Fallaces vitreo stellas componere mundo et vaga Saturni sidera saepe queri venturumque Iovem paucis promittere nummis Cureti genitor noverat Uranius. in prolem dilata ruunt periuria patris 5 et poenam merito filius ore luit. nam spurcos avidae lambit meretricis hiatus consumens luxu flagitiisque domum et, quas fallacis collegit lingua parentis, has eadem nati lingua refundit opes. 10 XLIV. (LXXVI.) _In eundem Curetium._ Si tua, Cureti, penitus cognoscere quaeris sidera, patre tuo certius ipse loquar. quod furis, adversi dedit inclementia Martis; quod procul a Musis, debilis Arcas erat; * * * * * Page 271 XLII. (LIII.) _The Wild Boar and the Lion._ A dark boar and a tawny lion met once in battle, each exulting in his strength: the one shook his cruel bristles, the other his dreadful mane. One was Mars’ favourite, the other Cybele’s: both are kings of the mountains, both engaged the labours of Hercules. XLIII. (LXXV.) _Against Curetius._[112] Uranius, Curetius’ father, could set deceptive stars in a sphere of glass, gloomily shake his head over the errant course of Saturn, or ensure for a trifle the favourable influence of Jupiter. The father’s chicanery meets with its punishment, so long deferred, in the son whose mouth needs must pay the just penalty. For filthy are his delights and he wastes all his substance in wantoning and debauchery. And so the tongue of the son has squandered all the riches which that of his lying father gathered together. XLIV. (LXXVI.) _The Same._ Wouldst thou, Curetius, have sure knowledge of thy horoscope, I can give it thee better than even thy father. Thy madness thou owest to the evil influence of Mars; thine ignorance of poetry to [112] We know nothing further of Curetius. * * * * * Page 272 quod turpem pateris iam cano podice morbum, 5 femineis signis Luna Venusque fuit; attrivit Saturnus opes. hoc prorsus in uno haereo: quae cunnum lambere causa facit? XLV. (LV.) _De concha._ Transferat huc liquidos fontes Heliconia Nais et patulo conchae divitis orbe fluat. namque latex doctae qui laverit ora Serenae, ultra Pegaseas numen habebit aquas. XLVI. (LXXII.) _De chlamyde et frenis._