Jan 23
Portrait of a Hypocrite
The "good man" -- all the Forum looks to him, Every lawcourt too -- whenever he placates The gods with pig or ox, says loudly, "Father Janus!", loudly, "Apollo!", then moves his lips Fearing to be heard: "Lovely Laverna, Grant that I get away with it, let me seem Just and holy--cover up my sins With nightfall, my deceptions with a mist."
vir bonus, omne forum quem spectat et omne tribunal, quandocumque deos vel porco vel bove placat, ‘Jane pater!’ clare, clare cum dixit, ‘Apollo! ’ labra movet metuens audiri: ‘pulchra Laverna, da mihi fallere, da iusto sanctoque videri, noctem peccatis et fraudibus obice nubem.’
--Horace, Epistles I.16.57-62
Note: Laverna was the Roman goddess of thievery.
