martial poetry

8/19/2019 Martial poetry

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Martial

Selected Epigrams



Translated by A. S. Kline 2006 All Rights ReservedThis work may be freely reprodu ed! stored! and transmitted! ele troni ally

or otherwise! for any non" ommer ial purpose.

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Contents

#e Spe ta ulis$% The &ew 'olosseum.........................................................(#e Spe ta ulis$2 Rome restored...................................................................(#e Spe ta ulis$6 )n display.........................................................................(*ook+$% ,e-s here.........................................................................................6*ook +$ 2 + don-t love you/.......................................................................6*ook +$ 1esbia...........................................................................................6*ook +$ 'harinus! e3hausted.....................................................................6*ook +$4% The riti ......................................................................................*ook +$4 'hanged.......................................................................................*ook +$%%( A ertain girl...............................................................................

*ook ++$2( 5romises......................................................................................*ook ++$ A fine view..................................................................................*ook ++$ Ama7ing......................................................................................*ook +++$4 A silent riti ................................................................................*ook +++$26 5ossession..................................................................................*ook +++$2 #inner invitations......................................................................*ook +++$( Sorry 'hloe................................................................................*ook +++$ 4 +n omplete.................................................................................*ook +++$ 40 8n ertainty...............................................................................4*ook +9$ 6 ,alf measures...........................................................................4*ook 9$ :rotion the slave"girl..................................................................4*ook 9$ +t-s logi al...................................................................................4*ook 9$( 'arpe diem................................................................................%0*ook 9$6 The ;ausoleum of Augustus....................................................%0*ook 9$66 Ave! 5ontilianus........................................................................%0*ook 9$ % +t-s a law....................................................................................%0*ook 9$ 'ontrary....................................................................................%0*ook 9+$ 0 Tempus fugit............................................................................%%*ook 9+$60 ;y books.................................................................................%%

*ook 9+$40 *igamy....................................................................................%%*ook 9++$ &o thanks.................................................................................%%*ook 9++$% True loss.................................................................................%%*ook 9++$ 0 ,ard to please........................................................................%2*ook 9++$ Tell me! ;a3imus..................................................................%2



*ook 9++$ 6 The reality..............................................................................%2*ook 9+++$% <alse des ription...................................................................%2*ook +=$ #ouble negative........................................................................%*ook =$% Stop omplaining......................................................................%*ook =$24 ;y gifts....................................................................................%*ook =$ 2 ;ar us Antonius 5rimus..........................................................%*ook =$ The hidden rule.........................................................................%*ook =$ The good life.............................................................................%(*ook =$(0 Too soon...................................................................................%(*ook =$4 :3pe tations dashed.................................................................%(*ook =+$ &ow! a patron would be ni e>...................................................%6*ook =+$ 5aula-s strategy..........................................................................%6*ook =+$ The *oy.....................................................................................%

*ook =+$% The tomb of 5aris the a tor.....................................................%*ook =+$%6 +-m readable............................................................................%*ook =+$%4 ?alla! the elo@uent..................................................................%*ook =+$2( *eware>...................................................................................%*ook =+$62 )n the nail...............................................................................%4*ook =+$ % A weighty ure.........................................................................%4*ook =+$42 oilus.......................................................................................%4*ook =++$2% ;ar ella.................................................................................%4*ook =++$( Two for a pair.........................................................................20*ook =+9$ 8s pipes....................................................................................20'oda$ *ook =+$2 <reedom> Thanks to our :mperor &erva........................20



De Spectaculis:1 The New Colosseum

*arbarian ;emphis be mute re the pyramids- wonders!and you Assyrians stop bleating of *abylonBno praise for tender +onians! and #iana-s trivial temple!and may Apollo-s many"horned altar bury #elos deepBdon-t let the 'arians ry e3travagant words to the skyregarding the ;ausoleum that hangs in va uous air.All efforts now give way to 'aesar-s new amphitheatre!<ame an speak of the one! and that an do for them all.

De Spectaculis:2 Rome restored

Cust here! where &ero-s skyey olossus sees stars!and the s affolding towers up high! right in the way!on e shone the nasty halls of that ruel king!and only the one ?olden ,ouse in all of Rome.Cust here! where the Amphitheatre-s honoured pilerises! towering before our eyes! was &ero-s lake.Cust here! where we ga7e at Titus-s thermal baths!swift gift! proud a res ra7ed the poor man-s roof.Dhere the 'laudian olonnade spreads wide its shade!that golden pala e-s outermost orner ame to an end.'aesar! Rome-s ba k to herself! now you-re in harge!and the master-s pleasures are the people-s now.

De Spectaculis:6 On displa

5asiphae really was mated to that 'retan bull$ believe it$ we-ve seen it! the old story-s true.old anti@uity needn-t pride itself so! 'aesar$

whatever legend sings! the arena offers you.



!oo"#:1 $e%s here

,ere-s the one you read! and you demand!;artial! who is known throughout the landfor these witty little books of epigrams$to whom! wise reader! you keep giving!while he still feels! among the living!what few poets merit in their graves.

!oo" #:&2 # don%t lo'e ou(

+ don-t love you! Sabidius! no! + an-t say why$All + an say is this! that + don-t love you.

!oo" #:&) *es+ia

#oors open wide! unguarded! when you sin1esbia! you don-t on eal your tri ks!you like a wat her better than a lover you-re not thankful for obs ure delights.Dhores onversely don-t want witnesses!

urtains! bolts! no ra ks! reveal the brothels.At least you might learn modesty from them!the foulest find a pla e behind the tombs.#o you really think that what + say-s too harshE+ don-t say don-t fu k! 1esbia$ don-t be seen .

!oo" #:,, Charinus- e.hausted

,e-s @uite well! 'harinus! still he-s pale.,ardly drinks! 'harinus! still he-s pale.A fine digestion too! 'harinus! still he-s pale.

,e takes the sun! 'harinus! still he-s pale.,e dyes his skin! 'harinus! still he-s pale.:ats pussy! yet! 'harinus! still he-s pale.



!oo" #:/1 The critic

Fou don-t write poems! 1aelius! you riti isemine. Stop riti ising me or write your own.

!oo" #:/) Changed

Aegle! when you were fu ked you sang badly. &ow you sing fine! though never to be kissed.

!oo" #:110 certain girl

She desires me G 5ro illus! envy me> G

one whiter than a new"wet swan!than privet! lilies! silver! snow$

but + desire one dark as night!i ada! bla k ant! pit h! or row.

Fou thought to hang yourself$+ know you well! 5ro illus! oh! you-ll live.

!oo" ##:20 romises

Dhen + ask! you always promise! ?alla! never give.+f you-re always to prevari ate %! ?alla! please! say no.

!oo" ##:&3 4ine 'iew

Fou ask what + see in my farm near &omentum! 1inusEDhat + see in it! 1inus! is$ from there + an-t see you.

!oo" ##:3, ma5ing

Fou say pretty girls burn with love for you! Se3tus!with your fa e too! like a man swimming underwater.

% i7govarHati se! i7viHati se! i7mikati seB Huridi ally prikrivati I7loJin



!oo" ###:/ silent critic

They say 'inna writes little poems about me.,e-s no writer! whose verse nobody reads.

!oo" ###:26 ossession

)nly you have land! then! 'andidus!?old plate! ash! and por elain! only you!;assi or 'ae uban wine of famous vintage!only you Hudgement and wit! only you.Fou have it all G well say + don-t deny it G *ut everyone has your wife! along with you.

!oo" ###:2, Dinner in'itations

Though + invite you! ?allus! you never invite me ba k$+-d forgive you! ?allas! if you never invited a soul.Fou do! though$ we both have faults. LDhi hE- you ask!+-ve no sense 2! ?allas! and you-ve no shame.

!oo" ###:0& Sorr Chloe

'hloe! + ould live without your fa e!without your ne k! and hands! and legswithout your breasts! and ass! and hips!and 'hloe! not to labour over details!+ ould live without the whole of you.

!oo" ###:,/ #ncomplete

Sertorius starts everything! finishes nothing.Dhen he fu ks! + suspe t! he never ends.

2 pamet



!oo" ###: / 7ncertaint

?alla wants! yet doesn-t want! to give$ and + an-t say!sin e she wants and doesn-t want to! what she wants.

!oo" #8: ,6 $al4 measures

Dhen + asked for twelve thousand you sent me si3! &e3t time! for twelve! +-ll ask for twenty"four.

!oo" 8:&) Erotion the sla'e9girl

To your shades <ronto! and <la illa! this hild+ ommend$ she was my sweet and my delight.1ittle :rotion shall not fear the darkened shadesnor the vast mouths of the Tartarean hound.She-d have ompleted her si3th hill winter!if she-d not lived a mere si3 days too few.

&ow let her frisk and play among old friendsnow let her hatter! and so lisp my name.And let the soft turf over her brittle bones$earth! lie lightly on her$ she lay lightly on you.

!oo" 8:), #t%s logical

5hilo swears he never eats in$ it-s true$he never eats when nobody invites him.



!oo" 8:03 Carpe diem

5ostumus! tomorrow you-ll live! tomorrow you say.Dhen is it oming! tell me! that tomorrowE,ow far off! and where! and how will you find itE+n Armenia! or 5arthia! is it on ealed thenEFour tomorrow-s as old as &estor or 5riam.,ow mu h would it ost you! tell me! to buyETomorrowE +t-s already too late to live today$,e who lived yesterday! 5ostumus! he is wise.

!oo" 8:6) The Mausoleum o4 ugustus

5our me a double measure! of <alernian! 'allistus!and you Al imus! melt over it summer snows!let my sleek hair be soaked with e3 ess of perfume!my brow be wearied beneath the sewn"on rose.The ;ausoleum tells us to live! that one nearby!it tea hes us that the gods themselves an die.

!oo" 8:66 Ave - ontilianus

Fou-re often greeted but never the first to greet$if that-s so! 5ontilianus! then vale forever.

!oo" 8:31 #t%s a law

Aemilianus! you-ll always be poor if you-re poor.These days they only give wealth to the ri h.

!oo" 8:3& Contrar

Fou hase! + fleeB you flee! + haseB it-s how + am$what you wish + don-t! #indymus! what you don-t + wish.



!oo" 8#:) Tempus 4ugit

&o woman was to be preferred to you! 1y oris$To ?ly era no woman-s to be preferred.She-ll be as you are$ you-ll never be as she is.Dhat power time has> + want her! wanted you.

!oo" 8#:6 M +oo"s

Rome praises! loves! and @uotes my little books!+-m there in every po ket! every hand.See them blush! turn white! stunned! yawn! disgusted.+ like it$ now-s when my poems give me delight.

!oo" 8#:/ !igam

?ellia only has a single lover.The sin is worse then$ she-s married twi e.

!oo" 8##:& No than"s

Dhy don-t + send you my little booksE5ontilianus! lest you send me yours.

!oo" 8##:1) True loss

Aulus! atro ious tragedy-s stru k my girlBshe-s lost her plaything and her fond delight$not su h as 'atullus- tender mistress wept for his 1esbia! bereft of worthless sparrow!nor! sung by Stella! his +anthis grieves for!whose bla k dove wings it through :lysium$

She-s not won by su h loves! su h nonsense!mea lux $ they don-t stir my lady-s heart$she-s lost a slave boy hardly twelve years old!his member not yet eighteen in hes long.



!oo" 8##:& $ard to please

Fou do ?ermans! and 5arthians! and #a ians! 'aelia!you don-t s orn 'appado ian! 'ili ian bedsBand fu kers from ;emphis! that 5harian ity!and Red Sea-s bla k +ndians sail towards you.Fou-d not flee the thighs of a ir um ised Cew!not an Alan goes by! with Sarmatian horse too.Dhat-s the reason! then! sin e you are a Roman!not one Roman member pleases you! womanE

!oo" 8##:,& Tell me- Ma.imus

Fou-ve a house on the :s@uiline! house on the Aventine!and 5atri ian Street owns a roof of yours tooBadd one with a view of poor 'ybele-s shrine!one 9esta-s! one Cupiter-s old! one his new.Tell me where to meet you! tell me where to find you$Dho lives everywhere! ;a3imus! lives nowhere at all.

!oo" 8##:,6 The realit

+f powerful men take you up!at meals! theatres! and porti os!like riding and bathing with you!wherever you happen to go!don-t be too proud! 5hilomusus$you give pleasure! it isn-t love.

!oo" 8###:1& alse description

They said he-s an idiot$ + paid twenty thousand.

;y money ba k! ?argilianus$ he-s no fool.



!oo" #;:3 Dou+le negati'e

<abius! to whom + think you used to give! if + re all!si3 thousand a year! *ithyni us! leaves you nothing.

&o one else has had more$ don-t moan! *ithyni us$he leaves you! after all! si3 thousand a year.

!oo" ;:1) Stop complaining

Though a fitted arriage bears your painted servants!though a 1ibyan horseman sweats in a trail of dust!and purple draperies dye your *aian villas

and Thetis- waters yellow with your reams!though draughts of Setine brim your lu ent rystal!and 9enus sleeps beneath no softer down!still at night you lie at a proud girl-s thresholddren hing! alas! her mute door with your tears!while easeless sighs burn through your wret hed breast.Dant to know your urse! 'ottaE Fou-re too well off.

!oo" ;:2/ M gi4ts

That dish you-d send to me on Saturn-s day!you send to your mistress now! Se3tilianus$that green outfit you gave her on the Kalends!those alled after ;ars! that my toga-s paid for.Four girls begin to ost you nothing now$Se3tilianus! you-re fu king with my gifts.



!oo" ;:&2 Marcus ntonius rimus

This portrait + de k with violets and roses!do you ask whose fa e it is! 'aedi ianusE+t-s ;ar us Antonius 5rimus in his prime$in this the old man sees his younger self.+f art ould show his mind and hara ter>

&o pi ture in the world would show lovelier.

!oo" ;:&& The hidden rule

;unatius ?allus! of Sabine simpli ity!

in kindness of heart outdoing :pi urus! by your daughter-s eternal marriage tor hes!

haste 9enus grant you preserve that fair tie$if foul envy laims by han e that versestinted with green verdigris are mine!deny them! as you do! and ontendthat no"one who is read writes su h things.This law my little books know how to keep$to spare the person! ah! but speak the vi e.



!oo" ;:), The good li4e

These! my dearest ;artialis! arethe things that bring a happy life$wealth left to you! not laboured forBri h land! an ever"glowing hearthBno law! light business! and a @uiet mindBa healthy body! gentlemanly powersBa wise simpli ity! friends not unlikeBgood ompany! a table without artBnights arefree! yet no drunkennessBa bed that-s modest! true! and yet not oldB

sleep that makes the hours of darkness brief$the need to be yourself! and nothing moreBnot fearing your last day! not wishing it.

!oo" ;:0 Too soon

Sad 9i tory break your +dumaean palms!<ame beat your naked breasts with savage handsBlet ,onour dress in mourning! grieving ?lorythrow your wreathed tresses in the hostile flames.Ah> S orpus! heated of your first youth! you dieand all too swiftly yoke the oal"bla k horses.That goal! your speeding hariot always tou hed!why was your life-s goal! like to it! so nearE

!oo" ;:/, E.pectations dashed

Dhile the frail pyre was built! with flammable papyrus!while his weeping wife was buying innamon and myrrh!

there! with the grave! the bier! the undertaker ready! &uma reated me his heir$ and then G re overed>



!oo" ;#:& Now- a patron would +e nice<

&ot only idle Rome reHoi es in my ;use!my fragments don-t Hust fall on empty ears!no! my book-s thumbed by rigid enturionsstu k to their ;artial standards in ?eti frost!and they even say the *ritons re ite my verse.Dhat-s the goodE ;y purse would never know it.And yet! what e3 ellent pages + ould s ribble!what battles my 5ierian trumpet ould blow!if while re"in arnating Augustus here on earth!the kind gods had sent Rome a ;ae enas! too>

!oo" ;#:, aula%s strateg

Dhen you want to go visit a distant lover! for sure! now!5aula! you-ll not be telling that stupid husband of yours!L'aesar-s ordered me off to Alba tomorrow first thing!'aesar$ 'ir eii.- The age of su h tri ks has gone.8nder &erva-s rule it-s all right to be a 5enelope$

but those Lneeds- of yours! your true nature! won-t let you.*ad girl! what an you doE #is over an ailing friendEFour husband would sti k fast to his lady himself and go with you! if it were brother! mother! or father.So! my ingenious one! what ruse do you onsiderESome other adulteress would say! for her nerves!she needed to take the waters at Sinuessa.Fou do better! 5aula! when you want to go fu king!you hoose to tell that husband of yours the truth>



!oo" ;#:3 The !o

)dour of dried balsam from last night-s vases!the last s ent that falls from the saffron-s ar Bthat of apples ripening in winter storage!or a field lu3uriant with spring-s green shoots!silks from our :mpress-s 5alatine presses!or amber warmed there in a young girl-s handBor a shattered Har! not too near! of dark <alernian!or a garden where they keep Si ilian beesBwhat the alabaster bo3es 'osmus sells! smell of!the god-s altars! a wreath slipped from perfumed hair G

why speak of themE &one will do! mingle them all$and that-s the fragran e of my boy-s dawn kisses.Fou wish to know his nameE +f it-s re$ kisses! +-ll tell you.Fou swear it> Sabinus! you-re far too an3ious to know.



!oo" ;#:1& The tom+ o4 aris the actor=

Traveller! who treads the <laminian Day!don-t pass this noble marble by.the wit of the &ile! the ity-s delight!gra e and art! and pleasure and play!the worth and grief of the Roman stage!and every 9enus! and every 'upid!here in 5aris-s tomb! together! buried! lie.

!oo" ;#:16 #%m reada+le

Fou an leave now! Reader! over"severe!go! where you please$ + write for the ityBmy page! now! runs wild with 5riapi verse!strikes the ymbals! with a dan ing"girl-s hand.)! how you-ll beat your loak in rigid vein!though you-re weightier than 'urius! <abri ius>Fou too! that read naughty Hokes in my little book!you-ll be wet! girl! though you-re from moral 5adua.1u retia would have blushed! and shut my volume!while *rutus was thereB but when he left$ she-d have read.

!oo" ;#:1/ >alla- the elo?uent

Fou ask me why + don-t want to marry you! ?allaEFou-re so elo@uent! and my pen is often in error.

!oo" ;#:20 !eware<

That hyper"a tive member known to so many girls

has eased to rise for 1inus. Tongue! beware>



!oo" ;#:62 On the nail

1esbia swears she-s never been fu ked for free.True. Dhen she wants to be fu ked! she has to pay.

!oo" ;#:,1 weight cure

1eda tells her aged spouse she suffers from nerves!and ries that she absolutely has to be fu kedB

but! with tears and moans! sighs nothing is worth that!and de lares she-s re on iled to dying instead.,e begs her! live! not lose her years of youth!

and lets be done what he an-t do now himself.The female do tors leave! males take their pla e!her knees are raised. ) weighty remedy>

!oo" ;#:/2 @oilus

oilus! he lies$ the man who says you-re vi ious.Fou-re not vi ious! oilous! you-re vi e itself.

!oo" ;##:21 Marcella

;ar ella! who-d think you hailed from fro7en Salo!that you were born in those haunts of mineESo rare! so sweet$ your flavour. The 5alatine!hearing you on e! would name you for its ownBno one born in Subura-s midst! no daughter of the tall 'apitoline ,ill ould rival youBnor will a glory of foreign birth! soon showmore worthy of be oming a Roman bride.

Fou tell me to @uell my longing for the 'ity$you! of yourself! reate a Rome for me.



!oo" ;##:03 Two 4or a pair

Four wife says you-re fond of slave"girls! she-s fond of boys!the ones who arry her litter$ Alauda! you-re two for a pair.

!oo" ;#8: 7s pipes

The tipsy flute"girl blows us with moistened heeks$sometimes she blows Hust one! often both together.

Coda: !oo" ;#:2 reedom< Than"s to our Emperor Ner'a

Fou! sad brow! and harsh look! of 'ato the severe!or of <abri ia! impoverished ploughman-s daughter!and you! pride in hara ter! and you! the moral law!and whatever we-re not! in the darkness! off with you>*ehold my verses rying$ L+o! for the Saturnalia-$

&erva it-s fun! under you! to do! and freely done.Fou! gloomy readers! go learn Santra-s Herky lines$nothing of yours! for me$ this little book is mine.

martial poetry

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