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 You put fine dishes on your table, Olus, but you always put them 
on covered. This is ridiculous; in read more 
 You put fine dishes on your table, Olus, but you always put them 
on covered. This is ridiculous; in the same way I could put fine 
dished on my table. 
 The qualities all in a bee that we meet,
 In an epigram never should fail;
  The body read more 
 The qualities all in a bee that we meet,
 In an epigram never should fail;
  The body should always be little and sweet,
   And a sting should be felt in its tail. 
 This picture, plac'd the busts between
 Gives Satire all its strength;
  Wisdom and Wit are little seen
read more 
 This picture, plac'd the busts between
 Gives Satire all its strength;
  Wisdom and Wit are little seen
   While Folly glares at length. 
 What is an epigram? a dwarfish whole,
 Its body brevity, and wit its soul.  
 What is an epigram? a dwarfish whole,
 Its body brevity, and wit its soul. 
 You are pretty,--we know it; and young,--it is true; and rich,--
who can deny it? But when you praise yourself read more 
 You are pretty,--we know it; and young,--it is true; and rich,--
who can deny it? But when you praise yourself extravagantly, 
Fabulla, you appear neither rich, nor pretty, nor young. 
 Lycoris has buried all the female friends she had, Fabianus: 
would she were the friend of my wife!  
 Lycoris has buried all the female friends she had, Fabianus: 
would she were the friend of my wife! 
 "You are too free spoken," is your constant remark to me, 
Choerilus. He who speaks against you, Choerilus, is read more 
 "You are too free spoken," is your constant remark to me, 
Choerilus. He who speaks against you, Choerilus, is indeed a 
free speaker. 
 When to secure your bald pate from the weather,
 You lately wore a cape of black neats' leather;
 read more 
 When to secure your bald pate from the weather,
 You lately wore a cape of black neats' leather;
  He was a very wag, who to you said,
   "Why do you wear your slippers on your head?" 
 The diamond's virtues well might grace
 The epigram, and both excel
  In brilliancy in smallest space,
 read more 
 The diamond's virtues well might grace
 The epigram, and both excel
  In brilliancy in smallest space,
   And power to cut as well.