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| comicomus nebulo, qui Flaccum pelleret orbe. 'Non loquor his, ymo studio callentibus', inquis. Carmine sed laico: clerus vulgaria tempnit, et si non varient, cum sint ydiomata mille. Preterea nullus, quos inter es agmine sextus, nec quem consequeris celo, sermone forensi descripsit. Quare, censor liberrime vatum, fabor, si fandi paulum concedis habenas. Nec margaritas profliga prodigus apris, nec preme Castalias indigna veste sorores; at, precor, ore cie que te distinguere possint carmine vatisono, sorti comunis utrique. Et iam multa tuis lucem narratibus orant: |
by some buffoon with comic actor's shock of hair who would have driven Flaccus from the world. "Not to such I speak but rather to those skilled in study," thou sayst. Ay, but in laic verse! Clerks scorn the vernaculars, even though they varied not, whereas there are a thousand idioms. Besides, not one of those amongst whom thou makest a sixth in the band, nor him whom thou art following to heaven wrote in the language of the market-place. Wherefore, thou freest critic of the bards, I too will speak if thou yield the reins of speech a moment: Cast not in prodigality thy pearls before the swine, nor load the Castalian sisters with a garb unworthy of them; but I pray thee summon utterance which may out-single thee, with bard-like song common to either lot. And even now many themes implore the light from thy discourse. |