. The flame of his genius in other parts, though somewhat dimmed by time, is not totally eclipsed; his address and judgment yet appear, though much of the spirit and vigour of his sentiment is lost: this has happened in the twentieth Ode of the first book: _Vile potabis modicis Sabinum Cantharis, Graecâ quod ego ipse testâ Conditum levi, datus in theatro Cum tibi plausus, Care Maecenas eques: ut paterni Fluminis ripae, simul et jocosa Redderet laudes tibi Vaticani Montis imago._ A poet's beverage humbly cheap, (Should great Maecenas be my guest,) The vintage of the Sabine grape, But yet in sober cups shall crown the feast: 'Twas rack'd into a Grecian cask, Its rougher juice to melt away; I seal'd it too--a pleasing task! With annual joy to mark the glorious day, When in applausive shouts thy name Spread from the theatre around, Floating on thy own Tiber's stream, And Echo, playful nymph, return'd the sound. FRANCIS. We here easily remark the intertexture of a happy compliment with an humble invitation; but certainly are less delighted than those, to whom the mention of the applause bestowed upon Maecenas, gave occasion to recount the actions or words that produced it. Two lines which have exercised the ingenuity of modern criticks, may, I think, be reconciled to the judgment, by an easy supposition: Horace thus addresses Agrippa: _Scriberis Vario fortis, et hostium Victor_, Maeonii carminis alite. HOR. Lib. i. Ode vi. 1. Varius, a _swan of Homer's wing_, Shall brave Agrippa's conquests sing.