with vast Sums Boys in their Beauty's prime Thou buy'st drink'st only Wine of Numas time Thy Stuff of dayly Use did Hundreds cost Common with thee but what a Prince might boast That thy gilt Coach was purchast at the Rate Of a fair House One Mule of an Estate Think'st thou a larger Mind thou shew'st from hence They 're Little Souls delight in Great Expence Ep. 63. On Cotilus Men Cotilus a Gallant do proclaim But say who 's he deserves a Gallant 's Name A Gallants one can order well his Hair And scatter round him a perfumed Air Warble soft Tunes of Italy and France With various Graces move him in the Dance Of Ladies Chat sit Umpier all the Day And still have something in their Ear to say Love-Letters read to one to others write Whom nought like Ruffling of his Clothes affright Runs to all Feasts can who loves whom arread Tell Pedigrees of Horses and their Breed Is this Is this a Gallant then to be A Gallant 's then a Trifling Thing I see Ep. 64. On Canius The Seamen's merry Ruin killing Joy The Syrens who with Melody destroy That sly Ulysses had the Pow'r to leave When all besides with Charms they did deceive I wonder not But this I should admire From Canius fett'ring Tongue could he retire Ep. 65. On the Kisses of a fair Maid As Smells the fragrant Fruit when bit by thee The Flowring Grapes first blooming on the Tree Spring Meadows when fresh crop'd by Cows they be The Air rich Saffron Beds do from them yield A Myrtile Grove Arabian spicy Field The Flavour Musk and Amber chaf'd respire Sabean Gums when they make pale the Fire The fresh Glebe sprinkl'd with a Sumers Show'r Thy Locks when on them thou choice Nard dost pour So redolent coy Maid thy Kisses are If freely given what with them might compare Ep. 66. On Mark Anthony Photin and Anthony like Crimes do stain Pompey by one by th' other Tully slain Tully Rome's Tongue deserv'dly might be said Pompey as justly her triumphant Head Yet Antony o' th' Two thy Guilt was more He sinned on 's Lords thou sinn'st on thine own Score Ep. 68. To his modest Matron Reader To thee Grave Matron hitherto my Book I write Tow'rds whom dost ask the rest doth look My Self the Race the Baths retire thou then We strip forbear to look on Naked Men. Well-soak'd Terpsichore weighs not what she says Niceness 'mong Cups and Roses down she lays And tho' without Disguise she plainly names In broadest Terms what yearly Roman Dames To Venus offer cares not who her blames 'T is that I mean our Hinds in Gardens place And Maids peep at with Hands before their Face If now I know thee tho' my Book before Tir'd thee thou'lt eager be to read it o'er Ep. 69. To Cosconius That all thy Epigrams thou dost indite In cleanest Terms not one broad Word dost write I praise admire how Chast alone thou art Such Crimes my Pages shew in ev'ry Part The which the waggish Youth and Maids approve The Older too who feel the Sting of Love But yet I must confess thy Holy Verse Deserves much more with Children to converse LIB IV. Ep. 1. On Caesar's Birth-Day CAEsars bright Birth-Day's to be honour'd more Than Ioves on Ida's Top by Rhea bore May Rome this Days Return more often see Than aged Nestor thine was seen by thee And than the Present still more glorious be May he on Earth his Head adorn'd with Gold Keep Pallas Feast as President behold The Poets and the Rhetors Strife and Crown With 's mighty Hand the highest in renown May he the Secular Games none twice e'er saw Behold be privileg'd beyond Natures Law Great things I ask but which from Heaven are due For such a Prince too much we cannot sue Ep. 5. To Fabianus Mar. Poor and Upright whose Tongue and Heart agree What dost Propose in coming Rome to see Canst act the Baud or boon-Companions Part Know'st thou the Criers or Informers Art Canst thou debauch the Wife of thy best Friend Thy Strength on Lustful Aged Madams spend Canst sell Court Air Flatter the Upstart Great Canus and Glaphyrus i' th' right-way treat How wretch wilt live Fab. By Faith's true Square I 'll go Mar. Thou dream'st thou lt ne'er be Philomelus so Ep. 8. To Euphemus The two first Hours o' th' Great consumed are The third in Lawyers Pleadings at the Bar The Trades of Rome the fourth and fifth employ The sixth some Rest the seventh all Rest enjoy From eight to Nine in Exercise is spent The ninth on Feasting all Men are intent The Tenth hour's proper for my Book and me And Euphem thou who dost the Board o'er-see And order our Great Lords Ambrosian Fare When Nectar has dissolv'd his publick Care His mighty Hand the sober Cup does hold To introduce my Mirth thou may'st be bold My Muse forbears licentiously to rove I' th' Morn when serious to importune Iove Ep. 10. To Faustinus While yet my Book is new its Leaves scarce dry But even the chary'st Touch they fear and fly To Faustin Boy this little Gift present He first deserves my Toys shou'd him be sent But furnish'd with a Sponge be sure to go My Book t is fit shou'd be attended so That if my Verse Faustinus cannot tend To Purge One Blot may all my Failings mend Ep. 11. On Ant. Saturninus While thou wert proud to bear Antonio's name And that of Saturninus didst disclaim Thou Arms in Germany 'gainst Caesar bore As Anthony in Egypt did before What Fate attends that Name didst thou not fear Of his Disgrace at Actium never hear Or did the Rhene promise Success to thee Tho' Nile to him deny'd the Victory That famous Anthony by Rome's Sword did fall Compar'd to thee who Caesar we might call Ep. 13. Upon the Marriage of Pudens and Claudia Peregrina This Day my Pudens to fair Claudia's wed Swell the Joys Hymen of their Nuptial Bed So Musk with Amber Men do fitly joyn So Attick Honey mix with Massick Wine So Elms embrac'd by Vines do beauteous stand So Reeds do Waters grace so Myrtles Land Concord keep all between them ever fair And equal Love unite the equal Pair Let them not find their Flame grows ever Cold Or think each other when they are so Old Ep. 14. To Silius Italicus Silius the Muses Glory and Renown Whose weighty Verse pow'rfully presses down The Punique Falshood makes their barb'rous Rage Stoop to Rome's Valour which it durst engage Their Elephants to our Eagles quit the Field Hannibal's Wiles to Scipio's Honour yield The time commands thou serious Thoughts lay-by Now in December that the rattling Die. In ev'ry place does make a loud Report And the most sage indulge unto the Sport My Book deep drench'd in Mirth thou may'st allow This Month to read with a relaxed Brow Catullus now may his slight Sparrow send To mighty Maro and the Act defend Ep. 15. To Cecilianus Ten pound thou begg'dst
M. VAL. MARTIALIS LONDON Printed for Henry Bonwicke EPIGRAMS OF MARTIAL ENGLISHED With some Other Pieces Ancient and Modern Dicitur nostros cantare Britannia versus Mart. Lib. IX Ep. 4. On the Frontispiece Whose chance it is to take in hand this Book In the Satyric-Mirror let him look Wherein if Wise with much delight he 'll see From what fond Vice his Nobler Soul is free If Foolish he 'll astonish'd be to find A Stranger better knew than he his Mind And if he flys from so severe a School To wink boots not when others see the Fool. LONDON Printed for Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. TO THE READER On Translation in General HE that Translates than he that Writes does more For he must please upon a double Score That of his Author first then on his own Hold out compar'd be Good when read alone When he that from his Brain does first endite Has paid all Debts if well he does but write Translation then a Comment ought to be Not only change the Tongue but Author free From Darkness clear his Sense sometimes improve For if the Second Pen soar not above His lowest Stoops 't will ne're that Grace repay Which in the Work too oft will slip away But then who will translate to this Degree Be held the Author's Second Self to be Must not cleave servilely to ev'ry Phrase And think therein he has deserv'd the Bays Sometimes 't is true a Word 's an Epigram There he must Sweat till he express the same With like Felicity But on each Word Who equal Pains and Travel shall afford And thinks't a Mastery the same to hit Will oft spend Cost on Weakness ' stead of Wit Make his Verse strut and pride it in that part Which was the Author's Shift perhaps not Art Some things will bear some will require a Change And the chief Purpose will appear less strange Iâ— new Terms than its own A nobler Aim He will pursue if he shall seek a Name By keeping of the Force not Words the Wit And Grace and evermore the Genius hit That powerful Thing so hard 't is to expound But in whatever is well Writ is found But then no Law with them will e're dispense Who wildly ramble from the Author's sense Not only shift his Phrase but leave his way Follow not his but their own Phancies sway Little regarding what they undertook Namely to English not to write a Book To such we say Martial we hop'd to see His Epigrams not those were writ by Thee Obj. But th' Author seems sometimes to droop drowz Ans. If there a brisk but wary Touch do rowz His Vein the well-plac'd judgment all will praise And with his Worth your Own you 'l joyntly raise But when he 's exc'llent if you balk or range Write what you will none will accept the change But rigidly the Author's Sense require As he that of a Painter shall desire To copy some much-lov'd or honour'd Face Unlikeness will not please with better grace Altho' alas what some more graceful deem Meer Blunders and not Master-strokes do seem How Rash must he be then who nothing fears To change a Work approv'd a thousand Years But when he faithfully shou'd the Text express Preferrs to shew himself a Beau in Verse And with such confidence does act this part As if his Error were a Rule of Art Others there are who to this Work address With more pretence but with as small success Who when it is their Province to explain The Author's Excellence and noble Vein His beaut'ous Schemes to best advantage show Their Pains in searching Manuscripts bestow To criticize upon the Text affect The Poet not t' illustrate but correct Think if their Toyl retrieve from Mould and Rust Some Various Reading long obscur'd in Dust Th 'ave reach'd the highest Point tho' nought it tend T' improve the Sense or any grace to lend What boots it how the words are understood If the exchange produces nothing good These Mens Abilities their Margents speak Their Notes are learn'd their Version dull and weak Dost ask If I have all these Laws obey'd Th 'ave been my aim however I have stray'd TO THE READER On the Present Translation WHo for the Public View employs his Pen Writes to as many Iudges as to Men To those know more than he to those know less To those are skill'd to those can only guess He must submit altho' he lose his Cause To trifling Phancies as to equal Laws Nay and as if th' Objections were too few Himself against Himself must find out new And curious ones such as much Pains have taught And great Experience only could have brought And answ'ring all he 's yet not freed from Fear For when thus arm'd at ev'ry Point ev'n where He least does think of Wounds the fatal Steel Tho' like Achilles dipp'd will find his Heel Thus I am charg'd Cens. From th' Author thou dost range His Sense abridge enlarge and sometimes change Trans If as thou say'st I did not sometimes stray I oft should lose the End to keep the Way And tho' the Author to Translate might boast His Wit would vanish and his Drift be lost Again where he does blaze tho' tax that Sin The Heathen World was so engulphed in If any scap'd the knowledge of 't before I like'd not that my Pen should teach them more Cens. But while this Sin thou fondly dost detest Thou slight'st his smartest Epigrams and best Trans Who shall translate Martial's licentious Rage Unless he also could translate the Age In which he liv'd with Vice 't would him oppress Who never 'gainst Decorum did transgress But this so little we observ'd do find Men speak the Author's Words without his Mind For whereas he with Gall the Vice did press They set it forth exalted in their Verse No scruple make to bring it into Vogue Brand not and lash but glorifie the Rogue Bold Nomenclators they delight to show Themselves of Vice but little Good to know And if we rightly their Performance state 'T is their Lewd Selves not others they translate Cens. Yet with some looser Touches you dispense Trans Conclude not that I break my Rule from thence But as a Painter that will likeness take Must not refuse i' th' Face a Scarr to make If such he finds So I engag'd to draw Martial's Resemblance fetter'd by this Law Some Tracts must take which not so comely be That those who see the Piece may say 'T is He And tho' I his Obsceneness do omit Have merry tho' not wanton Martial hit Cens. You might have let the Work wholly alone Trans O candid Censor in amends for one Default how many Noble Precepts shine How many sharp Reproofs enrich each Line When the flat Preacher does exhort in vain A thousand Vices by his Verse are slain And Vertues taught Men rather would be dead Than in his Poem branded and ill-read Cens. Oft thou insertest Verses of
her Bed By Friends by Tears So wond'rous fair is she Nothing that lives can more deformed be What is 't that pleases then and takes his Eye She 's rich and coughs and gives good hopes she 'll dye Ep. 13. On Regulus Near Hercules Fane and Tibur's cooling Streams Where Alba Vapours forth pale sulphurous Steams Meadows and Lands are seen a sacred Grove Four Miles from Rome the Muses Care and Love A rude old Portico near to these high rais'd For grateful Shade in Heats of Summer prais'd A monstrous Fact committed had well nigh As Regulus in 's Chariot passed by The ponderous Fabrick rusht unto the Ground And him and 's Train did only not confound But Fortune did our Plaints and Curses fear Nor equal was the odious Crime to bear The Ruin pleases now which did not prove While yet it stood what Care the Gods above Have of good Men their Guardianship and Love Ep. 14. On Arria and Petus When Arria to her Petus gave the Sword With which her chast and faithful Breast sh 'ad gor'd Trust me said she that I my self have slain I do not grieve 't is thy Death gives me Pain Ep. 16. To Julius Iulius who com'st not my best Friends behind If constant Faith avail a sincere Mind The Term of threescore Years th' ast past almost And but few happy Days thou yet canst boast Ill thou deferr'st those Joys may never come And which when past thou only thine canst sum Evils on Evils cease not us to ply But Joys return not tho' they swiftly fly Use all thy Force to hold them yet you 'll find You may as well embrace the Waves or Wind. That he will live a wise Man should not say To Morrow's late he ought to live to Day Ep. 17. To Avitus Some things are good indiff'rent some some nought You read A Book can't otherwise be wrote Ep. 18. To Titus Thou urgest me to plead dost oft repeat How great it is a wrong Cause to defeat That which the Ploughman does is also great Ep. 19. To Tucca. Tucca what strange Delight is this of thine To mix the Noblest with the Vilest Wine What so great Good from Bad didst e'er receive Or of what Good did thee the Good bereave Our Throats to cut may no great Matter be To slay Falernum is a high Degree Of Murder rich Campanian Wine t' abuse I' th' Gen'rous Grape rank Poison to infuse Thy Guests may possibly deserve their Bane Such Precious Liquor cannot to be Slain Ep. 20. On AElia Four Teeth as I remember were thy Store One Cough spit-out two and one Cough two more Now safely thou mayst Cough thy whole Life through For the third Cough has nothing lest to do Ep. 21. To Caecilian What Brutishness is this when Friends you treat They looking on alone you Mushroms eat What on such Gluttony shall I implore Mayst Claudiu's Mushroms eat and ne'er eat more Ep. 22. On Mucius Scevola When for the King his Scribe bold Mucius slew In Flames instead of Blood he did embrew His erring Hand The Foe not steel'd to see 〈…〉 A Prodigy so fell bad him Go free What Mucius in contempt of Pain was bold To act Porsena fainted to behold His Failing Hand thus Greater Glory found Had he not Err'd he had been less Renown'd Ep. 26. On Faustinus At length Faustinus let the World obtain The polish'd Pieces of thy learned Brain Which the Athenian Schools would highly praise And our old Sages to the Stars will raise Dost doubt t' admit Fame standing at thy Gate Thy Labours just Reward to bear dost hate That which will After In thy Time let live Too late Men Praise unto our Ashes give Ep. 28. To Procillus To Sup with me to thee I did propound But 't was when our full Cups had oft gone round The thing thou straight concluded'st to be done Merry and Sober words counting all one Th'Example's dang'rous at the highest rate A Memorative Drunkard all Men hate Ep. 30. To Fidentinus 'T is said my Books thou dost abroad recite As if my Verses thou thy self didst write Verses I 'll Gratis send let them be mine Otherwise buy them that they may be thine Ep. 33. To Sabidius I love thee not but why I can't display I love thee not is all that I can say Ep. 34. On Galla. Galla alone her Father's Death ne'er weeps When any come in Tears her Cheeks she steeps That Galla is not Grief for Praise is shown She truly grieves that grieves when she 's alone Ep. 36. To Cornelius Cornelius thou complain'st I Verses write So loose and wanton Masters they affright From reading in the Schools But these my Books Please if not wanton none who on them looks More than the Marriage-Bed without due Rites The Sob'rest Man or Chastest Wife delights Thou may'st say too A Nuptial Song endite But in the Nuptial Language do not write Who e'er did Flora gravely dress before Or put a Matron's Stole upon a Whore To Epigrams much License is allow'd Nor please they speaking always in a Cloud Wherefore lay by thy Grave and Sourer Mind And judge my Sportive Muse in her own Kind Geld not my Verse for foul is his Mistake Who a Priapus Cybel's Priest would make Ep. 37 To Lucanus and Tullius If to thee Tullius or to Lucan thee Castor and Pollux Fate allow'd might be Your Pious Strife both mutually wou'd show Each before other unto Death wou'd go And He whose lot it was to lead the Way Live my Time Brother and your own wou'd say Ep. 39. On Fidentinus The Book Fidentine which thou read'st is mine But while thou read'st it Ill thou mak'st it thine Ep. 40. To Decianus If a rare Friend I wou'd essay to show So faithful Ages past did only know If one imbew'd with Greek and Latin lore Whom single Goodness through all Dangers bore Guardian and Friend of Truth who would not fear That Men of what he asks the Gods should hear Who leans alone on 's Vertue great and sound Decian is he in whom all these are found Ep. 41. To the Envious Who read'st these Lines from ranc'rous Spleen not free May'st Envy all and none e'er Envy thee Ep. 42. On Cecilius Thou seem'st Facetious to thy self to be But others no such thing in thee can see What then Brutish Buffoonery and Rank Such as the Cryers shew on Tibur's Bank That which for Wit among some People passes Chaffering for Brimstone Matches broken Glasses Such as the Sellers of warm Pulse and Meat Delight those with who in the Streets do eat Such as from Boys and Butchers you shall hear When Pug goes by the Bag-pipe and the Bear From Ballad-singers of the meanest Strain When People make a Ring t' applaud their Vein Such as old Bauds do undertake to make Whose shameless Impudence for Wit some take Cease then at length fondly thy self to deem What none beside thy self do thee esteem That from Caballus thou dost bear the Bell In
Drollery fam'd Galba far excel It is not given to all to have a Wit True Ralliery in the right Vein to hit Who utters sottish Jests and scurrilous Dross Sextus Caballus acts not but the Horse Ep. 43. On Porcia When Brutus death Fame unto Porcia brought And Friends with-held the Arms her Sorrow sought I thought said she my Father when he dy'd Taught ye that Death to none can be deny'd She spoke and greedily devour'd the Fire Go now officious Throng vainly conspire The Weapons to deny my Grief desire Ep. 45. To Stella If twice the Hares and Lions sporting be A Subject Stella trivial unto thee Revenge thy self upon me with like Fare Invite me twice and set before me Hare Ep. 54. To Fidentine I' th' Book th' ast filcht from me one Page alone Is thine and to be thine is so well known It all the rest proclaims to be purloin'd So greasy home-spun Cloth to Scarlet joyn'd Its Lustre as it wrongs and does defile It self it also renders the more vile So Earthen Cups with Chrystal set in place The worse they suit the more themselves disgrace In Consort thus ridiculous does show Among the Milk-white Swans a Rascal Crow A chattring Pies harsh Notes in Groves so sound Where Quires of charming Nightingales abound I need no Critick's Aid for my Relief Thy own vile Verse rights me and calls thee Thief Ep. 55. To Fuscus If thou hast room t' admit a Friend yet more Fuscus on all sides throng'd with Friends before I beg the place And do not me refuse Because I 'm new into the List to chuse Those that now boast thy oldest Friends they are Had once a time when they but new ones were Look only thou if he that now does sue To be thy Friend may prove an Old and True Ep. 56. To Fronto Wouldst thou know what my highest Wishes are Fronto the Glory both of Peace and War They are to plough my own tho' little Field Small Means to have which may much Leisure yield Will any wise the Morning Ave pay To frozen Marbles e'er the break of Day Who may unfold before his Fire and warm Nets loaded from his small but fruitful Farm Or with his Line may take the Fish alive Fetch Amber Honey from the dropping Hive Whose propt-up Table by his Hind is prest With his own Cates which unbought Fewel drest May they not love this Life that love not me But aged grow in City-drudgery Ep. 58. To Flaccus Wouldst know what Temper I to love would chuse What Maid I like and what I would refuse I neither like the facile nor the coy The Over-hard nor easie to enjoy A mean 'twixt both I rather do approve She that nor Racks nor Cloys the Sweets of Love Ep. 63. On Levina Levina chast as Sabins were of old Than her strict Husband yet more strict and cold While in the common Baths she did descend And in those Freedoms many Hours did spend She fell in Love in the cold Streams took Fire And burning with a Youth in loose Desire She left her Husband and her vertuous Name Helen went thence Penelope that came Ep. 64. On Celer Celer to read my Epigrams does crave But to recite his own 's the thing he 'd have Ep. 65. To Fabulla Th' art fair and young Fabulla it is true And also rich to give thee but thy Due But when of these thou dost so often vaunt Wealth Youth and Beauty none so much does want Ep. 67. To one that stole his Verses Thou sordid Felon of my Verse and Fame So cheap dost hope to get a Poet's Name As by the Purchase barely of my Book For ten vile Pence Eternal Glory rook Find out some Virgin Poem ne'er saw Day Which wary Writers in their Desks do lay Lock'd up and known unto themselves alone Not one with Using torn and sordid grown A Publish'd Work can ne'er the Author change Like one ne'er pass'd the Press that ne'er did range The World trimly bound up And such I 'll sell Give me my Price nor will the Secret tell He that another's Wit and Fame will own Must Silence buy and not a Book that 's known Ep. 68. To Choerilus Thou blam'st me often that I write too free I seem to do so when I write of Thee Ep. 69. On Rufus All Rufus Thoughts and Actions Nevia fills His Grief Joy Silence all speak Nevia still Where'er he feasts Nevia's inâ—'s Speech alone He wants all Powers if Nevia makes not one Meaning to wish his Father the Good Day Nevia my Light Ave his Tongue did say Nevia read this and closely smil'd thereon Why Fool dost rave Nevia's not thine alone Ep. 71. To his Book Go Book to Proculus splendid Seat resort And in my Stead make thy officious Court Let not his State and Grandure thee dismay To th' Learn'd no Gate affords an op'ner way To Phaebus and the Muses is more dear If he shall ask Why is himself not here Reply I could not were my Verses slight Attend the great and e'en such mean ones write Ep. 73. On Fidentine For Verses Fidentine thou stealst from me A Poet fain thou wouldst reputed be Old AEgle so well-tooth'd would yet be thought When she a Set of Ivory Teeth hath bought Painted Lycoris to her self seems fair Who only with a Gypsie can compare On like Account a Poet thou art nam'd And may'st tho' bald for youthful Locks be fam'd Ep. 77. To Flaccus Among my Noblest Friends thou who hast place Flaccus the Offspring of Antenor's Race Renounce the Muses Songs and charming Quire Not one of them Enrich those they inspire Court not Apollo Pallas has the Gold She 's wise and does the Gods in Mortgage hold What Profit is there in an Ivy Wreath Its Fruits the loaden Olive sinks beneath In Helicon there 's nought but Springs and Bays The Muses Harps loud-sounding empty Praise What with Parnassus's Streams hast thou to do The Roman Forum's rich and nearer too There the Cash chinks But 'bout the Poet 's Chaiâ— The Smacks of Kisses only fill the Air. Ep. 79. On Festus When a foul Gangren seiz'd on Festus Face And the Black Venom spread o'er all the Place With unwet Eyes his weeping Friends he told Th' infernal Shades he purpos'd to behold But then his pious Throat he did not stain With Poison nor chuse Famin's ling'ring Pain But by a Roman Death he did decree The noblest way to set his Spirit free Far more Renoun'd was his than Cato's End Cato was Cesar's Foe but he his Friend Ep. 84. On Manneja That thy Dog loves to lick thy Lips th' art pleas'd He 'll lick that too of which thy Belly 's eas'd And not to flatter and the Truth to smother I do believe he knows not one from t' other Ep. 85. On Quirinus a Roman Knight Quirinus likes by no Means to be wed Yet Fruit desires and has o' th' Marriage Bed How can this be His Maids can solve the Doubt
free Ep. 69. On a Smell-Feast Unwillingly thou Supp'st abroad I 'll die If what thou say'st be not a splendid Lie In others Treats Apicius did Delight And with Regret at Home did pass the Night If thou unwilling art why dost thou go Th' art forc'd thou say'st All Smell-Feasts are forc'd so Melior invites thee to a Sumptuous Feast Where are thy Braggs Deny Now is the Test. Ep. 71. To Cecilianus There 's none than thee more Candid can be said Who when some Parcels in my Book thou 'ast read From Marsus or Catullus dost recite The like to shew how much I better write Compar'd with them Thy Good-will's to me known But would thou'dst read some Verses of thine own Ep. 75. On a Lion A Lion wont his Keeper's Stripes to bear Into whose Mouth his Hand without all Fear He us'd to thrust such Tameness he was taught But suddenly so high his Fury wrought 'T was 'bove what from the Lybian Clime he brought For while two Boys did rake the sandy Floor With Savage Rage he both in Pieces tore The Theatre like Crime ne'er knew before Romans may well say Treacherous Beast forbear Of Romulus Wolf young Children learn to spare Ep. 77. To Cosconius Thou think'st my Epigrams in length exceed To grease the Charret-Wheels to make them speed Thou' rt only fit Who Poems Lengths dost rate By the Foot-Rule not Reason Wit and Weight By the same Law Colossus thou mayst call Too long the Figure of a Child too small Of Marsus Pedo learn what you don't know Two Pages on one Subject they 'd bestow That is not long from which thou nought canst take But Coscon thou canst long a Distick make Ep. 80. On Fannius When Fannius from his Foe did fly Himself with his own Hands he slew Who e'er a greater Madness knew Life to destroy for fear to Dye Ep. 82. On Ponticus What vails it thee to make thy Slave a Mute Of thy foul Crimes much louder's now the Bruit Ep. 85. To a Friend A Summer Gift that I in Winter make In evil part I wou'd not have thee take Or for my Present hold me for a Clown But while 't is Cold send me a Summer Gown Ep. 86. To Classicus That I Acrostick's Glory not to write In Verses backwards read take no Delight Make not the Eccho in my Verses play After the Grecian Poetastring way Nor yet soft melting Numbers so respect As more the Chime than ev'n the Sense t' affect So bad a Poet as these ways to take I am not Classicus What Hire would make Lada for Swiftness fam'd so meanly stoop To leave the Race and tumble through a Hoop Disgraceful 't is unto a Poet's Name Difficult Toys to make his highest Aim The â—â—bours foolish that does rack the Brains For Things have nothing in them but much pains Let Gallus chant while the Rout make a Ring To choicest Ears I only joy to sing Ep. 88. On Mamercus Thou wouldst a Poet be yet nought dost write Be what thou wilt so nought thou dost indite Ep. 89. To Gaurus In Profuse Drinking that thy Nights are spent Gaurus thou Cato hast for President Tully for barb'rous Verses thou dost write As if the Muses bore to thee a Spight Antony Apicius Vomitings did use Thy horrid Lust no Patron can excuse Ep. 90. To Quintilianus Of Giddy Youth thou Guide of high Renown Quintilian Glory of the Roman Gown That I do haste tho' Poor thy Licence give T' enjoy my Life None haste enough to live Who aim t' encrease their Father's Wealth to throng Their Courts with Statues this deferr too long I only to these easie things aspire A Spring with Natural Turf a shining Fire Servants well fed a plain unlearned Wife Nights pass'd away in Sleep Days without Strife Ep. 91. To Caesar. Welfare and Glory of the Earth while thee We safe behold we Gods believe to be If my slight Books did e'er thee entertain And oft to read them thou didst not disdain What Nature does deny do Thou bestow For Father of three Children make me go When my Verse takes not this will be an Ease A high Reward in case they thee do please Ep. 92. To his Wife He Father of three Children me has made And all my Muses Labours richly paid Who only cou'd thee Wife I 'll not retain Least I the Prince's Bounty render vain LIB III. Ep. 1. To the Reader THis third Book good or bad what e'er it be Gallia Togata sends from far to thee If reading this my former thou dost praise Both yet are mine that which least claims the Bays Those must excel born Rome within thy Wall A Slave of thine above a free-born Gaul Ep. 2. To his Book To whom shall I a Present make thee Book Speedily for a Patron round thee look Least Cooks as if waste-Paper or astray To wrap up Spices ravish thee away Shall Faustine thee protect dost say Th' art wise Now richly bound Contempt thou mayst dispise Twisted with Silk and Gold thy Head-bands show Luxuriously all gilded over go For if Faustinus shall approve of thee No Critick fear tho Probus self he be Ep. 3. On an ill Shap'd Woman Thy Face that 's fair thou vailst when thou dost go To Bathe an ugly Body naked show Believe the Water Nymph thee thus does pray Bath in thy Clothes or cast thy Vail away Ep. 4. To his Book Book haste to Rome Whence com'st thou If men say Reply From th' Track of the Emilian way If they demand the City where I dwell Imola or Cornelii Forum tell If for what Cause I 'm Absent they enquire The Follies of the City me did Tire If when I do return A Poet say I went when on a Fiddle I can play Ep. 5. To his Book My Book while thee to Rome alone I send Shall I to many Friends or one commend One's enough where no Stranger thou'lt be found Iulius whose Name my Tongue so oft does sound The House once Daphnis him does Master call You 'll find him strait in the first Court of all His Wife will thee into her Bosom Store Altho with Highway-Dust all cover'd o'er If them together or apart you meet Say only thus you Marcus bids me greet This is enough Who Letters brings offends Thinking he Commendations needs to Friends Ep. 8. On Quintus Quintus loves Thais Which Thais the blind As she wants one Eye he wants both I find Ep. 9. On Cinna Cinna 't is said does Verses write 'gainst me He does not write whose Verse none cares to see Ep. 10. On Philomusus Thy Father knowing thy Luxurious way Assign'd thee an Allowance for each Day Such as thy Table might both stint and serve That neither thou might'st riot nor yet starve But when he dy'd he left thee Heir of All. What greater Mischeif cou'd to thee befall Thy Disinheriting thou this may'st call Ep. 11. On Quintus If she thou lov'st nor blind nor Thais be What makes thee think last Distich
immortal Fame What profits this some say tho so it be If none it profits yet it pleases me Ep. 16. To his Reader When I could serious useful things endite That I do only what is pleasant write Thou Reader art the Cause who chant'st my Prnise But weigh'st not at what rate I buy thy Bays If to the Law I did my Study bend And sell my Words the Guilty to defend Many a Ship would bring me Wares from Spain My Lap would sordid be with frequent Gain Whereas my Book and I trim Guests are now At Feasts and Glory 's all that Men allow Poets of old such Pay did not content When bright Alexis was the least was sent But well thou cry'st thou 'st writ none can it mend Think'st this enough to praise me without end O'erseest my Wants forbear'st thy Purse to draw Thou 'lt praise me out of Poetry to Law Ep. 18. On Quinctianus Now in December that the Napkins fly About Spoons Candles Paper Plums that I Only my Home-born Books a Present make For Rude or Covetous thou mayst me take But know I hate the vile insnaring Trade By which a Gift a baited Hook is made Which is not cast to feed the hungry Fish But for a Prey to fill the Fisher's Dish Then Quinctianus to his wealthy Friend A Poor Man's lib'ral when he nought does send Ep. 20. To Julius Martialis If my dear Martial 't were allow'd to me An undisturbed Life to spend with thee Our Quiet to what lik'd us best to give And both at leisuâ—e were truly to live We'd never know the Pow'rful in the State Within their Courts as do their Statues wait At the vexatious Pleading-Bar attend But all our Time in Books and Converse spend Taking in shady Groves or Fields the Air In Baths in Feasts courting some gentle Fair. These our dear Haunts and Business should be still And both our spare and serious Hours should fill That now we live alas we cannot say Only we find the good Suns post away And that tho' lost imputed is each Day Can those that know to live to live delay Ep. 22. On Apollonius Instead of Decimus thou didst Quintus greet And Macrus name when thou didst Crassus meet What Wonders we to Labour may impute Writing and Conning thou canst both salute Ep. 24. On Hermes Hermes the Martial Glory of the Age Skilful in all the Combats of the Stage Hermes Master of Fence and Fencer too The Cock and Terror of the Sword-men's Crew Hermes whom Helius fears but fears alone Avolans yields to yet to him but one Hermes that knows to conquer without Blows The Second to himself against all Foes Hermes the Stages Mint and endless Gain The Love and Strife of all their Female Train Hermes that proudly shakes the Warlike Spear And fiercely threat'ning does the Trident bear Hermes when casked for the blind-fold Fight When mope'd and drooping seems does then affright Hermes engrosses all Men's Gifts in one And Trismegistus Name deserves alone Ep. 26. On Cherestratus Wanting a Knight's Estate you want the Style The Lictor comes Stand up void stay a while Does any the Degraded Knight call back O noble Deed Is any Friend not slack Out of vast Wealth his Title to restore Not lost by any Vice but being Poor His Gen'rous Name we will commit to Verse Which all succeding Ages shall rehearse Who 's thus resolv'd his better part to save And not descend Intire into the Grave And wer 't not nobler so great Wealth bestow Than on a vain ambitious publick Show On brass unfeeling Statues it expend Altho' the Artifice the Charge commend O rich in vain O Falsly seeming Wise Who read approve and yet true Fame despise Ep. 28. On a counterfeit Knight For Garb for Parts all thee wou'd Noble rate If thou Plebean were 't not in Estate To sit 'mongst Knights 't is not a Grace so high To make thee pale whene'er the Lictor's nigh Ep. 29. On Mamercus Mamercus good Conceit or Word to gain The best Endeavours Aulus are in vain Excel the Curii in a Pious Fame 'Bove Nerva Rufus get a Courteous Name In Justice Macrus Mauricus out-do Renowned Regulus and Paulus too For Mirth and Eloquence Yet all he bites With canker'd Teeth and to asperse delights You judge perhaps that Envy 's his Disease I think Unhappiness whom none does please Ep. 32. On Gellia When thou present'st me Gellia with an Hare Marcus thou say'st 't will make the seven Days fair If Hare be such a beautifying Meat Thou ne'er of one in all thy Life didst eat Ep. 32. On Children Sporting upon the Bulls See how th' advent'rous Boys insult secure While the mild Bulls their Weight and Sport endure One hangs upon a Horn while others run O'er their broad Backs skirmish assault and shun Each other's Blows The Bulls as frozen stand Combat they could not firmer on the Land The Children strive for th' Palm without all fear The Bulls alone solicitous appear Ep. 33. On Crispus a Glutton Crispus one Doit of 's Wealth to none did leave What came of 't then Who did his Land receive Alive to 's Belly he did all bequeath Ep. 35. On Erotion Fronto Flaccilla who the Parents were Of young Erotion to your tender Care My Darling I commit that no grim Ghost Or three-mouth'd Dog that guards the Stygian Coast The gentle Soul affright but six Years old And those by six days had not fully told With her old Patron she wou'd sport and game When scarce her lisping tongue could speak my name Now Earth to her a Light interment give To thee no Burden when she here did live Ep. 36. On Euclid While Euclid clad in Purple loud did brawl And near together by the Ears did fall With Lectius bidding him his Seat to leave Protesting proudly that he did receive Two thousand yearly Patrimonial Rent And more which his Corinthian Mannor sent Produc'd an ancient goodly Pedigree Deriv'd from Leda by which all might see He was in truth a Knight rich potent great An huge foul Key the Badge of Slaves i' th' Heat Unfortunately from his Bosom fell Did y' e'er of such a spightful Key hear tell Ep. 38. On Erotion Than Swans O sweetest Girl thou wer't more white Than driven Snow than untouch'd Lillies bright Than a Galesian Lamb more soft more smooth Than sea-wash'd Shells th'Elephants pollish'd Tooth Gems with thy sparkling Eyes might not compare The Baetick Wool rival thy glist'ring Hair Nor Germans yellow Locks in Curls up roll'd Or radiant Fileings of the burnish'd Gold Thy Breath than Roses did more fragrant smell The Virgin Wax and Amber chaf'd excel The Peacoak had no Beauty set by thee The Phenix self but vulgar seem'd to be Such my Erotion was at six Years old Snatch'd hence by Fates scarce in her Tomb yet cold My Joy she was my whole Delight and Love Yet Petus that I mourn does not approve He says unmanly 't is to tare my Hair My Breast
all the Sea of Blood thou shedd'st beside How durst thou Mad-man sheath thy impious Blade In Rome's own Throat In Tully's Life invade The Commonwealths A Crime that put a stand To Cat'lin's Soul and damp'd his daring Hand Thou Hir'dst a Villain with accursed Gold To gagg the Tongue that did thy Life unfold What boots it thee to silence at such Price One divine Tongue Think'st so to hide thy Vice For Vertue now and Murder'd Tully's sake All Tongues inveigh and all Philippicks make Ep. 70. On Syriscus a Slave In rambling only through base Booths and Huts Vile Tap-Houses and Cellars among Sluts Syriscus full five hundred Pound made fly His Lord 's vain Gift i' th' twinckling of an Eye Strange Luxury to consume all this deal Nor sitting for 't the Time allow'd a Meal Ep. 73. To Theodorus That I may Books do not to thee impart Altho thou su'st and Instant for them art Dost wonder For good Cause I this decline For fear lest Theodore thou give me thine Ep. 74. On Pompey and his Sons Europe and Asia Pompey's Sons intomb Africk himself if he finds any Room No wonder thus the World they Quarter slain What Soil so great a Ruin could contain Ep. 77. On Cinna By th' often Use of Poison he did make The Pontick King unhurt could Poison take And Cinna thou by eating ill tak'st care Neither to die by scant or evil Fare Ep. 79. On Zoilus I' th' Meal ten times thou from the Board dost range And ev'ry time thou dost thy Vestment change For fear lest Sweating harm thy Body get Between the Air and Garments that are wet Why sweat not I who Sup with thee thou Fool Who has no Change of Clothes is strangely cool Ep. 81. To Emilianus If thou art Poor thou shalt be ever so The Rich do only on the Rich bestow LIB VI. Ep. 1. To Julius Martialis THis my sixth Book Iulius to thee I send Dear 'mong the first and my judicious Friend If it shall pass approv'd thy learned Ear When 't is in Caesar's Hand I less shall fear Ep. 4. To Domitian Censor of Manners is thy Glory more Than Prince of Princes which thou had'st before Tho' for so many Triumphs Rome does owe Which thy Heroick Valour did bestow So many Temples new so many old So many Shows and Gods by thee enroll'd So many Cities won or else laid Waste Yet more she owes that thou hast made her Chast. Ep. 5. To Cecilianus I lately purchas'd have a Piece of Ground Cecilian lend me pray a hundred Pound Dost say I ne'er will pay And thereon pause To speak the Truth I borrow for that cause Ep. 7. On Thelesina Since the Law 'gainst Adultery took place And all are forced Chastity t' embrace In less than thirty Days thou hast been wed Ten times ten Men admitted to thy Bed Who weds so oft not weds but plays the Whore And than Adultery offendeth more Ep. 8. To Severus No less than Pretors two and Tribunes four Seven Advocates and Poets half a Score Were Sutors lately to a certain Maid Her Father of them all small Reck'ning made But on a Crier did the Girl bestow Wherein he play'd the Fool I do not know Ep. 10. To Domitian I late of Iove a Thousand Crowns did crave He 'll giv 't says he who me a Temple gave That he 't is true a Temple gave to thee But yet no thousand Crowns bestows on me I backward was our Iove this way t' engage But how serene How free from cloudy Rage He read my Suit With such a placid Brow To conquer'd Kings their Crowns he does allow And from the Capitol returns and goes O Virgin Who alone our great Lord knows If with such Looks he does our Sutes reject Say with what Mien he does them then accept I pray'd Pallas her Shield revers'd reply'd What is not giv'n yet thinkst thou Fool deny'd Ep. 11. On Marcus Thou wonder'st Friendship now 's no more renown'd That no Orestes Pylades are found Pylades ever Marcus drank o' th' same Nor fatter Thrushes to Orestes came Each better than himself did th' other treat No diff'rence made in Beverage or in Meat On Lucrine Oysters thou dost gormondize While flashy of Peloris me suffice And yet my Palat's as refin'd as thine As skild in the best Meats and noblest Wine Rich Tyrian Wool to make thy Garment's sought But mine the coursest which from Gallia's brought Would'st have me love thee in a Purple Gown While I am clad like some poor rustick Clown If you expect I Pylades should be Orestes you must shew your self to me Friendship by Deeds not Words must be approv'd The Man must Love that seeks to be Belov'd Ep. 13. On the Statue of Julia. Who would not think this Peice by Phidias wrought Or to Perfection by Minerva brought The Snow white Marble seemeth even to speak Such Life and Grace does from the Count'nance break It sporting holds Loves Girdle in its Hand And 'bove the God of Love does Love command When Venus would in Mars lost Flames renew Here for the charming Cestus she must Sue Ep. 14. On Laberius Thou canst write exc'llent Verse as thou dost say Why then to write Laberius dost delay Who can do ought that 's excellent and with-hold Among the greatest Men may be enroll'd Ep. 15. On an Emmet Under a Poplar while an Emmet goes An Amber Drop did the small Beast enclose Thus that which worthless was while it did live It 's Funeral now doth a high Value give Ep. 17. On Cinnamus thou 'dst be call'd Cinna Cinnamus is thy Name Such barb'rous Practice many would defame To be nam'd Theseus say it thee befell And Men should call thee Thief wou'd'st take it well Ep. 18. On Solinus Solinus sacred Reliques rest in Spain Few Ghosts so noble 'mong the Dead remain 'T were Sin to mourn for him that 's yet alive Whose Body 's dead but Glory does survive Ep. 19. To his Advocate Of Murder Poison War th' ast nought to say But of three Goats my Neighbour stole away The Judge requires I this should make appear To th' Pontick War thou mak'st Excursions here Canna's Fight Punick Falshood thou with might Of Hand and Voice dost roaring out recite Of Syllas Marius Mutius various Story Speak now to three Goats lost in so much Glory Ep. 20. To Phoebus Thou saying oft Wil 't nought of me command To borrow a small Sum I did demand But then thou humm'st demurr'dst thy self and me With long Doubts vext I nothing ask th' art free Ep. 22. On Proculina That Proculina's marry'd to her Knave And will her Gallant for her Husband have Fearing the Iulian Law She does not wed But now proclaims what Life before she led Ep. 24. On Charisianus Charisianus's vainer far than all the Town When others Maâ—querade he 's seen in 's Gown Ep. 25. To Marcellinus Thou gen'rous Offspring of a Noble Race Bold Marcellinus who now holds the Place Where horrid
Kitchen makes all Festival and bright The ranting Cook demands a pow'r of Spice Choice Wines for Pickle of the highest Price Back to thy Lord return thou blust'ring Boar My Range to entertain thee is too poor Dreadful alive Destructive even when slain No less the Treaters than the Huntsman's Bain Mean Food and scant I rather choose to bear Than such Confounding tho'Voluptuous Fare Ep. 30. To Regulus The Chian Figs the Eggs and Laying Hens The hoarse-voic'd Fowl fat Prisoners of the Pens The shaggy Kid the Dam lamented lost Olives preserv'd from Injury of Frost The hoary Herbs bearing the Morning Dew In my own Farm thou think'st all bred or grew A pompous Error there is no such store But a starv'd Owner nought it ever bore Whate'er thy Umbrian Hinde to thee does bring Or in thy Tusculan or Tuscan Spring Markets afford all I on Friends bestow Suburra's the rich Soil in which they grow Ep. 32. On Cinna When in a sordid Gown thou lov'st to go But shews as white as the new fallen Snow Why 'bout thy Feet thy Gown to wear dost use Fool tuck it up or it will foul thy Shooes Ep. 3â— To Stella When my craz'd House Heav'ns Show'rs cou'd not sustain But floated with vast Deluges of Rain Thou shingles Stella seasonably didst send Which from th' impetuous Storms did me defend Now fierce loud sounding Boreas Rocks does cleave Dost clothe the Farm and Farmer naked leave Ep. 38. On Caelius Caelius impatient longer to abide The Morning Aves and the Great Mens Pride From vagrant Jants and dirty toilsom Pain To free himself began the Gout to feign Which while too much he sought shou'd true appear And swath'd his Feet and did with Oyntments smear Walk'd as in Pain the more his Grief to shew See what great Art and Industry can do He feigns not now the Gout his Gout is true Ep. 41. To Castricus If any in Rich Gifts with thee dare vie His Skill with thee in verse too let him try I poor in both prepared am to yield And find much Ease by quitting of the Field Why then Ill Verses do I thee present Dost think none e'er Alcinous Apples sent Ep. 42. To Cinna The best when thou art ask'd is to say ay The next is Cinna quickly to deny I love him Gives him that Denies not hate But thou both givest and deny'st too late Ep. 43. To Q. Ovidius on the Statue of Cesonius See thy Cesonius lively figur'd here Who unto thee Ovidius was so dear Whom Nero did condemn but thou didst dare Nero condemn while thou his Fate durst share Despising of thine own and went'st along Through Seas through Rocks Great Partner of his Wrong An Exile him to follow thou didst chuse Tho' this when Consul thou didst him refuse If Names shall live commended by my Verse This Fact to future Ages they 'll rehearse That the like Faith from thee Cesonius found For which to Seneca himself was so renown'd Ep. 45. To Priscus While Verses thou wilt have thy Gift attend Which thou desir'st like Homer's may be penn'd Thy self and me thou vexest day and night And to my Grief thy Muse takes her Delight Lofty and chiming Verse to th'Rich present Course useful Gifts best to the Poor are sent Ep. 46. To Licinius Sura Thou most Illustrious of our Learned Men Whose Style the Ancients does retrieve again How great a Gift did Fates on us bestow When ready now to taste the Waves below They sent thee back when all gave way to Tears And had deposed both their Hopes and Fears Hells Regent could not so much Envy bear But did himself thy Thread of Life repair Thou â—eest what Grief wer 't Dead would all annoy And may'st thy After-life in Life enjoy Live like one snatch'd from Death crop Joy's brief Flow'r Who from the Grave 's return'd should lose no hour Ep. 50. To Urbicus If you desire my Sportive Books to know Yet care not for them Money to bestow Pompeius Auctus unknown from me greet In Mars Revenger's Temple him you 'll meet Skill'd in all Law and Courts On him I look Not as my Reader but my very Book By heart he has so perfect ev'ry Line That not a Title can be lost that 's mine So that the Author he might claim to be Did he not favour both my Fame and Me. You may your self to him at ten invite From Business he is never free till night His little Supper will admit of two He 'll Read to Eat is all you have to do And when you say Enough he 'll still go on Nay tho you 're tir'd he will not yet have done Ep. 51. To Auctus Reading my Books to Celer pleases me If what thou read'st to him as pleasing be O'er Spain my Native Soyle he does preside Such Justice in that World did ne'er reside So Great a Man my Rev'rence does excite Not to a Reader but a Judge I write Ep. 52. On Umber All the Saturnal five days to thee sent In one vast Gift thou didst to me present Twelve Table-books seven Tooth-picks and a Cup Olives and Beans in Bull-rush Frails made up Even pace with these a Spoon and Napkin bore A Flaggon stain'd with Wine as black as Gore Dry'd Plums Prunello's of the oldest date A Jarr of Libyan Figs of massy weight The Price of all did of four Shillings lack Which eight strong Slaves yet bore upon their Back How easie more commodious had it been By a little Boy t' have sent four Guinea's in Ep. 53. To Nasidienus There 's not a Morn that me thou dost not vex With idle Dreams that may my Thoughts perplex Which while to expiate thou dost pretend The Wine of two years Vintage to an end Is brought Salt Meal whole heaps of Gums are spent And from my dwindling Flocks my Lambs are sent A Pig an Hen an Egg I cannot keep Watch with a Pox or at thine own Charge sleep Ep. 55. On Rabirius Domitian's Principal Architect When with such Art Rabirius did design Th'Emperial Palace Models all Divine His Soul conceiv'd his soreing Thoughts did fly Up to the starry Pole and arched Sky Phidias his Iove were Pisa now t'inshrine No Structure they 'd approve but what were thine Ep. 58. On Cecilianus Cecilian without Boar did never eat How well the Eater's suited and his Meat Ep. 59. To Jove Great Rome dread Iove and Heav'n obey thy Nod And all believe when Caesar's safe a God While others for themselves do thee adore Whate'er a Deity can give implore That I alone do nought of thee desire As Pride in me let it not move thine Ire That thou to Caesar would'st propitious be I only pray and Caesar unto me Ep. 60. To Domitian Presumptuous Traders did all Rome possess No bounds did set to such their mad Excess Caesar the pester'd Streets did open lay Where only was a Path he made a Way Ground for their Huts or Vessels none might hire To cause the Praetor tâ—ead o'er
Shoes i' th' Mire And Rogues encourag'd secret Arms to bear Cooks Barbers Vict'allers all restrained are Thy Edict Caesar their Encroachments stop Rome's Rome again 't was lately one great Shop Ep. 63. On a Barber When but a Barber thou wert known to be Thy wanton Dame rais'd thee to Knights degree But for thy Crimes obnoxious to the Law To Sicily thou thought'st fit to withdraw In thy now useless Age what Art wilt court Thy wretched Life how sav'd by flight support Rhet'rick or Grammar Skill thou dost not own Philosophy is more to thee unknown T' a forreign Stage thy self thou canst not hire Sir Knight to Barb again thou must retire Ep. 64. To Gargilianus Ten Winters Gargilianus twice o'er told Thy single Law-Suit in three Courts did hold Ah Wretch and Mad-man Twenty Years to brawl When in thy Pow'r it was to give up all Ep. 65. On Labienus Fabius sole Heir did Labienus leave He yet complains he did his Hopes deceive Ep. 67. To Rufus My Book to shew thy Father Friend forbear Perhaps he only likes those Serious are My wanton Verse if they with him succeed I dare to Curius and Fabricius read Ep. 68. On Theophila This is Theophila that Learned She The Gods my Canius have reserv'd for thee Whom his Disciple Plato's proud to name The Stoâ— doth as emulously claim The Works will live that pass her Learned Test So Wise so above Woman is her Breast Not fair Pantenis can to her aspire Tho' so Illustrious in the Muses Quire Amorous Sappho may admire her Verse Greater in Virtue not in Po'sie less Ep. 72. To Maximus Houses in Dian's Mount in Esquilin More i' th' Patrician Street of thine are seen Hence Cybel's Fane from thence thou may'st behold Vesta's here Iove's new Temple there his old Where may we find thee Say in what place Tell. Who ev'ry where resides does no where dwell Ep. 75. To Philomusus Our Great ones strive who first shall catch thee up Who carry thee to Plays to Walk to Sup Take high Delight as often as they may To bathe with thee to have thee on the way Do not for this thy self too much admire They do not love thee but to Laugh desire Ep. 80. To Lausus Thou thirty Epigrams dost note for bad Call my Book Good if thirty Good it had Ep. 82. On Eutrapelus Eutrapelus the Barber works so slow That while he shaves the Beard a-new does grow Ep. 83. To his Book While my Cecilius to the World would leave My Picture and the rare Piece seems to breath My Book to Peuce and still Ister go Held by Secundus from the conquer'd Foe To him a small but pleasing Gift thou'lt be And in my Verse my perfect Face he 'll see Which neither Chance nor pow'r of Time can rase Ev'n when Apelles Works they shall deface Ep. 84. To Sabellus That thou Tetrastichs writes not without Wit And Distichs also prettily dost hit I praise but not admire 'T is no hard Task Verses to write a Book more Skill does ask Ep. 85. On Sextus When but a Stranger to thy Birth-day Feast I ever Sextus was a constant Guest What 's fallen out What did thy Anger move After so many Years and Proofs of Love That I thy ancient Friend am passed by But I my self can tell the Reason why I sent no Plate no Gift to thee I made For thou call'st that a Treat in truth's a Trade Profit thou seek'st thou seek'st not Sextus Friends My Man forgot thou say'st his Stripes shall make amends Ep. 86. On Himself If Flaccus in an horned Owl delight And Canius in an Ethiope black as Night If Publius much a little Bitch does love And Cronius does an Ape no less approve If Marius a vile Indian Mouse affects If Lausus thou a pratling Pye respect'st Glacilla wreaths about her Neck a Snake Another for her Bird a Tomb does make Why may not I admire a lovely Face When Monsters like to these the others grace Ep. 89. To Creticus Matho objects my Books unequal are If he says true he praises e'er aware Calvin and Umber write an equal Strain Naught is the Book that 's free from heights and plain Ep. 91. On Baccara If need thou hast thou need'st not me intreat Baccar these Words thou often dost repeat My Creditor's Rage thou in his Look dost read Thou seest but know'st not Baccar what I need My Rent thou by is call'd for in with speed Thou hear'st but know'st not Baccar what I need I shiver in a tatter'd thread-bare Weed Thou seest yet know'st not Baccar what I need I need that thou wert Planet-struck with speed No more that thou may'st say What dost thou need Ep. 94. On Linus 'T is Winter and December's horrid Cold Makes all things stark yet Linus thou lay'st hold On all thou meet'st none can thy Clutches miss But with thy frozen Mouth all Rome dost kiss What could'st more spightful do or more severe Had'st thou a Blow o' th' Face or Box o' th' Ear My Wife this time to kiss me does forbear My Daughter too however debonaire But thou more Trim and Sweeter art No doubt Th'Icicles hanging at thy Dog-like Snout The congeal'd Snivle dangling on thy Beard Ranker than th' oldest Goat of all the Herd The nasty'st Mouth i' th' Town I 'd rather greet Than with thy flowing frozen Nostrils meet If therefore thou hast either Shame or Sense Till April comes no Kisses more dispense Ep. 95. An Epitaph on Urbicus I Infant Urbicus here bury'd lye My Name and Birth Great Rome did dignifie Three Years I had not full attain'd unto When rigid Fates my Thread did cut in two What serv'd my Childhood Beauty early Speech To drop a Tear is all they can beseech Which if thou dost may like Chance from thee fly And all thou lov'st as ag'd as Nestor dye Ep. 96. To his Book If Book Cesius Sabinus the Renown Of hilly Umbria and of the Town Of my Friend Aulus Pudens thou dost know Howe'er employ'd yet boldly to him go Tho' many urgent Cares oppress his Mind A vacant Time to read thee he will find For me he loves and deigns my Verse the Grace Next Turnus Noble Works to hold the Place O what great Trophies are for thee prepar'd What num'rous Friends what Glories to be shar'd There 's not a Mart in which thou'lt not be found A Feast a Street but will with thee refound The Baths the Portico's ev'n ev'ry Stall To One thou' rt sent but wilt be read by All. Ep. 97. On Castor While all things thou didst buy it thee befel That all things Castor thou dost likewise sell. Ep. 98. To Crispus May'st thou the Prince still Gracious to thee find And Rome no less than Egypt ever kind If when in Court my Verses thou dost hear For sometimes Caesar deigns to them an Ear Thou me afford'st this free and candid Praise This Man 's a Glory Caesar to thy days Yields not to Marsus Pedo or
the best This is enough to Caesar leave the rest Ep. 101. On Milo While Milo Travels Fallow lyes his Field His Wife howe'er a yearly Crop doth yield How comes she Fruitful and that Barren Say His Wife was plow'd his Land neglected lay LIB VIII Ep. 1. To his Book TO th' Princes laurell'd Court seeing thou' rt to go Learn Book a chaste and modest Speech to know No place is left for wanton Venus there Pallas Caesarian Pallas rule does bear Ep. 2. To Janus When Ianus Lord of Times beheld of late Th' Emperial Victor in triumphant State Tho' Faces he had two he thought them few And wish'd that yet more Eyes he had to view With both his Tongues he said unto our Lord Nestor ' s four Ages I 'll to thee afford O Father Ianus thine own also give That he not long but may for ever live Ep. 3. To his Muses Five had suffic'd six Books or seven do cloy Why dost as yet delight my Muse to toy Give o'er for shame Fame has not more to grace My Verse the Business made in ev'ry place And when proud Tombs in which for Fame Men trust O'erthrown and broken lye reduc'd to Dust I shall be read Strangers will make 't their care Unto their sev'ral Soils my Works to bear She of the Sacred Nine when I had spoke Whose Locks with Odours drop thus Silence broke And wilt thou then thy pleasant Verse forsake What better Choice Ungrateful canst thou make Exchange thy Mirthful for a Tragick Vein Thunder harsh Wars in an Heroick Strain Which strutting Pedants till they 're hoarse may rant While the Ripe Youth detest to hear the Cant Let the o'er-sowre and dull that way delight Whose Lamps at Midnight see the Wretches write But season thou thy Lines with sharpest Wit That all may read their Vices smartly hit Altho' thou seem'st to play but on a Reed Thy slender Pipe the Trumpet does exceed Ep. 6. On Euctus Than Euctus antick Plate nothing can be More hateful Earthen Pots I wish to see When he their raving Ped'grees to relate Deadens the Wine with his old rusty Prate This Cup Laomedon ' s own Table grac'd This was Apollo ' s when Troy ' s Walls he plac'd This 'gainst the Lapithes did Rhecus throw See how 't is craz'd and batter'd with the blow This of odd Make was Nestor ' s high Delight Nestor ' s own Thumb did wear this Dove so bright Achilles in this Scyff large Draughts did pour To 's Friends having carous'd it off before This Bowl to Bitias Dido quass'd that Night She entertain'd ber lov'd Dardanian Knight While thus he boasts Goblets of Priam's Age Wines of Astyanax our Thirsts asswage We'd rather of thy Wine thou 'd'st crack the Odds Give us the Liquor not the Plate o' th' Gods Ep. 7. On Cinna Is this to plead the Learned Lawyer play In ten Hours Cinna but nine Words to say Yet thou this Time four Glasses didst increase 'T is a vast while that thou canst hold thy Peace Ep. 10. On Bassus Bassus a Gown of richest Purple Die But lately for an hundred Crowns did buy O mighty Bargain Why So Cheap d' you say Yes unto him who never means to pay Ep. 11. To Domitian That Caesar's come to Rome the Rhine does know So far so fast the Peoples Voices go Their iterated Shouts the Scythians fright All Nations whom their Joy does not delight While in the Cirque their Salve's welcom thee The Races they regard not tho' they see No Prince Thy self was e'er so lov'd before Rome if she would she could not love thee more Ep. 12. On Priscus Dost ask Why a Rich Wiâ—e I would not wed Because I would be Lord i' th' Marrâ—'ge Bed Priscus the Wife should the Inferior be But Wealth on her part makes a Parity Ep. 13. On a Fool. I bought a Fool I thought for twenty Pound Restore my Coyn the Fool his Wit has found Ep. 14. On his Cruel Friend Least Winter Blasts shou'd thâ— choice Fruitannoy And keener Air thy tender Plants destroy Fences enclose them of transparent Stone Which without cold admit the Sun alone But unto me thou giv'st an open Cell Where Boreas even himself wou'd fear to dwell With Friendship Cruel how does this agree Than be thy Friend 't were better be thy Tree Ep. 18. To Cirinius Such Epigrams Cirinius thou dost frame As with or before mine might get a Name But such Regard to thy old Friend thou 'ast shown That my Fame's dearer to thee than thine own Thus Odes for Horace sake Virgil forbore Altho' he Pindar could have gone before To Varus left the proud Cothurnal Vein Tho' himself mightier was i' th' Tragick Strain Many will give their Goods their Gold their Ground But that give place in Wit there 's few are found Ep. 19. On Cinna To pretend Want like Rich Men thou art vain Poorer in Truth than thou thy self canst feign Ep. 20. On Varus Thou heaps of Verses daily dost devise Yet none recite both Fool thou art and Wise. Ep. 21. On the coming of Caesar. Phosphor bring Light why dost our Joys delay Caesar's to come Phosphor bring on the Day Rome begs it Art drawn in Bootes Teem Thou mov'st so slowly with a lazy Beam Castor will not refuse that thou should'st mount His swift foot Cillaron on this account Impatient Titan why dost thou detain Xanthus and Ethon both desire the Rein Aurora waits Yet ling'ring Stars there be As if the Moon th' Ausonian King would see Come Caesar tho' in Night let Stars delay When thou art here we shall not want a Day Ep. 24. To Domitian If in this little Book of modest Brow I ought do beg and not too Great allow Or if thou grant'st not Caesar let me sue Incense and Pray'rs ne'er Iove's Displeasure drew Not he that carves the Form in Stone and Oar Does make a God but he that does Adore Ep. 29. Who Disticks writes to Brevity does look But where 's the Brevity if 't fills a Book Ep. 30. On the Story of M. Scaevola acted In Brutus time what was Rome's highest Praise Is as a Pastime shew'd in Caesar's days The Presentation the true Story shames His Valiant Hand so bravely grasps the Flames Enjoys its Torment and derides their Ire Frolicks and Reigns in the astonish'd Fire His own Spectator he appears to stand T' Applaud not Feel the Fun'ral of his Hand The Altars gluts and if not torn away Flesh'd only and unwilling to obey His other Hand h 'ad thrust into the Flame Fresh when that fainted Fierce when that was Tame After so brave a Deed invidious 't were To search his Life or Stock or to impair His Fame by urging what he was before What he has done's enough I need no more Ep. 31. On Dento Thou know'st not Dento what thou dost give leave To Men pleasantly of thee to conceive Who begg'st that Grace as soon as thou art wed Which should be giv'n
pursue Thou hated Head by all the younger Crew Before the Cock proclaims the day is near Thy direful Threats and Lashes stun mine Ear The Anvil rings not out a shriller sound When massy Hammers the hot Irons pound Statues of Brass with lesser Din are made Than thou dost carry on the Grammar Trade Shouts in the Race and Theatre are less When Factions for their Parties Zeal express Whole Nights I ask not in Repose to keep To Wake 's not grievous but 't is ne'er to sleep Wilt leave thy School thy bawling Lectures cease Thy Gain shall greater be to hold thy Peace Ep. 71. On Cecilianus O Times O Manners Tully did declame When Cat'line put the State into a flame When Son and Father furious Arms did take And the whole World one Scene of Blood did make Why now O Times O Manners dost thou cry What is 't Severe One that thou dost descry No Wars we hear no Treasons hateful Sound But Joy and Peace circle the Empire round 'T is not our Vices makes thee loath the Times But Cecilianus thine own Secret Crimes Ep. 74. On a Cobler A Cobler wont the putrid Soles to retch Of dirty Shooes and with his Teeth to stretch Now of his Patron 's Lordship is possess'd Where had he but a Stall one would detest Drunk he bright Chrystals with rich Wine o'erturnâ— With his Lord's Paramour in Dalliance burns My Simple Parents taught to me the while Bawbling Letters to know a Verse and Style Gag thy Pen Muse and thy Books tare them all When such a Fortune 's purchas'd by the Awl Ep. 78. On Priscus Priscus with Art in many Leaves disputes What Requisites a Sumptuous Feast best suits Many sublime and witty Things he brings All from a Learn'd and Noble Art which springs What makes a Feast shall I in one Line say Absence of Scurrilous Jests and Fidlers Play Ep. 82. To Avitus Reader and Hearer both my Books delight But there 's a Poet says They are not right I weigh it not No more than they make Feasts Study to please the Cook 's Taste but the Guests Ep. 83. On Munna That thou should'st Perish Early 't was foretold And the Prediction methinks well does hold For while thou mad'st much haste to spend thy ' State That nothing might remain after thy Fate But in one Year five Thousand threw'st away Didst thou not Perish Early Munna Say Ep. 84. To Caesar. Among the many Wonders of the Stage With which thou hast adorn'd the present Age Bove former Princes Caesar As we owe Much for the Cost and Gallantry of Show Nothing does yet advance thy Glory more Than that the Nobles now however Poor Spectators sit that Players were before Ep. 89. To Rufus You first to gain me many Gifts did send But when once gain'd all Gifts you did suspend To hold the Prey you must still Baits supply The ill-bred Boar from th' empty Trough will fly Ep. 93. On a Slave and his Lord. Thou thy Lord's Evils nor own Good dost know Who so bewail'st thy State because 't is low On thy torn Mattress thou sound Sleeps dost take While Caius upon Down whole Nights doth wake Caius to many Lords performs e'er day Duties which to thy One thou dost not pay Caius discharge thy Debt in Court appear Says Phoebus Thou no such harsh words dost hear Thou feel'st the Lash Him less the Gout does spare And to change Griess a thousand Stripes would beaâ— Foul Vices Caius brand and hourly tempt From which thy low Condition is exempt Better it is thy self a Slave to see Than many rich lewd Caius's to be Ep. 95. On a Physician My Doctor for a Wormwood Draught O strange Demands of me Frontiniac in exchange Glaucus I never took for such an Ass Who truck'd away his Golden Arms for Brass Did any Sweet for Bitter ask before Well take 't so thou 'lt mix with it Hellebore Ep. 97. On a Quack A Quack attempting late to steal away His Patient's Cup and taken in the Play Why 'gainst my Orders dost thou drink Did say Ep. 102. On Bassus For Drachma's three thou offerd'st to expend Thou requir'st gown'd I early thee attend Make up thy Train and trot before thy Chair When thou Old Ladies court'st to be their Heir My Gown is Thread-bare mean I not deny Yet such I cannot for three Drachma's buy Ep. 104. To Phoebus My Bond made to thee for an hundred Pound Thou 'lt give me up for Thanks my Debt compound Kinder thou 'lt be to lend me fifty more To shew thy Bounty to me on this Score And elsewhere place the other Gift of thine What I can never Pay 's already mine LIB X. Ep. 1. The Book to the Reader IF I too large Reader appear to thee But little read and I shall little be Oft in each Page I end Then for thy ease Make me as long or short as thou dost please Ep. 2. To the Reader This my Tenth Book gone forth I did remand Having too hastily escap'd my hand Some things thou 'lt find Reader that were before But more correct with much that 's added more Favour both Pains Reader my Wealth thou art And Rome could nought like thee so Rich impart By Praise said she thou shalt be kept alive And after Death thy Nobler Part survive Wild Shrubs Messalan Marbles pierce and cleave And Rusticks mock th' Half-Images they leave Books fear not Age nor at Times Mercy lye These Monuments alone do never dye Ep. 4. To Mamurra Who Tales of Colchos Scylla Tereus read What do they but their Minds with Monsters feed For what are Atys Hylas Rapes to thee Endymion's Sleep from Cynthia's Charms ne'er free The Boy that in himself took such delight Icarus's lofty unadvised Flight What is there in these wretched Lyes to please Read that may shew thee what 's thy Minds Disease No Gorgons Centaurs Harpies stuff my Pen My Pages relish of the Acts of Men. Mamurra if thy self thou fear'st to know On Callimachus's Dreams thy time bestow Ep. 5. On a railing Poet. Who wounds of either Sex the Noble Name Those he should Honour with his Verse defame May he a Vagrant on the Bridges rome Descent of Hills and know no other Home I' th' lowest Rank of Beggars may he crave Scraps fit for Dogs and those but hardly have And such his Mis'ry more yet to increase Long be his Winters Rains that seldom cease Stretch'd on cold Earth and Fireless may he lye Proclaim those Happy who do early dye And when his own Last Hour approaches near Dogs for his Bones that quarrel may he fear And with a feeble Arm his patch'd Coat wave His Carcase from the Birds of Prey to save Nor let his Suff'rings with his Breath expire But let him prove th' Infernal Judges Ire Roll with false Sisyphus the mount'nous Stone His Thirst in Waves with Tantalus bemoan Tire all the Fables which the Poets feign The Furies Lashes and their Snakes sustain Conscience and
ceaseless Torments urging still Till he does own the Venom of his Quill Ep. 8. On Paula Paula me oft to marry her does pray But she 's so old I cannot her obey Yet were she older I 'd not say her nay Ep. 9. On Himself Why dost thou envy Martial's being known For his smart Verse abusive yet to none That Rome the Provinces extol his Name Celer the Race-Horse has a louder Fame Ep. 10. To Paulus When thou of Consular Rank think'st it no scorn An hundred to salute by early Morn What Office Paulus leav'st thou unto me And to Rome's num'rous Throng of low Degree Who stoops himself shall I call Lord and King Crutch to one acts the sawning Underling Shall I attend his Chair who does not shun Others to bear through thick and thin to run To praise Mens Verse what boots it oft to rise When thou to shew Applause dost not despise Always to stand with hands stretch'd to the Skies What shall mean Men do Clients when no more If those are Great share Duties with the Poor Ep. 11. On Calliodorus Of Theseus and Perithous thou dost prate And dar'st thy self with Pylades to mate May I not live if Pylade's Hogs to keep Thou dost deserve or Theseus Stable sweep Yet a round Sum thou say'st to name no more And sev'ral Gowns I 've given to Friends were Poor Mart. But nought did Pylades to Orestes give For both in Common did in all things live Know that thy narrow Soul ne'er knew before Who gives tho' much does yet deny much more Ep. 13. On Tucca. When none like thee in Riches does o'erflow So much for Use so much for Pride can show Such stately Houses built for more Delight On the adjoyning Sea which thou mak'st white When in the Waves to bathe thou dost descend And Floods of Odours in the Floods dost spend When Venus sleeps not on a softer Bed Nor choicer Wines do steep God Bacchus head Than crown thy Cup and sparkle in thy Glass Yet thou forlorn whole Days and Nights dost pass At a proud Strumpets Gate know'st Sighs and Fears More than the Wretched and dost weep more Tears Why 't is so Ill with thee would'st have me tell Because fond Tucca all things are so well Ep. 14. On Crispus Thou sayst 'mong all my Friends there 's not thy Peer But how that this is so does it appear When I desir'd to borrow fifty Pound Thou didst refuse tho' Gold did so abound Thy Chests could not contain it When didst send A Present from thy Farm Or yet pretend T' impart a piece of Plate Or to bestow A Gown to guard me from the Frost and Snow I cannot see in what my Friend thou art But that before me thou dost freely F Ep. 16. To Caius If Promises for Gifts thou dost account See Caius how in Gifts I thee surmount Take all the Gold delv'd in Asturian Fields The Wealthy Sand the Strand of Tagus yields What e'er the Indians find of Yellow Oar The Spices which the Phenix Nest do store Tyre's richest Purple All that All Men have I give you Caius just as you me gave Ep. 18. On Marius Marius not Treats nor yet does Presents send Surety will be for none to none will lend Crowds yet of Clients court this worthless Lord O Rome what Fools do thy long Gowns afford Ep. 19. To Pliny My Book not learn'd enough enough severe But yet not Rude to fluent Pliny bear Sportive Thalia The Saburran way Pass'd with short labour the next Hill you may Ascend From whence thou Orpheus set on high Dash'd by the Theatre plainly shalt descry The wond'ring Beasts the King of Birds and Air Which the young Phrygian to the Thunder bears There thy Friend Pedo's House stands also by Shewing a lesser Eagle carv'd on high But to learn'd Pliny make not thy Address Wanton but when Time suits for thy Access He in severer Studies spends the Day How he the Hundred Iudges best may sway Studies which ours nor no Age will forbear With Tully's noblest Labours to compare Thou 'lt safeli'st go when it is Candle-light This is the Hour when Bacchus mads the Night When Odours reign when Roses crown the Head By rigid Cato then thou may'st be read Ep. 20. To Marius That in my Native Soil I long to be The golden Sands of Spanish Salo see Thou to whom Love from tender Years I bore Honour'd while yet thou the Praetexta wore Art the chief cause And yet a sweeter Air No Country yields or may with Spain compare But wer 't with thee I Scythia could enjoy Nor would the Sands of Africk me annoy If mutual Love thou bear'st and a like Mind Rome we shall both in ev'ry Climate find Ep. 21. To Sextus To write so darkly what delight dost take That the most Learned nought of it can make Thy Book Claranus nor Modestus can Expound it needs Apollo not a Man But thou being Judge Cinna's obscurer Strain Excels the Sun-shine found in Maro's Vein May'st so be prais'd whilst I am read with Ease And both the Criticks and no Criticks please Ep. 23. On Antonius Primus Antonius happy in a Calm Old Age Of threescore Years compleat has pass'd the Rage Ponders the Times h 'as liv'd his secur'd Years And Death that 's marching on he no way fears There 's no Day grieves or shames him that is gon None which with Gladness he reflects not on A good Man's Age is doubled Time twice o'er He lives who thus Enjoys his Life before Ep. 25. On Scaevola acted by a Criminal Who Mutius acted on the Stages Sand So promptly thrust into the Flame his Hand If brave and bold for this thou him dost deem Thy self of some dull Clime I must esteem To save his Life by this means was his case 'T was braver far to have refus'd the Grace Ep. 27. On Diodorus The Senate did thy Birth-day celebrate Many Knights also at thy Table sate Largess thou gav'st yet still thou' rt all Mens Scorn None will believe that ever thou wert born Ep. 30. To Apollinaris O Bay of Formia temperate and fair Which when Apollinaris tir'd with Care Flies from the toilsom Business of the Town Than pleasant Tybur holds in more Renown His chast Wife's Soil Prefers to th' sweet Recess Of Tusculane Praeneste Lucrine less Esteems Cajeta or what Men more admire Rais'd by their Fancy or by Fiction higher A gentle Air here glides o'er Thetis Face Such as the Fans of Virgins make to chase Summers ungrateful Heat The Sea is smooth Not torpid dead but a soft Gale does sooth The active Calm and painted Gallies move For Fish you need not lanch into the Deep These you may take and yet your Chamber keep Out at your Window cast your Line and Lead And draw the dangling Prey up to your Bed And when the Waves by Winter Winds arise From your safe Board you may the Storm despise Gardens no less and fresh Springs Formia grace
o'er and will not there engage Consulting not its Worth but your dear Ease And not what 's Good but what is Short does please I serve a Feast with all the richest Fare The Market yields for Tarts you only care My Books not fram'd such liq'rish Guests to treat But such as relish Bread and solid Meat Ep. 61. An Epitaph on Erotion Erotion's early Ghost reposeth here By Crime of Fates extinct in her sixth Year Who after me is Owner of this Field Grudge not the Dead th' annual Rites to yield On all thou hast so may good Fortune shine And nought beside this Stone be sad that 's thiâ—e Ep. 62. To School-masters Masters of Schools your tender Scholars spare So may you many Noble have and Fair And the choice Crew that crowns your Table round In Numbers and in Love to you abound That no Professors whosoe'er they be A Circle like to yours may round them see While burning Suns the lengthen'd days engage The flaming Lion and the Dog-Star rage Your Scepters fierce the Ferula and Rod Fear'd more by Children than the rival'd God By Marsyas was till Autumn comes lay by The Season's Scourge enough let all else dye Children in Summer Months when fierce Heats reign Is Health they keep Learning enough obtain Ep. 65. To Carmenion When thou dost boast thy self of Corinth free And none can this Pretence deny to thee Carmenion unriddle by what Claim Thou call'st me Brother that was born in Spain So much do we resemble one the other That 't is for Likeness thou may'st call me Brother Thou always comb'd and curl'd dost trimly go My harsh unruly Hair no Laws will know Thy Skin with Oyntment's ever soft and sleek Mine is o'ergrown with Bristles rough and thick In Lisping Speech thou greatly dost rejoyce My Daughter speaks with a more Manly Voice A Dove more like an Eagle does appear Than thou to me a Lion to a Deer The name of Brother prithee then let fall Unless thou would'st I should thee Sister call Ep. 66. On Theopompus Who could so Cruel who so Brutish be For a Cook Theopomp to destine thee Could any Soil that Face so sweetly Fair Condemn to Soot and Grease that lovely Hair None worthier with the Chrystal Glass to stand And praise the Wine with his more Chrystal Hand For such a Fate if beauteous Boys must look Next News we hear Iove doats upon a Cook Ep. 70. To Potitus That scarce one Book I publish in a Year Potitus slothful I to thee appear But more that One I write thou may'st admire Considering how much Time does lost expire At early Morn I give the Great Good day Next to my own Affairs some time I pay To Dian's Temple oft I 'm made to sp 〈…〉 To witness to a Will or sign a Deed Then in the Courts of Law I 'm forc'd t' attend I' th' Worship of the Gods some Time to spend And when a Poet does his Works recite To give a day is held a thing but light Nor can I this deny to those that Plead To those on Rhetorick and on Grammar read Congratulate I must each Friend's Success Tho' I on like account ne'er knew Address Now harras'd out at Even 't is time to think Of my Days Hire to purchase Meat and Drink To tend my self towards the Bathes to look What Time is here Potitus for a Book Ep. 72. On the Emperor Trajan With worn-out Lips in vain thou importun'st me Miserable and discarded Flattery The Style of Lord and God none dare abuse Among the Romans now no more in use To Parthian Kings from whence you came repair Where Kissings of the Feet exacted are An Emperor we have no God nor Lord A Senator whose Justice all accord None equals who plain Truth from Death has rais'd 〈…〉 d for her Rustick Dress and Mein is prais'd Rome if thou' rt wise under this Prince forbare Words which in former Reigns so grateful were Ep. 74. To Rome Spare a tir'd Client now at length proud Rome How long must I submit unto the Doom To trot among the Daggled-Ushering-Train Of poorer Gown-men Leaden Coin to gain While Scorpus in one Hour alone o' th' day Whole Bags of radiant Gold can bear away I do not ask the Merit of my Book For Flocks in rich Apulian Pastures look For Glebes of Nile or Hybla's Honey Fields Or yet the Gen'rous Wines Setinus yields What is 't dost then require which me would please To sleep my fill and pass my days in Ease Ep. 75. On Galla. Galla times past ask'd me an hundred Pound And 't was not much where such a Form was found After one Year Fifty was her Demand Methought she now was at a dearer hand Some time laps'd Says she Twenty you 'll bestow Ten I shall gladly But she answer'd No. Two or three Months I know not which pass'd more Then she ask'd Nobles and of them but four And I refus'd Well send a hundred Pence But this seem'd then too much and I went thence She next my poor dry Sportula did crave Good truth said I that to my Boy I gave Was 't possible that she should lower go Yes Gratis she offer'd and I said No. Ep. 76. On Mevius Does this thing Fortune equal seem to thee That one not from a Syrian late set free Or from a Slave hoist to a Knight's Degree But of Rome born of Romulus own Race Just Friendly Good in Wit to none gives place Learn'd in both Tongues whose Crime is only this But 't is a great One He a Poet is Should shiver in a Garment poor and old While a vile Jocky branches it in Gold Ep. 79. On Torquatus and Otacilius Torquatus goodly Mansion strikes the Eye Four Miles from Rome just to the Town as nigh A petty Farm did Otacilius buy A Bath of various Marbles rarely wrought Torquatus built straight Otacilius bought For like employ a Tub and Kettle When Torquatus Ranks of Laurels set Thou then A hundred Nuts didst Otacilius sow Supposing like Magnificence to show Torquatus Consul Beadle of his Ward The other thought himself as great a Lord. What Fables of the Ox and Frog relate At last will prove poor Otacilius Fate Ep. 80. On Eros Eros drops Tears when-e'er he does behold Fair Jewels Pictures Antick Works of Gold Sighs from his Heart that home he cannot bear What e'er the Shops expose of glorious Ware How many do the same but make no show Laugh at such Tears and yet the same Grief know Ep. 82. To Gallus If my Vexation cou'd thy State amend Morning nay Mid-night gown'd I 'd thee attend The shrill and piercing North Winds blasts I 'd bear Break through deep Snows no stormy Season fear But when these Toiles make thee not one Doit more Happy which to th' Ingenious are so sore To a tir'd Friend remit such Labours vain Which thee no Profit bring but me much Pain Ep. 89. On the Statue of Juno Thy Iuno Polyclet most
matchless Piece May well contest the proudest Hand of Greece Had but the Goddess shone with such a Grace In Ida both her Rivals had given place Tho' his own Iuno Iove did ne'er approve Before his brightest Strumpets thine he 'd love Ep. 96. To Avitus That I so often talk of Remote Lands My native Salo Thirst and Tagus Sands The Plenty of a homely Farm desire And yet grow Old in Rome thou dost admire That Place Avitus most does please in which A little Wealth both Riots and makes Rich. The barren Field must here be ever fed Which there Untill'd will give the Owner Bread The Niggard Fire scarce warms the Chimny here The bounteous Blaze there the whole House does cheer Here Hunger's dear the Shambles all confound Thy Table 's loaden there from thine own Ground Four Gowns a Year are here consum'd and more There one will serve to rub out the whole four Go then the Great adore What they deny Thy Field alone Avitus will supply Ep. 100. To the Stealer of his Verses Why dost thou mix my Verses Fool with thine What has thy jarring Strain to do with mine Why dost thou yoke the Lion and the Ass Seek to make Owls for noble Eagles pass Had'st thou fond Sot swift Ladas Foot for one The other Wood in vain it were to run LIB XI Ep. 4. To his Book NOT only those at Ease my Verses love And the more Civiliz'd my Muse approve But the rough Soldier does my Leaves o'erlook 'Mongst Snows and Martial Ensigns reads my Book The Britains too are said my Verse to sing But what does this unto my Coffers bring What living Numbers from my Quill would flow What Blasts would my Pierian Trumpet blow If as Augustus now again does reign I also a Mecenas could obtain Ep. 5. To Nerva The Phrygian Gods and Sacred Rites to save Up to the Flames the Trojan Hero gave Troy's Wealth Iove Iuno whom we now behold With Pallas first engrav'd in purest Gold And Ianus who records the happy day Of Numa's Reign To all I Pious pray The Senate may be safe the Princes Throne By his Example all may live he by his own Ep. 6. In praise of Nerva Thy love of Right and Justice Caesar 's more Than Numa's was and Numa yet was poor 'T is rare when Riches cannot taint the Mind In Croesus Wealth a Numa's Soul to find If our old Romans of Renowned Name Dispens'd with in Elizium hither came Camillus thee t' obey would think it free Fabricius would take Gold if giv'n by thee In such a King Brutus would take delight Sylla to thee resign th' Imperial Right Caesar and Pompey private Men would live And Crassus his lov'd Treasure to thee give Cato himself if Fates would set him free Return'd to Earth would a Caesarean be Ep. 7. To Rome While Saturn's Feast and jovial days remain In which good Chear Mirth and Dice only reign To sport in looser Verse I do presume Thou dost permit Sacred Indulgent Rome The Goddess smil'd which spoke her free Consent Be far remov'd from hence pale Discontent My Muse produce Verse of a sprightly Air Which flow without Solicitude and Care Crown both my Head and Cups Attendant Boy As Nero's were when he 'd himself enjoy But fill them oft'ner fill them to the Brim I can do nought unless in Wine I swim The Wit of many will in me be found If I with their Enjoyments do abound Rome if Catullus Plenty thou'lt bestow I 'll frame a Verse his Sparrow shall out-go Ep. 14. An Epitaph on Paris the Player Who passes the Flaminian way At this Innobled Marble stay The City's Darling Egypt's Wit Who Art and Grace the best did hit And Mirth unto all Humours fit The Grief the Glory of Rome's Stage The Love the Beauty of the Age Do here entomb'd with Paris lye And did with him together dye Ep. 18. To Sabinus Not all my Verse for Nights loose Hours are writ Many you 'll find the sober Morning fit Ep. 19. To Lupus A Farm thou gav'st me joyning to the Town My Window holds one of much more renown This a Farm call you Is 't a Farm d' you say A Tuft of Rue Diana's Grove you may As well suppose For what you will 't may pass Spice it assords as much as Herbs or Grass A Pismire in one day would eat it bare An Earwig starve out-right for want of Fare In it a Violet cannot blow and spread Much less a Mushrome raise his spacious head A Cucumber lye straight upon the ground A Snake conceal it self from being found A single Mole both digs and plows the Soil A wretched Mouse does all lay waste and spoil And by my Hinde 't is apprehended more Than Calydonia fear'd th' enraged Boar. All that the yearly Harvest does afford A Swallow in her little Nest may hoard Bear the whole Income in her Claw or Bill Nor will my Vintage a pitch'd Nut-shell fill Mistaken words thy deed of Gift do frame What 's but a Mole-hill Mounts and Meadows name Ep. 25. To Labullus While I attend thy steps early and late Afford an Ear unto thy idle Prate Applaud what-e'er by thee is done or said How many Exc'lent Verses might be made This thou account'st no Loss altho' that Rome Reads them with Joy far Nations bear them home Knights and Patricians make them their Delight Lawyers admire and Poets also spight And can I this digest That for thy sake Only thy Train more Numerous to make My Books shou'd fewer be So to engage That scarce in thirty days I write one Page But thus it is for Cheer when Poets rome And will not be content to Sup at home Ep. 28. To Flaccus Thou' rt Iron Flaccus if to such a Dame Who begs vile Gifts thou can'st keep up a Flame Cow-heels does ask Tripes Sprats and Scraps of Fish And a whole Pompion holds too much to wish To whom her Maid joyful t' have got does pour Cheap Pulse which greedily she does devour And when she 's bold and will all shame depose Begs Yarn enough to knit a pair of Hosâ— My Wench Perfumes exacts both Rich and Rare Rubies and Pearls and those must also Pair Choice Naples Silk with her will only pass An hundred Crowns in Gold she begs like Brass Give I such Gifts dost say a Miss to please No But I 'd have her Merit such as these Ep. 30. On an old wanton Lady When with Caresses thou would'st me excite All Virile Pow'r thou dost extinguish quite For when thou call'st me Love thy Life and Dear The Surfeit I digest not in a Year These were due Arts when thou wert Young and Fair Thou dost not know what aged Toyings are I give thee Martial say Ten thousand Pound My Mannor House with all the Fertile Ground I give thee Iewels Plate whole Caves of Wine These without Love tricks do to Love incline Ep. 33. On Nestor When not a Pan of Coals a rotten Bed A Mat