EPIGRAM 72. BOOK X.

FLATTERY! to me in vain thou com'st forlorn,
With pallid lips by forc'd caresses worn:
Rome by base sycophants no more is trod,
Trajan disdains the honours of a God.

To Parthia's realms thou and thy crew retreat,
There kiss on bended knee the sovereign's feet:
Our Prince, our Emperor, is here ador'd,
As the first Senator, but not as Lord.
While at his call, with hair all silver-white,

Plain Truth appears, who long lay hid in night:

EPIG. 72. LIB. X.

FRUSTRA, blanditiæ, venitis ad me
Attritis, miserabiles, labellis:

Dicturus dominum, deumque non sum.
Jam non est locus hac in urbe vobis:
Ad Parthos procul ite pileatos,
Et turpes humilesque, supplicesque
Pictorum sola basiate regum.
Non est hic dominus, sed Imperator,
Sed justissimus omnium senator:
Per quem de Stygia domo reducta est
Siccis rustica veritas capillis.

Yet Truth declares, though she reveres the plan,
That he, who Flatt'ry hates, is more than man.

EPIGRAM 53. BOOK VIII.

WITH our females for beauty as none may compare,
Or for profligate manners, and impudent air;
I should love you, Belinda, (forgive me my taste)
If a little less handsome-a little more chaste.

EPIGRAM 98. BOOK IX.

WHEN from his patient a physician stole

(His patient fond of punch) a silver bowl; Caught in the fact, yet from the charge not shrinking, "Zounds, man!" he cried, "you would have "died of drinking ""

Hoc sub principe, si sapis, caveto,
Verbis, Roma, prioribus loquaris.

EPIG. 53. LIB. VIII.

FORMOSISSIMA quæ fuere, vel sunt,

Sed vilissima quæ fuere, vel sunt.

O quam te fieri, Catulla, vellem,

Formosam minus, aut magis pudicam!

EPIG. 98. LIB. IX.

CLINICUS Herodes trullam subduxerat ægro:

Deprensus dixit, stulte, quid ergo bibis?

EPIGRAM 77. BOOK IV.

PLEAS'D and contented with my little store,

I never importun'd the gods for more;
But to propitious Fortune now I pray,

That she would drive pale Poverty away.

Whence springs in me this sudden wish for pelf? That SAM may see me rich, and hang himself!

EPIGRAM 27. BOOK III.

THOUGH at my table, NED you often see,
NED never thinks of once inviting me:
Yet to forgive him I should still incline,
Did he not ask his other friends to dine.
Thus NED, and I, are equally to blame-
As I have no discretion, NED no shame!

EPIG. 77. LIB. IV.

NUNQUAM divitias deos rogavi,

Contentus modicis meoque lætus.

Paupertas, veniam dabis, recede.

Causa est tam subiti, novique voti ?

Pendentem volo Zoilum videre.

EPIG. 27. LIB. III.

NUNQUAM me revocas, venias cum sæpe vocatus:
Ignosco, nullum si modo, Galle, vocas.
Invitas alios: vitium est utriusque. Quod? inquis.
Et mihi cor non est, nec tibi, Galle, pudor.

EPIGRAM 75. BOOK VII.

TO your friends, little JACKY! how fondly you boast,
You at dinner amuse your illustrious host;

And you think, having ventur'd on some lucky hit,
Though a pigmy in size, you're a giant in wit:
But, thrown off like a coat out of fashion, you prove,
That you fitted his humour, but never his love!

EPIGRAM 80. BOOK IV.

JOHN at my cottage was a constant guest,

And smok'd, all day, his pipe, and crack'd his jest: Then what a fool was JOHN, his own to buy,

And when I sold it, what a cheat was I!

EPIG. 75. LIB. VII.

QUOD te diripiunt potentiores
Per convivia, porticus, theatra,
Et tecum, quoties ita incidisti,
Gestari juvat, et juvat lavari:
Nolito nimium tibi placere.

Delectas, Philomuse: non amaris.

EPIG. 8o. LIB. IV.

Hospes eras nostri semper, Matho, Tiburtini.

Hoc emis: imposui. Rus tibi vendo tuum.

R

EPIGRAM 69. BOOK II.

WHEN PHIL dines out, 'tis not his will complies, This PHIL affirms, yet I'll be sworn he lies. QUEENSB'RY to dine abroad would often roam, To 'scape the dull monotony of home.

"If you dislike it, PHIL,

why go at all?"

'I can't resist,' you say, each friendly call: 'I am compell'd.'—“ Just so, as I'm a sinner, "Toм is compell'd, that suppliant for a dinner: "To HAL's three courses you are ask'd to-day; σε Now shew yourself a man and keep away. "Else each excuse, though urg'd with seeming force, "Will prove them like HAL's dinners-words of "course."

EPIG. 69. LIB. II.

INVITUM cœnare foris te, Classice, dicis:
Si non mentiris, Classice, dispeream.
Ipse quoque ad cœnam gaudebat Apicius ire;
Cum cœnaret, erat tristior ille, domi.
Si tamen invitus vadis, cur, Classice, vadis?
Cogor, ais: verum est, cogitur et Selius.
En rogat ad cœnam Melior, te, Classice, rectam,
Grandia verba ubi sunt? Si vir es, ecce nega,