Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

BOOK FIVE

LXXV
A NOVEL UNION
SINCE legal penalties you held in awe
You married Laelia; she's your wife-in-law!
LXXVI
THE MITHRIDATIC CURE
BY drinking poison daily, soon
Did Pontus' King become immune,
So, judging by your daily dinner,
You'll soon be hunger-proof, my Cinna.
* LXXVII
TO IMARULLUS
A WIT once remarked-' When his patron is near,
You'ld think that Marullus had oil in his ear.'
LXXVIII
Ai COUNTRY MENU
TORANIUS come and dine (or fast) with me,
If you should find your lonely table bore you;
Have you a jaded palate? there shall be
No lack of leeks or lettuce to restore you;
Sliced tunny with its egg-fresh broccoli
On a black plate my slave shall set before you,
This from my garden cool-but touch it not
With careless fingers, 'twill be piping hot.
A sausage on polenta snowy white,
Plump lentils duly flanked with streaky bacon;
Then if dessert can stir your appetite,
Raisins and Syrian pears shall next be taken,
Chestnuts from learned Naples, cooked aright
In slowest heat their savour to awaken,
And from my humble wine-jar do not shrink,
The better seems the wine the more you drink.
I6I L