Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

TO PAUL US
THOUGH your laurel-wreathed axes announce the new y ear
At a thousand levees every morn you appear.
What to us do you leave? What in Rome can I do,
Who am one of the people, the poor vulgar crew?
Shall I hail him as ' lord' who scarce gives me a glance?
The greeting you give your proud honours enhance.
Shall I follow his chair? You to bear it desire
And strive to go first through the thick of the mire.
Shall I rise to applaud him? That chance you ne'er miss
And are standing already to throw him a kiss.
What shall poor fellows do whom no patron will own?
Your consular purple has ousted our gown.
XI
TO CALLIODORUS
OF Theseus and Pirithous you rave
And boast yourself the peer of Pylades.
Hang me if you are fit to play the slave,
To clean a sty, or feed the swine for these!
You boast the thrice-turned coat, the loan you gave
Your friend to meet his need-Remember, please,
The heroes gave no doles, but shared their store;
Whatever you may give you keep far more.
* XII
TO DOMIITIUS
SOON upon the Aemilian \Vay you will go
And visit Vercellae and see the broad Po.
Deuce take it, I'm glad you are going, my friend,
Though upon you my days for enjoyment depend.
I shall miss you, but still it is worth it, I own:
For one summer you're free from the burden of Town.
Let your skin drink the sunlight in each greedy poreHow handsome you'll grow on that far distant shore!
When you come back you'll seem quite a different man;
We poor pallid townsfolk will envy your tan.
But though you be burned, as by Egypt's hot sun,
Stay a few weeks in Rome and that brown will be gone.
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