XXI.

TO AURELIUS THE SKINFLINT.

Aurelius, father of the famisht crew, Not sole of starvelings now, but wretches who Were, are, or shall be in the years to come, My love, my dearling, fain art thou to strum. Nor privately; for nigh thou com'st and jestest 5 And to his side close-sticking all things questest. 'Tis vain: while lay'st thou snares for me the worst, By ---- I will teach thee first. An food-full thus do thou, my peace I'd keep: But what (ah me! ah me!) compels me weep 10 Are thirst and famine to my dearling fated. Cease thou so doing while as modest rated, Lest to thy will thou win--but ----

Aurelius, father of the famished, in ages past in time now present and in future years yet to come, thou art longing to paedicate my love. Nor is't done secretly: for thou art with him jesting, closely sticking at his side, trying every means. In vain: for, instructed in thy artifice, I'll strike home beforehand by irrumating thee. Now if thou didst this to work off the results of full-living I would say naught: but what irks me is that my boy must learn to starve and thirst with thee. Wherefore, desist, whilst thou mayst with modesty, lest thou reach the end,--but by being irrumated.