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
By whom he has of Young Slave-Knights a rout To stock his Farm and Fields Truly may he Be stil'd the Father of his Family Ep. 87. On Novius Novius so very near my Neighbour is That from my Window my Hand reaches his Who does not envy me that in my Pow'r Have thus a Friend t' enjoy at ev'ry Hour But Rufus is not more remote to me Who now in Egypt does command than he We never meet nor in the Town there are However near yet any Two so far 'T is requisite that either he or I Further remove but so to bring us nigh For he that wishes Novius ne'er to see Let him his Neighbour or his Inmate be Ep. 88. To Fescennia Lest thy o'er-nights Debauch thy Breath disclose Thou seek'st Fescennia on us to impose By eating rich Pasteels and Amber Plums These fur thy Teeth But when the foul Belch comes From thy crude Maw they help thee in no wise But the Stink's stronger made by this Disguise Doubl'd and trebl'd and does further go When thus thy Tricks discover'd all do know Henceforth to free us from this compound Stink Be Sober otherwise avow'dly Drink Ep. 89. An Epitaph on Alcimus Alcime who didst in Years yet blooming die And by a light Turf cover'd here dost lie I rear no towring Tombs of massie Stone A vain Expence that Fame confers on None But plant frail Box and Palms whose verdant shade Drench'd by my Tears shall be immortal made Receive thou then the Monument I give A Verse that will unto all Ages live And when my Life is spun and Days expire No nobler Monument I my self Desire Ep. 90. To Cinna Cinna th' art ever wisp'ring in the Ear And wisp'ring that which all the World may hear Thou laugh'st i' th' Ear weepst quarrel'st dost disputâ— Thou sigh'st in th' Ear dost hollow and art mute So far th' art gone in this Disease I swear Thou praisest Caesar often in the Ear. Ep. 92. To Laetius Thou blam'st my Verses and conceal'st thine own Or publish thine or else let mine alone Ep. 98. On Nevolus When all a Clamour make at once contend Then thou art loudest too dost most pretend T' have much to say For this would'st learned seem Have all a pow'rful Patron thee to deem Behold the Court is hush'd now speak you may But for thy Client now th' ast nought to say Ep. 99. On Diodorus Th' ast Gouty Feet yet stoutly dost withstand At Law and pay'st no Fees the Courts demand Is not the Gout Diodore in thy Hand Ep. 100. To one that grew sordid upon obtaining great Riches When yet thou wert not worth an Hundred Pound So Generous so Noble thou wert found So Sumptuous that it was the Wish of all Calenus an Estate might thee befall Suiting thy Mind The Gods our Pray'rs did hear And less than in the Compass of a Year Vast Wealth by four dead Friends was to thee left But thou as if of thousands now bereft And not enrich'd so sordid strait dost grow That in a solemn Feast thou didst bestow Which Annual was and seven old Friends did treat A pound of Leaden Coyn for all thy Meat What does this Baseness bid us next to pray The Gods would snatch their Ill-plac'd Wealth away No But to give thee many thousands more That starve thou may'st out-right in so much Store Ep. 104. On the like Thou saidst when yet thou hadst not a Knights-Fee If Heav'n would grant four thousand Pounds to me Oh in what Ease what Splendor I would live The easie Gods smil'd and the Sum did give But then thy Gown was sordid Cloke thread-bare Shoes thrice and four-times clouted thou didst wear Of poor ten Olives some were still set up On the same Meat thou used'st twice to Sup Lees of Wine serv'd thee which Vientus bore A peny-worth of Pulse a Peny Whore We 'll sue the Cheat Live better or refund Unto the Gods th' ast mock'd four thousand Pound Ep. 108. To Lucius Julius Oft Noble Lucius thou dost this repeat Th' art Idle Martial something write that 's Great Then give me Ease such as Mecenas gave When the like Work from Virgil he would have I 'll frame a Verse with such immortal Flame As to all Ages shall preserve my Name The Yoke does pinch that 's born in Barren Soyl The Rich Ground tires but Sweeter is the Toyl Ep. 109. To Gallus May thy fair Farm tho beyond Tibur site As it does now thee more and more delight My Rooms Vâ—psanian Laurels do behold In the which Region I am now grown Old A Journey 't is to give thee the Good-Morn But such thou art tho further to be born One Gown-man more yet were not much to thee Tho to detain this One is much to me My Book shall th' Early Ave for me pay And I 'll attend when ended is the Day Ep. 110. On Issa a little Bitch Issa's Toyings wittier are Than those of Lesbia's Sparrow were Issa's Caresses and her Loves Are purer than the Billing Doves Than Virgins she 's more Soft and Nice Than richest Gems of higher Price Bitch Issa is to Publius dear Bitch Issa has no where her Peer Her Whining you would Speaking deem She her Lord's Cares to know does seem Tho' in his Neck close to his Ear She Sleeps no Breathing he can hear When she has need her self to Ease Her Lord she courts that he would please To set her down and gently scrapes Be sure no Drop from her escapes To Venus she was ne'er inclin'd And hard a Husband 't were to find So soft a Bride Least Death's sad Day Should wholly ravish her away Publius caus'd her drawn to be And Issa you so like may see Do but the Piece with Her compare Issa her self you 'ld think were there So rare is Arts and Natures Strife Both Pictures seem and both seem Life Ep. 111. To Velox Too long my Epigrams thou thinkest are Thine who writ'st none Velox are shorter far Ep. 113. On Priscus I stiled thee Lord and King while yet unknown Plain Priscus now 's the most that thou canst own Ep. 118. On Lupercus As oft as I Lupercus thee do meet With the same Words thou me dost always greet Thy Epigrams dear Martial to me lend When for them shall my Boy on thee attend But to divert me I shall read them o'er And speedily again the Book restore Out of the Road remote three Stories high I near the Pidg'ons in a Garret lie Whither to send your Boy were him to tire When nearer you may have what you desire In Forum Iulii is your daily Way Where you will see Atrectus Shop display All Poets Names your Eye may run them o'er Inscrib'd or pasted on his Posts and Dore. My Book from 's Shelves he 'll hand you at first word And for three Shillings bound and gilt afford The Price Three Shillings muttering low dost say The Purchase will not such my Cost repay Altho thy sordid Nature I despise
to borrow th' other Day Which speedily thou promis'd to repay I had it not as civil I did say But thou by a Friends Visit much surpriz'd To borrow of me silver Plate devis'd Art thou a Fool or me dost one suppose When ten I would not fifty Pound I 'd lose Ep. 18. On a Boy kill'd by an Icicle At Fountain-gate whose Stones do always drop Near to the Porch an hundred Columns prop A pond'rous Stream by Cold congeal'd to Glass Fell on a Lad as he the Arch did pass Soon as the Wretch the fatal Blow had felt The sharpen'd Ice in the warm Wound did melt What can restrain thee Death Where art not found When Water like a Sword can cut and wound Ep. 20. On Gellia and Cerellia Cerellia Young affects to say she's Old Old Gellia 'mong the Girls would be enroll'd What either does Colinus canst digest The Young One plays the Fool the Old the Beast Ep. 21. On Selius Selius affirms in Heav'n no Gods there are And while he thrives and they their Thunder spare His daring Tenet to the World seems fair Ep. 24. On Lycoris Lycoris Friends are rarely of long Life I wish she were acquainted with my Wife Ep. 26. On Posthumus For not attending on thee a whole Year What I have lost thereby Posthumus hear Five hundred Pence at least upon this Score 'T is much a Gown would yet have cost me more Ep. 27. To Domitian My Books thou often gracest with thy Praise Tho' Malice it denies thou oft givest Bays Nor only by thy Words this Truth is known But Honours too which thou canst give alone Envy to black my Fame yet goes on still Caesar give more till thou the Envious kill Ep. 29. To Pudens The Number of my Books does them much Wrong The Reader 's tir'd and glutted with their Throng Scarce things take most first Fruits please those are nice Roses in Winter bear the highest Price Reserv'dness recommends a beauteous Whore Her opening not to all that come her Dore. Perseus One Book 's more celebrated far Than Marsus bulky Amazonian War Reading a Book of mine feign there 's no more Thus of my Wit thou 't make the greater Store Ep. 31. On Hippodamus That in my Book th' art nam'd thou'dst have it said And think'st it there an Honour to be read May I not live but grateful 't is to me And in my Verse most gladly `thou should'st ' be But that on thee a Name Men did impose So harsh that will with no soft Numbers close Which Phoebus and the whole Pierian Quire Could not in Musick sing should all conspire Assume some Name more sweetly then that sounds Hippodamus the Muses all confounds Ep. 32. On a Bee enclosed in Amber A Drop of Amber did a Bee enclose Hid from the Touch but to the Eye expose Thus it deserv'd and thus desir'd to die After much Labour so entomb'd to lie Ep. 33. On Sosibianus Thou say'st th' ast Poems by thee of great Worth Why dost thou not Sosibian bring them forth Thy Heirs thou say'st will cause them to be read 'T is pity 't is not done and thy self dead Ep. 35. On Deer fighting The tim'rous Deer against themselves make Head The Fight forsake not till they both lie Dead The Dogs look'd on Huntsmen amaz'd appear No Prey Employment found for either here In softest Breasts what mov'd a Rage so high Bulls rush on Bulls and stoutest Men so die Ep. 37. On Afer Coranus does a hundred to me owe Mancinus three Albinus twice this so Sabinus doth Serranus Ten I know A sixth ten more Then from my Lands do come My Flocks and City Rents a vaster Sum. This thou whole Days relatest and I retain With that Exactness as I do my Name Say not to what thy Income does amount But something tell which turns to my Account I cannot hear thee Gratis thus excite Be thy Tales true or false my needy Appetite Ep. 39. On Charinus Charinus Thou 'st a rare Collection made Of Silver Works both massy and o'er-laid Alone dost Mirons Scopus pieces show What Mentor and Praxetiles could do Alone dost Phidias noble Gravings vaunt Alone the true Grantianas dost not want Enchased Goblets of Pure Spanish Oar All double gilt thy Fathers Table bore What in these Wonder 's to be wonder'd most A Penny Current-Coyn thou canst not boast Ep. 40. On Posthumus Tho Pisos Stem speaks great Nobility Seneca shews a threefold Pedigree And both their Courts to my Access are free Yet my Salutes to thee I first did bring Poor and a Knight but unto me a King Ten Years twice told in Amity we led One Table serv'd us and One common Bed Thou' rt noble now and Rich canst throw away What to our Ancient Friendship wilt thou Pay I may expect but thou hast Nought to say Grown old a Patron I can't seek tho' Poor On me or Faith hast thou imposed more Ep. 41. On a bad Poet. When thou thy Poems dost recite for Fear Of catching Cold Furr 'bout thy Neck dost wear This fitter were for th' Ears of them that hear Ep. 42. To Flaccus If I could such obtain as I desire Hear then what Beauty Flaccus I admire One born in Egypt i' th' first place I 'd chuse Such artificial Charms none else do use I 'd have her Skin white as the driven Snow From that swarth Clime the fair do fairest show Her Eyes with Stars should vie her flowing Hair Fall on her Neck which I to Curls prefer Her Forehead should be smooth well shap'd her Nose Her lovely Lips a Rosie red disclose Sometimes I 'd have her kind and sometimes coy In no Man's Courtship but mine own to joy Young Men to hate even her own Sex to fear To others Ice to me a Maid appear Now Flaccus I foreknow what thou wilt say Caelia my Caelia thou dost here display Ep. 44 On Vesuvius Behold Vesuvius green e'er while and stor'd With Vines which did the noblest Juice afford Bacchus this Hill bove Nysas did advance His Satyrs here did most delight to dance Venus no Seat like this did hold so dear The Herculian Fane shon here without a Peer All now in Cinders lies and Gods resent The Loss their Pow'r they had to hurt repent Ep. 49. To Flaccus Rightly of Epigrams thou dost not deem ho Toys and Sport Flaccus dost them esteem He toys and trifles more who does declare Thyestes Board and Tereus impious Fare Dedalus fitting waxen Wings to fly And Monster Polyphemus with one Eye All Tragick Themes I banish from my Muse Nor huffing Buskin-Language do I use But these thou say'st Men praise admire adore Praise these they may but yet they read mine more Ep. 53. On a counterfeit Cynick He who i' th' Temples you so often meet In publick Porches Cosmus and the street With Bag and Staff nasty and antique dress'd His Hair an End Beard hanging down his Breast Who for a Cloke a Coverlet does use Barkes for his
On Matho Tho in a Feaver Matho thou dost plead If this not Madness seems the more thou 'st need Of Hellebore thou pleadest in a Fit Hadst thou no other way to sweat 't were Wit But Great thou think'st it feav'rish not to cease See'st not 't is greater then to hold thy Peace Ep. 84. On Nevolus In prosp'rous State none 's so ill-natur'd found In Adverse none in Good does more abound When thou art safe Respect Regard to none Thou pay'st none worthy of thy self thou'lt own But in Distress to stoop thou canst endure T' oblige 'T is pity thou shouldst be secure Ep. 86. On Ponticus Thy Cup 's of China ours of Glass Why so That we thy Sordid Usage may not know One Glass two Sorts of Wine would plainly show Ep. 88. On Bassa Bassa a Little Child has ever near Which she does call her Play-fellow and Dear For such yet cares not if you 'll Credit Fame How then She soists and the Child bears the blame Ep. 89. On his Country Life When to my Farm retir'd how I do live If any ask this short account I give The Gods at the first Light I do adore And place this Care all other Cares before My Grounds I visit then and Servants call And their just Tasks I do impose on all I Study next rouse my Poetick Vein My Body then anoint and gently strain With some meet Exercise exult in Mind At ev'ry Turn my self both free to find From Crimes and Debts Last I bath sup laugh drink Jest sing rest and on all that passes think A little Lamp the while sends forth a Ray Which to my Nightly Studies makes a Day LIB V. Ep. 1. To Caesar. WHether i' th' Alban Mount thy Station be Where thou the Prospect hast on one side Sea Diana's Grove on th' other or before This if Caietas Bay delight thee more The Hill nam'd from the Daughter of the Sun Or where the Anxurs wholesome Streams do run O Health and Safety of the publick State Whose Evils as our own we deprecate And whom when prosp rous and we happy see Grateful we then believe the Gods to be Receive this little Book I to thee send Only a gracious Hand vouchsafe t' extend I 'll think thou read'st it tho' thou cast it by Pleas`d with a Gallick rude Credulity Ep. 2. To his Readers To Matrons Virgins and unriper Boys I dedicate these Leaves of chaster Toys Those whom obscene and wanton Verse delight And Wit not broadly Bawdy wholly slight My first four Books for them I did indite In this my fifth so with Rome's Lord I drole As he may read and Pallas not controle Ep. 6. To the Muses If what I ask appears to you not great O Muses your Parthenius thus intreat May thy Old Age come late and happy End Caesar be safe and to the last your Friend So above Envy may you ever be Your Son a Scheme of all your Vertues see As you this tim rous bashful Book shall grace When in the sacred Presence 't is in place To you the Princes Gracious Moods are known When with serenest Looks and most his own He shines on all who to his Throne address And measures Bounty out to each Distress Nor apprehend this trifling gilded Book Aims at High things does for great Matters look You need not offer 't hold it in your Hand As one designing nothing to demand If the Nine Sisters Patron I do know Himself will you command the Book to show Ep. 7. To Vulcan The Phenix when a thousand Years expire Renews a glorious Youth again by Fire So Rome decay'd through Age a new does shine And shews a Countenance like her Lords Divine Digest old Grudges Vulcan we do pray Tho' Mars's Nation we do also say W' are Venus Off-spring so may she forget The Shame thou brought'st her by the Lemnian Net With beauteous and with patient Arms embrace Thy limping Carcass and thy sooty Face Ep. 8. On Phasis While Phasis in the Theatre of late Phasis in Purple shining did dilate On th' Empe'ror's Edict which each Order grac'd And ' cording to their Dignity them plac'd These swelling Words big with Conceit he spake At length we Nobles here our Ease may take Regard's had of us and our Seat's set out W' are neither press'd nor dirty'd by the Rout. While lolling thus he did the Rout despise The Lictor bids his Saucy Purple rise Ep. 9. On Symmachus I droop'd straight Symmachus to me does hie An hundred Quacks bearing him Company An hundred frozen Hands my Pulse did crave Before I had no Ague now I have Ep. 10. On the Fame of Poets What shall I say's the Cause that few do give Honour to those who in their Days do live From too much Envy this proceeds alone That we Times-past extoll above our own Ingrate Oldmen Catulus Temple praise And Pompey's simple Porch admire and raise 'Bove more stupendious Fabricks of these Days Ennius Men read when Virgil did survive And Homer was despis'd while yet alive The Stage Menander seldom Grace did show But one Corinna divine Naso know My Books then patient be i' th' Desk to lie There needs no Haste for Fame if I must die Ep. 11. On Stella My Stella does upon his Fingers wear Em'ralds and Diamonds Saphirs Rubies fair Many bright Gems upon his Hands we see More and more Radiant in his Verses be The brillant Fancies in his Lines which stand Seem to proceed from his adorned Hand Ep. 13. On Calistratus I 'm poor Calistratus was ever so But neither yet in Fame or Title low I through the World am read to all am shown The Praise few Urns receive my Life has known But thy Majestick Roofs which Gold adorn Are by an hundred stately Columns born Thy Chests are cram'd brim-full of unbagg'd Cash The Lot of Slaves that underwent the Lash In Egypt rich Possessions thou dost hold And shear'st vast Flocks of the choice Gallick Fold This is thy State and mine Wealth is thy share Glory and Poverty my Portions are But what I am thou ne'er canst rise to be When any of the Rout may equal thee Ep. 14. On Nanneus Nanneus us'd in the first Rank to sit While so the sleeping Edict did permit But that reviv'd thrice routed up he truss't His Camp and to the lowest Seat was thrust Ev'n behind Caius Lucius straightly pent Where wrapping up his Head and there content Illfavour'dly to see but with one Eye The Lictor did the Wretch no sooner spy But thence he chas'd him to the farthest Space Between the Cells were taking up his Place Half standing and half leaning 'gainst the End Of the Knight's Form which did his Stress befriend Free from Exceptions here on ev'ry Hand To some he boasts to sit to some to stand Ep. 15. To Domitian This is the fifth Book of my drolling Muse Yet none complain my Verses them abuse But many given they have a noble Name Who by my Pen enjoy
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