No More Learning

LIIII.

TO JULIUS CAESAR. (? )

The head of Otho, puniest of pates
* * * *
The rustic half-washt shanks of Nerius
And Libo's subtle silent fizzling-farts.
* * * *
I wish that leastwise these should breed disgust
In thee and old Fuficius, rogue twice-cookt. 5

LIIIIb.

Again at these mine innocent iamb-lines
Wi' wrath be wrothest; unique Emperor!

Otho's head is paltry past all phrase * * * the uncouth semi-soaped shanks
of Nerius, the slender soundless fizzlings of Libo * * * if not all things
I wish would displease thee and Fuficius, the white-headed and
green-tailed.

Anew thou shalt be enraged at my harmless iambics, emperor unique.

LV.

Oramus, si forte non molestumst,
Demostres, ubi sint tuae tenebrae.
Te campo quaesivimus minore,
Te in circo, te in omnibus libellis,
Te in templo summi Iovis sacrato. 5
In Magni simul ambulatione
Femellas omnes, amice, prendi,
Quas vultu vidi tamen serenas.
A, vel te sic ipse flagitabam,
'Camerium mihi, pessimae puellae. ' 10
Quaedam inquit, nudum sinum reducens,
'En heic in roseis latet papillis.
'
Sed te iam ferre Herculei labos est. 13
Non custos si fingar ille Cretum, 23
Non si Pegaseo ferar volatu,
Non Ladas ego pinnipesve Perseus, 25
Non Rhesi nivea citaque biga:
Adde huc plumipedes volatilesque,
Ventorumque simul require cursum:
Quos cunctos, Cameri, mihi dicares,
Defessus tamen omnibus medullis 30
Et multis langoribus peresus
Essem te mihi, amice, quaeritando. 32
Tanto ten fastu negas, amice? 14
Dic nobis ubi sis futurus, ede
Audacter, conmitte, crede lucei.
Num te lacteolae tenent puellae?
Si linguam clauso tenes in ore,
Fructus proicies amoris omnes:
Verbosa gaudet Venus loquella. 20
Vel si vis, licet obseres palatum,
Dum vostri sim particeps amoris.

LV.

OF HIS FRIEND CAMERIUS.

We pray, an' haply irk it not when prayed,
Show us where shadowed hidest thou in shade!
Thee throughout Campus Minor sought we all,
Thee in the Circus, thee in each bookstall,
Thee in Almighty Jove's fane consecrate. 5
Nor less in promenade titled from The Great
(Friend! ) I accosted each and every quean,
But mostly madams showing mien serene,
For thee I pestered all with many pleas--
"Give me Camerius, wanton baggages! " 10
Till answered certain one a-baring breasts
"Lo, 'twixt these rosy paps he haply rests! "
But now to find thee were Herculean feat. 13
Not if I feigned me that guard of Crete, 23
Not if with Pegasean wing I sped,
Or Ladas I or Perseus plumiped, 25
Or Rhesus borne in swifty car snow-white:
Add the twain foot-bewing'd and fast of flight,
And of the cursive winds require the blow:
All these (Camerius!