Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

XVIII
A PETITION TO THE EMPEROR
WHILE Caesar reigns, long may my country cot
And tiny house in Rome be mine; but lo,
Yon straining pole doth bring my garden-plot
Its scanty waters from the vale below:
But here, though nigh at hand the fountains flow
No quickening drop doth slake my parching home;
One rill divine a bard would love to owe
To him, the M\uses' lord, the God of Rome.
XIX
TO SABELLUS
You praise the gourmet's baths; do you design
To share his water, or his food and wine?
* XX
ON THE FLAVIAN TEMIPLE, BUILT UPON THE
SITE OF DOMITIAN'S BIRTHPLACE
THIS open space, with marble and with gold
Emblazoned, knew our infant lord of old.
O happy earth, that heard his wailing cry,
And as he crept could see and help supply.
Here stood the house which to our world has given
What Rhodes and pious Crete bestowed on heaven.
Then eunuch priests the baby god concealed
With all their strength, loud rattling lance on shield;
For thee, great Caesar, Jove himself had care,
And bolt and aegis stood for shield and spear.
XXI
LIFE UP TO YOUR.NAME
ARTEMIDORUS bought a pretty slave
And sold his lands to pay-the price was greatBut Calliodorus wiith the sum he gave
Became the master of the whole estate.
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