Martial, : the twelve books of Epigrams,.

MARTIAL'S EPIGRAMS
LXX
NON uis in solio prius lauari
Quemquam, Cotile. Causa quae, nisi haec est,
Undis ne fouearis irrumatis?
Primus te licet abluas: necesse est
Ante hic mentula quam caput lauetur.
LXXI
TO CAECILIANUS
ONE simple trick I note in you,
That when I read a verse or two,
You instantly begin to quote
Catullus or some bard of note;
You mean to compliment my verse
Perhaps by citing something worse,
And though the contrast flatters me
With its inferiorityAssuming this intent alone,
'Twere better you should quote vour own.
* LXXII
TO POSTUM US
A THING, I am told, happened yesterday night,
Which I cannot approve, for I don't think it right.
I'm informed you received such a tempest of knocks
As the pantaloon gets when they play Box and Cox.
And, what's more surprising, folk now are repeating
'Twas Caecilius gave you that most unkind beating.
You declare it's not true; and I hope it as well,
But the fellow has witnesses, so people tell.
* LXXIII
QUID faciat uolt scire Lyris: quod sobria: fellat.
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