quam,
Ditior hic, aut est quia doctior: est locus uni
Cuique suus. Magnum narras, vix credibile. Atqui
Sic habet. Accendis, quare cupiam magis illi
Proximus esse. Veils tantummodo: quae tua virtus,
Expugnabis; & est qui vinci possit: eoque
Difficiles aditus primos habet. Haud mihi deero,
Muneribus servos corrumpam: non, hodie si
Exclusus fuero, desistam: tempera quaeram:
Occurram in triviis: deducam. Nil sine magno
Vita labore dedit mortalibus. Haec dum agit, ecce
Fuscus Aristius occurrit mihi carus, & illum
Qui pulchre nosset. Consistimus. Unde venis? &
Quo tendis? rogat, & respondet. Vellere coepi,
Et prensare manu lentissima brachia, nutans,
Distorquens oculos, ut me eriperet. Male salsus
Ridens dissimulare: mecum jecur urere bilis.
Certe nescio quid secreto velle loqui te
Aiebas mecum. Memini bene; sed meliori
Tempora dicam: hodie tricesima sabbata, vin'tu
Curtis Judaeis oppedere? Nulla mihi, inquam,
Religio est. At mi, sum paulo infirmior; unus
Multorum ignosces; alias loquar. Hunccine solem
Tam nigrum surrexe mihi: Fugit improbus, ac me
Sub cultro linquit. Casu venit obvius illi
Adversarius; &, Quo tu turpissime! magna
Inclamat voce; &, Licet antestari? Ego vero
Oppono auriculam; rapit in jus. Clamor utrinque
Undique concursus. Sic me servavit _Apollo_.

[Transcriber's Note:
See end of _Essay_ for translation information.]

The Intention of _Horace_ in this Piece, is to expose an _impertinent_
Fellow, and to give a ludicrous Detail of his own _Embarrassment_;
Your Pleasure arises from the View which he gives you of his own
Mortification, whereby he lays himself fairly open to your _Raillery_;
This is the more poignant, and quick, from the real Distress which you
see he endur'd, in this odd Attack; At the same Time the particular Turn
of the Fellow, who chose in this Manner to pin himself upon another, is
a very odd Species of impertinent _Humour_.--This Piece, as it stands,
irresistibly forces your Mirth, and shakes you with Laughter; But to
a Person of Discernment, it is chiefly at _Horace_'s Expence; Who in
receiving and enduring such insolent Treatment, appears in a Light too
low and ridiculous, though he has thought fit himself to exhibit the
Scene again for the Diversion of the Public;

The
Misere, cupis, ---- abire,
Jamdudum video, sed nil agis, usque tenebo,
Persequar;--

was an absolute Insult; And very unfit to be related by