Book II, Epigram 14 (Ker)

Nothing Selius leaves untried, nothing unventured, as often as he perceives at last that he must dine at home. He scurries to Europa's Portico and pours forth praise— and interminable praise — of you, Paulinus, and of your feet that vie with Achilles'. If Europa has produced nothing, then he makes for the Saepta, to see if the son of Philyras and the son of Aeson will guarantee him anything. Baffled in this quarter, too, he haunts the temple of Isis, and takes his seat beside the chairs, sad heifer, of thy worshippers. Thence he seeks the roof poised on a hundred columns; from there Pompey's gift with its double groves. Neither of Fortunatus nor of Faustus does he spurn the bath, nor Gryllus' gloom and Lupus' cave of the winds; as to the three hot baths he bathes again and again. When he has done everything— the god still refusing his wishes — after his bath he runs again to the box-groves of sun-warmed Europa, in hope that there some friend may be walking late. Wanton carrier, I pray thee by thyself and by thy virgin freight, do thou, O bull, ask Selius to dinner.