scene is the ridicule poured out against the homosexuality of acquaintances, Mends and enemies. He attacks Gallus (ever a special object, of mockery) Sextillius, Charinus, Nævolus, Bassus, Sabellus, and a dozen more, with the frankest signalements as to "technique" and—anatomy. The Epigrams incidentally constitute a sort of encyclopedia of Roman homosexualism. As has been said of recovering all the art of harmony should only the works of Johann Sebastian Bach survive, so had we nothing except Martial we could restore all the arts and methods of decadent Roman Uranianism. Let us cite only a few of the "Epigrams."
"Mentula cum doleat puero tibis, Naevole, culus:
Non sum divinus sed scio quid facias.
Artemidorus habet puerum sed vendidit agrum;
Agrum pro puero Calliodorus habet.
Die uter istis melius rem gesserit, Aucte,
Artimedorus amat, Calliodorus arat.
Mollia quod nivei duro teris ore Galaesi
Basia quod nudo cum Ganymede jaces,
Quis negat? hoc nimiumst. Sed sit satis! inguina saltem
Parce fututrici sollicitare manu.
Levibus in pueris plus haec quam mentula peccat
Et faciunt digiti precipitantque virum:
Inde tragus celeresque pili mirandaque matri
Barba nec in clara balnea luce placent.
Divisit natura marem, pars una puellis
Una viris genitum est. Utere parte tua.
Illa salax nimium nec paucis nota puellis
Stare Lino desit mentula. Lingua, cave!
Invasit medici Nasica phreniticus Eucti
Et percidit Hylan. Hie puto sanus erat.
Multis jam, Lupe, posse se diebus
Pedicare negat Charisianus.
Causam cum modo quaererunt sodales,
Ventrem dixit habere so solutum.
Addixisti, Labiene, tres agellos:
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