Ex otio negotium. Or, Martiall his epigrams translated. With sundry poems and fancies, / by R. Fletcher.

Lib. 2.

Epig. 3.

SExtus ows nought, nor fears his quarter day, 'Tis true: he ows most truly that can pay.

Ad Decianum, Epig. 5.

Let me not live (my Decian) if the day And the whole night I would not with thee stay, But there are two miles that divide our home, Which are made foure to me when I back come. Th'art oft abroad: when not, th'art oft denied, Or with thy causes, or thy self imploy'd. But yet to see thee two miles I will go; But not to see thee, foure don't please me so.

De Selio, Epig. 11.

(Rufus) if an inquiry's made Why Selius walks so late and sad? Why his dull looks seem to imploy Some dismal chance and malady?

Why his foule nose hangs ore his chest? And pulls his hair, and beats his brest. He moans no losse of friend, or brother, His one son's well, and so's the other, And may they live! his wife's in health, His servants safe, and bags of wealth, His Husband-man and Bailiffe too, Have neer purloyn'd ought of his due, What then's the cause that thus he blubberd? Why Selius sups at his own Cup-board.

In Posthumum, Epig. 12.

What's this that myrrh doth still smel in thy kisse's, And that with thee no other odour is? Tis doubt (my Posthumus) he that doth smel So sweetly alwayes, smels not very well.

In Hermum, Epig. 15.

Hermus because thou givest thy Cup to none: It i•• not proudly, but humanely done.

De Paulo, Epig. 20.

Paulus buyes verse, recites, and owns them all, For what thou buy'st, thou mayst thine truly call.

In Posthumum, Epig. 21.

Posthumus kisses some must have, And some salute his fist:

Thy hand good Posthumus I crave, If I may choose my list.

De eodem, Epig. 22▪

O Phoebus and ye sisters nine, What shall I do with you? Behold that merry Muse of mine Her Poet will undoe. Posthumus late was wont to kisse With half lips, which I loath, But now my plague redoubled is, He kisses me with both.

In Candidum, Epig. 24.

If thy crosse fortune send thee some sad fate, I must persist thy pale and squallid mate. If from thy Country thou must banish'd be. Through seas and rocks I still must follow thee. If riches come, will they be free to many? Wilt thou give part? tis much; wilt thou give any? Tis crosses makes thee mine: when they are gone, Candidus will be happy then alone.

Ad Gallam, Epig. 25.

Galla dares promise, but makes good no ty, If thou still failest? I prethee once deny.

Ad Bithynicum, Epig. 26.

Cause Nevia coughs, and grieves, breaths thick and short, And drops her spittle on her brest in sport: Do'st think thy self her heire made presently? Th' art out, thy Naevia flatters, will not dye.

In Cajum Epig. 30.

Twice twenty sesterties I once besought, Which were they given could not much be thought, Cause 'twas my happy and my antient friend I askd, whose cofferd treasures knew no end? He answered: follow suits, thou mayst buy land: I ask no Counsel Cajus, crosse my hand.

In Caecilianum Epig. 37.

What's here and there thou dost purloyn, A pregnat sow's papps, a hoggs chine, A woodcock, commons for two men, A whole Jack, half a Barble, then A Lamprey's side, a Pullet's thigh, A Stock-dove boyld in pottage by: When these are hid in greasy clout, And to thy Boy deliverd out To be brought to thy home: we sit An idle crowd without a bit. Restore the feast if any shame there bee, To morrow I have not invited thee.

In Linum Epig. 38.

Linus dost ask what my field yeilds to mee? Even this profit, that I nere see thee.

De eodem

Linus gives purple and rich scarlet gowns To his notorious and adult'rous woman: If thou wouldst give what her degree becoms? A loose coat would more fitly stock her com∣mon.

In Candidum Epig. 43.

These are thy 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 these are they (Candidus) which thou soundst out night and day. Thy gown is washd in the Calabrian spring, Or of those flocks their fleece to Parma bring. But mine as one that passed the bulls hornes, stares, Or which would scarce be owned by the first haires, Agenor's son's ••••••et countrey sends thee coats, Thou canst not sell my scarlet for three groats. Thou hangst with Indian teeth thy Libian rings, My beechen table's propd with earthen things Thy gold-tipd plates rich barbles do bedight My dish is red with self-look'd Aconite.

Thy boyes may with the Ilian lad compare, My hands my Ganymedes most duly are. Of this thy wealth thou nought bestowest on us Thy friends: yet cry'st out 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Candidus.

In Sextum Epig. 44.

Whether I've bought a freeze coat or a boy, For three or four times double the pound Troy, Forthwith the us're•• Sextus, which ye know To be my antient neighbour-friend in show, In care, least I should borrow of him, fears And whispers to himself, but by my eares, I to Secundus owe seaven thousand pounds, To Phaebus four, eleven Philetus sounds; Whiles I have not one farthing in my chest: O my conceited friend's ingenious jest! Sextus 'tis hard to give a flat denyal, When thou art askd: much more before the tryal.

In Maximum 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Maximus wouldst be free? tis false, thou'lt not, But if thou wouldst indeed, hence take the plot; Thou shalt: if thou can'st choose to sup a∣broad: Or if small wine thy thirst can quench or load:

If thou can'st scorne poore Cinna's bravery, And with our homely gown contented bee, If thy lust may be calmd for half a sowse, And entring can'st stoop to thy low-roofd house: If thou this power of self and minde canst bring, Thou shalt live freer then the Parthian king.

Ad Gallum de ejus uxore Epig. 56.

In Lybia thy wife they stigmatize With the foule crime of too much avarice. But they are lyes they tell: she is not wont To take, but give for scouring of her—.

In Zoilum Epig. 58.

Zoilus well cloathd, derides my thred-bare gowne, Tis true tis thred-bare Zoilus, but my owne.

In Taurum Epig. 64.

While now thou'lt Lawyer be, now Rhetorician, And knowst not to make forth thy wishd con∣dition, Peleus, and Priam's, Nestor's age slips by, And it was grown too late for thee to try; Begin: three Rhetoricians dyed one yeare! Ifthou hast any skill or stomack here?

If Schools dislike? Courts swarm with the old trade, And Marsya's self a Lawyer may be made. Fie, out with this delay: how long shall wee Expect? whiles doubting, nothing thou wilt bee.

In Saletanum Epig. 65.

Why doe we see old Saletan so sad? Is the cause light? thou sayst his wife is dead. O the grand crime of fate! ô the sad chance! Is Secundilla dead? that did advance A thousand sesterties in dowry to thee? O would this hap had neer came to undoe thee!

De Fannio Epig. 80.

When Fannius should have scaped his Foe, His own hands stopt his breath: And was't not madness I would know, By dying to 'scape death;

In Mamercum Epig. 88.

Thou nought recit'st, and yet wouldst bee Thought Poet on that score: Be what thou wilt Mamercus free, So thou wilt speak no more.

Ad Quinctilianum Epig. 90.

O thou great master of the youth of Rome Quinctilian, the glory of the gowne! Pardon though poor, nor struck in yeares, I hast To live, since no man strives to live too fast: Let him delay that's Fathers rents would raise, And fill his house with shapes of antient days, Me fire, and houses please smoakd with their steame, A native sallet, and a living stream, A bond-man serves my turne, an unlearnd wife, A night with sleep, a day without all strife.