~ 
1810.] 
lax, but amiable poet, could reckon 
among his friends and admirers, even 
those whose opinions or conduct he had 
not scrupled to criticise, 
Let us wow consider the rival satirist, 
who commenced his career where the 
other had finished ; performing for mo- 
rals and for freedom, what Horace had 
effécted for decency and’ good taste. 
Horace had learnt to bear the yoke of a 
master, and had not blushed to deify 
tyranny and usurpation: while Juvenal 
never ceased to exclaim against ‘both, 
and to recal to the Romanus the glorious 
ages of their independance. 
The poet ef Aquinum had force and 
passion in his character. His. object 
was more praise-worthy than that of 
Ilorace, He wished to spread conster- 
nation among the vicious, and extermi- 
nate corruption, which. had become 
almost naturalto the Romans. Bold, 
bat useless enterprize! -He wrote at a 
detestable period, when the laws of na- 
ture were violated with impunity; when 
ail patriotism was extinct in the hearts of 
his countrymen. Such an age, brutified 
by servitude, by luxury, and all its ac- 
companying crimes, required an executi- 
oner, rather than a censor. This was a 
time, when ‘* the common ties of all 
being broken, all was crumbling to ruin.” 
‘The Roman character had become so 
degraded, that no one dared to speak of 
liberty. Individuals were sensible only 
of their own misfortunes ; and these they 
endeavoured-to avoid by accusing others, 
Parents, friends, “even what was inani- 
mate,” becaine the objects of suspicion. 
‘The most endearing ties were disrezarded, 
ifthe most distant idea of personal dan- 
ger required they should be broken. It 
was impossible to lament those who were 
proscribed, for even tears were punished. 
In a word, excepting some few moments 
of respite, the history of that execrable 
period is marked by the blackest cata- 
logue of haman crimes, written in cha- 
racters of blood; and presenting only a 
disgusting series of murders effected by 
the bow-string, poison; or assassination, 
This, then, was the time when Juve- 
nal, despising the feeble weapon of ridi- 
cule, so familiar to his predecessor, him. 
self seized the dagger of satire, and ran- 
ning from the palace to the tavern, 
struck, without distinction, all who de- 
viated from the paths of virtue, It was 
no longer, as with Horace, a supple poer, 
armed with philosophical indifference, 
who amused himself with the follies of 
the day, and whose style, easy aud fa:ni~ 
Lyceum of Ancient Literature. —No. XXV LI. 
able; 
119. 
liar, flowed at the will of a voluptuous, 
instinct. twas an ‘incorruptible Cen- 
sor, a Roman with the tone of the anci- 
ent Fabii, Manhi, and Reguli; it was 
an inflamed poer, who sometimes rose, 
with his subjeet, to the sublime pitch of 
travedy,~ Austere and uniidrm in his 
principles, every thing he uttercd had a 
character of gravity and nmpertance. 
His ridicule was more severe than lus 
censure 5 his laugh still more terrible thaaa 
his anger. It was the laugh of Cassius, . 
as described by our immortal Bard, 
He couid speak of nothing but vice and 
virtue, slavery and hberty, folly and wis. 
dom. On these subjects, he deciauned 
with animation, severity, and dignity. 
It may be said of him in his own words, 
“that he staked his life on what was 
true”—witam  impendere vero—having 
the courage to sacrifice all equivocal deco= 
rums to it, and all those political consi. 
derations, which are of somuch moment 
with those, whose morality consists in 
exteriors. 
Upon this point, however, let it not be 
considered, that we are even attempting - 
to defend him; on the contrary, we think 
be deserves the reproaches which every 
age has cast upon him, not only for pres 
claiming the dishonour of so many great 
names, but for giving an alarm to mo- 
desty which cannot be justified. It is 
true, that Horace, whose refinement has 
been perhaps too much extolled, was 
still more licentious, and has found uns 
happily the meatus of making vice ami- 
and by revealing horrors, at 
which reason shudders, and which nature 
abhors, has shown, that he designed, 
like Juvenal, to mark the degree to which 
man might debase himself, when left to 
the guidance of appetite and effeminacy, 
With the exception, of this defect, 
which belonged to the age, rather than 
to the author, there is little to censure in 
Juvenal. The spirit that dictated his 
writings, breathes only the public good, 
If he reproves what is ridiculous, it is 
only because it is connected with, or 
leads on to, vice. When he drags to the 
altar of infamy those whoin he wishes 
to expose, his victims are so truly odious 
and deformed, that we can neither pity 
hem, nor blame him. He is accused of © 
being too sparing in his praises: but who 
that knows the human heart, and wishes 
neither to deceive others nor himself, 
can possibly be lavish of these? He has 
praised hut little ; the misery of the'times 
dispensed him from It. All that he 
could do, was to compassionate a ws 
that 
- 
