Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

* XXXVII
EROTION
A CHILD more sweet-voiced than a swan full-grown,
Softer than all Galaesus' lamb's-wool down,
More dainty than the shells from Lucrine meres,
More fair than new-cut ivory appears,
Or Red Sea stones, or snow, or lilies white,
Whose locks than Baetic fleeces shine more bright
And could the dormouse and Rhine's knots surpass,
Whose breath than Paestan roses sweeter was,
Or Attic honey, or an amber ball
Snatched from a maiden's hand and warm withal,
Compared with whom a peacock's hues were pale,
Squirrels seemed clumsy, and a phoenix staleMy little love-bird, my Erotion,
Lies in the pyre still warm; her life is done;
Six winters had not passed above her head
When fate relentless struck my playmate dead.
And yet friend Paetus bids me not to grieve' My wife,' he cries, ' is buried, but I live.
And she was rich and proud, of lineage brave.
Why weep so sorely for a little slave? '
And therewithal, to show his heartfelt pain,
He beats his breast and tears his hair again.
How brave is Paetus. He endures his life:
And yet he's got a fortune from his wife.
XXXVIII.4 LESSON FROM MYTHOLOGY
You claim a knighthood? True, your purse might bear it,
But then you have a brother who must share it;
To halve your paltry means were foolish, very,
Who takes two bites at such a paltry cherry?
One horse for both won't do-the scheme's a mad one.
Plague on your brother! Had you never had one,
You might be Castor; Pollux makes the trouble,
For though you count as one, you can't sit double;
To say ' unus sedemus ' makes one stammer,
It isn't common sense-or even grammar.
Follow the plan of Leda's sons-your brother
Might be a knight one day and you another.
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