History & Politics

Epigram written upon a Pile of Building, erected in Paris by Louis xivth. after the Peace with Queen Anne

by Mather Byles 1707–1788

From Poems on Several Occasions (1744)

History & Politics

PAR domus haec Urbi est, Urbs orbi: neutra trimphis
Et belli et pacis, par, Ludovice, tuis.

Answer'd.
VATES estMendax, Versus mentitur uterque,
Nam minor urbs orbe est, et minor urbe domus.
Verbera tot Verax habeat, quot praemia Mendax,
Sic quae non meruit praemia uterque feret.
Utraque si injusta est Merces, erit utraque juri
Et belli et pacis, par, Ludovice, tuo.

Translated.
THIS Palace like a City lifts its Heads,
And like a World the ample City spreads.
O Louis how thy Monuments increase?
Alike thy Trophies both of War and Peace!

The Answer.
How far from Truth the shameless Bard declines!
And like Him lie his ignominious Lines.
In the wide World the lesser City stands,
And less than That the boasted Pile ascends.

Now, for these Truths, had I as many Stripes,
As for his Lies the flatt'ring Poet bribes,
O Louis, 'twould to future Times declare
Alike thy Justice both of Peace and War.

MLA

Byles, Mather. “Epigram written upon a Pile of Building, erected in Paris by Louis xivth. after the Peace with Queen Anne.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/byles/30/.

Chicago

Byles, Mather. “Epigram written upon a Pile of Building, erected in Paris by Louis xivth. after the Peace with Queen Anne.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/byles/30/.

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