Classic Poem

Tell me, my Muse, what Canius does this morn.
Does he record for ages yet unborn
The deeds of Claudius, or is his theme
The screeds that foolish scribblers Nero's deem?
Does he the jests of naughty Phaedrus try,
Epic severe and wanton elegy,
And don the buskin of, great Sophocles,
Or in the " Poet's Corner" loll at ease
Telling gay stories full of Attic grace,
Or in the porch of Isis' temple pace,
Or idly stroll along the portico,
Where Jason and his men their pictures show?
Perchance some bathhouse sees him take a dipper,
Titus or Tigellinus or Agrippa;
Or else he sits and walks quite free from care
Amid the box-trees where Europa fair
Enjoys the sun; or in some snug retreat
He and Lucanus and friend Tullus meet.
It may be that near Baiae's steaming bay
He idly sails the Lucrine all the day,
Or drives with Pollio those four short miles —
" Do you want to know what Canius does? He smiles."