Leo

What Inclinations Leo's Rays dispense

Is quickly known,* 1.15 'tis plain to Common Sense,

He gives his Own; for he the Woods infests

The mighty Terror of the meaner Beasts:

He lives on Rapine, ranges all the Day,

And sullenly at Night groans o're his Prey.

Hence he inclines Mens Minds to Hunt, and fills

Our Nobles spacious Halls with grinning spoyls;

There Skins and Horns do spread a dismal grace,

And stand as certain Heraulds of their Race;

This Beast was mine, and that my Father's Game,

They cry, these are the Annals of their Fame:

That generous Youth which France and Spain did fear

Now prove the Humble Terror of a Deer.

Nay some in 20 Towns pursue this wild delight,

There barbarous grow, and breed up Beasts to fight;

Then bring them out for sight in Theaters,

And feast their Luxury with Bruitish Wars;

Cruel in Sport: Their Posts are grac't with Spoyl,

And they get shameful Honour without Toyl:

He makes Men warm, their Passions quickly rais'd,

Like Boys soon angry, and as soon appeas'd:

But Plain and Honest all their Thoughts sincere;

Pure as the Sun, and like the Water clear.

-Manilius, translated by Thomas Creech