[Quiet Man Cometh]

"The having spoken of myself with unaffected freedom will need little apology with the candid; and let the un-candid consider that they injure me less then their own hearts and minds by misrepresentation. Whatever talents a person may possess to amuse and instruct others, be they ever so inconsiderable, he is yet bound to exert them: if his attempt be ineffectual, let the punishment of an unaccomplished purpose have been sufficient; let none trouble themselves to heap the dust of oblivion upon his efforts; the pile they raise will betray his grave which might otherwise have been unknown."

- Percey Byshe Shelly, Preface to Prometheus Unbound.

(Case in point, Ovid's works were the equivalent of Roman smut. It was not considered proper reading at the time, so naturally, it's what we know about now. ;).)