But if the things that serious are
With Fortunes pastimes to compare
Doth please you; See, this Country-man
Betakes himselfe to's farme againe,
Of's jeering neighbours th'only sport,
And with those Axes which i'th' Court
Hee ruled all with, Cleaves his wood,
Whose Helves are made of Laurell good.
And if a want of wood there growes,
The _Fasces_ on the fire he throwes.

Ad _Tarquinium Lavinum_.

Od. 13. lib. 1.

Non si Sol semel occidit,
Non rubris iterum surget ad Indiis;
Nec si quos celeris rotae
Sors non exiguo proruit impetu,
Non lapsos iterum levet,
Arguto docilis ludere cum joco.
Ne spem projice, _Tarquini_:
Cujus paene retro lambere pulverem
Et vestigia diceris,
Cum fortuna levem verterit orbitam,
Effusam super & luto
Fumantem poteris cernere purpuram.
Tunc & risibus abstine,
Neu turpi domino Lumina paveris:
Neu calces nimium, memor
Fortunae geminam saepe jaci pilam.

To _Tarquinius Lavinus_.

_Ode 13. lib. 1._

As if the Sun that once doth set,
From th' blushing East a new birth doth not get
As if that those whom Fortunes frowne
By the swift violence of her wheele, throwes down,
Shee would not raise again with ease,
So active in such nimble sports as these.
Despaire not (Sir) whose footsteps now
Thou'rt said to kisse, and lick the dust of's shooe,
Let Fortune her light wheele but turne,
And then _Tarquinius_, thou shalt soon discerne
From his proud height, him downward thrust,
His trampled robes smoking in mire and dust.
Thy jeeres and laughter then forbeare,
His all-bespattred lookes thou shalt not feare,
Nor trample on, remembring how
Fortune a double ball doth often throw.

Ad _Publium Memmium_.

_Ode 2. Lib. 2._

Vitae humanae brevitatem benefactis extendendam esse.

Qua tegit Canas modo bruma valleis,
Sole vicinos jaculante monteis
Deteget rursum. Tibi cum nivosa
Bruma senecta
In caput seris cecidit pruinis,
Decidet nunquam. Cita fugit AEstas,
Fugit Autumnus, fugient propinqui
Tempora veris:
At tibi frigus, capitiq; cani
Semper haerebunt, neq; multa Nardus
Nec parum gratum repetita dement
Serta colorem.
Una quem nobis dederat juventus:
Una te nobis rapiet senectus:
Sed pot