- tion in her sixth year. He describes her interesting qualities
by comparing her to a lamb of the soft Tarentine breed, always clothed and usually kept in the house and hence remarkably tender and delicate.
The following epigram (L. viii. ep. 28.) was written on the receipt of a handsome toga from the wealthy and munificent Parthenius, chamberlain to the emperor Domitian. In expressing his admiration of it, the poet enumerates the places from which the Romans of his time obtained the best and most fashionable garments of this description. He next proceeds to extol its whiteness; and in conclusion observes how ridiculous he would appear wearing his old lacerna over this new and snowy garment, and he thus conveys a hint to Parthenius how acceptable and suitable would be the present of a lacerna in addition to the toga.
De Partheniana toga.
Dic, toga, facundi gratum mihi munus amici,
Esse velis cujus fama, decusque gregis?
Appula Ledæi tibi floruit herba Phalanthi,
Quà saturat Calabris culta Galesus aquis?
An Tartessiacus stabuli nutritor Iberi
Bætis in Hesperia te quoque lavit aqua?
An tua multifidum numeravit lana Timavum,
Quem prius astrifero Cyllarus ore bibit?
Te nec Amyclæo decuit livere veneno;
Nec Miletus erat vellere digna tuo.
Lilia tu vincis, nec adhuc dilapsa ligustra,
Et Tiburtino monte quod albet ebur.
Spartanus tibi cedet olor, Phaphiæque columbæ:
Cedet Erythræis eruta gemma vadis.
Sed licet hæc primis nivibus sint æmula dona,
Non sunt Parthenio candidiora suo.
Non ego prætulerim Babylonica picta superbè
Texta, Semiramia quæ variantur acu.
Non Athamantæo potius me mirer in auro,
Æolium dones si mihi, Phryxe, decus.
O quantos risus pariter spectata movebit
Trita Palatina nostra lacerna toga!
Say, grateful gift of mine ingenious friend,
What happy flock shall to thy fleece pretend?
For thee did herb of famed Phalantus blow,
Where clear Galesus bids his waters flow?
