Epistles 1.2 (Creech): Trojani Belli Scriptorem

WHilst you to plead at Rome, my Friend, remain,
I here have read my Homer o're again:
Who hath what's base, what decent, just and good,
Clearer than Crantor or Chrysippus show'd:
My reasons for't, if you have leisure, hear;
That Part that tells us how in tedious War,
For Paris Lust, Greece strove with Phrygia, sings
The Passions of the Crowd, and foolish Kings:
Antenor thinks it best to end the Wars,
And give back Helen; wanton Paris Swears,
He can't be happy if He lives alone,
His Kingdom can't content when she is gone:
Atrides and Achilles chide, and hate,
And Nestor strives to cool the hot debate:
One rob'd of what He eagerly desir'd,
Was rais'd by Love; but both by fury fir'd:
He counsels both, and strives to make them Friends,
The People suffer when the Prince offends:
By Lust and Rage were thousand mischiefs done,
By Pride and Treachery, in Camp and Town:
And then what Courage, and what Wit can do,
He usefully doth in Ulysses show;
Who, Troy o'rethrown, to many Countrys went,
And strictly view'd their Towns and Government
And whilst thro raging Seas He ventur'd home,
Met thousand dangers, and did ovecome:
Still careful of his Men He did advance,
And safely stem'd the Waves of dang'rous Chance:
The Sirens Songs, and Circe's Bowl you know,
Which like his Mates had He but tasted too,
Base and unthinking He had serv'd the Whore,
In shape of nasty Dog, or mi'ry Bore:
We are the Number, born to drink and eat,
The Woers of Penelope, the spruce, the neat,
The lazy Rascals; and whose whole design,
Was to get vicious pleasure, and be fine:
Who thought it vertuous to sleep half the Day,
And lull their Cares with Musick, Dance and Play.

Rogues rise before 'tis light to kill and Thieve,
Wilt Thou not wake to save thy self alive?
If now, when well, you will not leave your Ease,
In vain you'l try when prest with a Disease:
And when you cannot sleep, except you read,
And in good things employ your watchful head,
Pale Treacherous Sins will swift approaches make,
And Lust or Envy vex Thee whilst awake:
For why, when any thing offends thy Eyes,
Dost thou streight seek for ease, and streight advise
Yet if it shall oppress thy Mind, endure
The ills with Patience, and defer the Cure?
He that hath once begun a good design,
Hath finish't half; dare to be wise, begin:
He that deferrs to live is like the Clown,
Who waits, expecting till the River's gone:
But that still rouls its Streams, and will roul on.
We seek for Wealth, a good and fruitful Wife,
The pleasures, comforts, and supports of Life;
Our Woods are tam'd, and plough'd encrease our store;
He that hath got enough desires no more:
Did ever Lands, or heaps of Silver ease
The feav'rish Lord? Or cool the hot Disease?
Or free his Mind from Cares, He must have health,
He must be well, that would enjoy his wealth.
He that desires or fears, diseas'd in mind,
Wealth profits him as Pictures do the blind;
Plaisters the Gouty Feet; and charming Airs
And sweetest sounds the stuft and troubled Ears:
The musty Vessels sour what they contain;
Scorn Pleasure, Pleasure hurts that's bought with pain.
The Greedy want, to Wishes fix an End;
The Envious pine at th' fatness of their Friend.
The fiercest Tyrants never yet could find,
A greater rack than Envy to the mind:
The Man that doth too hastily engage,
That is all fire, and cannot curb his rage,
Baffles his own design, whilst weaker grown,
With malice unreveng'd He strikes too soon:
Anger's a short frenzy, curb thy Soul,
And check thy rage, which must be rul'd or rule:
Use all thy Art, with all thy force restrain,
And take the strongest Bitt, and firmest Rein:
The Jocky trains the young and tender Horse,
Whilst yet soft mouth'd He breeds him to the Course:
The Whelp since when i'th' Hall He learn'd to bark
At Bucks-skins stuff'd, now ranges o're the Park:
Now, now, whilst young, with vertuous Rules begin;
Such holy Precepts now, and free from sin.
What season'd first the Vessel keeps the Tast;
Now if you lag behind, or run too fast,
I stay not for the slow, I mind my Race,
Nor press on those that run a swifter pace.