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Home  »  The Poems of John Dryden  »  From Aulus Persius Flaccus: Prologue to the First Satyr

John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913.

Translations

From Aulus Persius Flaccus: Prologue to the First Satyr

  • Sæpius in Libro memoratur Persius uno
  • Quam levis in tota Marsus Amazonide.
  • MART.

  • Argument of the Prologue to the First Satyr
  • The Design of the Authour was to conceal his Name and Quality. He liv’d in the dangerous Times of the Tyrant Nero; and aims particularly at him, in most of his Satyrs. For which Reason, though he was a Roman Knight, and of a plentiful Fortune, he would appear in this Prologue but a Beggarly Poet, who Writes for Bread. After this, he breaks into the Business of the first Satyr; which is chiefly to decry the Poetry then in Fashion, and the Impudence of those who were endeavouring to pass their Stuff upon the World.


  • Prologue to the First Satyr

    I NEVER did on cleft Pernassus dream,

    Nor taste the sacred Heliconian Stream;

    Nor can remember when my Brain inspir’d,

    Was, by the Muses, into madness fir’d.

    My share in Pale Pyrene I resign;

    And claim no part in all the Mighty Nine.

    Statues, with winding Ivy crown’d, belong

    To nobler Poets, for a nobler Song:

    Heedless of Verse, and hopeless of the Crown,

    Scarce half a Wit, and more than half a Clown,

    Before the Shrine I lay my rugged Numbers down.

    Who taught the Parrot Human Notes to try,

    Or with a Voice endu’d the chatt’ring Pye?

    ’Twas witty Want, fierce Hunger to appease:

    Want taught their Masters, and their Masters these.

    Let Gain, that gilded Bait, be hung on high,

    The hungry Witlings have it in their Eye;

    Pies, Crows, and Daws, Poetick Presents bring:

    You say they squeak; but they will swear they Sing.