Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

XXXVI
A REMINDER TO STELLA
WHAT time my rugged cot endured the bane
Of winter's drenching floods, your kindly care
Sent wherewithal the havoc to repair
And so my roof defies the sudden rain.
Think how rude Boreas roars; the boon is vain
That clothes the farm but leaves the farmer bare.
XXXVII
THE DEATH SIGNAL
You know the dread signal of death I suppose?
But one whimsical quaestor has lately ordained
A new one, and said if he once blew his nose
It was sentence of death on the culprit arraigned.
Till winter drew on was the custom maintained,
Then the judge caught catarrh from December's chill breath
And his colleagues rushed up and his hands they restrained
Or all the accused had been sentenced to death.
XXXVIII
ON TWO MONSTROSITIES SHOIWN I-\' THE CIRCUS
THE Cyclops of old, could he only behold
Polyphemus, would start with surprise,
And Scylla for shame's sake would turn from her namesake
So ghastly their faces and size.
Ah, would it were fated the pair should be mated
Their terror they hardly could smother,
Just think of the sight when each shuddered with fright
And fainted at view of the other!
XXXIX
PRETENCE COM1ES TRUE
FRIEND Ca'lius vowed he would no longer bear
To run and dance attendance evervwhere
On Patrons, face their haughtiness and scorn
Or be compelled to greet them every morn.
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