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
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
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