Chapter 21

Aurelius, father of hunger, in ages past in time now present and in future years yet to come, you long to make my lover your boy.

And you do not operate secretly: for you are with him, you joke together, closely sticking at his side you try every means. In vain: for, though you plot against me, I’ll tag you first with a boning.— Now if you were satisfied, I would be silent:

but what irks me is that my boy, ah me! must learn to starve and thirst with you. Therefore, desist, while you may with modesty, lest you reach the end,—but by being boned.