by whom it may be reasonably conje&ur'd, that the Author would be understood of Silia, a Roman Lady, who was married to a Senator, and banish'd, as you heard already in the Life of Petronius, under fufpicion of revealing Nero's Secrets, out of grief for what happen'd to the Author: For if this Prince drown'd in Debauchery, and who, without fhame, made himself a Spectacle of contempt in the midst of Rome, could be concern'd to fee his Pleasures turn'd to Ridicule in this Satyr; there is great appearance, that the Picture of his Weakness in this Inftance touch'd him moft fenfibly; and by confequence, that the Adventure had rather relation to Silia, than any other.

Chryfis, Waiting-woman to Circe,and her Confident.This Name is Greek, and fignifies Dorea,or Fine; an Epithet given to Venus,and was voluntarily taken by the ancient Courtizans.

Profelenos, a Sorcerer, that Chryfis led to Polya

Enothea, a Pricftefs of Priapus.

Philumena, another Lady of Crotonia, who fome times ferv'd her felf of her Beauty to get Vifiters, and upon the Reputation of Eumolpus's being rich prefented him with her Son and Daughter, who were both very young and very hand fome, that they might profit by his good Inftructions, Under this Name Eumolpus, Petronius defcribes Nero's Novitates Stupri, as Tacitus fays, new-invented ways of Whoring and Filthiness.

The Places where thefe Adventures pafs'd, are Naples and Crotona, under whofe Names the Author chose to draw the natural Portraiture of Rome.

THE

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[1]

THE

WORKS

OF

Petronius Arbiter,

A ROMAN Knight.

In PROSE and VERSE:

WITH

The Fragments recover'd at Belgrade, in the Year 1688.

Made English by Mr.WILSON of the MiddleTemple, and feveral others.

Formerly promis'd you an Account of my. Adventures, and am now refolv'd to be as good as my Word, being opportunely met; not only to improve our Learning, but to make merry with pleasant Tales, and a free Converfation. B Fabricius

Fabricius Vejento has already, with a world of Wit, expos'd the Juggle of Religion, and withal discover'd with what Impudence and Ignorance Priests pretend to be infpir'd: But are not our wrangling Pleaders poffefs'd with the fame Frenzy, who harangue their Audience? Thefe Wounds I receiv'd in defence of your Liberty; this Eye was loft in your Service; give me a Hand to lead me to my Children, for my wounded Hams are too feeble to fupport me.

And

Yet even this might pafs for tolerable, did it put young beginners in the leaft way to well-fpeaking: Whereas now, what with the irregular fwelling of Matter, and the empty rattling of Words, they only gain this, That when they come to appear in publick, they think themselves in another World. therefore I look upon the young fry of Collegiates as likely to make the most promising Blockheads, because they neither hear nor fee any thing that is in ufe amongst Men: But a company of Pirates with Chains on the shoar; Tyrants iffuing Proclamations to make Children kill their Fathers; the Answers of Oracles in a Plague-time; that three or more Virgins be facrific'd to appeafe the angry Gods; dainty fine Words without any Subftance, like a Difh prettily garnish'd without any Meat in it, and every thing so done, as if 'twere all Spice and Garnish.

Such as are thus bred can no more judge aright, than thofe that live in a Kitchin not ftink of the Grease: Give me, with your fa

vour, leave to fay, 'twas you firft loft the good Grace of Speaking; for with light idle gingles of Words, to make fport, you have brought Oratory to this, That the fubftance thereof is become invalid and effeminate.

Our Youth were not confin'd to this way of declaiming when Sophocles and Euripides influenc'd the Age: Nor yet had any Garret-Profeffor debauch'd their Studies, when Pindar and the nine Lyrick Poets durft not attempt the inimitable Numbers of Homer : And that I may not derive my Authority from Poets only, 'tis certain neither Plato nor Demofthenes ever put in practice these affected Declamations. Their chafte Orations were neither turgid, painted, or adul terate, but had all the Ornaments and Charms of a Natural Beauty.

This windy and irregular way of babling came lately out of Afia into Athens; and having, like fome ill Planet, blafted the aspiring Genius of their Youth, at once corrupted and put a period to all true Eloquence.

After this, Who came up to the height of Thucydides? Who reach'd the Fame of Hyperides? Nay, there was hardly a clean Verfe, but all were of the fame ftrain, and died with their Author. Painting also had the fame fate, after the boldness of the Egyptians ventur'd to bring fo great an Art into Miniature.

At this and the like rate I was upon a time declaiming, when one Agamemnon made up to us, and looking fharply on a Perfon whom

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whom the Mob with fuch diligence gave attention to, he would not fuffer me to declaim longer in the Portico, than he had fweated in the School; "But, young Man, "faid he, because your Difcourfe is beyond "the common apprehenfion, and, which is not often seen, that you are a lover of Understanding, I won't deceive you: The Masters of thefe Schools are not to blame, "who think it neceffary to be mad with "mad Men: For unless they teach what "their Scholars approve, they might, as "Cicero fays, keep School to themselves: "like flattering Parafites, who when they come to great Mens Tables, study nothing more than what they think may be most agreeable to the Company, (being "fenfible they fhall never effect their De

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figns, unless they first charm the Ear) "fo a Master of Eloquence, Fisherman-like, "unless he first baits his Hook with what "he knows the Fish will bite at, may wait long enough on the Rock without hopes "of catching any thing.

t

Where lies the Fault then? Parents ought to be sharply reprehended, who are unwilling their Children should obferve a "ftrict Method in their Studies; but in this,

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as in all things elfe, they are fo fond of έσ making a Noife in the World, and in fuch "hafte to arrive at their Wishes, that they "hurry Youth into the Publick e're they

have well digested what they have read, 66 and put Children, before they are paft 66 their