142 
five miles out of Rome.” This intro- 
duction reaflured’ the old fprig of the 
Academy, who fhook hands with me, 
while he faid with a good-humoured 
fmile, “ Dulce eff defipere in loeo,” (a 
very happy expretlion, which, by the 
bye, I tind has been robbed by that 
book-making rafeal, Horace Flaccus.) 
I need not detail the remainder of our 
evening, which was {pent inthe plea- 
fantelt. manner, efpeciaily after our fo- 
€iety had been icreated by the acceffion 
of the pretty Fabia. I have faid enough 
to correct your error; for, after this, I 
fuppole youwill not’ be hardy enough to 
afurm, either that Cicero was a man of 
mortification, or Cerellia a veltal. 
Prefent my kindeft compliments to 
your wife, or your mifireis; for I don’t 
Know which you are with at prefent. I 
fhail be very happy to fee you and her, 
er all three, at Puteoli, whenever your 
daw-buinefs will permit. : 
Next Saturday, I-find by Varro’s law- 
lift, is the end of term, What can de- 
tain you longer in Rome? Pray, have 
you heard any thing about a new poem, 
which is reported here to have been read 
before Augufius, by-a young man from 
dome place in the north of Italy, about 
fEneas and Hell? J hear he has intro- 
duced an artful compliment to that young 
blockhead Marceilus, which made Livia 
ery. Hf it is tobe had at the bookfell- 
ers, get 1t for me, and bring it down with 
you, or fend it, if you can’t come your- 
felf, by the carrier, together with the 
Jaft week’s Proclamations. Let me have 
all the court and city news by wholefule. 
Your’s fincerely, 
A, Potuio.” 
A Note. 
“Valeria Meflalina prefents her moft 
refpectful compliments to the Emprefs 
Livia Augufta, and begs to be informed 
how the Emprefs’s cold is. V. M. has 
not flept a'wink fince the ides of April, 
when the heard of the Emprefs’s indif- 
pefition.” 
From the Hortenfian Gardens, 
f 5 Non. Nai): 
Butietin, 5 Non. Muij. 
* The Einprets rctted well laft night, 
but is rather teverifh this momimg.” 
Mes OSs Cora 
“< Ofavia returns thanks to’ Julia Hor- 
-tenfia, for the honour of her obligmg en- 
‘squiries.”- 7 hey: 
Fron the Appin Filla, 7 Rel. Apr. 
Roman Letters. ; 
-Mecznas is but a fhabby fellow. 
“a politician, and a court-lavourite, to 
[ March 1, 
From Q. Horatius Flaccus to P. Vir- 
gulius Maro. 
Brundufium, 7 Id. Now. A. U. C. 735. 
FOR the fake of Vertumnus and Ja- 
nus, my dear Virg., go intiantly on the 
receipt of this to that rafcal young So- 
fius’s (who, you know, has lately remove 
ed to No. 7, Viminal Row, at the cor- 
ner of Remus’s Buildinys, oppofite the 
Corn Exchange), with the ode which I 
have feribbled in extreme hafte at the 
back of this, to be inferted in the next 
Imperial Magazine ;-but don’t leave it 
without being paid: it will fetch forty- 
five or fifty fefterces. Then take the 
trouble jutt to ftep acrofs the way, into 
the Suburra, to Publius the broker’s, and 
redeem the toga which I left in pawn 
there fome. time about the 3d or 4th 
kalends of June, for which you will have 
to pay intereft at 10 per cent. Principal 
and intereft both may be fomewhat about 
30 or 35 fetterces, You willthen have 15 
or 20 remaining. Pay five of thefe to my 
watherwoman, her whom you have often 
feen, who lives down by Porta Flumen- 
talis, whom Ihave addrefled in fome of 
my odes by the name of Glycera. When 
you have executed thefe commiuthons, 
iend without delay by the Brundufium 
carrier (who puts up at Syrus the. grocer’s 
in the Forum) the remainder of the mo- 
ney wrapped up in the toga, direéted 
to “ Q. H. Flaceus, at M. Pedo’s quzf- 
tor, in the Roman Square, Brundufium.” 
The reafon of my extreme hatte is, 
that, the evening after my arrival, Pedo 
made me drunk and fent me roaring into. 
the ftreets, where I kicked up a row, beat 
the watchman, and got my gown torn off 
my fhoulders by a foldier of the XXth 
legion, at prefent quartered here. I loft 
my purfe, moreover, in the {cufile ; which 
purfe contained all the money J had in 
the world. Pedo bids me drown care in 
his old Falerniau, winchis genuine ftuff; 
‘but Pede, though a good hearty fellow, 
is even povrer than myfelf: fo that Ican 
never get back to town without having 
feome money forwarded to me trom 
thence. 1 fhall be able to find my way 
home in Crifpus’s ftage-waggon, for about 
10 feiterces. , 
After all my high-fonnding praifes, 
and his warm and friendly prefeflions, 
He is 
which lucrative profeflions he would faim 
‘add the unproduétive one of awit. This 
is too grofs a monopoly, belides that nae 
ture has made it impeoitibie he fhould-fues 
, ceed, 
