Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/183

THE THIRTEENTH SATIRE OF JUVENAL, IMITATED.^[1]

Argument.—The Poet comforts a friend that is overmuch concerned for the loss of a considerable sum of money, of which he has lately been cheated by a person to whom he intrusted the same. This he does by showing, that nothing comes to pass in the world without Divine Providence, and that wicked men (however they seem to escape its punishment here) yet suffer abundantly in the torments of an evil conscience. And, by the way, takes occasion to lash the degeneracy and villany of the present times.

THERE is not one base act which men commit,
But carries this ill sting along with it,
That to the author it creates regret;
And this is some revenge at least, that he
Can ne'er acquit himself of villany,
Though a bribed judge and jury set him free.
⁠All people, sir, abhor (as 'tis but just)
Your faithless friend, who lately broke his trust,
And curse the treacherous deed; but, thanks to fate,
That has not blessed you with so small estate,
But that with patience you may bear the cross,
And need not sink under so mean a loss.
Besides, your case for less concern does call,
Because 'tis what does usually befall;
Ten thousand such might be alleged with ease,
Out of the common crowd of instances.
⁠Then cease, for shame, immoderate regret,
And don't your manhood and your sense forget;
'Tis womanish and silly to lay forth
More cost in grief than a misfortune's worth.^[2]

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1. Written in April, 1682.
2. When remedies are past, the griefs are ended,
   By knowing the worst, which late on hopes depended.
   To mourn a mischief that is past and gone,
   Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
   What cannot be preserved when fortune takes,
   Patience her injury a mockery makes.
   The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief;
   ⁠He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.
   ⁠Shakespeare.—Othello.