Book VII, Epigram 51 (Ker)

If you shrink from buying my trifles, Urbicus, and yet would be acquainted with my wanton verses, you will seek out — and perhaps you know him — Pomponius Auctus: he sits at the entrance of Avenging Mars, steeped in law, and versed in the manysided practice of the gown. He is not a reader of my books, Urbicus, but himself the book. He so remembers my poems, though they are not before him, and declaims them, that not a letter is lost from my pages; in fine, he might, if he chose, have been counted their author; but he chooses rather to support my fame. After the tenth hour — for he will not be fully at leisure before — you may solicit him: a small dinner will do for two; he will read: do you drink; although you may not wish it, he will mouth my verses; and when you have said "Hold! enough!" he will go on reading.