Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

XLIII
TO CORA CINUS
CALL yOU by nature vicious? Nay
That hardly needs denying,
For such a thing I dare not say,
Besides, I love not lying.
From Pontia's flagon let me sup
If e'er I thought or said it,
Or even share Metilius' cup,
Although the boldest dread it.
By Cybele's mad retinue,
By every raving minion
In Isis' train, I hold of you
The contrary opinion.
I passed a trifling comment, far
From false or injudicious,
And called you, what you know you are,
Unnaturally vicious.
XLIV
ON THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS, A.D. 79
FAIR were thy shading vines and rich to fill
The overflowing wine-press year by year,
Bacchus hath loved thee more than Nysa's hill,
Vesuvius, for his fauns held revel here;
Sweet Venus held no other haunt so dear,
Alcides made thee glorious with his name,
Flame-swept art thou, a waste of ashes drear,
And heaven remorseful hides its face for shame.
XLV
PARTHENIUS MAKES OFFERING TO PHOEBUS
ON HIS SON'S FIFTH BIRTHDA Y
TAKE my glad offering, Phoebus; for my son
This fragrant censer have I filled to thee,
For now his second lustrum has begun
And many a new Olympiad let him see.
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