An great and goodly meal thou bring wi' theeNowise forgetting damsel bright o' blee,With wine, and salty wit and laughs all-gay.An these my bonny man, thou bring, I sayThou'lt sup right well, for thy Catullus' purseSave web of spider nothing does imburse.But thou in countergift more loves shalt takeOr aught of sweeter taste or fairer make:I'll give thee unguent lent my girl to scentBy every Venus and all Cupids sent,Which, as thou savour, pray Gods interposeAnd thee, Fabúllus, make a Naught-but-nose.
TO CALVUS, ACKNOWLEDGING HIS POEMSDid I not liefer love thee than my eyes(Winsomest Calvus!), for that gift of thineCertès I'd hate thee with Vatinian hate.Say me, how came I, or by word or deed,To cause thee plague me with so many a bard?The Gods deal many an ill to such a client,Who sent of impious wights to thee such crowd.But if (as guess I) this choice boon new-foundTo thee from "Commentator" Sulla come,None ill I hold it—well and welcome 'tis,For that thy labours ne'er to death be doom'd.Great Gods! What horrid booklet damnable