And again, referring to the beard which Julius was the first among the Popes of comparatively late days to wear—
“‘The beard of Paul, and the sword of Paul—I would fain have all things of Paul—
As for that key-bearer Peter, he’s not to my liking at all.’
But of all the epigrams on Julius none is so stern and fierce as this—
“‘Julius is at Rome—what is wanting? Ye gods, give us Brutus.
For whenever at Rome is Julius, the city is lost!’
“If to Julius Pasquin was severe, he was scathing to his licentious and venal successor, Leo X., who raised money for his vices by the sale of cardinals’ hats and indulgences. Many of these epigrams are too coarse to bear translation; here is one, however, more decent, if less bitter, than many—
“‘Bring me gifts, spectators! bring me not verses.
Divine money alone rules the ethereal gods.’
And again, referring to Leo’s taste for buffoons, he says—