University of Virginia Library

Lib. 9.

Ad Domitianum, Epig. 4.

If thou shouldst challenge what is due to thee
From heaven, and its creditor wouldst bee;
If publique sale should be cryed through the sphæres,
And th'gods sell all to satisfy arrears,
Atlas will banq'rrupt prove, nor one ounce bee
Reserved for Jupiter to treat with thee.
What canst thou for the Capitol receive?
Or for the honour of the Laurel-wreath?
Or what will Juno give thee for her shrine?
Pallas I pass, she waits on thee and thine.
Alcides, Phœbus, Pollux I slip by
And Flavia's Temple neighb'ring on the sky.
Cæsar thou must forbear, and trust the heaven:
Jove's Chest has not enough to make all even.

In Æschylum, Epig. 5.

When for two guilders Galla thou might'st swive,
And more then so if thou it double give:
Æschylus why did she take ten of thee?
The feate's not worth it: what? the secresie.

In Paullam, Epig. 6.

Paulla thou very fain wouldst Priscus wed,
I wonder not, tis witty so to doe:
But Priseus will not medle with thy bed,
And therein he is full as witty too.

In amicum Cænipetam, Epig. 15.

Dost think this man whom thy Feast makes thy freind
A heart of faithfull friendship can pretend?
He loves thy brawn thy oysters, but not thee,
Let me sup so, he shall be friend to mee.

In Afrum, Epig. 26.

As oft as we thy Hyllus doe behold
Filling thy wine, thy browes doe seem to scold,
What crime is't, I would know to view thy Boy?
We look upon the gods, the stars, the day,
Shall I fling back as when a Gorgon lyes
Steep'd in the cup? and hide my face and eyes?
Great Hercules was feirce in crueltie
Yet we might see his pretty Hylas free:
Nor would great Jove have ought in wrath to say
If Mercury with Ganimede did play.
(Afer) if then we must not view thy loose
Soft ministers that serve thee in thy house,
Invite such men as Phineas to bee
Thy guests or Oedipus that nere could see.

Epitaphium Latini, Epig. 29.

The stage his sweet renown, the fame
Of playes, Latinus known by name,
I here lye seiz'd in deaths cold night,
Thy great applause, thy delight.
I that could make strict Cato be
My joy'd spectator, and at mee
The Curii and Fabricii smile
And loose their gravity the while.
But yet my life nere bore away.
Ought from the theatre or play,
I only there did act my part
Not out of nature, but by art.
Nor could I to great Cæsar bee
Grateful without my vanitie.
Yet Deifi'd Domitian might
See that my inward parts were right.
But ye may call me at your will
A Parasite of Phœbus still,
While Rome may know me rais'd above
Into the family of Jove.

Qualem velit amicam, Epig. 33.

I love a Lasse that's apt, and plain doth goe,
And with my Boy hath had a bout or two.
And her that two-pence makes her mine all ore,
And being one can tugg with half a Score,
Shee that asks pay, and in bigg straines doth ball,
Let her bee drudg to thickskinn'd Burdigal.

In Ponticum. Epig. 42.

(Ponticus) Cause thou ne're doth swive,
But some by-lusts contentment give,
And thy more conscious hands supply
The service of thy venery:
Dost think that this is no offence?
(Believe it) it's damn'd excellence
Is of so foule and high a weight
Thou can'st not reach it in conceipt.
Horace but once did doe the feat
That he three glorious twins might get,
Mars and chast Ilia once did joyn
That Rome's great founders they might coyn.
All had been loss'd, had either's list,
Spent his foule pleasure in his fist.
When thus then thou shalt tempted bee
Think that Dame nature cryes to thee,
That which thy fingers doe destroy
O Pontieus it is a Boy.

In Gaurum. Epig. 51.

Gaurus approves my wit but slenderly,
Cause I write verse that please for brevity,
But he in twenty volumes drives a trade
Of Priam's warrs. O hee's a mighty blade!
We give an Elegant young pregnant birth,
He makes a dirty Gyant all of earth.

In Mamurram. Epig. 60.

Mamurra, long and much stalk'd up and down
The stalls, where all the goods are fold in Rome,
Beholds the boyes, and with them feeds his eyes,
Nere prostitute from their first cottages,
Such whom the Cages kept in secresie,
Close from my cronies and the peoples eye,
Thence ful, he calls for the round tables down,
And t'have the high placed Ivory open showne,
And measuring the Tortoise beds thrice ore,
As too small for his Cypress groaned sore.
Then smells if purely Corinth the brass scent,
And Delian statues give him no content.
Complains the crystalls mix'd with Courser glass.
Marks myrrhine Cupps, and ten aside doth place,
Cheapens old baskets and if any were
Wrought cups by noble Mentur's cunning there,
And numbers the green Em'ralds layd in gold,
Or any from the eares that take their hold,
Then seeks true gems in table boards most nice.
And of rich pretious Jaspers asks the price.
Tyred and departing when the eleventh houre come,
He bought two farthing cupps, and carr'd them home.

In Æschylum, Epig. 68.

I enjoyd a buxsom lass all night with mee,
Which none could overcome in venerie.
Thousand wayes tyred, I askd that childish thing,
Which she did grant at the first motioning,
Blushing and laughing I a worse besought,
Which she most loose vouchsafed as quick as thought.
Yet she was pure, but if she deale with you
Shee'l not be so, and thou shalt pay dear too.

In Cæcilianum, Epig. 71.

O times! ô manners! Tully cry'd of old
When Cateline his curs'd plot did unfold,
When Cæsar and great Pompey took the field,
And civill war with blood the ground did guild.
Why dost thou cry ô times, ô manners now?
What doth displease (Cæcilian) what cramps you?
There's not contest of Princes, no swords rage,
But peace and gladness all the world asswage,
‘Tis not our guilt makes the times bad to thee,
‘Thy own (Cæcilian) force them such to bee.

In Sutorem, Epig. 74.

O thou whose teeth were wont to reach old hides,
And gnaw base rotten soles with dirty sides,
Thou hast thy Patron's lands now in thy grave,
In which I vexe that thou a crib shouldst have,
And drunk dost break the christals with burn wine,
And frigst thy late Lord's Boy as he were thine.
With letters my sad Parents fooled mee,
O learning, what have I to doe with thee?
Thalia burn thy Books, and thy quills too,
If Coblers get such boons from an old shooe.

De effigie Camoni, Epig. 77.

This which you see is my Camonus face,
Such his young looks, such his first beauty was.
Thy countenance grew stronger twice ten years
Till a beard cream'd his cheeks with downy haires.
The offer'd Purple once his shoulders spread,
But one of the three Sisters wish'd him dead,
And thence his hast'ned thred of life did cut,
Which to his Father in a sad Urne put
Came from his absent pile: but least alone
This Picture should present his beauty gone,
His Image yet more sweetly drawn shall be
In never dying papers writ by mee.

De Gellia, Epig. 81.

An old rich wife starv'd Gellius bare and poore
Did wed: So she cramm'd him and he cram'd her.

Ad Auctum, Epig. 82.

My readers and my hearers like my Books,
But a quaint Poet sayes th'are not done cleare:
I care not much for pleasing of the Cooks,
If that my guests affect my slender cheare.

In Munnam, Epig. 83.

Th'Astrologer fore-told of thee,
That thou shouldst perish sudden lie;
Nor (Munna) doe I think he told a lye;
For thou for fear least there should bee
Ought left for thy posteritie,
Hast wasted all thy wealth in luxurie,
Thy brace of millions in one year was spent,
Was not this perishing incontinent?

Ad Rufum; Epig. 89.

While thou didst seek my love, thou senst mee some
Presents, but now thou hast it no gifts come.
That thou mayst hold mee (Rufus) still bee free
Least th'ill fed Bore break from his franck and flie.

Domitiano Adulatorium, Epig. 92.

If that a diverse invitation came
At once in Jove's and in great Cæsar's name,
Though that the Stars were near, Rome more remote,
The gods in answer should have this my vote,
Go seek an other that Jove's guest would bee,
My Jupiter on Earth hath fett'red mee.