Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS
So Virgil who might e'en with Pindar vie
Ne'er against Flaccus sung in rivalry,
And though he could have passed him in the race,
In tragedy to Varius gave place.
Full many a friend will give you wealth and fields;
But rare is he who thus in genius yields.
XIX
FALSE APPEARANCES
HE makes parade of poverty-a plot
To make us think him rich when he is not.
XX
THE WISE FOOL
You write a hundred lines a day?
That means a crazy brain.
And yet you publish none, you say;
That shows that you are sane.
* XXI
TO THE DA YSTAR ON THE M1ORLNING OF
DO1MITIA.N'S RETURNX
BRIGHT star, bring back the day: why check delight?
Our Caesar comes: bright star, bring back the light.
Dost thou then ride with the slow-moving bear,
Thou art so long the city's call to hear?
Castor to thee his flying steed would lend,
That so the dawn thou might more quickly send.
Why stay the sun? His steeds are fain to take
The bit, and Memnon's mother is awake.
Nay, 'tis the moon that will not yield to day
And with the stars would fain in heaven stay
To see our chief. Sire, e'en in darkness come:
Thy people need not light, if thou be home.
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