The superiority of Augustus to his great predecessor is insisted on by the courteous poet.
Thus raised, his glorious offspring Julius view’d. Beneficently great, and scattering good, Deeds, that his own surpass’d, with joy beheld, And his large heart dilates to be excell’d. What though this prince refuses to receive The preference, which his juster subjects give; Fame uncontroll’d, that no restraint obeys, The homage, shunn’d by modest virtue, pays, And proves disloyal only in his praise. Though great his sire, him greater we proclaim: So Atreus yields to Agamemnon’s fame; Achilles so superior honours won, And Peleus must submit to Peleus’ son: Examples yet more noble to disclose, So Saturn was eclipsed, when Jove to empire rose: Jove rules the heavens, the earth Augustus sways; Each claims a monarch’s, and a father’s praise.