Art caters to appetite.

Wrasse From Sicily brought to their table, alive in his own Sea water.
The oysters from Lucrine's shore torn, at the feast Are served to make famous the host; and the appetite, cloyed, To tempt by extravagance.

Phasis has now been despoiled Of birds, its littoral silent, no sound there is heard Save only the wind as it rustles among the last leaves.
Corruption no less vile is seen in the campus of Mars, Our quirites are bribed; and for plunder and promise of gain Their votes they will alter.

The people is venal; corrupt The Senate; support has its price! And the freedom and worth Of age is decayed, scattered largesse now governs their power; Corrupted by gold, even dignity lies in the dust.
Cato defeated and hooted by mobs, but the victor Is sadder, ashamed to have taken the rods from a Cato: In this lay the shame of the nation and character's downfall, 'Twas not the defeat of a man! No! The power and the glory Of Rome were brought low; represented in him was the honor Of sturdy Republican Rome.

So, abandoned and wretched, The city has purchased dishonor: has purchased herself! Despoiled by herself, no avenger to wipe out the stigma Twin maelstroms of debt and of usury suck down the commons.
No home with clear title, no citizen free from a mortgage, But as some slow wasting disease all unheralded fastens Its hold on the vitals, destroying the vigor of manhood, So, fear of the evils impending, impels them to madness.
Despair turns to violence, luxury's ravages needs must Repaired be by bloodshed, for indigence safely can venture.
Can art or sane reason rouse wallowing Rome from the offal And break the voluptuous slumber in which she is sunken?
Or must it be fury and war and the blood-lust of daggers ?".