Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS
XXXIII
ON GELLIA
SHE weeps not for her sire if none be near,
In company she calls up many a tear.
True mourners would not have their sorrows known,
For grief of heart will choose to weep alone.
XXXIV
TO LESBIA
You never guard or close the doors
To hide your pranks from observation,
And for those stolen joys of yours
Your confidant is all the nation.
Nay, those who see your wantonness
Delight you more than those who share it,
No pleasure pleases you unless
To all the world you can declare it.
From brazen ways pray, Lesbia, turn
And let the demi-mondaines teach you,
From Chione or Ias learn
A show of virtue, I beseech you.
You think my censure harsh? Not so,
For if you follow my direction
I would not ask you to forgo
Your lovers, but to shun detection.
XXXV
TO CORNELIUS
You say my verses are not fitSo loose and frivolous their witFor pedagogues to read in school;
Cornelius, you forget the rule
That little verses such as these,
Like wives and husbands, cannot please
If they are prudish. Would you say
'Write me a wedding-song, but pray
Be grave as in a funeral dirge '?
At Flora's feast would any urge
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