Ausonius, Ex Græco, De Ambiguitate Eligendæ Vitæ. Edyl. 15. Begining Thus Poem by John Ashmore

Quod vitæ sectaboriter, &c.
What kinde of life may I desire as best,
If Courts of Iustice freed from Brawls ne'r rest?
If break-sleep Thoughts in private houses wun,
If home-Cares after weary Pilgrims run,
If to new losses Marchants be inur'd,
If Husbandmen, Want (not to be indur'd)
Forbids to loyter: if Toyle them o'r-throwes?
If Seas, by Ship-wrack, prove our deadly foes,
If Discontents attend a Bachlers life,
But more in vaine to watch a wanton Wife?
If Wars be bloody, if the sharking Arts
Of Vsurers, suck blood from poor-mens harts?
Each Age brings Cares: none like the present season.
Young Babes, yet sucking, Iudgement want and Reason.
Boyes it is hard within due bounds to keep:
And hare-braind Youth fall into dangers deep.
Fortune afflicteth men by cruell Wars,
By crafty fetches and revengefull Iarres,
By endless troubles linkt as in a Chaine,
Still to be chang'd for worse that doe remaine.
At last, Old-age, ill-wisht-for, on us growes,
And us a spoyle to all Diseases throwes.
We alwaies present things despise: tis seen,
That som have wisht, they gods had never been.
Iuturna cryeth-out, Why made he mee
Immortall? Why from Death's stroak am I free?
So unto Caucasus Prometheus ty'd
Forbare not but on Saturns sonne out-cry'd.
Nor ceased he even Iove himselfe by name
(Because he was exempt from death) to blame.
Behold the Vertues of the minde; and see
Hippolytus o'r-thrown by Modestie:
But, he that takes delight his life to staine
With Wantonness, or baits of Pleasures vaine,
Let him behold what punishment did fall
On lustfull Tereus, or Sardanapal.
The Carthage Wars bid treachery eschue.
Saguntum, that she kept her faith, might rue.
Live, and keep friendship still; this onely thing
The Pithagoreans did to ruine bring.
But, fearing it, Keep none: for this, alone,
Th'Athenians did uncivill Timon stone.
With inter-fering Cares, Mindes fraught dissent:
That, which now pleaseth, straight will not content.
Some Honours seek: which, had, they nought regard;
Who, where they might command, stand at Reward.
When this man is by favour raised high,
Hee's thrust into the mouth of pale Envie.
Still watch-full Cares goe with the Eloquent:
But unkembd Clowns do want life's Ornament.
Be thou a Patron, and defend th'accused;
Of Clyents Thankfulness is seldome used.
Be thou a Clyent, then thou must be sure,
Thy Patrons words, full of commands, t'endure.
To this man, Senators make sute and mone:
But, straight disgrac't Grief him attends alone.
Poor Old-age men despise. If Heirs thou want,
Of cheating Claw-backs thou shalt have no scant.
Be frugall, and a Niggard thou art nam'd:
Be lavish, then thou shalt be more defam'd.
If thou be forc't Adversitie to beare,
Then all things else will goe against the haire.
Then, with the best Greek Sentence, I agree;
Tis good, Not to be born; or Soon to die.