Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

LXIV
CA RPE DIEM
SLAVE, a full draught of vintage fine,
And bid thy comrade cool the wine,
Let snow its heat allay;
Twine rosy wreaths to deck my head,
Nard shall its precious fragrance shed
To crown my locks to-day;
For Caesar's tomb that standeth nigh
Doth warn that even gods can die,
I'll live while yet I may.
* LXV
TO DO1IITIAN
THE Nemean lion and Arcadian boar,
In spite of Juno, gave the stars of yore
To great Alcides who laid Eryx low,
And forced the Libyan wrestler to bow
Before his might, and slew the woodland pest,
Cacus, of stolen kine by craft possessed.
And yet how small to-day his deeds appear.
Each mom we see more glorious conflicts here.
How many boars by Caesar now are slain
And beasts more fierce than that of Nemea's plain
How soon would Geryon admit defeat
If he our famous champion should meet!
And how could Hydra with each head renewed
For all her fury face the Nile's fierce brood!
He by his valour swiftly rose to heaven:
To thee, great Emperor, may it late be given.
* LXVI
TO PONTILIANUS
THOUGH I often to you a ' Good morning' have said,
You ne'er answer back, any more than the dead.
The next time 'twill be, if you do not reply,' Good-bye, dear departed, for ever good-bye.'
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