Book X, Epigram 87 (Ker)

Come, let duteous Rome recognise October's, kalends, the birthday of eloquent Restitutus: with all your tongues, and in all your prayers, utter well-omened words; we keep a birthday, be still, ye lawsuits! Away with the needy client's wax taper! and let useless three-leaved tablets and curt napkins wait for the jollity of cold December. Let richer men vie in gifts: let Agrippa's pompous tradesman bring mantles, the fellow-citizens of Cadmus; let the defendant in a charge of assault and drunkenness at night send his counsel dinner-suits. Has a slandered young wife defeated her husband? Let her bestow, and with her own hands, genuine sardonyxes. Let the old admirer of ancient days give chased plate of Phidias' chisel/ the hunter a hare, the farmer a kid, the fisher bring the spoil of the sea. If every man send his own peculiar gift, what do you think, Restitutus, a poet will send you?