Fountains are seen to flow in ev'ry place Fish-ponds the Stranger Trout and Mullet feed The home-bred Pike which call'd does come wi 〈…〉 spe 〈…〉 Fat Carps here know their Names and to you ma 〈…〉 And all a Pastime is no pains to take But to the Owners when does Rome give leave But a few days these Pleasures to receive Fruition's lost while they to Business cleave These Sweets O Hinds and Gardners happy Crue 〈…〉 Were for your Lords prepar'd but are enjoy'd by yo 〈…〉 Ep. 31. On Calliodorus Thy Servant thou for a great Sum didst sell That but once Callidore thou might'st Fare well Nor far'd'st thou well A Mullet of four Pound Was the head Dish which the whole Table crown ' 〈…〉 May we not Wretch exclaim 'gainst this thy Treat Say 'T was a Man not Fish that thou didst eat Ep. 33. To Munatius Gallus Munatius Gallus more sincere by far 〈…〉 an Socrates or ancient Sabins were 〈…〉 may thy Wife 's chast Love inflame thy Heart 〈…〉 nd from her Noble Stock may'st ne'er depart 〈…〉 when Black Rhimes defame the Age or Men 〈…〉 nd Malice would ascribe them to my Pen 〈…〉 ou me acquit and stoutly dost contend 〈…〉 at way none write who Wit and Fame befriend ever in my Book have had the Care ho' Vice I tax the Persons still to spare Ep. 35. On Sulpicia All Virgins chaste Sulpicia read 〈…〉 ho but in one Love wish to speed 〈…〉 ll Husbands chaste Sulpicia read 〈…〉 ho hold one Wife the happi'st Meed Medea's Rage she does not write 〈…〉 estes horrid Feast recite 〈…〉 Scylla or of Biblis tell 〈…〉 hat Transformations them befel Such Tales she seeks not to retrieve Nor did she ever them believe Her Verse of Pious Love does treat Fraught with quick Wit and choice Conceit Who rightly of her Poems deem Nothing more Sportive to them seem Or which more Holy they esteem Such were the Joys Divine and Sweet When Numa did Egeria meet And him the Goddess did inspire To institute the Vestal Fire Her School had she been trained in Sappho more Chaste and Learn'd had been Phaon who Woman-kind did fly Could not Sulpicia Love deny Her Graces known he must be ta'en And love her tho' he lov'd in vain For were she from Calenus free Calenus the Beloved He Apollo's Wife nor Iove's she 'd be Ep. 39. On Lesbia Old Lesbia swears and to be borne would fain Be thought in Brutus Days or Numa's Reign But lies in both Her AEra we must fetch From Elder Times unto Prometheus stretch Who sees her foul cadav'rous Face will say Lo the first Mortal that was made of Clay Ep. 43. On Philo. Thy Seventh Wife Philo 's bury'd in thy Field No Land than thine a Richer Crop doth yield Ep. 44. To Q. Ovidius Quinctus Ovidius now resolv'd to see The Northern Britains and the Ocean Sea Charming Nomentum cannot him with-hold His House and sweet Repose altho' he 's Old All do thy Faith deservedly commend Which in contempt of Life thou shew'st thy Friend While on his exil'd Steps thou dost attend But tho' the Joys of Life thou thus delay Thy Thread of Life the Parcae will not stay But rig'rously impute to thee each day Return at length and at thy Home remain Nor 'mong thy Friends to count thy self disdain Ep. 45. On his Malignant Reader If in my Books ought sweet and gentle sound Ought celebrating famous Acts is found Witless thou deem'st a dry Bone valu'st more Than such choice Morsels of the noblest Boar. If Ranc'rous Spleen be thy belov'd Disease My Candid Vein shall ne'er thy Malice please Ep. 47. To Julius Martialis What our Lives render most at ease My dearest Martial they are these A'State that 's left not got with Toil A constant Fire a fruitful Soil A quiet Life from Law-Suits free But seldom that the Gown doth see Ingenuous Strength a Body sound Prudent Plainness Friends equal found An artless Board with easie Fare A Night not Drunk yet void of Care A Bed not sowre and yet that 's Chaste Sound Sleep that makes Night seem to haste Nought else but what thou art to wish to be The last Hour not to fear or haste to see Ep. 49. On Cotta When rich Opimian Wine thy self dost quaff Turn th'Amethystin Glasses often off Thou vile Sabinum offer'st unto me And say'st Wilt drink in Gold To shew thou' rt free Who cares thy Sordid Nature to unfold For Leaden Wine tho' in a Cup of Gold Ep. 51. To Faustinus Now that the Vernal Constellations chase The Winters Rage and Earth renews her Face Now the Fields smile and Trees fresh Verdures take And Philomel her charming ' Plaints does make What Days what Joys does Rome from thee with-hold What Ease from City Toyl not to be told O Woods O Founts O Anxur's pleasant Strand Where rowling Waves wash o'er the glitt'ring Sand Where ev'n from Bed you divers Waters see Here Boats on Rivers glide there on the Sea But some will urge You do not here behold The Capitol the Temples rich with Gold Embellish'd which in Gorgeousness draw nigh The Heav'ns they represent and with them vye Rome's august Bathes nor Theatres are here Her Grandure does not in the least appear Before you both Advantages I lay And now I fancy I do hear you say As Men when with Ill Wives they can't agree Rome Take what 's thine render what 's mine to me Ep. 53. An Epitaph on Scorpus I am that Scorpus Glory of the Race Rome's admir'd Joy but Joy for a short space Among the Dead Fates early me enroll'd Numb'ring my Conquests they did think me old Ep. 56. On Gallus Gallus thou 'd'st have me thee attend alway To pass th' Aventine three four times a day Cascellius Remedies to th' Teeth applies Heginus to all Evils of the Eyes Fannius Defluctions of all sorts can stay Eros the Scars of Branding clear away Hermes inveterate Ruptures will insure Hast thou the Skill a broken State to cure Ep. 57. To Sextus You 'd wont to send a Pound of Plate each Year But half a Pound does now from you appear And that of Spice I buy not Spice so dear Ep. 58. To Frontinianus When I with thee near Baia was retir'd Where all was easie all to be admir'd And nothing did the sweet Recess annoy O how the Muses we did both enjoy Imperious Rome does my whole Life consume To say a Day is mine I can't presume I' th' City as in a rough Sea I 'm toss'd In fruitless Duties all my Time is lost My barren Fields near Rome should give me Bread Themselves in greater need are to be fed But not alone those Love who never spare Both day and night the Great ones Gates to wear A Toil unworthy of a Poets care By Sacred Muses and the Gods above When least Officious I do truly Love Ep. 59. On his Lazy and Nice Reader If one sole Epigram takes up a Page You turn it
re-gain The Fields are treach'rous tho' no Hedge or Stone No Ditch appear plain Ground destroys alone Examples want not of the thing I say Less Causes have produc'd a fatal Day If gen'rous Dangers only thee delight 'T were nobler to engage the Boar in fight With running speed thou lov'st to venture wreck Likelier than catch the Hare to break thy Horse's neck Ep. 15. To Trajan the Emperor What-e'er the Palace late did splendid shew Now to the Gods is given and publick view Iove in his Temple does the Cups admire Whose Gold and Jewels flash like Flames of Fire Astonish'd former Princes Pride to see Such their stupendious matchless Luxury To Iove alone belong Vessels so rare The Phrygian Boy such radiant Cups to bear With Gods we now do all in Wealth abound Poverty scarce among the Mean is found I shame I shame to say how heretofore Together with the Gods we all were Poor Ep. 17. On Lentinus Lentinus that thy Feaver does remain So many days thou sadly dost complain It bathes with thee 't is carry'd in thy Chair Eats Oysters with thee Mushroms Ven'son Hare And drunk with noblest Wines 't is often made Nor do these please if not with Snow allay'd With Roses crown'd it sumptuously does feast And in a purple downy Bed takes rest While it with thee does fare so rich and well Think'st thou with poor starv'd Dama it will dwell Ep. 18. To Juvenal While restless thou Saburras noisy Street Dost tread or passing oft with weary Feet Mak'st even a Path up to Diana's Hill A Clients toilsome Duties to fulfil Or Sweating in thy waving Gown the less And greater Coelius puts thee to distress My native Biblis rich in Steel and Gold A Rustick of her Town has me enroll'd Here with sweet Labour causes no annoy I Platea and Boterdus both enjoy These are the course rude names of Towns in Spain Where after thirty Winters spent in pain And waking Morns in Rome I rest regain Such stintless and profound Repose I take That the ninth hour can hardly me awake A Gown is here unknown some tatter'd Weed On my demand is given me in its stead A blazing Fire receives me when I rise Which neighbouring Woods abundantly supplies The which my Country Maid with Pots besets Against my Huntsman comes with loaded Nets â—o trim a Youth and 'bove the common strain As may seduce Diana's Virgin Train My Bayliff begs the Boys may cut their Hair That in some useful Labour they may share Their pains as under growth not still deny Thus I delight to live and thus to die Ep. 21. On Marcella Who can Marcella thee suppose to be Of Spanish Birth and our rough Salo free So choice so sweetly grac'd that at first sight The Palace challenge may in thee a Right Not one in the Suburra can compare With thee or who boasts yet a courtlier Air. Were other Beauties from the Nations sought None would a Latian Dame like thee be thought Thou mak'st the City's loss easie to be For thou alone art Rome and more to me Ep. 25. On Thelesinus Money thou 'st none without Pawn but at hand If for Security I 'll ' gage my Land What thou'lt not trust to me thy ancient Friend To Trees and Mole-hills thou' rt content to lend Lo the Delator Wretch impeaches thee Call now unto thy Patronage a Tree Exil'd thou want'st a Friend with thee to go Can'st make a Field Companion of thy Woe Ep. 26. On an Unjust Friend Cause thou at early Morn the Great dost see And tread their Courts thy self of Lords Degree 〈…〉 but a Knight seem slothful unto thee That at first day abroad I do not roam To bring when tir'd a thousand Kisses home What thou dost do 's a Consulship to gain Or else some wealthy Province to obtain 〈…〉 whom to break my Sleep thou dost require And patiently to brook the Mornings Mire What get I when my Toes break out a Door Thro' my torn Shooe and Clouds fierce Show'rs down pour And not a Servant have dry Clothes to bring â—ut while benum'd and drown'd you may me wring â—etorius sends to call me to a Treat â—e't ne'er so Rich 't were better never eat A Province is thy Lot a Meal is mine My Toyl's the same but not my Gain with thine Ep. 30. On Aper Aper 's a Sober Man What 's this to me A Slave I so commend a Friend that 's free Ep. 32. On Vacerra O Jest and Shame of such as Housholds move When Iuly comes and do new Dwellings prove I saw thy Stuff Vacer thy Stuff I saw Which for thy Rent not seized on by Law Thy Landlord rather glad such Trash to spare Thy red-fac'd Wife with sev'n red Hairs did bear Help'd by thy Giant Sister and thy Mother Men thought the Furies there were got together For such their Number was and such their Faces That Pluto seem'd t' have lent thee his three Graces The Irus of thy Age thou these didst follow Thy Skin like season'd Box distain'd and yellow With Cold and Hunger also dry'd and parch'd All Beggars-Bush the People thought had march'd A two-legg'd Table and a three-legg'd Bed There went a Pan with Fire on thine own Head A Sconce and Goblet all of massy Horn A Jordan it self Pissing as 't was bor'n Stale Sprats and Pilchards could not be conceal'd Their obscene Scent their Presence there reveal'd Nor did there want to go in State with these A Cantle of unsav'ry Tholose Cheese A Wisp of Penyroyal four Years old A Rope which Onions had but pick'd and bald A Pot of Turpentine thy Mother's Care The Brothel Dames with such fetch off their Hair Why mock'st thou Landlords and dost Houses see When Gratis Vacer may thy Dwelling be Such Pomp of Goods such Houshold-Stuff pertains To High-ways Hedges Bridges and to Lanes Ep. 34. To Julius Martialis Thirty four Years I take it thou and I Iulius have kept each other company In which some Jars with much content did meet But yet the greatest part was ever sweet And should I mark the days with black and white Stones most would be the Number of the bright If in thy Life much Anguish thou'dst avoid With griping Pangs not have thy Heart annoy'd Wed thy self too much to the love of none Less thou wilt Joy but less thou'lt also Groan Ep. 35. On Callistratus That thou may'st seem more freely to converse Some past Venerial Crimes thou dost confess But yet in this thou dost not clearly deal Who tells such Faults yet fouler does conceal Ep. 36. On Labullus That none but thou does in these days extend A pinching Gift unto a needy Friend Think not for this thou' rt Noble No How then Only the Best among the Worst of Men. In bounteous Acts the Seneca's restore The Piso's but then those of heretofore Else 'mong the Good thou 'lt hold the Lowest Place Would'st thou contend in swiftness of the Race Passerin and fleet Tiger then
By whom he has of Young Slave-Knights a rout To stock his Farm and Fields Truly may he Be stil'd the Father of his Family Ep. 87. On Novius Novius so very near my Neighbour is That from my Window my Hand reaches his Who does not envy me that in my Pow'r Have thus a Friend t' enjoy at ev'ry Hour But Rufus is not more remote to me Who now in Egypt does command than he We never meet nor in the Town there are However near yet any Two so far 'T is requisite that either he or I Further remove but so to bring us nigh For he that wishes Novius ne'er to see Let him his Neighbour or his Inmate be Ep. 88. To Fescennia Lest thy o'er-nights Debauch thy Breath disclose Thou seek'st Fescennia on us to impose By eating rich Pasteels and Amber Plums These fur thy Teeth But when the foul Belch comes From thy crude Maw they help thee in no wise But the Stink's stronger made by this Disguise Doubl'd and trebl'd and does further go When thus thy Tricks discover'd all do know Henceforth to free us from this compound Stink Be Sober otherwise avow'dly Drink Ep. 89. An Epitaph on Alcimus Alcime who didst in Years yet blooming die And by a light Turf cover'd here dost lie I rear no towring Tombs of massie Stone A vain Expence that Fame confers on None But plant frail Box and Palms whose verdant shade Drench'd by my Tears shall be immortal made Receive thou then the Monument I give A Verse that will unto all Ages live And when my Life is spun and Days expire No nobler Monument I my self Desire Ep. 90. To Cinna Cinna th' art ever wisp'ring in the Ear And wisp'ring that which all the World may hear Thou laugh'st i' th' Ear weepst quarrel'st dost disputâ— Thou sigh'st in th' Ear dost hollow and art mute So far th' art gone in this Disease I swear Thou praisest Caesar often in the Ear. Ep. 92. To Laetius Thou blam'st my Verses and conceal'st thine own Or publish thine or else let mine alone Ep. 98. On Nevolus When all a Clamour make at once contend Then thou art loudest too dost most pretend T' have much to say For this would'st learned seem Have all a pow'rful Patron thee to deem Behold the Court is hush'd now speak you may But for thy Client now th' ast nought to say Ep. 99. On Diodorus Th' ast Gouty Feet yet stoutly dost withstand At Law and pay'st no Fees the Courts demand Is not the Gout Diodore in thy Hand Ep. 100. To one that grew sordid upon obtaining great Riches When yet thou wert not worth an Hundred Pound So Generous so Noble thou wert found So Sumptuous that it was the Wish of all Calenus an Estate might thee befall Suiting thy Mind The Gods our Pray'rs did hear And less than in the Compass of a Year Vast Wealth by four dead Friends was to thee left But thou as if of thousands now bereft And not enrich'd so sordid strait dost grow That in a solemn Feast thou didst bestow Which Annual was and seven old Friends did treat A pound of Leaden Coyn for all thy Meat What does this Baseness bid us next to pray The Gods would snatch their Ill-plac'd Wealth away No But to give thee many thousands more That starve thou may'st out-right in so much Store Ep. 104. On the like Thou saidst when yet thou hadst not a Knights-Fee If Heav'n would grant four thousand Pounds to me Oh in what Ease what Splendor I would live The easie Gods smil'd and the Sum did give But then thy Gown was sordid Cloke thread-bare Shoes thrice and four-times clouted thou didst wear Of poor ten Olives some were still set up On the same Meat thou used'st twice to Sup Lees of Wine serv'd thee which Vientus bore A peny-worth of Pulse a Peny Whore We 'll sue the Cheat Live better or refund Unto the Gods th' ast mock'd four thousand Pound Ep. 108. To Lucius Julius Oft Noble Lucius thou dost this repeat Th' art Idle Martial something write that 's Great Then give me Ease such as Mecenas gave When the like Work from Virgil he would have I 'll frame a Verse with such immortal Flame As to all Ages shall preserve my Name The Yoke does pinch that 's born in Barren Soyl The Rich Ground tires but Sweeter is the Toyl Ep. 109. To Gallus May thy fair Farm tho beyond Tibur site As it does now thee more and more delight My Rooms Vâ—psanian Laurels do behold In the which Region I am now grown Old A Journey 't is to give thee the Good-Morn But such thou art tho further to be born One Gown-man more yet were not much to thee Tho to detain this One is much to me My Book shall th' Early Ave for me pay And I 'll attend when ended is the Day Ep. 110. On Issa a little Bitch Issa's Toyings wittier are Than those of Lesbia's Sparrow were Issa's Caresses and her Loves Are purer than the Billing Doves Than Virgins she 's more Soft and Nice Than richest Gems of higher Price Bitch Issa is to Publius dear Bitch Issa has no where her Peer Her Whining you would Speaking deem She her Lord's Cares to know does seem Tho' in his Neck close to his Ear She Sleeps no Breathing he can hear When she has need her self to Ease Her Lord she courts that he would please To set her down and gently scrapes Be sure no Drop from her escapes To Venus she was ne'er inclin'd And hard a Husband 't were to find So soft a Bride Least Death's sad Day Should wholly ravish her away Publius caus'd her drawn to be And Issa you so like may see Do but the Piece with Her compare Issa her self you 'ld think were there So rare is Arts and Natures Strife Both Pictures seem and both seem Life Ep. 111. To Velox Too long my Epigrams thou thinkest are Thine who writ'st none Velox are shorter far Ep. 113. On Priscus I stiled thee Lord and King while yet unknown Plain Priscus now 's the most that thou canst own Ep. 118. On Lupercus As oft as I Lupercus thee do meet With the same Words thou me dost always greet Thy Epigrams dear Martial to me lend When for them shall my Boy on thee attend But to divert me I shall read them o'er And speedily again the Book restore Out of the Road remote three Stories high I near the Pidg'ons in a Garret lie Whither to send your Boy were him to tire When nearer you may have what you desire In Forum Iulii is your daily Way Where you will see Atrectus Shop display All Poets Names your Eye may run them o'er Inscrib'd or pasted on his Posts and Dore. My Book from 's Shelves he 'll hand you at first word And for three Shillings bound and gilt afford The Price Three Shillings muttering low dost say The Purchase will not such my Cost repay Altho thy sordid Nature I despise
Meat the Givers of t' abuse A Cynick to be thought does make this Stir But he no Cynick is What then A Cur. Ep. 54. On Colinus As thou Colinus to thy high Renown From all Contenders bor'st the Oaken Crown If wife thy Days in genial Pleasures spend As if each Day determin'd were thy End None with the Parcae ever could prevail Their Lives one Hour beyond their Time to bail Altho more rich than Crispus Thrasea bold Than Melior they a nobler Port did hold The Sisters Web unchangeable doth run And one still cuts what t' other two have spun Ep. 56. On Gargilianus That thou large Presents send'st the Rich and Old Would'st have it for thy Glory to be told There 's none like thee deserves a Sordid Fame Who thy vile Snares dar'st gen'rous Presents name Call too a Hook by which the Fish are ta'en A Gift the Train by which wild Beasts are slain What 't is to give dost thou desire to know On me can nought return thy Wealth bestow Ep. 59. On a Viper inclosed in Amber As 'mong the Poplar Boughs a Viper crawls The Liquid Gum upon him struggling falls With Drops alone while wond'ring to be held He straight within the Amber was congeal'd Then of thy Tomb proud Queen think not too high A Worm far nobler here entomb'd doth lie Ep. 60. On Death When Leo rages with the Summers Sun From pestilential Climates never run Since in the wholesom'st and the purest Air The Destines Croatius did not spare When thy Time 's come Death from no place is bound Sardinia in the midst of Tybur's found Ep. 61. On Mancinus Two Thousand Pound lately to thee befell Thou with a fleering vaunting Face didst tell Scarce four Days pass'd while thou and I did walk I' th' Poets School of hundreds thou didst talk In Robes which rich Pompilla to thee sent Thou swor'st that Bassa did to thee present A true Sardonix with it's triple Lines And Caelia gave thee two fair Agmarines I' th' Theatre as we did hear the Song More yet thou told'st that did to thee belong Even hasting and in Motion to depart Of a late Heirship News thou dist impart What have thy Friends deserv'd of thee so ill That them with Envy thou delight'st to kill If pleasing things to blab thou canst not hold Some Good to us Ill to thy self unfold Ep. 66. On Linus A country Life Linus thou 'ast ever led More mean more homely nothing can be said A curtail Gown on Festivals alone Thou wor'st and wor'st but every ten Years one Thy Forest unbought Hare and Boar did yield Fat Thrush thy beaten Woods and neighb'ring Field Thy River Fish afforded being sought Thy Wine was all from thine own Vineyard brought No lovely Boys from Egypt did adorn Thy Board but rustick at thine own Farm born And if thy lust inflamed was with Wine The foulest Drab thou never didst decline No Loss thou hast receiv'd by Sea or Land By gaming deep and an unlucky Hand When so thou wer 't dispos'd to pass the Day Nuts thou didst stake or else with Nuts didst play Say where 's the vast Estate th' immoderate Sum Thy Mother left What is of all become All 's gone 'T is a hard thing that thou hast done Ep. 67. On a Praetor Gaurus in 's Need did of the Praetor pray A hundred Pound grown in his Friendship grey And said that Sum would give him a just Right To all the Honours of a Roman Knight But he reply'd An hundred Pound I use I' th' Race to spend nor this will me excuse Ah shames it not ingrate thy Friend to slight To give a Horse what thou deny'st a Knight Ep. 68. To Sextus My Mess cost cheap thine the profusest Sum To Sup not envy Sextus I did come Ep. 69. To Papilus Pure Massick Wine thou dost not only drink But giv'st thy Guests tho some this do not think Four Wives 't is said thy Flaggon caus'd to die This I believe not yet not thirst to try Ep. 70. On Ammianus Nought t' Ammianus did his Father leave But a dry Halter Who can now conceive His Fathers Life he gladly would revive Who wish'd him often Dead when yet alive Ep. 72. To Quintus To give my Books to thee thou dost implore But I have none the Bookseller has Store Thou say'st none sober will such Trifles buy Thou art not yet so Mad. No more am I. Ep. 73. On Vestinus Vestinus drawing now his latest Breath And ready to resign his Soul to Death The fatal Sisters he did humbly pray Of his near End to make a little stay That Dead t' Himself to Others he might Live Way to such Pious Vows the Fates did give Then parting his vast Wealth he left the Light Seeming now full of Years to take his Flight Ep. 74. Upon Deer fighting See how the tim'rous Herd in Fight engage How fearful Deer express the fiercest Rage Death from themselves they are not seen to fear Caesar set on the Dogs to save the Deer Ep. 75. On Nigrina Thou highest Glory of a Latian Wife Blest in thy Spouse blest Nigrine in thy Life Him Master of thy Birth-right thou didst make Joying in all thou hadst he should partake Evadne perish'd in the Fun'ral Flame Nor cheaper did Alceste purchase Fame But thou thy Faith by surer ways dost prove And need'st not Death to testify thy Love Ep. 76. On a niggard Friend Ten pound I begg'd with half thou didst me speed Next time I 'll ask thee twice what I have need Ep. 77. On Zoilus I ne'er begg'd Riches from the Gods before Well pleas'd with what I had and to be poor But Want now get thee hence Heav'n grant me Store Whence comes this sudden new Desire of Pelf I 'd fain see envious Zoilus hang himself Ep. 78. On Varus Varus did lately me to Supper call The Table Sumptuous was the Supper small Loaden it was with weight of Gold not Meat Much to be Seen was serv'd little to Eat Varus our Mouths not Eyes to feast w' are here Take hence thy Plate or fill 't with better Cheer Ep. 79. On Afer When thou no less than sixty Years hast told Thy silver Hairs and wan Face spake thee Old Yet thou art seen through all the Town to run Restless no youthful Offices to shun At early Morn thou great Mens Chairs dost meet And them with thy Officious Aves greet A Tribune comes not forth but thou attendâ—st Thy Service unto both the Consuls lend'st Ten times a Day thou climb'st the Palace Hill None but Sigerios and Parthenios fill Thy Mouth those Fav'rite Names which while thou vaunt'st Thou think'st that thou thy self no greatness want'st This Youth may do But what so wretched Tool As a decrepid and Ambitious Fool Ep. 80. To Matho Thou 'ast bought my Farm where thou wert ever more My Guest Th' art plainly cheated on the Score I 'ave sold thee that which was thine own before Ep. 81.
matchless Piece May well contest the proudest Hand of Greece Had but the Goddess shone with such a Grace In Ida both her Rivals had given place Tho' his own Iuno Iove did ne'er approve Before his brightest Strumpets thine he 'd love Ep. 96. To Avitus That I so often talk of Remote Lands My native Salo Thirst and Tagus Sands The Plenty of a homely Farm desire And yet grow Old in Rome thou dost admire That Place Avitus most does please in which A little Wealth both Riots and makes Rich. The barren Field must here be ever fed Which there Untill'd will give the Owner Bread The Niggard Fire scarce warms the Chimny here The bounteous Blaze there the whole House does cheer Here Hunger's dear the Shambles all confound Thy Table 's loaden there from thine own Ground Four Gowns a Year are here consum'd and more There one will serve to rub out the whole four Go then the Great adore What they deny Thy Field alone Avitus will supply Ep. 100. To the Stealer of his Verses Why dost thou mix my Verses Fool with thine What has thy jarring Strain to do with mine Why dost thou yoke the Lion and the Ass Seek to make Owls for noble Eagles pass Had'st thou fond Sot swift Ladas Foot for one The other Wood in vain it were to run LIB XI Ep. 4. To his Book NOT only those at Ease my Verses love And the more Civiliz'd my Muse approve But the rough Soldier does my Leaves o'erlook 'Mongst Snows and Martial Ensigns reads my Book The Britains too are said my Verse to sing But what does this unto my Coffers bring What living Numbers from my Quill would flow What Blasts would my Pierian Trumpet blow If as Augustus now again does reign I also a Mecenas could obtain Ep. 5. To Nerva The Phrygian Gods and Sacred Rites to save Up to the Flames the Trojan Hero gave Troy's Wealth Iove Iuno whom we now behold With Pallas first engrav'd in purest Gold And Ianus who records the happy day Of Numa's Reign To all I Pious pray The Senate may be safe the Princes Throne By his Example all may live he by his own Ep. 6. In praise of Nerva Thy love of Right and Justice Caesar 's more Than Numa's was and Numa yet was poor 'T is rare when Riches cannot taint the Mind In Croesus Wealth a Numa's Soul to find If our old Romans of Renowned Name Dispens'd with in Elizium hither came Camillus thee t' obey would think it free Fabricius would take Gold if giv'n by thee In such a King Brutus would take delight Sylla to thee resign th' Imperial Right Caesar and Pompey private Men would live And Crassus his lov'd Treasure to thee give Cato himself if Fates would set him free Return'd to Earth would a Caesarean be Ep. 7. To Rome While Saturn's Feast and jovial days remain In which good Chear Mirth and Dice only reign To sport in looser Verse I do presume Thou dost permit Sacred Indulgent Rome The Goddess smil'd which spoke her free Consent Be far remov'd from hence pale Discontent My Muse produce Verse of a sprightly Air Which flow without Solicitude and Care Crown both my Head and Cups Attendant Boy As Nero's were when he 'd himself enjoy But fill them oft'ner fill them to the Brim I can do nought unless in Wine I swim The Wit of many will in me be found If I with their Enjoyments do abound Rome if Catullus Plenty thou'lt bestow I 'll frame a Verse his Sparrow shall out-go Ep. 14. An Epitaph on Paris the Player Who passes the Flaminian way At this Innobled Marble stay The City's Darling Egypt's Wit Who Art and Grace the best did hit And Mirth unto all Humours fit The Grief the Glory of Rome's Stage The Love the Beauty of the Age Do here entomb'd with Paris lye And did with him together dye Ep. 18. To Sabinus Not all my Verse for Nights loose Hours are writ Many you 'll find the sober Morning fit Ep. 19. To Lupus A Farm thou gav'st me joyning to the Town My Window holds one of much more renown This a Farm call you Is 't a Farm d' you say A Tuft of Rue Diana's Grove you may As well suppose For what you will 't may pass Spice it assords as much as Herbs or Grass A Pismire in one day would eat it bare An Earwig starve out-right for want of Fare In it a Violet cannot blow and spread Much less a Mushrome raise his spacious head A Cucumber lye straight upon the ground A Snake conceal it self from being found A single Mole both digs and plows the Soil A wretched Mouse does all lay waste and spoil And by my Hinde 't is apprehended more Than Calydonia fear'd th' enraged Boar. All that the yearly Harvest does afford A Swallow in her little Nest may hoard Bear the whole Income in her Claw or Bill Nor will my Vintage a pitch'd Nut-shell fill Mistaken words thy deed of Gift do frame What 's but a Mole-hill Mounts and Meadows name Ep. 25. To Labullus While I attend thy steps early and late Afford an Ear unto thy idle Prate Applaud what-e'er by thee is done or said How many Exc'lent Verses might be made This thou account'st no Loss altho' that Rome Reads them with Joy far Nations bear them home Knights and Patricians make them their Delight Lawyers admire and Poets also spight And can I this digest That for thy sake Only thy Train more Numerous to make My Books shou'd fewer be So to engage That scarce in thirty days I write one Page But thus it is for Cheer when Poets rome And will not be content to Sup at home Ep. 28. To Flaccus Thou' rt Iron Flaccus if to such a Dame Who begs vile Gifts thou can'st keep up a Flame Cow-heels does ask Tripes Sprats and Scraps of Fish And a whole Pompion holds too much to wish To whom her Maid joyful t' have got does pour Cheap Pulse which greedily she does devour And when she 's bold and will all shame depose Begs Yarn enough to knit a pair of Hosâ— My Wench Perfumes exacts both Rich and Rare Rubies and Pearls and those must also Pair Choice Naples Silk with her will only pass An hundred Crowns in Gold she begs like Brass Give I such Gifts dost say a Miss to please No But I 'd have her Merit such as these Ep. 30. On an old wanton Lady When with Caresses thou would'st me excite All Virile Pow'r thou dost extinguish quite For when thou call'st me Love thy Life and Dear The Surfeit I digest not in a Year These were due Arts when thou wert Young and Fair Thou dost not know what aged Toyings are I give thee Martial say Ten thousand Pound My Mannor House with all the Fertile Ground I give thee Iewels Plate whole Caves of Wine These without Love tricks do to Love incline Ep. 33. On Nestor When not a Pan of Coals a rotten Bed A Mat