capitis+ornatus+Iuliae



Museum Thoughts Portrait of a Lady (c. 75 AD)

Julia to the barber went And got herself a permanent. Since the perm was unsurpassed, “Fine,” she said, “but will it last?”

(I approximate the sense of “estne vere permanens?”) Then the vehement coiffeur, Warmly reassuring her, Guaranteed with confidence The permanence of permanents.

Rome is gone and all her pride, Still the dainty curls abide. Venus, Mars and Jove are dead, Still remains the lovely head.

Let a thousand years go by, Let our gods and empires die, Time will never set a term To the life of Julia’s perm. Mundo semper erit gratus Iste capitis ornatus.

Morris Bishop copyright 1953 The New Yorker Magazine, Inc.