30. To Gaius -

I CHANCED to ask a loan — a hundred merely;
E'en as a gift that should not task severely
A wealthy friend, and so I asked him, knowing
His pockets bulge with cash to overflowing.
" Go to the Bar," says he, " get rich by pleading" —
'Tis cash, not counsel, Gaius, that I'm needing.

27. Cupboard Love -

W HENE'ER you plead in court or read your verses,
Watch Selius fishing for an invitation.
With wild applause your words he intersperses,
" Perfect," " Hear, hear," " 'Tis said to admiration,"
" Bravo," " How grand the style!" " How good the matter!" —
Then you invite him, just to stop his chatter.

19. On Zoilus -

To think that I would fawn on you
For dinner — such a dinner too
As yours, ah, what a fate!
He that could face your daintiest fare,
Good Zoilus, had better share
With Lazarus at the gate.

17. The Lady Barber -

A LADY barber there doth dwell
Just where Suburra's vale emerges
To join the place where Argus fell,
Where hang the lictors' bloody scourges.
She sits among the cobblers' booths
That take up half the street or block it;
No chin this barber ever smooths!
What is it that she trims? — Your pocket.

10. To Postumus -

You give me only half a kiss;
All thanks for that; but pray
Grant me a further boon; 'tis this —
Take half that half away.
Yet higher should the favour be —
Mere speech its worth profanes —
If you would not inflict on me
The quarter that remains.

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