am sapiens memento
Avertere proram.

Hee that in silence, of his mind
The sacred Treasury containes;
Safety i'th' vulgar noyse doth find:
In's doubtfull Court, and wisely raignes.
Still banks thy Pinnace well may passe.
But when with hoarse rocks they do roare,
Remember wisely to forecast
And turn't aside with wary Oare.

_Ad Ianum Libinium._

Solitudinem suam excusat.

_Ode 12. Lib 4._

To Ianus Libinius.

_Hee excuses his retyrednesse._

_Ode 12. Lib. 4._

Quid me latentem sub tenui lare
Dudum moretur, cum mihi civium
Amica certatim patescant
Atria, saepe rogas _Libini_.
Me plenus, extra quid cupiam? meo
In memet ipsum clausus ab ostio,
In se recedentis reviso
Scenam animi vacuumq; relustro
Vitae theatrum, sollicitus mei
Spectator, an quae fabula prodii
Matura procedam, & supremo
Numinis excipienda plausu.
Omnes recenset numen, & approbat
Vel culpat actus: quo mea judice
Si scena non leve peracta est,
Sim populo sine teste felix.

What 'tis detaines me here, and why--
I hide my selfe from every eye.
How in so poore a house I spend
My houres, y'have often ask'd me, friend;
When the free Courts of free-borne men,
Fall out, which first shall let me in.
I enjoy my selfe, what need I more?
Of every sense I lock the dore;
And close shut up, a taske I find
In the retyring house o'th' mind:
The Theatre of my life I view
My owne spectator and iudge too--
Whether the tale I first begun
In well digested Acts I'ue spun;
In every scene, if every clause
Goes neatly off, with heav'ns applause:
Each Action scan'd, is there set free
Or sentenc'd by authoritie--
If there, with _well Done_ I escape,
I'me blest without the peoples clap.

Odi loquacis compita gloriae
Plebeia: quam cum fama faventibus
Evexit auris, saepe misso
Invidiae stimulata telo,
Aut invidentum territa vocibus,
Parum obstinatis & male fortibus
Dimittit alis. Illa nudam
Plangit humum, lacerosq; saxis
Affligit artus. Me melius tegat
Privata virtus, & popularia
Numquam volaturum per ora
Celet iners sine laude tectum.
Semota laudem si meruit, vetat
Audire virtus. tutius invidi
Longinqua miramur: propinquis
Laevus