Marcus Valerius Martial

The swan murmurs sweet strains with a flattering tongue, itself
the singer of its own dirge.

The swan murmurs sweet strains with a flattering tongue, itself
the singer of its own dirge.

I am a shell-fish just come from being saturated with the waters
of the Lucrine lake, near Baiae; but read more

I am a shell-fish just come from being saturated with the waters
of the Lucrine lake, near Baiae; but now I luxuriously thrust for
noble pickle.

The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved, in a tear of the
sisters of Phaeton, so that it seems read more

The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved, in a tear of the
sisters of Phaeton, so that it seems enshrined in its own nectar.
It has obtained a worthy reward for its great toils; we may
suppose that the bee itself would have desired such a death.

Work divided is in that manner shortened.
[Lat., Divisum sic breve fiet opus.]

Work divided is in that manner shortened.
[Lat., Divisum sic breve fiet opus.]

A beau is one who arranges his curled locks gracefully, who ever
smells of balm, and cinnamon; who hums read more

A beau is one who arranges his curled locks gracefully, who ever
smells of balm, and cinnamon; who hums the songs of the Nile, and
Cadiz; who throws his sleek arms into various attitudes; who
idles away the whole day among the chair of the ladies, and is
ever whispering into some one's ear; who reads little billets-
doux from this quarter and that, and writes them in return; who
avoids ruffling his dress by contact with his neighbour's sleeve,
who knows with whom everybody is in love; who flutters from feast
to feast, who can recount exactly the pedigree of Hirpinus. What
do you tell me? is this a beau, Cotilus? Then a beau, Cotilus,
is a very trifling thing.