Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS

XLIII
FACUNDOS mihi de libidinosis
Legisti nimium, Sabelle, uersus,
Quales nec Didymi sciunt puellae
Nec molles, Elephantidos libelli.
Sunt illic Veneris nouae figurae,
Quales perditus audeat fututor,
Praestent et taceant quid exoleti,
Quo symplegmate quinque copulentur,
Qua plures teneantur a catena,
Extinctam liceat quid ad lucernam.
Tanti non erat esse te disertum.
XLIV
TO UNICUS
I HAIL you kinsman both in blood and heart,
For kin we are alike in soul and aim;
You might have matched your brother's loftier art.
But, for his love, that palm you will not claim;
Aye, Lesbia might have loved you and your fame
Have lured Corinna; but an humbler part
You chose and still, for brother-love, you deign
To hug the shore who might have sailed the main!
* XLV
TO PHOEBUS
YOUR temples and bald-pated crown are quite hid
By a skilful contraption of close-fitting kid.
A wit passing by made a charming bon mot' By Jingo, the man's got his head in a shoe '.
XLVI
THE BUSINESS SENSE
GALLUS has sold his songs! How can you then
Maintain that poets are not business men?
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