Change of Roman Manners After the Destruction of Carthage. a. U. C. 621

Now other maxims, different spirits rise, Gold's sordid thirst, and factious jealousies. As watchful centinels alert are found, Who fear the strict centurion's nightly round,— While Hannibal the commonwealth oppress'd, No latent power lay slumb'ring in the breast; No hour in sloth or luxury was lost, And every virtue rous'd up to its post: But with that mighty rival overthrown, Rome's awful monitor, the foe, was gone; When, proudly eminent, no more she fear'd, Then vigilance with danger disappear'd: As if too long buoy'd up, the publick mind Sunk to the languid level of mankind; All the forc'd qualities by habit taught, Gave way to appetites which Nature brought. From pain, and peril, and unceasing toil, The springs of life spontaneously recoil; And man, soft man, from strong constraint set free, Seeks of himself his own felicity. Too long had Rome roll'd up the cumb'rous stone: It touch'd the top, and tumbled headlong down: As if her spirit in her armour lay, Fatigu'd, at once she cast them both away. Plain dress, plain roofs, plain fare no more could please, And down, not labour, gave their slumbers ease; Asiatick looms the Latian web depose, And the rough virtues by which first they rose. Now flow'ry chaplets shed their fragrant store Round the tann'd brow the helmet crush'd before; Relaxing baths, and precious ointments, lave The languid limbs once brac'd in Tyber's wave; For beechen bowls wax'd bright for homely use, From gold engrav'd they quaff'd the racy juice: Fastidious of rich wine, and high-sauc'd meat, Musick and dance prolong'd the varying treat; All rare and exquisite alone was good, While earth and sea were ransack'd for their food: In each refinement of profusion skill'd, Ears, eyes, and appetite, at once were fill'd. Then Ostentation sought the admiring guest, Not to partake, but to extol the feast; Deceit, and Fraud, and Vanity stood by, Wiles in each word, in every look a lie. No coarse-clad merit at that gaudy board Found glad admittance from its selfish lord; For though like Tully the plain Roman talk'd, What ear would listen?—for the Roman walk'd: But if a chariot roll'd him o'er the road, Or sweating slaves convey'd the living load, O then, what eloquence in all he said! What wisdom ev'n in silence he display'd! The host himself on his proud entrance waits, And reconducts him through his sculptur'd gates; Or while his viands cram the glutton's throat, Secures his cost, and claims the venal vote. Thus chang'd the great,—while each inferior tribe With hand outstretch'd expects the welcome bribe; Keen as the noiseless glider through the brook Devours the morsel on the tempting hook. Noxious, like sultry Aethiopia's blast, Through every rank the dire contagion pass'd; Then wildly grasping with Briarean hands The rich dominion of remoter lands, For hard-fought combats, and a scanty prize, Lo, feeble foes, and gaudy victories. The hardy few, who saw and mourn'd the cause Of pride's increase, and violated laws, By mockery silenc'd, or in tumult slain, Confirm'd the vices they oppos'd in vain. Rome's boasted virtues blazon'd high by fame, And still suppos'd by children who declaim, (Though sometimes graver senators will join To call the example glorious and divine,) 'Tis own'd, if truth her sage historians tell, With Carthage fallen these ancient virtues fell. Some manly qualities remain'd, 'tis true, Extoll'd by many, but possess'd by few; In council wise, and skilful in the field, Pride and ambition to the last she held; But temperance, justice, faith, and candour lost, To conquer without right was all her boast; Turning each new acquirement to a curse, While all that should improve but made her worse. If still prescription pleads the world's esteem, Her greatness, not her morals, be the theme.