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PASTORAL LIFE OF THE ANCIENTS. 271
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 express-
ing his admiration of it, the poet enumerates the places from
which the Romans of his time oljtained 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 ad-
dition to the toga.
De Partheniana toga.
Die, toga, facundi gratum niihi munus amici,
Esse velis ciijus fama, decusque gregis?
Appula Leda-i tibi floruit herba Phalantiii,
Qua, saturat Calabris cuita Galesus aquis?
An Tartessiacus stabuli luitritor Iberi
Btetis in Hesperia te quoque lavit aqua ?
An tua multifidum numeravit lana Timaviim,
Quern prius astrifero Cyllarus ore bibit ?
Te uec Amyclaeo decuit livere veneno
Nee Miletus erat vellere digna tuo.
Lilia tu vincis, nee adhuc dilapsa ligustra,
Et Tiburtino nionte quod albet ebur.
Spartanus tibi cedet olor, Pliaphioeque columboe :
Cedet Erythrmis eruta gemma vadis.
Sed licet Iibbc primis nivibus sint semula dona,
Non sunt Parthenio candidiora suo.
Non ego praetulerim Babylonica picta superbfe
Texta, Semitainia quaj variantur acu.
Non Athamantico potius mo mirer in auro,
jEolium dones si mihi, Phryxe, dccus.
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 lierb of famed Phalantus blow,
Where clear Galesus bids his waters flow ?
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