C 31 ) 



peculatus feCe contulerunt: alii^ dmnem cala* 

 mitatis culpam in fe poiitarn esfe cogicantes, 

 veluci peccati confcientia ec indignationis magni- 

 tudine oppresfi , lucem oderunc ec moerore coa- 

 fecti contabiieriinc : alii td laqueum, ad prae* 

 eipicium, ad vim confugere, omniaque tenta* 

 runt ultima (i). 



Quid vero memorem feros illos aleatorum 

 eoetus, qui faepe conviciis, faepe etiam caede 

 et vulneribus transiguntur (2)? Uc enim infa* 

 nam istam vel Indorum qiiorumdam tacearous 



te« 



(i) Vid. Black ft one, Loc. cit. ubi ait: I^ ii 

 an offence of the most alarming nature ; tending by 

 necesfary confequenci to promote public idlenefs , theft 

 and debauchery amsng thofe of a lower clafs : and , 

 among perfons of a fuperior rank , it hath frequently 

 been attended with the fudden ruin and defolation of 

 antient and opulent families , an abandoned proflitution 

 of every principle of honour and virtue , and too often 

 hath ended in felf- inurder, 



C2) Vere Ovidius, Art. Amat. III. 371, fqq* 

 Bum fumus incauti ^ fludioque apsrimur in ipfo y 



Nudaque per lufus pectora nostra patent ; 

 Ira fubit , deforme malum , lucrique cupido , 



lurgiaque , et rixae , follicit usque dolor, 

 Crimina dicuniur : refonat clamoribus aether: 



Invocat iratos et jibi quisque Deos, 

 Nulla fides tabulaeque novae per vol a petunturt 



