Book XI, Epigram 1 (Ker)

Where, where are you going, idle book, smart in purple not of every day? Can it be to see Parthenius? No doubt: go and return unopened; publications he does not read, only petitions, nor has he leisure for the Muses, or he would have leisure for his own. Do you not think yourself fortunate enough if lesser hands may await yon? Make for Quirinus' Colonnade hard by; a crowd more idle not Pompey contains, nor Agenor's daughter, nor the inconstant captain of the first ship. There are two or three there who may unroll my twaddle, fit only for worms, but only when the bet and languid tales about Scorpiis and Incitatus are done with.