168
H1750?)
of Caricature and
Grotefque
on the reverfe of the coin-its roundneik, and its whitenefs, all pleafe the
Romans ; where money {peaks law is Hlent.
Nummis in lmc curia nan {H qui mm want ;
Crux placer, ranmdirax, er albedo placer,
Er gum totum placeat, et Ramani: platet,
Ubi nummu: loguitur, et lex omnis taret.
Perhaps one of the molt curious of thefe poems is the "Confeliion of
Golias," in which the poet is made to fatirife himfelf, and he thus gives
us a curious picture of the goliard's life. He complains that he is made
of light material, which is moved by every wind; that he wanders about
irregularly, like the {hip on the fea or the bird in the air, feeking worth-
lefs companions like himfelf. He is a {lave to the charms of the fair fex.
He is a martyr to gambling, which often turns him out naked to the cold,
but he is warmed inwardly by the infpiration of his mind, and he writes
better poetry than ever. Lechery and gambling are two of his vices, and
the third is drinking. " The tavern," he fays, "I never defpifed, nor
ihall I ever defpife it, until I fee the holy angels coming to ling the
eternal requiem over my corpfe. It is my defign to die in the tavern; let
wine be placed to my mouth when I am expiring, that when the choirs
of angels come, they may fay, ' Be God propitious to this drinkerl' The
lamp of the foul is lighted with cups; the heart tteeped in nectar Hies up
to heaven; and the wine in the tavern has for me a better flavour than
that which the bi{hop's butler mixes with water. . Nature gives to
every one his peculiar gift : I never could write falting; a boy could beat
me in competition when I am hungry; I hate thirlt and falling as much
as death."
Txrzio rapirulo memoro tabermzm :
Illam nullo temporefprwi, nequefpzrnam,
D0112: janflas angrlos -venientes cernam,
Cunranres pro morruo requiem rem-mm.
Meum {ff prapafitum in taberna mpri;
Wrldumfr appryitum marientis ari,
Ur dicant cum -venermt angdorum clmri,
' Dsuxfil propirius lzuic patatori! '
Potulis
