Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

XCV
TO NA E VOL US
You greet no man till first he says ' Good day '
Even a talking crow is more polite;
Why should I yield you this precedence pray;
Are you my better by repute or right?
Two Caesars praised me, and for my renown
A father's due is mine, in spite of fate,
My fame and works are known in every town,
No posthumous reward I need await.
That I was tribune all the world doth know,
You are debarred from sitting with the knights;
You boast a few dependants; many owe,
By Caesar's grace, to me their Roman rights.
And yet you have a claim I freely own
And hold one title I cannot gainsay.
In vice you stand pre-eminent alone;
I yield precedence. Naevolus, Good day!
* XCVI
TO GARGILIUS
JUST because you once kissed my dear girl on the sly,
You go bragging that you are her lover.
If you do it, Gargilius, when I am by,
Your boasting will soon be all over.
* XCVII
TO RUFUS
LET Chione not read this book,
Which does her charms attack;
For if I don't misjudge her look,
She'll get her own well back.
XCVIII
SIT culus tibi quam macer, requiris,
Paedicare potes, Sabelle, culo.
102