Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

BOOK TWO

LI
VNUS saepe tibi tota denarius arca
Cum sit et hic culo tritior, Hylle, tuo,
Non tamen hunc pistor, non auferet hunc tibi copo,
Sed si quis nimio pene superbus erit.
Infelix uenter spectat conuiuia culi
Et semper miser hic esurit, ille uorat.
LII
THREE IN ONE
O BATHING man, I like your plan
Of counting, for I heard
Stout Spatale was charged as three,
And paid without a word.
LIII
TO MAXIMUS
You would be free, but cannot? that's a lie;
'Tis easy, there's a simple plan to try.
Cease hunting for choice dinners everywhere,
And be content to drink vin ordinaire;
Let gold inlay on Cinna's table shine,
Nor envy him; and wear a coat like mine,
Waste not your substance on a courtesan;
Lodge simply-'tis enough for any man.
Rule thus your mind to love but simple things
And you'll be freer than the Parthian Kings.
* LIV
TO LINUS
YOUR wife is not lacking in prudence or spite,
And that she has shown very plain;
She has bidden an eunuch to watch you at night,
And thinks then you chaste will remain.
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