Luc. Ay, Cæsar.

Ner.Do you! you who have ever been

More gracious to my voice than to my pen!

Am I a better singer then than poet,

Think you?

Luc.Nay, Cæsar; but ....

Ner.Ha! then you are envious.

You would not have me write because, forsooth,

You write yourself. Now, by the god, I swear

Thou shalt not publish nor recite a verse