Then so friendly an uncle, a world of pretty relations.
Must not a man so blest meagre abide to the last?
Yea, let his hand touch only what hands touch only to trespass; 5
Reason enough to become meagre, enough to remain.

XC.

Rise from a mother's shame with Gellius hatefully wedded,
One to be taught gross rites Persic, a Magian he.
Weds with a mother a son, so needs should a Magian issue,
Save in her evil creed Persia determineth ill.
Then shall a son, so born, chant down high favour of heaven, 5
Melting lapt in flame fatly the slippery caul.

XCI.

Think not a hope so false rose, Gellius, in me to find thee
Faithful in all this love's anguish ineffable yet,
For that in heart I knew thee, had in thee honour imagin'd,
Held thee a soul to abhor vileness or any reproach.

Only in her, I knew, thou found'st not a mother, a sister, 5
Her that awhile for love wearily made me to pine.
Yea tho' mutual use did bind us straitly together,
Scarcely methought could lie cause to desert me therein.

Thou found'st reason enow; so joys thy spirit in every
Shame, wherever is aught heinous, of infamy born. 10

XCII.

Lesbia doth but rail, rail ever upon me, nor endeth
Ever. A life I stake, Lesbia loves me at heart.
Ask me a sign? Our score runs parallel. I that abuse her
Ever, a life to the stake, Lesbia, love thee at heart.

XCIII.

Lightly methinks I reck if Caesar smile not upon me:
Care not, whether a white, whether a swarth-skin, is he.

XCIV.

Mentula--wanton is he; his calling sure is a wanton's.
Herbs to the pot, 'tis said wisely, the name to the man.

XCV.

Nine times winter had end, nine times flush'd summer in harvest,
Ere to the world gave forth Cinna, the labour of years,
Zmyrna; but in one month Hortensius hundred on hundred
Verses, an unripe birth feeble, of hurry begot.

Zmyrna to far Satrachus, to the stream of Cyprus, ascendeth; 5
Zmyrna with eyes unborn study the centuries hoar.
Padus her own ill child shall bury, Volusius' annals;
In them a mackerel oft house him, a wrapper of ease.

Dear to my heart be a friend's unbulky memorial ever;
Cherish an Antimachus, weighty as empty, the mob. 10

XCVI.

If to the silent dea