Maxioms by Marcus Valerius Martial
I pleaded your cause, Sextus, having agreed to do so for two
thousand sesterces. How is it that you read more
I pleaded your cause, Sextus, having agreed to do so for two
thousand sesterces. How is it that you have sent me only a
thousand? "You said nothing," you tell me; "and this cause was
lost through you." You ought to give me so much the more,
Sextus, as I had to blush for you.
Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.
[Lat., Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura.]
Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.
[Lat., Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura.]
You often ask me, Priscus, what sort of person I should be, if I
were to become suddenly rich read more
You often ask me, Priscus, what sort of person I should be, if I
were to become suddenly rich and powerful. Who can determine
what would be his future conduct? Tell me, if you were to become
a lion, what sort of a lion would you be?
Do you wonder for what reason, Theodorus, notwithstanding your
frequent requests and importunities, I have never presented you
read more
Do you wonder for what reason, Theodorus, notwithstanding your
frequent requests and importunities, I have never presented you
with my works? I have an excellent reason; it is lest you should
present me with yours.
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.