Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS
XXI
IANTHIS AND STELLA
WHEN Venus knit the bond that tied
lanthis to her poet,
' No greater gift is mine,' she cried,
' On Stella I bestow it.'
So spake she for the bride to hear,
Anon, her craft betraying,
She murmured low in Stella's ear,
'Thou rogue, beware of straying;
The wanton war-god oft hath known
The wrath of vengeful Venus,
Before he was my spouse alone
When rivals came between us.
Now wedded, none disputes with me
My sway supreme and royal,
And Juno well may wish that she
Could boast a mate as loyal.'
She ceased and gave the blow unseen,
From which no hearts recover;
Now smite alike, 0 gracious queen,
The lady and her lover.
XXII
RESPECTABILITY
Now, a suspected past to cover,
You make a husband of your lover,
Lest law should visit your transgression;
This is not marriage but confession!
* XXIII
TO LESBIA
You want me, dear lady, to be always ready.
But love, you must know, is a thing most unsteady.
Your words and your gestures invite me to go
To extremities with you. Your face-that says ' No.
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