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He deplored the reckless luxury of the day with much appearance of earnestness, and, though in his published collections, these poems of lament are interleaved with others whose burden is sparge rosas, he was serious in some degree; for his own taste, at least when he came within sight of middle life, was all for moderation.

Sparge molam, et fragiles incende bitumine lauros.

To this ambiguous state of existence he applies a conceit, not inelegant, from the tenderness of its imagery: Hic sparge flores, sparge breves rosas,  Nam vita gaudet mortua floribus; Herbisque odoratis corona  Vatis adhuc cinerem calentem.

Sparge mero cineres, bene olentis et unguine nardi, Hospes, et adde rosis balsama puniceis.

The wealthy Greeks and Romans strewed Roses on the tombs of departed friends, whilst poorer persona could only afford a tablet at the grave bearing the prayer: "Sparge, precor, rosas super mea busta, viator."