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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M1v p90]

QUI L’INGRAT SERT,
pour rien se pert.

QUi d’un soc inutil fend la marine pleine;
Et y seme, peu caut, les presens de Cerés;
Il perd & peine, & temps: car les ondeux guerrés
Trompent infructueux son esperance vaine.

Ainsi qui de l’ingrat au service se peine,
Il suit en son labeur Sisyphe de bien prés;
Il monte son rocher: & semble encor exprés,
Puisant l’eau, supporter des Belides la peine.

Du bien faict à l’ingrat legere comme vent
Est la recognoissance: & le meffaict souvent,
Bien que leger, esmeut sa plombeuse malice.

Pour se desengager, il outrage celuy
Dont le labeur grison luy prouffite: & chez luy
Rien ne vieillist si tost, qu’un receu benefice.

Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [M2r p91]

Ad Anatolium Pollionem.[1]

Ingratis servire malum.

It is bad to serve those who are ungrateful.

Man standing by a plinth with greek and latin inscriptions. There is a broken vase spilling water and the man is holding a stone with "spes" on it. Group of people round a well gathering water in broken vases. Two people pushing a large boulder up a hill. Man plowing with oxen in background.
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QUi mandat sterili Cerealia semina arenae,
Non profecturis littora bobus arat.
Quisquis & ingratis servit, tua, Sisyphe, versat
Saxa; & vobiscum, Belides, haurit aquam.

He who puts seeds of Ceres in sterile sand, is ploughing the shore in vain with oxen. Whoever serves ungrateful men, rolls your stones, Sisyphus, and draws water with you, Danaides.

Notes:

1.  Anatolius Pollio: unidentified. He is referred to in Boissard’s Poemata (1589), p. 320, as a stingy acquaintance of the author.

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