The Portable Roman Reader (Portable Library) (64 page)
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Your legs, so like the moon at crescent,
A bathing-tub will scarce look neat in;
So here I send you, for a present,
A drinking-horn to wash your feet in.
A bathing-tub will scarce look neat in;
So here I send you, for a present,
A drinking-horn to wash your feet in.
Translated by Sir Charles Sedley
Thou art a cuckold; so great Caesar was:
Eat‘st till thou spew’st; Antonius did the same:
Thou lovest whores; Jove loves a bucksome lass:
But that thou‘rt whipped is thy peculiar shame.
Eat‘st till thou spew’st; Antonius did the same:
Thou lovest whores; Jove loves a bucksome lass:
But that thou‘rt whipped is thy peculiar shame.
Translated by F. A. Wright
At night no man do you refuse,
And what is worse, dear Nancy,
There’s nothing you refuse to do,
Whatever be his fancy.
And what is worse, dear Nancy,
There’s nothing you refuse to do,
Whatever be his fancy.
9
Setine and Massic at your board abound
Translated by J. A. Pott
Setine and Massic at your board abound,
Yet some aver your wine is hardly sound;
‘Twas this relieved you of four wives, they say;
A libel—but I will not dine today.
Yet some aver your wine is hardly sound;
‘Twas this relieved you of four wives, they say;
A libel—but I will not dine today.
Translated by J. A. Pott
Thou Mother dead, and thou my Father’s shade,
To you I now commit the gentle maid,
Erotion, my little love, my sweet;
Let not her shuddering spirit fear to meet
The ghosts, but soothe her lest she be afraid.
How should a baby heart be undismayed
To pass the lair where Cerberus is laid?
The little six-year maiden gently greet.
Dear reverend spirits, give her kindly aid
And let her play in some Elysian glade,
Lisping my name sometimes—and I entreat,
Lie softly on her, kindly earth; her feet,
Such tiny feet, on thee were lightly laid.
To you I now commit the gentle maid,
Erotion, my little love, my sweet;
Let not her shuddering spirit fear to meet
The ghosts, but soothe her lest she be afraid.
How should a baby heart be undismayed
To pass the lair where Cerberus is laid?
The little six-year maiden gently greet.
Dear reverend spirits, give her kindly aid
And let her play in some Elysian glade,
Lisping my name sometimes—and I entreat,
Lie softly on her, kindly earth; her feet,
Such tiny feet, on thee were lightly laid.
Translated by W. T. Webb
Thaïs for black, Lycænia For milk-white teeth is known. For why? Lycænia’s teeth were bought, While Thais wears her own.
Translated by J.
A.
Pott
A.
Pott
In Fabius’ will sole legatee, Why is Labienus glad? In courting the testator, he Had spent far more than Fabius had.
Translated by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Martiall, the thinges that doe attain
The happy life, be these I finde,
The riches left, not got with pain;
The fruitfull ground, the quiet minde,
The egall frend; no grudge, no strife;
No charge of rule, nor governaunce;
Without disease, the healthful life;
The houshold of continuance:
The meane dyet, no delicate fare;
Trew wisedome joynde with simplenesse;
The night discharged of all care;
Where wine the witte may not oppresse.
The faithfull wife, without debate;
Such slepes as may begile the night;
Contented with thine owne estate,
Ne wish for death, ne feare his might.
The happy life, be these I finde,
The riches left, not got with pain;
The fruitfull ground, the quiet minde,
The egall frend; no grudge, no strife;
No charge of rule, nor governaunce;
Without disease, the healthful life;
The houshold of continuance:
The meane dyet, no delicate fare;
Trew wisedome joynde with simplenesse;
The night discharged of all care;
Where wine the witte may not oppresse.
The faithfull wife, without debate;
Such slepes as may begile the night;
Contented with thine owne estate,
Ne wish for death, ne feare his might.
Translated by Sir Richard Fanshawe
The things that make a life to please
(Sweetest Martial), they are these:
Estate inherited, not got:
A thankful field, hearth always hot:
City seldom, law-suits never:
Equal friends agreeing ever:
Health of body, peace of mind:
Sleeps that till the morning bind:
Wise simplicity, plain fare:
Not drunken nights, yet loos’d from care:
A sober, not a sullen spouse:
Clean strength, not such as his that ploughs;
Wish only what thou art, to be;
Death neither wish, nor fear to see.
(Sweetest Martial), they are these:
Estate inherited, not got:
A thankful field, hearth always hot:
City seldom, law-suits never:
Equal friends agreeing ever:
Health of body, peace of mind:
Sleeps that till the morning bind:
Wise simplicity, plain fare:
Not drunken nights, yet loos’d from care:
A sober, not a sullen spouse:
Clean strength, not such as his that ploughs;
Wish only what thou art, to be;
Death neither wish, nor fear to see.
Translated by Leigh Hunt
Underneath this greedy stone,
Lies little sweet Erotion;
Whom the Fates, with hearts as cold,
Nipp’d away at six years old.
Thou, whoever thou mayst be,
That hast this small field after me,
Let the yearly rites be paid
To her little slender shade;
So shall no disease or jar
Hurt thy house, or chill thy Lar;
But this tomb be here alone
The only melancholy stone.
Lies little sweet Erotion;
Whom the Fates, with hearts as cold,
Nipp’d away at six years old.
Thou, whoever thou mayst be,
That hast this small field after me,
Let the yearly rites be paid
To her little slender shade;
So shall no disease or jar
Hurt thy house, or chill thy Lar;
But this tomb be here alone
The only melancholy stone.
TACITUS
(Publius Cornelius Tacitus, 55? A.D.-?117 A.D.)
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