Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS
* XXIV
THE PRIDE OF THE RING
HERMES the Martial darling of our day,
Hermes well-skilled in every kind of fray,
Hermes a fighter-teacher, both in one,
Hermes whom Helius fears and fears alone,
Hermes before whom Advolans falls mute.
Hermes himself his only substitute,
Hermes to whom his frightened pupils bow,
Hermes who wins nor needs to strike a blow,
Hermes from whom the theatre wealth derives,
Hermes the bane of gladiators' wives,
Hermes the joy of lady-connoisseurs,
Hermes whose spear the victory ensures,
Hermes terrific with his drooping crest,
Hermes whose trident lays the foe to rest,
Hermes who does each kind of fighting grace,
Hermes in all unique, the triple ace.
* XXV
THE EQUESTRIAN CENSUS
YOU'VE not got three thousand, my friend, so make haste;
Leitus is coming, you've no time to waste.
Up quick, run away: or perhaps some kind friend
To you of his superabundance will lend.
Whom now shall I put on the record of glory,
So that after his death men may still read his stor??
Would not this be true virtue and far better done
Than to make all the theatre with red saffron run.
Or to give the three thousand to some senseless gee
That Scorpus his nose all of gold we may see?
Dissemblers of friendship! Your wealth you won't use,
Though you read this and praise it. \hat glory you lose!
XXVI
CLASSES
'A DANDY patron, quality AI,
'Tis true I called you so; 'twas only fun.
But if you think that I insulted you,
Call me ' a seedy client, class B2.'
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