Book VII, Epigram 80 (Ker)

Seeing that now the Roman peace restrains the Thracian North,, and threatening clarions are unblown, you can send this little book, Faustinus, to Marcellinus; he has leisure now for my writings, now for my jokes. But, if you wish to commend the small offering of your friend, let a boy carry my poems, not such a one as, full-fed on the milk of Getic cows, plays with Sarmatian hoop on the icebound stream, but the rosy stripling of Mitylene's slave-dealer, or a Spartan not yet scourged at his mother's bidding. But to you will be sent a slave from subject Hister, who can feed your sheep at Tibur.