Verily the Luxury of the East ruin'd the greatest Monarchies; first, the
_Persian_, then the _Grecian_, and afterwards _Rome_ her self: By what
Steps, see elegantly describ'd in Old [118]_Gratius_ the _Faliscian_,
deploring his own Age compar'd with the former:
_O quantum, & quoties decoris frustrata paterni!_
_At qualis nostris, quam simplex mensa Camillis!_
_Qui tibi cultus erat post tot, serrane, triumphos?_
_Ergo illi ex habitu, virtutisq; indole priscae,_
_Imposuere orbi Romam caput_:----
Neighb'ring Excesses being made thine own,
How art thou fall'n from thine old Renown!
But our _Camilli_ did but plainly fare,
No Port did oft triumphant _Serran_ bear:
Therefore such Hardship, and their Heart so great
Gave _Rome_ to be the World's Imperial Seat.
But as these were the Sensual and Voluptuous, who abus'd their Plenty,
spent their Fortunes and shortned their Lives by their Debauches; so
never did they taste the Delicaces, and true Satisfaction of a sober
Repast, and the infinite Conveniences of what a well-stor'd _Garden_
affords; so elegantly describ'd by the [119]_Naturalist_, as costing
neither Fuel nor Fire to boil, Pains or time to gather and prepare,
_Res expedita & parata semper_: All was so near at hand, readily drest,
and of so easie Digestion; as neither to offend the Brain, or dull the
Senses; and in the greatest Dearth of Corn, a little Bread suffic'd.
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