human
Good-night, fair Muse!
gpt
Good-night, sham Eros!
human
Oh! and other and better ones, cried she.
gpt
What I have heard and seen to-day passes all belief!
human
And you will celebrate it in your poems?
gpt
Only some of it, and that in a satire which I propose to aim at you.
human
I tremble!
gpt
With delight, it is to be hoped; my poem will embalm your memory for posterity.
human
That is true, and the more spiteful your verses, the more certainly will future generations believe that Verus was the Phaon of Balbilla's Sappho, and that love scorned filled the fair singer with bitterness.
gpt
I thank you for the caution. To-day at any rate you are safe from my verse, for I am tired to death.
human
Did you venture into the streets?
gpt
It was quite safe, for I had a trustworthy escort.
human
May I be allowed to ask who?
gpt
Why not? It was Pontius the architect who was with me.
human
He knows the town well.
gpt
And in his care I would trust myself to descend, like Orpheus, into Hades.
human
Happy Pontius!
gpt
Most happy Verus!
human
What am I to understand by those words, charming Balbilla?
gpt
The poor architect is able to please by being a good guide, while to you belongs the whole heart of Lucilla, your sweet wife.
human
And she has the whole of mine so far as it is not full of Balbilla. Good-night, saucy Muse; sleep well.
gpt
Sleep ill, you incorrigible tormentor!