Laudator Temporis Acti

A paraphrase of Martial 10.47, by Josiah Relph (1712-1743), in his Poems (Carlisle: J. Mitchell, 1798), pp. 51-52:

These earthly happiness complete:
A snug hereditary seat;
Fields free to give what ease requires;
Hearths ever warm'd with heartsome fires;
Calm quietness from clamour loud;
No business with the peevish proud;
A vigour active, yet refin'd;
Simplicity with prudence join'd;
Sweet converse seasoning wholesome fare;
Evenings without excess or care;
Short nights, by unsought slumber blest;
And, what gives relish to the rest,
An easy acquiescent mind,
To the wise will of heaven resign'd.

The Latin:

Vitam quae faciant beatiorem,
iucundissime Martialis, haec sunt:
res non parta labore sed relicta;
non ingratus ager, focus perennis;
lis numquam, toga rara, mens quieta;
vires ingenuae, salubre corpus;
prudens simplicitas, pares amici;
convictus facilis, sine arte mensa;
nox non ebria sed soluta curis;
non tristis torus et tamen pudicus;
somnus qui faciat breves tenebras:
quod sis esse velis nihilque malis;
summum nec metuas diem nec optes.

Other translations and paraphrases of Martial 10.47:

• James Michie
• William Somervile
• Christophe Plantin
• William Bedingfield?
• Charles Cotton
• Abraham Cowley, Thomas Randolph
• Mildmay Fane
• Henry Howard
• Ben Jonson