UC.NRLF 
 
SELECT EPIGRAMS 
 
 FROM 
 
 MARTIAL 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 W. T. WEBB, M.A., 
 
 PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND POLITICAL ECONOMY, 
 PRESIDENCY COLLEGE, CALCUTTA. 
 
 Honlion : 
 MACMILLAN AND CO. 
 
 1879. 
 
"pu^/^A.--* 
 
 3/^:^v5^ 
 
 €ambrili5C : 
 
 PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A. 
 AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. 
 

 TO 
 
 MY FATHER, 
 
 MY FIRST LATIN TEACHER, 
 
 THIS LITTLE BOOK 
 
 IS DEDICATED. 
 
 3Ut5^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Of all the Latin poets Martial is perhaps one of the least 
 generally known and appreciated. And yet his merits as 
 a writer are of the very highest order. His wit is so pointed, 
 and at the same time so subtle and refined, so much depends 
 upon the delicate turn of a phrase or even the mere position of 
 a word, and such an added charm arises from the admirable 
 terseness and vigour of the tongue in which he composes, and 
 of which he is a master, that his writings may well be the despair 
 of a translator. But it is not so much in the character of a wit 
 (though wit is what mainly attaches to the modern idea of an 
 epigram), that Martial shines; his powers of pathos are even 
 more remarkable. "Many of his poems," writes a well-known 
 Classical authority, "breathe the most exquisite tones of senti- 
 ment and affection." Martial is the Tom Hood of the Latin 
 poets; though his fame is popularly supposed to rest upon 
 a talent for clever humour, it is in pathos that his strength 
 lies : and the wonderful delicacy of feeling and tender beauty 
 of expression that mark his elegiac poems are not surpassed in 
 
VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 any literature. These, like the songs of Tennyson, are perfect 
 and almost unique in their kind; and, with his lighter descrip- 
 tive poems or vers de societe, as we may perhaps call them, form 
 his great attraction as an author : and it is to give the English 
 reader, if possible, some idea of the charm of these pathetic 
 and graceful pieces, that the publication of these translations 
 has been ventured upon by the writer. 
 
 Some of the Epigrams are strictly personal in their bearing. 
 Such, in this selection, are the epitaphs, the satirical account of 
 n^ Cinna's habit of whispering, and the poems on the cruel treat- 
 ment of Plecusa by her mistress, and on the marriage of Pudens 
 and Claudia. Others allude to special incidents that have 
 come under the poet's notice: as that on the sudden outbreak 
 of fierceness in one of the trained lions of the amphitheatre; 
 the elegant description of the wine-bowl, and the little poem on 
 the fatal fall of the herdsman Amyntas from an oak-tree. ■ Most 
 of them, however, point to vices and failings common at Rome 
 in Martial's time or bear upon customs and institutions of his 
 day. Not a few satirize the habit of public and private recitation 
 which appears to have been then so prevalent; the practices of 
 legacy-himting and marriage for money come in for some sharp 
 strokes; and the greedy parasites Santra and Menogenes are 
 the representatives of a class that the poet is continually holding 
 up to ridicule. 
 
 A few words on Roman domestic life and manners in 
 Martial's day may be added in illustration of our author, whose 
 writings themselves provide us with an almost inexhaustible 
 fund of information on this topic. And perhaps what strikes 
 him most who looks back upon these old times, is the truth of 
 
INTRODUCTION, VI 1 
 
 that somewhat trite phrase of Shakspere's, in its ordinary 
 acceptation, 
 
 " One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." 
 
 The Roman exquisite, as depicted in one of the poet's epi- 
 grams \ was just such another as his modern confrere: he was as 
 careful in the due arrangement of his locks, as redolent of 
 scents and perfumes, as great a retailer of small-talk, as much a 
 hummer of popular melodies, as frequent a diner-out, and as 
 polished a lady's-man as the latter. Again, in place of the 
 ''Not at home" of our modern civilisation, the Roman hall- 
 porter declared his master to be "In the forum" to unwelcome 
 visitors. We find too that the old French mode of geometrical 
 gardening, so fashionable in the seventeenth and eighteenth 
 centuries, was largely practised by the wealthy Roman; and the 
 grounds of his country-house bristled with forms of all manner 
 of wild beasts, bears and lions and serpents, cut by the skilful 
 hand of the gardener out of the box, the cypress, and the yew. 
 Even colossal letters were carved out of shrubs and trees by 
 the artiste who made this garden-sculpture his special profession. 
 The point of one of our author's epigrams^ turns upon the 
 incident of a viper having hidden itself in the mouth of one of 
 these artificial bears, which thus proved fatal to a beautiful 
 young slave-boy, who had playfully thrust his hand into its 
 leafy jaw^J From another of his poems ^ we learn that window- 
 gardening was not unknown among the ancients, where 
 Martial, complaining of the extreme smallness of a farm that a 
 friend had given him, jocosely declares that he had a larger one 
 
 1 Ep. HI. 63. 2 Ep. III. 19. 3 Ep. XI. 18. 
 
VIU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in his own window at home. Hunting the hare was also a 
 favourite pastime with the Romans; and Martial devotes 
 a dozen verses^ to warning a hard-riding friend of his against 
 the dangers attending it. The subject of another epigram* is 
 a fragment of the ship Argo, which, the poet remarks, is 
 considered more valuable now than the whole ship was in its 
 day. This may remind us of the popular estimation in which 
 pieces of the Royal George were once held, or fragments of 
 the True Cross. Part of the Roman nuptial ceremony was 
 the sprinkling of the newly-married woman with water, a rite 
 which is curiously paralleled by the old Scotch practice, said not 
 even yet to have become obsolete, of washing the feet of the 
 bride. Finally, the heading to the translation of Ep. ii. 29, p. 13, 
 will supply us with another remarkable instance of this survival, 
 so to speak, of customs and character. It may be interesting 
 to notice here, though we learn the fact from another source 
 than Martial, that carrier-pigeons, the use of which has been 
 recently advocated as a part of the machinery of modem 
 warfare, were known to the Romans, and were actually employed 
 during the siege of Mutina, when messages attached to their 
 wings were transmitted by the general in command within the 
 walls to his friends outside. It is also a curious fact that, 
 among the ancient Latins, actions were brought for breach of 
 promise of marriage; and that, centuries ago, persons who drew 
 back, without sufficient cause, from their matrimonial engage- 
 ments were liable, then as now, to be mulcted in a sum of 
 money. Happily, however, some of the characteristics of 
 Martial's age have not survived, not at least to anything like 
 
 * Ep. XII. 14. * Ep. VII. 19. 
 
INTRODUCTION, ix 
 
 the portentous extent to which they then attained. Poisoning 
 is not a regular trade, encouraged and even practised by 
 the highest ruler of the state; and "Murder as one of the 
 fine arts" fortunately exists among us only in the imagina- 
 tion of a De Quincey. The greedy legacy-hunter and the 
 fawning parasite, eager to cringe and flatter, and tolerant of 
 all kinds of insult and abuse for the sake of a legacy 
 or of a meal, are not prominent and well-defined figures in 
 our market-places and drawing-rooms : and, whatever may be 
 the evils that haunt our modern everyday life, they are not 
 thrown into relief by a dark and universal background of 
 superstition tempered by atheism, and slavery by the lowest 
 forms of vice. 
 
 Perhaps the greatest social institution at Rome was the 
 Bath, and we have a large number of epigrams relating to this 
 topic In one of these (Ep. vi. 42, p. 6-^ the poet describes 
 with some detail their elegant design and fittings; and the 
 wonderful completeness of the baths discovered at Pompeii 
 presents us with an almost perfect picture, on a smaller scale, 
 of what they were at Rome. The visitor entered through a 
 portico into a spacious vaulted chamber, with painted walls and 
 floor of white mosaic, where he undressed, leaving his clothes 
 under the care of a slave specially told off for the purpose; 
 for the clothes of bathers were a favourite prey of the 
 Roman thief. Thence, if so inclined, he passed into the 
 swimming- or plunge-bath, paved with marble of a pure white ; 
 though, if he preferred the Spartan custom, he would first visit 
 the sweating-room. Leading into this was the warm room, 
 which, in Pompeii, is of the most elegant construction, and 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 formed an agreeable apartment for the scrapings and anointings 
 of which the ancients were so fond, and for which they used an 
 astonishing number of oils, soaps, and perfumes. The inner or 
 sweating-room was surrounded on all sides by a column of 
 heated air, produced by means of one universal flue, the entire 
 chamber being, in fact, suspended from the outer wall by 
 cramps of iron, so as to leave a space of some four inches all 
 round it, by which the hot air might ascend from the furnace, 
 and raise equally the temperature of the whole apartment. 
 Besides these, there were rooms where hot-water baths of 
 various degrees of heat were provided, and a part of the 
 extensive building was devoted to conveniences for athletic 
 ""^"^-gaines and exercises. Of these the greatest favourite was the 
 game of ball, for which a spacious hall was specially set apart. 
 Three kinds of balls were used, the two principal being the 
 small regular ball, and a large light ball filled with air, like 
 our football, but which was struck with the fist or arm. 
 With the former the most popular method of play was 
 the frigoriy in which, as the name implies, three players engaged, 
 who stood in a triangle : expert players threw and caught the 
 ball only with the left hand. There were also large semicircular 
 apartments where rhetoricians declaimed and philosophers 
 lectured, and where the poet or poetical amateur would take 
 advantage of the leisure of the bathers and other loungers to 
 recite his latest poem. This custom of recitation, either of one's 
 own or of another's poetry, seems to have been carried to great 
 lengths in Martial's day, and the Romans appear to have bored 
 one another without mercy in this way, on a sort of mutual 
 improvement principle. Our author's epigrams are full of 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 attacks upon this unpleasant habit. "If," says he^ to his friend 
 Urbicus, "you cannot afford to buy my poems, go to Auctus 
 yonder, and he will at once invite you to a little tete-a-tete 
 dinner. He knows them all by heart, and, while you eat and 
 drink, he will recite; you may begin to weary of them, but he 
 will recite them all the louder; and when at last you cry 
 'Enough,' he will still recite." Others, in this selection, bear 
 upon this foible, one of them (Ep. iii. 44, p. 29) being 
 a remarkably bitter satire on the practice. 
 
 Another important institution at Rome was the Morning 
 Levee. The vestibule of the wealthy Roman's house might be 
 seen crowded at an early hour by a multitude of visitors of all 
 classes : clients of the family, who received a daily allowance 
 from their lord's table ; poor poets looking out for patronage ; 
 needy parasites with an eye to an invitation to dinner; with 
 perhaps a few real friends besides. The clients were also 
 expected to swell the retinue of their patron when he went 
 abroad, and generally to give him their assistance and support ; 
 and of the discomfort and unprofitableness of such a life 
 Martial constantly complains. 
 
 Soon after the bath came a third great institution, the 
 Dinner: for the Romans took but a mouthful of breakfast, 
 followed by a lunch almost as slender, and reserved themselves 
 for the final and principal meal, the ordinary time for which 
 was about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the business of 
 the day was over. It would exceed the limits of these remarks 
 to describe the elaborate machinery and the multifarious and 
 costly dishes that went to make up a Roman banquet. Some 
 1 Ep. VII. 51. 
 
Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 slight idea of their number and variety may be gathered from 
 the epigram on the gluttonous Santra (vii. 20, p. 77). One 
 point, however, connected with this topic may be mentioned. 
 It was often the custom, at grand dinners, to remove table and 
 all when a course was finished, fresh tables being introduced 
 with each fresh course. This custom gave the wealthy an 
 opportunity of displaying the magnificence and variety of their 
 tables : which, made of slabs of maple or of the African citrus, 
 a species of cypress, often cost many thousand pounds. These 
 tables were not covered with cloths at meals, so that the 
 beautiful waves and curling veins of the wood could be seen 
 and admired by the guests. In the epigram on page 81, Annius's 
 economy overcomes his vanity, and he sends his servants round 
 with the different courses, instead of showing off, as he might 
 have done, his innumerable tables. In another epigram ^ Martial 
 ridicules Olus for having his costly tables brought in with a 
 cloth on. "I could have fine tables," says the poet, "if I 
 might do that. " 
 
 The dinner was sometimes succeeded by a drinking-bout. 
 The guests, crowned with chaplets of roses or ivy, sat or rather 
 reclined round the table, upon which was placed a bowl filled 
 with wine tempered with water, like our claret-cup. The 
 Romans seldom or never drank their wine neat ; three parts of 
 water to two of wine formed a common mixture, the proportions 
 being settled by him whom the dice declared king or president 
 of the entertainment. From the central bowl the wine was 
 measured out with a ladle into the goblets of the drinkers, and 
 when the health of a friend was proposed, as many of these 
 1 Ep. X. 64. 
 
INTRODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 measures of liquor were drunk by each guest as there were 
 letters to his name. Allusions to this method of toasting are 
 common in our author. Thus in one of our epigrams 
 (viii. 51, p. 93) Martial proposes to drink either four measures 
 to the name Rufe, the vocative case of Rufus ; or seven 
 measures to the name Instans, another form of Instantius ; or, 
 lastly, twelve measures to represent both his friend's names, 
 Instans Rufiis. Again, in another epigram (ix. ^^^^ p. 113), 
 he bids his attendant pour out six measures, one for each of 
 the six letters of the name Caesar. He then crowns himself 
 ten times with the rose-chaplet for the ten letters of the name 
 Germaniais, the wreath being put on and taken off each time 
 the health was drunk; the whole line alluding to the con- 
 secration of the Temple built by the emperor in honour of 
 the Flavian family. Similarly, the ten kisses represent the 
 name Domitiamis^ that ruler having conquered the Odrysae, a 
 Thracian tribe. 
 
 Among the Romans, who wore no head-covering except 
 sometimes when travelling, baldness was looked upon with 
 much disfavour, and various artifices, as we find from several 
 epigrams (vi. 57, p. 69; xii. 89, p. 143), were employed to hide 
 it. Hence the fondness of the first Caesar for wearing a laurel 
 wreath. False hair and false teeth were not uncommon, but 
 it seems to have been considered a piece of effrontery to wear 
 them. It has been left to modern times, as we see from Ep. xii. 
 23, p. 135, to invent glass eyes, though the ancients equalled and 
 even excelled us in many forms of glass manufacture. 
 
 Martial was by birth a Spaniard, and his life extends from 
 about A.D. 40 to A.D. 103. He came to Rome as a boy, and 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 most of his epigrams were published during the reign of 
 Domitian, who highly esteemed him as an author. His fre- 
 quent allusions to the sports of the amphitheatre, its tame lions 
 and performing bulls (see pp. 7, 21), were no doubt prompted 
 by a desire to please that emperor, who took the greatest 
 interest in these exhibitions. His writings were very popular 
 at Rome, and seem, in consequence, to have become the prey 
 of plagiarists, against whom several of his bitterest epigrams 
 are directed. Success alsp rendered him liable to the attacks 
 of jealous and captious critics, as we find from the poems on 
 pp. 19, 23, 73 of this selection. We may note here that Mar- 
 tial's wit but seldom has recourse to plays upon words. At the 
 close of a poem previously referred to ^ he puns on the Latin 
 words praedium and prandium, pasture and repast, as we may 
 perhaps translate them; in SinoXhtr ^,.haliculam, capes, is pitted 
 in the same way against halkain, capers ; while in a third ^ he 
 jocosely points out to the barber Cin7iamus, who was anxious to 
 shorten his freedman's name into the Roman one of Cinna, that 
 on the same principle the name Furius would straightway be 
 metamorphosed into fur, a thief. The epigram may perhaps 
 be rendered as follows : 
 
 *'Why, Cinnamus, I do not know 
 
 The name of Cinna you prefer. 
 Suppose your name were Roberts — so 
 
 You'd straight become a robber, sir!" 
 
 It is a curious fact, as has been remarked elsewhere, that 
 a written copy of one of Martial's books could be bought 
 considerably cheaper than a printed one could now, viz. for 
 
 1 Ep. XI. 18. * Ep. XII. 81. * Ep. VI. 17. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 about fourpence half-penny, and that with a profit to the book- 
 seller, as he expressly mentions \ Apart from the grossness of 
 some of his verses, the poet's chief weakness lay in the spirit 
 of abject flattery that marks his allusions to Domitian. This, 
 however, was the vice of his day, a fawning servility being the 
 only road to favour with such a ruler, beneath whose sway any 
 independence of character on the part of a man of note was 
 likely to cost him his life. His language in Ep. x. 72, p. 127, 
 shows the bound of relief he felt at being freed from such a 
 system. 
 
 These few explanatory remarks, with the headings prefixed 
 to each of the translations, will, it is hoped, render this 
 selection df Martial's Epigrams fully intelligible to the English 
 reader. The author's text has been placed side by side with 
 the translation, for the benefit of those readers who are students 
 of Latin. To such it is an additional pleasure to be able 
 readily to compare the original with the English version. 
 
 W. T. W. 
 
 1 Ep. XIII. 3. 
 
/ 
 
 TRANSLATIONS. 
 
 W. 
 
TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 I. lO. 
 
 Petit Gemellus nuptias Maronillae 
 Et cupit at instat et precatur et donat. 
 Adeone pulchra est? immo foedius nil est. 
 Quid ergo in ilia petitur et placet? Tussit. 
 
 k 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 Gemellus is anxious to marry the ugly Maronilla for the sake of her 
 fortune ; her great attraction being that she is in a consumption. Compare 
 the epigram on p. 115. \ 
 
 Gemellus doth his mistress pray 
 At once to fix the wedding day; 
 Sends gifts, and begs with all his might. 
 Is she so fair? — A perfect fright! 
 What is it then that sets her off? 
 Why, Maronilla has — a cough. 
 
 \ 
 
 r 
 
 ^ 
 
TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Alcime, quem raptum domino crescentibus annis 
 
 Lavicana levi cespite velat humus, 
 Accipe non Pario nutantia pondera saxo, 
 
 Quae cineri vanus dat ruitura labor, 
 Sed faciles buxos et opacas palmitis umbras 
 
 Quaeque virent lacrimis roscida prata meis. 
 Accipe, care puer, nostri monimenta doloris: 
 
 Hie tibi perpetuo tempore vivet honor. 
 Cum mihi supremos Lachesis pemeverit annos, 
 
 Non ahter cineres mando iacere meos. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 I. ZZ. 
 
 On the grave of a favourite slave-boy, who had died young in the 
 poet's house. The open space that fringed the high-roads round the city 
 formed the Roman cemeteries. 
 
 Torn from thy master's home by fate, 
 Loved youth, in beauty's opening bloom,- 
 
 No Parian marble's tottering weight 
 
 With transient splendour marks thy tomb. 
 
 For thee, beside Labican way, 
 
 The box her pliant branches rears, 
 
 And there the vine's dark shadows play 
 O'er grass that's dewy with my tears. 
 
 Accept, dear youth, what grief has done : 
 Thus lasting honour shalt thou crave. 
 
 I ask, when Fate my Hfe has spun, 
 
 That such as these may deck my grave. 
 
TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 I. Z^. 
 
 Garris in aurem semper omnibus, Cinna, 
 Garris et illud teste quod licet turba. 
 Rides in aurem, quereris, arguis, ploras, 
 Cantas in aurem, iudicas, taces, clamas, 
 Adeoque penitus sedit hie tibi morbus, 
 Ut saepe in aurem, Cinna, Caesarem laudes. 
 
 I. 104. 
 
 Picto quod iuga delicata collo 
 Pardus sustinet improbaeque tigres 
 Indulgent patientiam flagello. 
 Mordent aurea quod lupata cervi, 
 Quod frenis Libyci domantur ursi 
 Et, quantum Calydon tulisse fertur, 
 Paret purpureis aper capistris; 
 
FOR ENGLISH READi 
 
 ---^/ /FORMIC 
 
 V 
 
 I. 89. 
 
 On Cinna's inveterate habit of whispering. The last two lines are 
 bitter satire, the man being notorious as a fulsome court flatterer. 
 
 Cinna, what all the world might hear 
 
 You fain would whisper in one's ear. 
 
 In whispers still you talked and sung, 
 
 Laughed, shouted, wept, or held your tongue. 
 
 Adjudged a case, a quarrel had 
 
 In whispers still; indeed, so bad 
 
 The habit's grown, that now you lisp, sir, 
 
 Even Caesar*s praises in a whisper. 
 
 I. 104/ 
 
 A description of the performances of trained beasts in the amphitheatre, 
 concluding with a compliment to Domitian, . The chase of the Calydonian 
 wild boar, to which all the princes of the age assembled, was a famous 
 theme witli the ancients. 
 
 When we behold the leopard there 
 Upon his spotted shoulders bear 
 A gaudy yoke, while tigers fell 
 To brook the lash are schooled so well : 
 Stags champ the jagged golden bit. 
 And Libyan bears to reins submit, 
 And purple halters boars put on, 
 As huge as he of Calydon : 
 
TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Turpes esseda quod trahunt bisontes 
 Et moires dare iussa quod choreas 
 Nigro belua non negat magistro : 
 Quis spectacula non putet deorum? 
 Haec transit tamen, ut minora, quisquis 
 Venatus humiles videt leonum, 
 Quos velox leporum timor fatigat. 
 Dimittunt, repetunt amantque captos 
 Et securior est in ore praeda, 
 Laxos cui dare perviosque rictus 
 Gaudent et timidos tenere dentes, 
 MoUem frangere dum pudet rapinam 
 Stratis cum modo venerint iuvencis. 
 Haec dementia non paratur arte, 
 Sed nonmt cui' serviant leones. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 Unsightly bisons waggons trail, 
 
 Nor does the monstrous tusker fail 
 
 His nimble dances to afford, 
 
 At bidding of his sable lord : — 
 
 Who would not say that this would be 
 
 A pageant fit for gods to see? 
 
 Yet he who once the lions viewed — 
 
 The lowly chase by them pursued, 
 
 Which hares fatigue with timorous speed- 
 
 These lesser sights would little heed. 
 
 They now release, now hunt, at will, 
 
 And catch them but to fondle still; 
 
 And in the lion's mouth the hare 
 
 Feels safer, since it is his care 
 
 Loosely to close his jaws, and so 
 
 Allow his prey to come and go. 
 
 And keep his cautious fangs from blame 
 
 Of outrage; for he holds it shame, 
 
 From heifer's slaughter come, to tear 
 
 So weak a quarry as a hare. 
 
 It is not through the trainer's art 
 
 The lions play this gentle part : 
 
 But ^tis because to them 'tis known 
 
 How kind is he whose rule they own. 
 
lO TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 11. i6. 
 
 Zoilus aegrotat : faciunt hanc stragula febrem. 
 
 Si fuerit sanus, cocclna quid facient? 
 Quid torus a Nilo, quid Sidone tinctus olenti? 
 
 Ostendit stultas quid nisi morbus opes ? 
 Quid tibi cum medicis? dimitte Machaonas omnes. 
 
 Vis fieri sanus, stragula sume mea. 
 
 II. 20. 
 
 Carmina Paulus emit, recitat sua carmina Paulus. 
 Nam quod emas, possis iure vocare tuum. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 1 1 
 
 11. l6. 
 
 On a rich man who feigned ilhiess that he might show off his costly bed- 
 furniture to his friends who came to visit him. Machaon, son of Aescula- 
 pius, was physician to the Greeks during the Trojan war. 
 
 Zoilus is ill : what brings his pains ? 
 
 His gorgeous quilts and counterpanes. 
 
 For were he well, as I or you, 
 
 What would his grand bed-curtains do? 
 
 His mattress which the Nile supplies, 
 
 And hangings gay with Sidon's dyes? 
 
 What else but illness, caught by rule, 
 
 Displays the riches of a fool ? 
 
 What boot your doctors? Send their way on 
 
 All those disciples of Machaon. 
 
 Wish you your health once more to gain ? 
 
 Be wise, and take my counterpane. 
 
 
 On a plagiarist. 
 
 Paullus buys poems, and aloud. 
 As his, recites them to the crowd. 
 For what you buy it is well known 
 You have a right to call your own. 
 
I V" . TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 11. 29. 
 
 Rufe, vides ilium subsellia prima terentem, 
 
 Cuius et hinc lucet sardonychata manus 
 Quaeque Tyron totiens epotavere lacernae 
 
 Et toga non tactas vincere iussa nives, 
 Cuius olet toto pinguis coma Marcelliano 
 
 Et splendent volso brachia trita pilo; 
 Non hesterna sedet lunata lingula planta, 
 
 Coccina non laesum pingit aluta pedem, 
 Et numerosa linunt stellantem splenia frontem. 
 
 Ignoras quid sit? splenia tolle, leges. 
 
 { \ 
 
FOR E.VGLISH READERS. 1 3 
 
 II. 29. 
 
 On one who, once a slave, had become a fine gentleman, and sat in 
 the front benches of the theatre, wearing the red shoe with C-shaped 
 ornament that denoted the Roman Senator. The man had taken advantage 
 of the fashion of wearing patches, common in a later day at the court of 
 Queen Anne, to conceal the brandmarks on his forehead. Marcellus was 
 the Rimtnel of his time. 
 
 Friend Rufus, yonder man you see, 
 
 Who in the front seats lounges free, 
 
 And doth even here a glitter fling 
 
 From that sardonyx in his ring. 
 
 His mantle, with its gorgeous dye, 
 
 Must oft have drained Tyre's riches dr)^ lyLlS. 
 
 His toga too such care doth show, 
 
 'Tis whiter than Sijitrodden snow. 
 
 So strong his greasy odours spread, 
 
 Sure all Marcellus scents his head : 
 
 And shine his arms, all smooth and bare. 
 
 Plucked clean of each disfiguring hair. 
 
 Fresh every day a riband new 
 
 Makes fast his crescent-mounted shoe; 
 
 Which, gay with red morocco, still 
 
 Softly protects his foot from ill : 
 
 While spangling patches, by the score, 
 
 Besmear his plastered forehead o'er. 
 
 What fellow's this, ask you ? — You need 
 
 But lift those patches, then you'll read. 
 
14 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 n. 35- j 
 
 Cum sint crura tibi simulent quae comua lunae, \ 
 In rhytio poteras, Phoebe, lavare pedes. j 
 
 11. 38. 
 
 Quid mihi reddat ager quaeris, Line, Nomentanus? 
 Hoc mihi reddit ager: te. Line, non video. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 n. 35- 
 
 On a bandy-legged man. 
 
 Your legs, so like the moon at crescent, 
 A bathing- tub will scarce look neat in : 
 
 So here I send you, for a present, 
 A drinking-horn to wash your feet in. 
 
 \ 
 
 II. 38. 
 
 To Linus, who had sneered at the unproductiveness of the poet's farm 
 among the Sabine hills. 
 
 Ask you what my Nomentane fields 
 Can yield me, Linus, bleak and few? 
 
 For me my farm this, Linus, yields; — 
 That, when I'm there, I'm rid of you. 
 
TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 II. (i(>. 
 
 Unus de toto peccaverat orbe comarum 
 
 Anulus, incerta non bene fixus acu. 
 Hoc facinus Lalage, speculo quo viderat, ulta est 
 
 Et cecidit sectis icta Plecusa comis. 
 Desine iam, Lalage, tristes ornare dapillos, 
 
 Tangat et insanum nulla puella caput. 
 Hoc salamandra notet vel saeva novacula nudet, 
 
 Ut digna speculo fiat imago tuo. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 II. 66. 
 
 On the cruel punishment inflicted by a Roman lady upon her tire- 
 woman with a hand-mirror of polished metal. The poet says she deserves 
 to have her head shaved for being a maniac. 1 he Romans fancied that the 
 touch of a salamander would make the hair drop off. 
 
 Of all the ringlets that within 
 
 The head's encircling cluster lie, 
 Ill-fastened by a faltering pin, 
 
 A single curl had slipped awry. 
 
 With the same glass in which she spies 
 This fault, the fair her vengeance sped. 
 
 Beneath the blow Plecusa lies. 
 
 Struck down with bruised and bleeding head. 
 
 Henceforward each ill-omened tress 
 
 Let Lalage disordered wear; 
 And never more may handmaid dress 
 
 The locks of such a maniac's hair. 
 
 Let salamander mar their grace. 
 Or ruthless razor shave them clean; 
 
 That so the mirrored form we trace 
 May match the glass in which 'tis seen. 
 
l8 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 11. 71- 
 
 Candidius nihil est te, Caeciliane : notavi, 
 Si quando ex nostris disticha pauca lego, 
 
 Protinus aut Marsi recitas aut scripta Catulli. 
 Hoc mihi das, tanquam deteriora legas, 
 
 Ut collata magis placeant mea ? Credimus istud : 
 Malo tamen recites, Caeciliane, tua. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. I 9 
 
 11. 71. 
 
 On one who, under pretence of raising, really desired to lower Martial's 
 reputation as a poet. Marsus and Catullus were well-known poets of the 
 age. 
 
 rf^mliflTlll.S nought as you 
 
 Was e'er so artless or so true. 
 
 IVe noticed that, should I recite 
 
 A verse or two of those I write, 
 
 You straight declaim with ready tongue 
 
 What Marsus or Catullus sung. 
 
 Does this from coiutesy proceed. 
 
 As though inferior rhymes you'd read, 
 
 That so my own, compared with these, 
 
 My vanity may better please? 
 
 No doubt But if this reason's right, 
 
 AVhy not, my friend, your own recite? 
 
20 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 n- 75- 
 
 Verbera securi solitus leo ferre magistri 
 
 Insertamque pati blandus in ora manum 
 Dedidicit pacem subito feritate reversa, 
 
 Quanta nee in Libycis debuit esse iugis. 
 Nam duo de tenera puerilia corpora turba, 
 
 Sanguineam rastris quae renovabat humum, 
 Saevus et infelix furiali dente peremit : 
 
 Martia non vidit maius harena nefas. 
 Exclamare libet : " crudelis, perfide, praedo, 
 
 A nostra piieris parcere disce lupa ! " 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 21 
 
 rll. 75- 
 the trained lions of the amphitheatre. The poet recom- 
 mends to it the example of the wolf of the Capitol, which suckled Romulus 
 and Remus. 
 
 2^ A lion, wont to bear the blows 
 His fearless master's rod bestows, 
 So tame that he would quiet stand, 
 While in his jaws you thrust your hand, 
 Sudden forgot his peaceful ways, 
 And such a fierceness here displays 
 . As had disgraced his Libyan lair. 
 For two among the boys, whose care 
 It was with rakes to hide from sight 
 The bloody traces of the fight, 
 The savage wretch in pieces tore. 
 Rome's amphitheatre before 
 Ne'er saw so fell a deed as this. 
 Thus to exclaim 'twere not amiss : — 
 "Traitor, that dost such ravine dare. 
 From our own wolf learn boys to spare !" 
 
22 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 11. 86. 
 
 Quod nee carmine glorior supino 
 Nee retro lego Sotaden cinaedum, 
 Nusquam «Graecula quod recantat echo 
 Nee dictat mihi luculentus Attis 
 Mollem debilitate galliambon : 
 Non sum, Classice, tam mains poeta. 
 Quid, si per graciles vias petauri 
 Invitum iubeas subire Ladan? 
 Turpe est difficiles habere nugas 
 Et stultus laboF est ineptiarum. 
 Seribat carmina circulis Palaemon, 
 Me raris iuvat auribus placere. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 23 
 
 11. Z(i. 
 
 'The poet replies to the charge that he could not write verses with 
 curious metrical peculiarities, or effeminate poems like the Atys of Catullus, 
 This, he says, is like finding fault with a good runner for not being an 
 acrobat. 
 
 ^/ Because I do not take delight 
 
 In poems that will backwards read, 
 
 Or to such dextrous rhymes give heed 
 
 As rakish Sotades could ^^Tlte: 
 
 Because, as Grecian poets use, 
 
 No verse among my writings shows 
 A foolish echo at its close; 
 
 Nor yet, with others, do I choose 
 
 To ape Catullus' famous theme 
 In galliambics' nerveless style: — 
 I am not therefore, friend, the while. 
 
 So poor a poet as you deem. 
 
 What folly were it to command 
 Ladas, in running lithe of limb, 
 Against his will upon the rim 
 
 Of the revolving wheel to stand ! 
 
 'Tis mean and foolish to assign 
 
 Long care and pains to trifles light. 
 Palaemon for the mob may write, 
 
 To please ears fit and few be mine. 
 
24 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 11. 92. 
 
 Natorum mlhi ius trium roganti 
 Musarum pretium dedit mearum 
 Solus qui poterat. Valebis, uxor. 
 Non debet domini perire munus. 
 
 III. 8. 
 
 Thaida Quintus amat, quam Thaida? Thaida luscam. 
 Unum oculum Thais non habet, ille duos. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 2$ 
 
 11. 92. 
 
 In order to promote marriage, certain privileges were granted by law to 
 persons who had not fewer than three children. These advantages were 
 sometimes, as in Martial's case, obtained unconditionally, by special favour 
 of the Emperor. 
 
 The rights derived from children three, 
 
 Reward for my poetic dower, 
 At my request were given to me 
 
 By him who only had the power. 
 So now, my wife, to thee farewell I say : 
 My lord's kind gift must not be thrown away. 
 
 ^ III. 8. 
 
 On the lover of a lady who had but one eye. 
 
 'Tis Thais Quintus calls his dear. 
 
 Thais his dear? Pray, sir, which one? 
 The one-eyed Thais. 'Faith, 'tis clear 
 
 She has but one eye, he has none. - 
 
26 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 III. l8. 
 
 Perfrixisse tuas questa est praefatio fauces. 
 Cum te excusaris, Maxime, quid recitas? 
 
 iir. 43. 
 
 Mentiris iuvenem tinctis, Laetine, capillis, 
 Tam subito corvus, qui modo cygnus eras. 
 Non omnes fallis; scit te Proserpina canum 
 Personam capiti detrahet ilia tuo. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. ' 2i\ 
 
 III. i8. 
 
 On one who prefaced his recitations with an apology for his hoarseness. 
 'We shall only be too glad," says the poet, "to excuse you from reading 
 your poems to us at all." See Introduction, p. x. 
 
 You tell us, ere you read a verse, 
 
 Your throat is bad, your cold is worse. 
 
 Since you've excused yourself, my friend, 
 
 Shut up your book and make an end. 
 
 III. 43. 
 
 On an old fop who dyed his hair. According to Roman superstition, 
 Proserpine, queen of Hades, cut off a lock from a person's head at death. 
 
 Laetinus, fain to cheat men's eyes, 
 
 You smear your head with umber dyes ; 
 
 And, late a swan as white as snow, 
 
 You've suddenly become a crow. 
 
 Is every one deceived by you? 
 
 No, one can tell the genuine hue. 
 
 Proserpine knows your hair is grey, 
 
 And she will tear that mask away. 
 
28 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 III. 44. 
 
 Occurrit tibi nemo quod libenter, 
 
 Quod, quacunque venis, fuga est et ingens 
 
 Circa te, Ligurine, solitudo, 
 
 Quid sit, scire cupis? Nimis poeta es. 
 
 Hoc valde vitium periculosum est. 
 
 Non tigris catulis citata raptis, 
 
 Non dipsas medio perusta sole, 
 
 Nee sic scorpios improbus timetur. 
 
 Nam tantos, rogo, quis ferat labores ? 
 
 Et stanti legis et legis sedentL 
 
 In thermas fhgio : sonas ad aurem. 
 
 Piscinam peto: non licet natare. 
 
 Ad cenam propero : tenes euntem. - 
 
 Ad cenam venio : fugas sedentem. 
 
 Lassus dormio: suscitas iacentem. 
 
 Vis, quantum facias mali, videre? 
 
 Vir iustus, probus, innocens timeris. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 29 
 
 V 
 
 III. 44. 
 
 jTo Ligurinus, who, though a man of blameless character, put everybody 
 flight with his perpetual recitations. See Introduction, p. x. 
 
 Why everybody shuns your sight, 
 
 And why, since all are put to flight, 
 
 Wherever your approach is viewed, 
 
 The place is one vast solitude : — 
 
 This, Ligurinus, would you know? 
 
 You're too poetical, I trow. 
 
 'Tis dangerous having this repute. 
 
 Not savage tigress in pursuit 
 
 Of them that stole her whelps away, 
 
 Not serpent, scorched by burning ray 
 
 Of Libya's sun, not scorpion fell 
 
 Is deemed by all so terrible. 
 
 For, prythee tell me, who could bear 
 
 The burdens you for folk prepare? 
 
 Should I stand by, your rhymes you read; 
 
 Or if I sit, you still proceed. 
 
 To the hot baths I fly for fear: 
 
 You din your verses in my ear. 
 
 Ch|s^d thence, I seek the plunge-bath's brim : 
 
 But/while you're ranting, who could swim ? 
 
 To dinner then I haste : alack ! 
 
 Just as I start, you hold me back. 
 
 The table reached, I fain would eat : 
 
 You scare me as I take my seat. 
 
 Quite wearied out, to sleep I try : 
 
 You rouse me ere I down can lie. 
 
 Shall I, my friend, make plain to you 
 
 What serious mischief 'tis you do? 
 
 All fear you still, and fly you far, 
 
 Good, upright, blameless as you are. 
 
30 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 III. 46. 
 
 Exigis a nobis operam sine fine togatam. 
 
 Non eo, libertum sed tibi mitto meum. 
 "Non est" inquis *'idem." Multo plus esse probabo 
 
 Vix ego lecticam subsequar, ille feret. 
 In turbam incideris, cuneos umbone repellet; 
 
 Invaiidum est nobis ingenuumque latus. 
 Quidlibet in causa narraveris, ipse tacebo : 
 
 At tibi tergeminum mugiet ille sophos. 
 Lis erit, ingenti faciet convitia voce : 
 
 Esse pudor vetuit fortia verba mihi. 
 " Ergo nihil nobis " inquis " praestabis amicus ? " 
 
 Quidquid libertus, Candide, non poterit. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 3 I 
 
 III. 46. 
 
 Martial satirically suggests that his steward is better fitted than himself 
 to perform the duties expected of a client. See Introduction, p. xi. 
 
 Day after day you still demand 
 
 A client's duties at my hand. 
 
 I still decline your call to attend, 
 
 But in my stead my steward send. 
 
 "That's quite another thing," say you. 
 
 That 'tis far more I'll prove it true. 
 
 I toil behind your Htter's state : 
 
 He'll lend his shoulder to the weight. 
 
 Should jostling crowds your path surround, 
 
 With elbow raised he'll hold his ground : 
 
 Unfit for such a fray, my chest 
 
 Is delicate and weak at best. 
 
 However well you plead your suit, 
 
 I in the court shall sit quite mute : 
 
 Whereas my fellow forth will roar 
 
 His ready bravos by the score. 
 
 Have you a quarrel? Ever bold, 
 
 tin voice of thunder he will scold : 
 While shame to me forbids the use 
 Of boisterous accents of abuse. 
 " Then will you, after all," say you, 
 " To prove your friendship nothing do ? " 
 I'll give you, sir, my love to show, 
 That which a steward can't bestow. 
 
32 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 III. 52. 
 
 Empta domus fuerat tibi, Tongiliane, ducenis : 
 Abstulit banc nimiuni casus in urbe frequens. 
 
 CoUatum est deciens. Rogo, non potes ipse videri 
 Incendisse tuam, Tongiliane, domum? 
 
 III. 57. 
 
 Callidus imposuit nuper mihi copo Ravennae : 
 Cum peterem mixtum, vendidit ille merum. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 33 
 
 \/ HI. 52. 
 
 ''ires were of such common occurrence at Rome that it became the 
 custom, when a man's house was burnt down, for his rich friends to send him 
 presents of money, plate, &c. to make up the loss, on a sort of mutual 
 insurance system. 
 
 Some fifteen hundred pounds you spent 
 
 In buying, friend, a house in town. 
 By a too common accident 
 
 There came a fire and burnt it down. 
 Your numerous friends subscribe to pay 
 
 Eight thousand pounds in compensation. 
 Might it not seem your hand, I pra}, 
 
 That lighted up this conflagration ? / 
 
 III. 57. 
 
 At Ravenna water was so scarce, that wine was cheaper than good 
 water. 
 
 I at Ravenna chanced to dine, 
 
 And found mine host a cheat : 
 For when I asked for tempered wine, 
 
 The rascal sold me neat. 
 
 w. 
 
34 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 III. 6i. 
 
 Esse nihil dicis quidquid petis, improbe Cinna 
 Si nil, Cinna, petis, nil tibi, Cinna, nego. 
 
 III. 94. 
 
 Esse negas coctum leporem poscisque flagella. 
 Mavis, Rufe, cocum scindere, quam lepoMWi. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS, 
 
 35 
 
 III. 6i. 
 
 The poet judges Cinna out of his own mouth. "You are always 
 asking favours on the ground that they are 'mere nothings.' Very well 
 then, I will give you just what you ask, viz. nothing." 
 
 Your importunity to mask, 
 "'Tis a mere nothing," still you cry. 
 Since nothing, Cinna, 'tis you ask. 
 Then nothing, Cinna, I deny. 
 
 I 
 
 III. 94. 
 
 On a stingy host, who, to save his dishes, pretended that they were 
 underdone. 
 
 "The hare is raw, bring me a whip!" 
 
 Thus, Rufus, you declare. 
 Yes, to your cook you'd rather give 
 
 A cut than to your hare. 
 
3^ TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IV. 13. 
 
 Claudia, Rufe, meo nubit peregrina Pudenti : 
 
 Macte esto taedis, o Hymenaee, tuis. 
 Tarn bene rara suo miscentur cinnama nardo, 
 
 Massica Theseis tam bene vina favis; 
 Nee melius teneris iunguntur vitibus ulmi, 
 
 Nee i)lus lotus aquas, litora myrtus amat. 
 Candida perpetuo reside, Concordia, lecto, 
 
 Tamque pari semper sit Venus aequa iugo. 
 Diligat ilia senem quondam, sed et ipsa marito 
 
 Tum quoque cum fuerit, non videatur anus. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 17 
 
 IV. 13. 
 
 On the happy marriage of Pudens and Claudia, perhaps the same as St. 
 
 Paul mentions in 2 Tim. iv. ■zr. Claudia appears, from another epigram 
 
 j (XI. 53) to have been of British birth. Hence the allusion to the union 
 
 1 of the native (Massic) wine with the foreign (Athenian) honey, a mixture that 
 
 '. formed a common Roman beverage. 
 
 Here, Hymen, here thy blessings shed, 
 Bright burns thy torches' golden flame : 
 
 For Pudens doth with Claudia wed. 
 The Roman lord and British dame. 
 
 How seldom nard its odours sweet 
 
 And cinnamon combine so well ; 
 Or Massic wines so fitly meet 
 
 With juice of Attic honey-cell ! 
 
 Not with more grace do soft with brave — 
 
 Do tender vines with elms unite; 
 Nor better lotus loves the wave, 
 
 Or myrtles in their banks delight. 
 
 Fair on this marriage-couch the while, 
 A goddess bright, let Concord rest ; 
 
 And kindly still may Venus smile 
 On mutual love of pair so blest. 
 
 Him may her warm affection cheer, 
 
 When youth on time's swift pinions flies; 
 
 And so may she, when age is near, 
 Seem never old to loving eyes. 
 
3^ TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IV. 24. 
 
 Omnes quas habuit, Fabiane, Lycoris amicas 
 Extulit: uxori fiat arnica meae. 
 
 IV. 41. 
 
 Quid recitaturus circumdas vellera collo? 
 Conveniunt nostris auribus ista magis. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 39 
 
 IV. 24. 
 
 On a female poisoner. Under the Roman Emperors poisoning became 
 a regular profession, and women who, like the notorious Locusta, excelled 
 in the art, were in great request. Compare Ep. iv. 69, p. 43. 
 
 Lycoris, sir, has made an end 
 
 At length of every female friend. 
 
 'Tis now my only wish in life 
 
 That she for friend would take my wife. 
 
 V IV. 41. 
 
 On one who, when reciting, tied up his sore throat with woollen 
 )mforters. See Introduction, p. X. 
 
 Why, ere your verses you recite, 
 Thus muffle up your throat so tight? 
 'T would better suit the crowd that hears : 
 Give us that wool to stuff our ears. 
 
■ ■ / 
 
 40 TRANSLATION^ FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IV. 59. 
 
 \ 
 ■Flentibus Heliadum ramis dum vipera repit, 
 
 Fluxit in obstantem sucina gutta feram. 
 Quae dum miratur pingui se rore teneri, 
 
 Concreto riguit vincta repente gelu. 
 Ne tibi regali placeas, Cleopatra, sepulcro, 
 
 Vipera si tumulo nobiliore iacet. 
 
FOR ENGLISH REAPMS. 
 
 "^41 
 
 IV. 59. 
 
 On a viper enclosed in amber. The Heliades were three sisters, who 
 1 were so inconsolable at the death of their brother Phaeton that they were 
 changed by the gods into poplars and their tears into amber. 
 
 A viper o'er some branches crept 
 
 Moist with the tears the Heliads wept. 
 
 A drop of amber, as he passed, 
 
 Came trickling, down, and held him fast. 
 
 And while the creature's wonder grew, 
 
 Thus caught and clogged with resinous dew, 
 
 The hardening juice its victim sealed. 
 
 As though in icy bonds congealed. 
 
 Then, Cleopatra, boast no more 
 
 The pomp that marks thy burial floor; 
 
 Since here a viper lies, thy doom, 
 
 Interred within a nobler tomb. 
 
42 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 ^ 
 
 IV. 69. 
 
 Tu Setina quidem semper vel Massica ponis, 
 Papile, sed rumor tam bona vina negat. 
 
 Diceris hac factus caelebs quater esse lagona. 
 Nee puto, nee credo, Papile, nee sitio. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 43 \ 
 
 IV. 69. 
 
 Papilus, who was famous for his good cellar, supplied from the 
 vintages of Setia and Mount Massicus, had lost four wives in succession, 
 so that a report got about that his wines were poisoned. Compare Ep. iv. 
 24, p. 39. 
 
 On Massic and Setinian fares 
 
 The guest that banquets in your halL 
 Yet, Papilus, report declares 
 
 Them not so wholesome after all. 
 'Tis said that by that wine-jar you 
 
 Four times became a widower. Thus 
 I neither think, nor hold it true, 
 
 Nor am I thirsty, Papilus. 
 
44 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IV. 72. 
 
 Exigis, ut donem nostros tibi, Quinte, libellos. 
 
 Non habeo, sed habet bibliopola Tryphon. 
 "Aes dabo pro nugis et emam tua carmina sanus? 
 
 Non" inquis *'faciam tam fatue." Nee ego. 
 
 IV. 79. 
 
 Hospes eras nostri semper, Matho, Tiburtini. 
 Hoc emis. Imposui: rus tibi vendo tuum. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 45 
 
 IV. 72. 
 
 To one who asked for a presentation copy of Martial's poems, to save 
 the expense of buying them. Tryphon was a well-known bookseller at 
 Rome. 
 
 You ask me to present you with a copy of my verses. 
 I have none, sir, but Tryphon has for gentlemen with 
 purses. 
 "What, do you think I'm mad enough your trashy songs to 
 buy, sir? 
 I am not such a simpleton," you answer. Nor am I, sir. 
 
 ^ IV. 79. 
 
 To Matho, who had given the poet rather too much of his company. 
 Matho, my country-house confessed 
 Your presence there, a constant guest. 
 You buy the place. A cheat I'm grown ; 
 I've sold you what was erst your own. 
 
46 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL . 
 
 V. 9. 
 
 Languebam : sed tu comitatus protinus ad me 
 Venisti centum, Symmache, discipulis. 
 
 Centum me tetigere manus aquilone gelatae : 
 Non habui febrem, Symmache, nunc habeo. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 47 
 
 9- 
 
 )n Symmachus, a physician, and his medical students, who appear 
 to have made use of the poet as a sort of corpus vile to experiment upon. 
 
 Came Symmachus to ease my pain, 
 A hundred pupils in his train. 
 A hundred hands, with Boreas numbed, 
 My wrist befingered and bethumbed. 
 Fever, sir leech, before I had none; 
 But now I've got a very bad one. 
 
4^ TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 V. 34. 
 
 Hanc tibi, Fronto pater, genetrix Flaccilla, puellam 
 
 Oscula commendo deliciasque meas, 
 Parvula ne nigras horrescat Erotion umbras 
 
 Oraque Tartarei prodigiosa canis. 
 Impletura fuit sextae modo frigora brumae, 
 
 Vixisset totidem ni minus ilia dies. 
 Inter tam veteres ludat lasciva patronos 
 
 Et nomen blaeso garriat ore meum. 
 Mollia non rigidus cespes tegat ossa, nee illi, 
 
 Terra, gravis fueris : non fuit ilia tibi. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 49 
 
 V. 34. 
 
 On Erotion, a little slave-girl and pet of the poet's, who died before she 
 was quite six years old. In the second line, the allusion is to Cerberus, 
 the three-headed watch-dog of Hades. 
 
 To you — dun spectres to forefend 
 And yon Tartarean monster dread — 
 
 This little maiden I commend, 
 Dead parents of my darling dead! 
 
 Had only my Erotion's span, 
 
 While just so many days were told, 
 Been lengthened out to dwell with man, 
 
 She had been then six winters old. 
 
 Still sportive may she spend her days, 
 And lisp my name with prattling tongue; 
 
 Nor chide her little wanton ways, 
 Mid friends so old, and she so young. 
 
 Soft be the turf that shrouds her bed, 
 
 For delicate and soft was she. 
 And, Earth, lie lightly o'er her head, 
 
 For light the steps she laid on thee. 
 
 w. 
 
so TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 V. 37- 
 
 Puella senibus dulclor mihi cygnis, 
 Agna Galaesi mollior Phalantini, 
 Concha Lucrini delicatior stagni, 
 Cui nee lapillos praeferas Erythraeos, 
 Nee modo politum peeudis Indieae dentem 
 Nivesque primas liliumque non taetum ; 
 Quae crine vicit Baetici gregis vellus 
 Rhenique nodos aureamque nitellam; 
 Fragravit ore, quod rosarium Paesti, 
 Quod Atticarum prima mella cerarum, 
 Quod sucinorum rapta de manu gleba; 
 Cui comparatus indecens erat pavus, 
 Inamabilis sciurus et frequens phoenix : 
 Adhuc recenti tepet Erotion busto, 
 Quam pessimorum lex amara fatorum 
 

 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 51 
 
 V. 37. 
 
 On the same subject as the previous epigram. The Romans admired 
 a fair complexion and flaxen or auburn hair. It was customary with the 
 Roman ladies to carry balls of amber to cool the hands; these when 
 warmed gave out a scent. 
 
 Maiden, more sweet to me than swans-down grey, 
 
 Softer than lambs that by Galaesus play, 
 
 More elegant than pearl of Lucrine shell. 
 
 Nor Persia's diamonds are preferred so well, 
 
 So white not India's new-cut ivory shows, 
 
 The angathered lily, or fresh-fallen snows:- 
 
 Whose locks, than fleece of Baetic flock more fair, 
 
 Surpass the Teuton's knotted length of hair, 
 
 Or gold-furred dormouse: to whose lips their scent 
 
 Was by sweet rose of Paestum's garden lent, 
 
 Or lately-handled amber's fragrant smell, 
 
 Or the first-fruits of Attic honey-cell: 
 
 Compared with whom nor seemed the peacock fair, 
 
 The squirrel lovesome, nor the phoenix rare — 
 
 In her fresh tomb, scarce cold, Erotion lies. 
 
 Whom bitter fate cut off" with cruel spite 
 
TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Sexta peregit hieme, nee tamen tota, 
 Nostros amores gaudiumque lususque. 
 Et esse tristem me meus vetat Paetus, 
 Pectusque pulsans pariter et comam vellens : 
 ^'Deflere non te vernulae pudet mortem? 
 Ego coniugem" inquit "extuli et tamen vivo, 
 Notam, superbam, nobilem, locupletem." 
 Quid esse nostro fortius potest Paeto? 
 Ducentiens accepit, et tamen vivit. 
 
 V. 43- 
 
 Thais habet nigros, niveos Laecania dentes. 
 Quae ratio est? Emptos haec habet, ilia suos. 
 
w 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 53 
 
 In her sixth winter, nor that finished quite, 
 The pet and playmate-darling of my eyes. 
 And yet my grief friend Paetus bids me spare, 
 And beats his breast like me and tears his hair. 
 " Art not ashamed to mourn a slave-girl dead ? 
 "Why, I have just interred my wife," he said, 
 " Distinguished, stately, and of high degree, 
 "And wealthy, yet survive." Did e'er ye see 
 Such fortitude, my friends, in all your lives? 
 Two hundred thousand gained, he yet survives. 
 
 V. 43. 
 
 In ridicule of the custom of wearing false teeth. 
 
 Thais for black, Laecania 
 
 For snow-white teeth is known. 
 
 For why ? Laecania's teeth were bought. 
 While Thais wears her own. 
 
54 TRANSLA TIOiVS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 V. 47- S 
 
 I 
 Nunqiiam se cenasse domi Philo iurat, et hoc est: ] 
 
 Non cenat, quotiens nemo vocavit eum. \ 
 
 V. 74. \ 
 
 i 
 
 Pompeios iuvenes Asia atque Europa, sed ipsum - 
 
 Terra tegit Libyae, si tamen ulla tegit. • j 
 
 Quid mirum toto si spargitur orbe? iacere | 
 
 Uno non poterat tanta ruina loco. J 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 55 
 
 y V. 47. 
 
 A joke on one who boasted of his numerous invitations to dinner. 
 Philo is courted so at Rome, 
 He swears he never dines at home. 
 Yes ; if no friend invites him out, 
 The wretch is forced to go without. 
 
 V 
 
 V. 74. 
 
 Cneius and Sextus, the two sons of Pompey the Great, were killed, one 
 of them in Spain, and the other at Miletus in Asia ; while the father 
 himself was assassinated in Africa at Alexandria, 
 
 Europe and Asia each contain 
 
 The bones of Pompey's children slain. 
 
 For him doth Afric's soil give room, 
 
 If Pompey found indeed a tomb. 
 
 A ruin of a bulk so vast 
 
 Could not within one spot be cast: 
 
 What wonder, then, the fragments hurled 
 
 Were scattered over all the world? 
 
5 6 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 V. 76. 
 
 Profecit poto Mithridates saepe veneno, 
 Toxica ne possent saeva nocere sibi. 
 
 Tu quoque cavisti cenando tam male semper, 
 Ne posses unquam, Cinna, perire fame. 
 
p 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READjJ^W: 
 
 S7 
 
 I 
 
 V. 76- 
 
 Mithridates, King of Pontus, was said to have taken poisons by way of 
 precaution, that his constitution might become inured against them. The 
 poet jocosely says that Cinna, in keeping such a poor table, is evidently 
 trying to do something similar^ 
 
 Drug-proof old Mithridates grew 
 By frequent poisonous potation. 
 So with spare diet, Cinna, you 
 Ensure yourself against starvation. 
 
58 TRANSLATIONS FKOM MARTIAL 
 
 V. 79. 
 
 Undeciens una surrexti, Zoile, cena, 
 Et mutata tibi est synthesis undeciens, 
 
 Sudor inhaereret madida ne veste retentus 
 Et laxam tenuis laederet aura cutem. 
 
 Quare ego non sudo, qui tecum, Zoile, ceno? 
 Frigus enim magnum synthesis una facit 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 59 
 
 V. 79. 
 
 Martial ridicules Zoilus for frequently changing his dress during dinner 
 on the pretence of being afraid of catching cold, but really in order 
 to display his extensive wardrobe. 
 
 Eleven times, Zoilus, at one sitting, 
 I've watched you from the table flitting; 
 Eleven times over, while you dine, 
 You shift your suit of mantles fine ; 
 Lest perspiration, that should cling 
 Within their folds, a dampness fling, 
 Which might your open pores expose 
 To any little draught that blows. 
 Then, Zoilus, why do I, who sit 
 Beside you, not perspire a bit? 
 Because a single suit, I wis, 
 Has very cooling properties. 
 
6o TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VI. 38. 
 
 Aspicis, ut parvus, nee adhuc trieteride plena 
 
 Regulus auditum laudet et ipse patrem? 
 Matemosque sinus viso genitore relinquat 
 
 Et patrias laudes sentiat esse suas? 
 lam clamor centumque viri densumque corona 
 
 Volgus et infanti lulia tecta placent. 
 Acris equi suboles magno sic pulvere gaudet, 
 
 Sic vitulus molli praelia fronte cupit 
 Di, servate, precor, matri sua vota patrique, 
 
 Audiat ut natum Regulus, ilia duos. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 6i 
 
 VI. 38. 
 
 On the little son of Regulus, a famous pleader at Rome. 
 
 The little Regulus behold, 
 
 Who, not as yet quite three years old, 
 
 Listens and joins with boyish fire 
 
 Himself to applaud his famous sire. 
 
 Soon as that father he perceives, 
 
 At once his mother's lap he leaves, 
 
 And by his childish pride makes known 
 
 He counts his praises as his own. 
 
 Him, though so young, the Court and sight 
 
 Of judges in their robes delight ; 
 
 Nor does the dense surrounding crowd 
 
 Affright him with their clamours loud. 
 
 So does the foal of generous horse 
 
 Exulting eye the thronging course; 
 
 The calf, with such a keen delight, 
 
 With tender horn attempts the fight. 
 
 Hear me, kind Heaven, and be thy care 
 
 A father's and a mother's prayer : — 
 
 That he may to his son give ear, 
 
 That she both son and sire may hear. 
 
62 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VI. 42. 
 
 Etrusci nisi thermulis lavaris, 
 lUotus morieris, Oppiane. 
 Nullae sic tibi blandientur undae, 
 Nee fontes Aponi rudes puellis, 
 Non mollis Sinuessa fervidique 
 Fluctus Passeris aut superbus Anxur, 
 Non Phoebi vada principesque Baiae. 
 Nusquam tarn nitidum vacat serenum: 
 Lux ipsa est ibi longior, diesque 
 Nullo tardius a loco recedit. 
 Illic Taygeti virent metalla 
 Et certant vario decore saxa, 
 Quae Phryx et Libys altius cecidit; 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 63 
 
 VI. 42. 
 
 'he poet praises the elegant baths of Claudius Etruscus. See 
 [ntroduction, p. ix. 
 
 If you have ne'er a visit paid 
 
 To those hot baths Etruscus made — 
 
 Should, Oppianus, this be so, 
 
 Down to the grave unwashed you'll go. 
 
 None else such grateful warmth diffuse; 
 
 Patavium's, which no ladies use, 
 
 Nor balmy Sinuessa's spring, 
 
 Or pleasant heat that Passer's bring; 
 
 Caere's, or those on Anxur's crest, 
 
 Or Baiae's, noted as the best. 
 
 So bright the sky, so pure the air. 
 
 Even daylight loves to linger there; 
 
 And veil of night's o'ershadowing pall 
 
 Does nowhere else so gradual fall. 
 
 There mines of Taygetus supply 
 
 Their green-hued marbles; with them vie 
 
 Phrygia's, with rich and varied stains. 
 
 And those deep-hewn from Libya's veins. 
 
64 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Siccos pinguis onyx anhelat aestus 
 Et flamma tenui calent ophitae. 
 Ritus si placeant tibi Laconum, 
 Contentus potes arido vapore 
 Cnida Virgine Marciave mergi; 
 Quae tarn Candida, tarn serena lucet, 
 Ut nullas ibi suspiceris undas 
 Et credas vacuam nitere lygdon. 
 Non attendis, et aura me supina 
 lam dudum quasi negligenter audis. 
 Illotus morieris, Oppiane. 
 
FeR ENGLISH READERS. 65 
 
 To sweat you, ere you try the springs, 
 
 Hot air the lucid onyx flings; 
 
 While marbles streaked like serpent's hide 
 
 For you a milder warmth provide. 
 
 Or, if a Spartan taste you own, 
 
 Content with heated air alone. 
 
 In bath as pure you then can lave 
 
 As Marcia's or the Virgin wave. 
 
 It shines so clear and spotless fair. 
 
 You'd think no water could be there; 
 
 But say the Lygdian marble bright 
 
 Was standing empty in your sight. 
 
 But all this while you will not hear, 
 
 And listen with a careless ear. 
 
 Since, Oppianus, this is so, 
 
 Down to the grave unwashed you'll go. 
 
 w. 
 
66 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VI. 51. 
 
 Quod convivaris sine me tarn saepe, Luperce, 
 
 Inveni, noceam qua ratione tibi. 
 Irascor, licet usque voces mittasque rogesque. 
 
 "Quid facies?" inquis. Quid faciam? veniam. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 6/ 
 
 \ 
 
 VI. 51. 
 
 To an inhospitable friend of the poet's. The man was so stingy that 
 Martial knew he would rather have his invitation refused. 
 
 Lupercus, you're so mean a sinner, 
 
 You never ask your friend to dinner. 
 
 To serve you out I know the way. 
 
 Hereafter you may beg and pray. 
 
 And, to appease my indignation, 
 
 Send fifty times an invitation : 
 
 You'll see my wrath how hot I've kept it. 
 
 What will I do, you ask? — Accept it. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ..•-v^ 
 
68 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VI. 52. 
 
 Hoc iacet in tumulo raptus puerilibus annis 
 Pantagathus, domini cura dolorque sui, 
 
 Vix tangente vagos ferro resecare capillos 
 Doctus et hirsutas excoluisse genas. 
 
 Sis licet, ut debes, tellus, placata levisque, 
 Artificis levior non potes esse manu. 
 
 VI. 57- 
 
 Mentiris fictos unguento, Phoebe, capillos 
 Et tegitur pictis sordida calva comis. 
 
 Tonsorem capiti non est adhibere necesse : 
 Radere te melius spongia, Phoebe, potest. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 69 
 
 • ^ VI. 52. 
 
 On the death of Pantagathus, a young and clever barber, and probably 
 a slave of the poet's. 
 
 Here lies, cut off in youthful bloom, 
 
 Pantagathus in saddest tomb. 
 
 He knew each straggling hair to clip, 
 
 And trim the shaggy chin or lip ; 
 
 And with such skill his scissors sped, 
 
 You'd think he scarcely touched your head. 
 
 However lightly, as 'tis just, 
 
 Thou, earth, may'st lie above his dust, 
 
 I ween thou canst not lighter be 
 
 Than with those nimble hands was he. 
 
 VI. 57- 
 
 On one who painted hair on his bald scalp with black ointment. See 
 Introduction, p. xiii.. 
 
 Your head with unguents you besmear, 
 And counterfeited locks appear. 
 And, Phoebus, with this painted hair 
 You cover all the part that's bare. 
 No need of scissors for this head ; 
 A sponge will shave it clean instead. 
 
70 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VL 6i. 
 
 Laudat, amat, eantat nostros mea Roma libellos, 
 Meque sinus omnis, me manus omnis habet. 
 
 Ecce rubet quidam, pallet, stupet, oscitat, odit. 
 Hoc volo : nunc nobis carmina nostra placent. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 71 
 
 VI. 6 1. 
 
 Martial says he can judge better of the merit of his satire by its stinging 
 effects rather than from the praises it receives. 
 
 Quite friendly, Rome applauds my lay; 
 
 Dotes on it, quotes it day by day. 
 
 My verses every pocket fill. 
 
 And every hand bethumbs me still. 
 
 See, yonder man turns red and white. 
 
 Winces, and yawns disgusted quite. 
 
 This I enjoy ; by this I tell 
 
 That now my verses please me well. 
 
72 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VI. 65. 
 
 " Hexametris epigramma facis" scio dicere Tuccam. 
 
 Tucca, solet fieri, denique, Tucca, licet. i^ 
 
 "Sed tamen hoc longum est." Solet hoc quoque, Tucca, 
 licetque : 
 
 Si breviora probas, disticha sola legas. 
 Conveniat nobis, ut fas epigrammata longa 
 
 Sit transire tibi, scribere, Tucca, mihi. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 73 
 
 VL 65. 
 
 The poet satirizes Tucca's want of taste, who objected to long epigrams, 
 and to their being written in the hexameter metre. 
 
 "This poet in hexameters his epigrams composes." 
 
 Why, Tucca, this is often done; besides, what law opposes? 
 
 "But this one, see, what length is here I" This, sir, is often 
 
 done too: 
 If you prefer them shorter, there are distiches to run to. 
 Let's come to an agreement straight (for I decline to clip 
 
 them), 
 That I may write long epigrams, and, Tucca, you may 
 
 skip them. 
 
74 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VI. 80. 
 
 Ut nova dona tibi, Caesar, Nilotica tellus 
 
 Miserat hibernas ambitiosa rosas, 
 Navita derisit Pharios Memphiticus hortos, 
 
 Urbis ut intravit limina prima tuae. 
 Tantus veris honos et odorae gratia Florae, 
 
 Tantaque Paestani gloria ruris erat. 
 Sic quacunque vagus gressumque oculosque ferebat, 
 
 Tonsilibus sertis omne rubebat iter. 
 At tu Romanae iussus iam cedere brumae, 
 
 Mitte tuas messes, accipe, Nile, rosas. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 75 
 
 VI. 80. 
 
 On the artificial growth of roses at Rome, thus rendering their 
 importation from Egypt in winter no longer necessary. 
 
 Caesar, to thee the land of Nile had sent 
 
 Her winter roses with officious care, 
 
 Thinking to give thee something new and rare. 
 But when to Rome the Pharian sailor went, 
 Soon as he passed within her walls' extent. 
 
 Forthwith he scorned his Memphian gardens fair; 
 
 Such splendour as of Paestum's fields was there, 
 Such vernal beauty, and such balmy scent. 
 Where'er around his roaming footsteps stray, 
 
 And wheresoe'er his wondering glances bend. 
 With rose-twined garlands every street was gay. 
 
 Then, Egypt, since no more thou canst pretend 
 
 To match our Roman winters, hither send 
 Thy corn ; the gift our roses shall repay. 
 
7^ TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VII. 3. 
 
 Cur non mitto meos tibi, Pontiliane, libellos ? 
 Ne mihi tu mittas, Pontiliane, tuos. 
 
 VII. 20. 
 
 Nihil est miserius neque gulosius Santra. 
 Rectam vocatus cum cucurrit ad cenam, 
 Quam tot diebus noctibusque captavit, 
 Ter poscit apri glandulas, quater lumbum, 
 Et utramque coxam leporis et duos armos, 
 Nee erubescit peierare de turdo 
 Et ostreonim rapere lividos cirros. 
 Dulcis placenta sordidam linit mappam 
 
I 
 
 FOR ENGLISH REAip'EISS:: )7 
 
 VII. 3. 
 
 ^ To a would-be fellow poet. 
 
 Why, sir, I don't my verses send you, 
 Pray, would you have the reason known? 
 The reason is — for fear, my friend, you 
 Should send me, in return, your own. 
 
 VII. 20. i 
 
 On Santra, whose avarice was even greater than his gluttony. I 
 
 At once so greedy and so mean \ 
 
 As Santra nothing e'er was seen. i 
 
 When he — the fruit of ceaseless pains — \ 
 
 At length an invitation gains \ 
 
 To a grand dinner, off he goes. % 
 
 Once there, no modesty he knows. . j 
 
 Twice helped to titbits from the boar, . 1 
 
 He'll send his plate again for more. % 
 
 Next four times he'll demand a share ^ 
 
 Of breast ; for both the legs of hare 
 And both the wings he'll ask, nor blush 
 To swear they didn't hand him thrush. 
 Then, snatching from his neighbour's plate 
 Pale oysters' .beards that others hate, 
 He tucks his greasy napkin o'er, 
 And adds a sweet cake to the store. 
 
 j^ 
 
7^ TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Illic et uvae coUocantur oUares, 
 
 Et Punicorum pauca grana malorum, 
 
 Et excavatae pellis indecens volvae, 
 
 Et lippa ficus debilisque boletus. 
 
 Sed mappa cum iam mille rumpitur furtis, 
 
 Rosos tepenti spondylos sinu condit 
 
 Et devorato capite turturem truncum. 
 
 Colligere longa turpe nee putat dextra 
 
 Analecta quidquid et canes reliquerunt. 
 
 Nee esculenta sufficit gulae praeda, 
 
 Mixto lagonam replet ad pedes vino. 
 
 Haec per ducentas cum domum tulit scalas 
 
 Seque obserata clusit anxius cella 
 
 Gulosus ille, postero die vendit. 
 
I 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 79 
 
 Of potted grapes it holds a few, 
 
 A handful of pomegranates too, 
 
 And paunch of sow, all stuffed and diest, 
 
 Lies all unsightly mid the rest : 
 
 A fig half-eaten from the plate, 
 
 And mushrooms in a pulpy state. 
 
 His napkin now, wherein dispersed 
 
 Lie countless thefts, is like to burst : 
 
 So in his sweaty gown he'll hide 
 
 Some nibbled marrow-bones beside. 
 
 O'er a wood-pigeon next 'tis spread; 
 
 But first, for show, he eats the head. 
 
 Nor thinks it shame to aid his store 
 
 With scattered fragments from the floor ; 
 
 And gathers, straining to the ground. 
 
 What's left by sweeper and by hound. 
 
 Nor, such a greedy maw to stuff, 
 
 Are pilfered eatables enough : 
 
 For at his feet a flagon lies, 
 
 Which he with tempered wine supplies. 
 
 All these when home, oppressed with cares. 
 
 He'd carried up six flights of stairs. 
 
 And shut himself within his hold. 
 
 On the next day our glutton — sold. 
 
80 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VII. 48. 
 
 Cum mensas habeat fere trecentas, 
 Pro mensis habet Annius ministros : 
 Transcumint gabatae volantque lances. 
 Has vobis epulas habete, lauti: 
 Nos offendimur ambulante cena. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 8 1 
 
 VII. 48. 
 
 On a stingy host, who, to save his provisions, instead of putting them 
 on the table, had them carried round by his servants so expeditiously that 
 his guests got but little to eat. See Introduction, p. xii. 
 
 For tables by the score reno\vned, 
 Mean Annius sends his servants round. 
 One course is on another pressed, 
 And dishes flit from guest to guest. 
 Such feasts to men of fashion deal ; 
 We plain men hate a walking meal. 
 
82 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VII. 54. 
 
 Semper mane mihi de me tua somnia narras, 
 
 Quae moveant animum sollicitentque meum. 
 lam prior ad faecem, sed et haec vindemia venit, 
 
 Exorat noctes dum mihi saga tuas. 
 Consumpsi salsasque molas et turis acervos, 
 
 Decrevere greges, dum cadit agna frequens; 
 Non porcus, non chords aves, non ova supersunt. 
 
 Aut vigila aut dormi, Nasidiene, tibi. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 83 
 
 VIL 54> 
 The poet under his own name satirizes Roman superstition. 
 
 Each morn, to cause me fear and doubt, 
 
 You say 'tis I you've dreamed about. 
 
 Now last year's wines have reached their dregs, 
 
 While yonder witch my safety begs ; 
 
 With this year's too 'tis just as bad, 
 
 To exorcise those dreams you've had. 
 
 Oft have I salt-cake offerings sent, 
 
 And frankincense in heaps I've spent; 
 
 My flock of sheep alas ! grows small, 
 
 While frequent lambs as victims fall. 
 
 My pigs, my fowls, my eggs run out. 
 
 Either, my friend, take care to keep 
 
 Awake, or, if you needs must sleep^ 
 
 Mind 'tis yourself you dream about. 
 
 6—2 
 
34 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VII. 6l. 
 
 Abstulerat totam temerarius institor urbem 
 
 Inque suo nullum limine limen erat. 
 lussisti tenues, Germanice, crescere vicos, 
 
 Et modo quae fuerat semita, facta via est. 
 Nulla catenatis pila est praecincta lagonis, 
 
 Nee praetor medio cogitur ire luto; 
 Stringitur in densa nee caeca novacula turba, 
 
 Occupat aut totas nigra popina vias. 
 Tonsor, copo, cocus, lanius sua limina servant. 
 
 Nunc Roma est, nuper magna tabema fuit. 
 
I 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 85 
 
 VII. 61. 
 
 It appears that the Roman tradesmen had been accustomed to erect 
 booths in front of their shops for the sale of their wares, Domitian is praised 
 by Martial for putting a stop to this nuisance. 
 
 So bold had every huckster grown, 
 
 All Rome they'd taken as their own. 
 
 And even the threshold of their door 
 
 For them a limit was no more. 
 
 Germanicus, it was thy charge 
 
 To bid our narrowed streets enlarge ; 
 
 And where a footpath erst had been, 
 
 A spacious road once more was seen. 
 
 No tavern-post is now o'erhung 
 
 With flagons by their chains upstrung; 
 
 Nor does the praetor now require 
 
 Mid-street to walk through mud and mire. . 
 
 Nor careless roves the razor there. 
 
 Unsheathed in crowded thoroughfare; 
 
 Nor cookshops, black with smoky heat. 
 
 Line all the road and block the street. 
 
 Within the bounds they late forsook 
 
 Keep barber, vintner, butcher, cook ; 
 
 And what was one huge shop before 
 
 Is now become our Rome once more. 
 
m 
 
 "V 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL i 
 
 VII. 96. 
 
 Conditus hie ego sum Bassi dolor, Urbicus in fans, 
 
 Cui genus et nomen maxima Roma dedit. 
 Sex mihi de prima deerant trieteride menses, 
 
 Ruperunt tetricae cum mala pensa deae. 
 Quid species, quid lingua mihi, quid profuit aetas ? 
 
 Da lacrimas tumulo, qui legis ista, meo. 
 Sic ad Lethaeas, nisi Nestore serius, undas 
 
 Non eat, optabis quem superesse tibi. 
 
F 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 8/ 
 
 VII. 96. 
 
 On the death of Bassus's infant child, Urbicus. The three Sister-Fates 
 were goddesses who presided over the lives and destinies of men. So in 
 Milton's Lycidas, 
 
 *' Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears, 
 And slits the thin-spun life." 
 
 For me, the little Urbicus, has earth 
 
 Beneath this marble stone provided room. 
 
 Rome's mighty city gave me name and birth, 
 And Bassus weeps above his infant's tomb. 
 
 My first three years of youthful life to fill, 
 Six little months there yet remained to run. 
 
 What time the Sisters, with relentless will, 
 
 Snapt the thin thread with which my days were spun. 
 
 Ah, what availed me then my childish grace. 
 My merry prattling tongue, and infant years ? 
 
 Who read'st these lines that mark my resting-place, 
 Give to my grave the tribute of thy tears. 
 
 So may not he, whom thou would'st keep alive 
 To hand thy lineage down among mankind. 
 
 Pass to cold Lethe's stream, but still survive, 
 Till even old Nestor's years are left behind. 
 
8S 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VII. 98. 
 Omnia, Castor, emis : sic fiet, ut omnia vendas. 
 
 VIII. 10. 
 
 Emit lacernas milibus decem Bassus 
 
 Tyrias coloris optimi. Lucrifecit. 
 
 *'Adeo bene emit?" inquis. Immo non solvet. 
 
 VIII. 12. 
 
 Uxorem quare locupletem ducere nolim, 
 Quaeritis? Uxori nubere nolo meae. 
 
 Inferior matrona suo sit, Prisce, marito: 
 Non aliter fiunt femina virque pares. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 89 
 
 VIL 98. 
 
 On a spendthrift. 
 
 Now everything does Castor buy; to tell 
 The end were easy; everything he'll sell. 
 
 VIII. to. 
 
 On one who neglected to pay his bills. 
 
 Bassus purchased a cloak of the best Tyrian dye 
 For eighty odd pounds, yet he gained, sir, thereby. 
 Has he made such an excellent bargain, you say? 
 No; the money it cost him he never will pay. 
 
 VIIL 12. 
 
 Martial says that a husband and wife are only then on equal terms, when 
 the wife is inferior to the husband. 
 
 Do you ask why I'd rather not wed a rich wife? 
 Of petticoat government, 'sooth, I'm afraid. 
 The bride should be somewhat the lower in life : 
 Nor else can a match that is equal be made. 
 
90 
 
 TRANSLA TIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VIII. 13. 
 
 Morio dictus erat : viglnti milibus emi. 
 Redde mihi nummos, Gargiliane : sapit. 
 
 VIII. 43- 
 
 Effert uxores Fabius, Chrestilla maritos, 
 Funereamque , toris quassat uterque facem. 
 
 Victores committe, Venus; quos iste manebit 
 Exitus, una duos ut Libitina ferat. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 91 
 
 VIII. 13. 
 
 A satire on the taste for deformed idiots at Rome, who were kept by 
 the wealthy to afford amusement by their stupidity, and often fetched high 
 prices. 
 
 Yon boy, a genuine idiot sworn, 
 
 Full eightscore pounds I paid to gain. 
 
 But this, Gargilian, can't be borne ; 
 Come, pay me back; the rogue is sane. 
 
 VIII. 43. 
 
 The poet hopes that the two poisoners, Fabius and Chrestilla, may 
 marry and poison each other. Compare IV. 24, p. 39. 
 
 Fabius has buried all his wives j 
 Short are Chrestilla's husbands' lives. 
 And ' tis a fimeral torch this pair 
 Do, at their nuptials, wave in air. 
 These conquerors, Venus, sure 'twere fit 
 Against each other now to pit; 
 So shall such end await the two. 
 That for them both one bier may do. 
 
92 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VIII. 51. 
 
 Quis labor in phiala? docti Myos, anne Myronos? 
 
 Mentoris haec manus est, an, Polyclite, tua? 
 Livescit nulla caliglne fusca, nee odit 
 
 Exploratoris nubila massa focos. 
 Vera minus flavo radiant electra metallo, 
 
 Et niveum felix pustula vincit ebur. 
 Materiae non cedit opus : sic alligat orbem, 
 
 Plurima cum tota lampade luna nitet. 
 Stat caper Aeolio Thebani vellere Phrixi 
 
 Cultus : ab hoc mallet vecta fuisse soror. 
 Hunc nee Cinyphius tonsor violaverit, et tu 
 
 Ipse tua pasci vita, Lyaee, veils. 
 Terga premit pecudis geminis Amor aureus alis: 
 
 Palladius tenero lotos ab ore sonat. 
 Sic Methymnaeo gavisus Arione delphin 
 . Languida non tacitum per freta vexit onus. 
 
I 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 93 
 
 VIII. 51. 
 
 On a libation-vessel (a round flat dish or bowl originally employed in 
 sacrificing to the gods), which had been presented to the poet by Instantius 
 Rufus. The epigram is valuable as illustrating ancient art. For the 
 Roman method of drinking healths, see Introduction, p. xii. 
 
 This bowl did Myron fashion, or Mys's art divine? 
 
 Or is it Mentor's handiwork, or, Polyclitus, thine? 
 
 No dim discolouring stain did e'er its lustrous hue deface, 
 
 Nor doth it fear the crucible, like metal dull and base. 
 
 Here than the pure electrum more yellow-bright 'tis seen, 
 
 There, frosted-rich, 'tis comelier far than ivory's snow-white 
 
 sheen. 
 Nor less the skill that shaped its ore ; the moon, what time 
 
 her light 
 Shines full, encloses not an orb more perfect or more bright. 
 Within, a ram, with such a fleece as Phrixus once possessed. 
 Stands graved so fair, his sister had on this preferred to rest. 
 Cinyphian shearers had not dared to touch a fleece so fine, 
 And, Bacchus, with thy leave this ram had pastured on thy 
 
 vine. 
 Cupid upon his back astride, with golden wings arrayed, 
 Holds to his infant lips the pipe that Pallas erst essayed. 
 Even so Arion Lesbian-sprung upon the dolphin rode, 
 That o'er the sleeping ocean bore with joy its tuneful load. 
 
94 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Imbuat egregium digno mihi nectare munus 
 
 Non grege de domini, sed tua, Ceste, manus. 
 Ceste, decus mensae, misce Setina : videtur 
 
 Ipse puer nobis, ipse sitire caper. 
 Det numenim cyathis Instanti littera Rufi : 
 
 Auctor enim tanti muneris ille mihi. 
 Si Telethusa venit promissaque gaudia portat, 
 
 Servabor dominae, Rufe, triente tuo; 
 Si dubia est, septunce trahar; si fallit amantem, 
 
 Ut iugulem curas, nomen utrumque bibam. 
 
I 
 
 FOR ENGLISH REAimK^A^ 9% 
 
 Cestus, no boor shall handsel this goodly gift of mine: 
 The purest nectar be the draught, the hand that pours it thine. 
 Come, mix the juice of Setia's vines, fair youth ; for, as I deem, 
 The boyish Love doth seem athirst, the ram athirst doth seem. 
 My cups to number, let me take Instantius Rufus' name ; 
 For from his bounteous hand to me this noble present 
 
 came. 
 If Telethusa keeps her tryst, with pleasures in her train, 
 Since she will claim me, I will then four cups to Rufus drain. 
 If she should linger, seven I'll drink ; and if she fool me quite, 
 Twelve cups to either name I'll quaff, and strangle care 
 
 outright. 
 
9^ TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 VIII. 71. 
 
 Quattuor argenti libras mihi tempore brumae 
 
 Misisti ante annos, Postumiane, decern., 
 Speranti plures — nam stare aut cresjcere debent 
 
 Munera — venerunt plusve minusve duae. 
 Tertius et quartus multo inferiora tulerunt. 
 
 Libra fuit quinto Septiciana quidem. 
 Bessalem ad scutulam sexto pervenimus anno; 
 
 Post hunc in cotula rasa selibra data est. 
 Octavus ligulam misit sextante minorem; 
 
 Nonus acu levius vix cochleare tulit. 
 Quod mittat nobis decimus iam non habet annus 
 
 Quattuor ad libras, Postumiane, redl 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 9/ 
 
 VIII. 71. 
 
 Martial complains that Postumianus's gifts to him at the Saturnalia (some- 
 thing like our Christmas boxes) had decreased year by year. He had gone 
 "from a pound to a pin" as Speed says in the Two Gentlemen of Verona. 
 
 Four pounds of silver at the least, 
 
 A present at the winter feast, 
 
 Postumianus, well I know, 
 
 You sent me just ten years ajo. 
 
 The next year, as I hoped for more 
 
 (For gifts than those that went before 
 
 Should larger be, or else the same), 
 
 About two pounds was all that came. 
 
 The third year and the fourth, more ill, 
 
 Brought with them cheaper presents still. 
 
 And on the fifth, 'tis sad to state, 
 
 One pound was given, and that short weight. 
 
 An eight-ounce dish the sixth brought round, 
 
 A cup the next, a bare half-pound. 
 
 The eighth year sent, my board to bless, 
 
 A spoon that weighed two ounces less. 
 
 Next year an egg-spoon was my fate, 
 
 And lighter than a bodkin's weight. 
 
 What now, with the tenth year in view, 
 
 Postumianus, will you do? 
 
 You cannot give me less, 'tis plain. 
 
 Return to those four pounds again. 
 
 w. 7 
 
98 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. II. 
 
 Nomen cum violis rosisque natum, 
 Quo pars optima nominatur'anni, 
 Hyblam quod sapit Atticosque flores, 
 Quod nidos olet alitis superbae; 
 Nomen nectare dulcius beato, 
 Quo mallet Cybeles puer vocari 
 Et qui pocula temperat Tonanti : 
 Quod si Parrhasia sones in aula, 
 Respondent Veneres Cupidinesque ; 
 Nomen nobile, molle, delicatum 
 Versu dicere non rudi vblebam : 
 Sed tu syllaba contumax repugnas. 
 Dicunt Eiarinon tamen poetae, 
 Sed Graeci, quibus est nihil negatum 
 Et quos 'Apes "Apes decet sonare. 
 Nobis non licet esse tarn disertis, 
 Qui Musas colimus severiores. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 99 
 
 IX. II. 
 
 On the name of a handsome youth, a favourite of Domitian's, called 
 Earinos, i. e. " Vernal." The Greek poets adapted it to metre by turning 
 it into EiarimS) a license, says Martial, that the Latin language will not 
 
 imit. He says the name is sweet as the honey of Mt. Hybla and the nest 
 the phoenix, and is prettier than that of Atys or Ganymede. Ares Ares 
 is the commencement of a line in Homer's Iliad (v. 31), where the same 
 word has two different accents. 
 
 / / . .' ' ' ^ 
 
 Name that art born with violets and roses, , 
 
 By which the year's best season is addressed, 
 Savouring of Hybla's sweets and Attic posies, 
 And fragrant of the bird of beauty's nest; 
 
 Than heaven's own nectar name more sweet to me, 
 The son of Cybele this title bland 
 [ad to his own preferred, nor less had he 
 Who tempers goblets for the Thunderer's hand. 
 
 lame that, once uttered in the Imperial hall, 
 Each Venus and each Cupid would rehearse, 
 
 stately and so tender-soft withal, 
 I fain would hymn thee in a polished verse. 
 
 FBut with one syllable's unrhythmic ring 
 
 Unkindly thou refusest to be won. 
 ^^Eiarinos, 'tis true, some poets sing, 
 
 But what by Grecian bards may not be done? 
 
 |*Ap€s *Ap€s is sounded in your ear, 
 
 In their ingenious strains, without offence. 
 We cultivate a muse that's more severe. 
 And may not venture on such eloquence» 
 
 7—^ 
 
lOO TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. 17. 
 
 Latonae venerande nepos, qui mitibus herbis 
 
 Parcarum exoras pensa brevesque colos, 
 Hos tibi laudatos domino, rata vota, capillos 
 
 Ille tuus Latia misit ab urbe puer; 
 Addidit et nitidum sacratis crinibus orbem, 
 
 Quo felix facies iudice tuta fuit. 
 Tu iuvenale decus serva, ne pulchrior ille 
 
 In longa fuerit quam breviore coma. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 lor 
 
 IX. 17. 
 
 jOn the same Earinos, who had sent his hair and mirror as an offering at 
 \k shrine of Aesculapius, at Pergamos in Asia Minor, the young man's 
 birth-place. Aesculapius, the god of medicine, was the son of Apollo, 
 who was the son of Latona. 
 
 Latona's grandson dread, whose simply mild 
 
 Arrest the weaving Sisters' shuttle swift, 
 To thee, his lord, from Rome thy famous child 
 
 His beauteous locks hath sent, a votive gift. 
 With them bestowed his mirror bright was borne, 
 
 That faithful witness to his features fair. 
 Guard thou his youthful grace, that he with shorn, 
 
 Be found as comely as with flowing hair. 
 
I02 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. 30. 
 
 Cappadocum saevis Antistius occidit oris 
 Rusticus. O tristi crimine terra nocens! 
 
 Rettmlit ossa sinu cari Nigrina mariti 
 
 Et questa est longas non satis esse vias ; 
 
 Cumque daret sanctam tumulis, quibus invidet, umam, 
 Visa sibi est rapto bis viduata viro. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 103 
 
 IX. 30. 
 
 the affection of Nigrina for her deceased husband Antistius Rusticus. 
 
 In Cappadocia's ruthless clime he fell, 
 Antistius Rusticus. How sad the doom 
 Which in that guilty land her spouse befell ! 
 For lo ! Nigrina gives her bosom's room, 
 And, bearing thus his well-loved relics home, 
 Alas ! thought she, too short the journey seems. 
 And when she does his holy urn accord 
 To earth she envied, then herself she deems 
 To be twice widowed of her murdered lord. 
 
104 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. 60. 
 
 Seu tu Paestapis genita es seu Tiburis arvis, 
 Seu rubuit tellus Tuscula flore tuo; 
 
 Seu Praenestino te vilica legit in horto, 
 Seu modo Campani gloria runs eras: 
 
 Pulchrior ut nostro videare corona Sabino, 
 De Nomentano te putet esse meo. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 105 
 
 IX. 60. 
 
 On a wreath of roses, sent by the poet to his friend Sabinus. 
 
 Wreath, whether sprung from Paestum or the fields 
 
 Of Tibur, whether land of Tusculum 
 
 Glowed with thy flowers, or thee Praeneste yields, 
 
 Fresh from the hand of village-maiden come. 
 
 Or whether of Campania's rich domain 
 
 Thou grew'st the pride; that thou may'st seem more fair 
 
 To my beloved Sabinus, I would fain 
 
 He'd say : "This did my friend's Nomentane garden bear." 
 
I06 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. 6l. 
 
 In Tartessiacis domus est notissima terris, 
 
 Qua dives placidum Corduba Baetin amat, 
 Vellera nativo pallent ubi flava metallo 
 
 Et linit Hesperium bractea viva pecus ; 
 Aedibus in mediis totos amplexa penates 
 
 Stat- platanus densis Caesariana comis, 
 Hospitis invicti posuit quam dextera felix, 
 
 Coepit et ex ilia crescere virga manu. 
 Auctorem dominumque suum sentire videtur: 
 
 Sic viret et ramis sidera celsa petit. 
 Saepe sub hac madidi luserunt arbore Fauni 
 
 Terruit et tacitam fistula sera domum; 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS, I07 
 
 IX. 6r. 
 
 On a plane-tree that had been planted by Domitian in the garden of the 
 inner court of a mansion at Cordova. Drinking parties were often held in 
 these court gardens. The third and fourth lines allude to the famous Ram 
 with the Golden Fleece. 
 
 In fertile land of Tartessus a famous house is known, 
 Where Cordova delights to call soft Baetis' stream her own; 
 Where yellow fleeces, as of yore, glow pale with natural gold, 
 And living metal clothes the flocks of an Hesperian fold. 
 There in the court, o'ershadowing the household gods around, 
 Stands Caesar's plane-tree with a thick and tress-like foliage 
 
 crowned. 
 A gallant guest, he planted it with his auspicious hand. 
 And straight the twig began to bud and sudden shoots expand. 
 It seems to know what lordly power its earliest life has given. 
 So green and fair it reaches still up to the stars of heaven. 
 Beneath this tree the Fauns have played full oft with tipsy 
 
 cheer. 
 And smit with sound of midnight flute the silent house with 
 
 fear: 
 
I08 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Dumque fugit solos nocturnum Pana per agros, 
 
 Saepe sub hac latuit rustica fronde Dryas. 
 Atque oluere lares commissatore Lyaeo, 
 
 Crevit et effuso laetior umbra mere; 
 Hesternisque rubens deiecta est herba coronis, 
 
 Atque suas potuit dicere nemo rosas. 
 O dilecta deis, o magni Caesaris arbor, 
 
 Ne metuas ferrum sacrilegosque focos. 
 Perpetuos sperare licet tibi frondis honores: 
 
 Non Pompelanae te posuere manus. 
 
I 
 
 FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 109 
 
 And fleeing from night-haunting Pan o'er all the lonely ground, 
 Beneath its leaves a hiding-place the Dryad nymph has found. 
 Here Bacchus too his revels held, till fragrance filled the halls ; 
 And blither grew the shady boughs, as each libation falls : 
 And, underneath, the roses lay in gay confusion strown. 
 Plucked from the wreaths of yesterday, till no one knew his own. 
 ever by the gods beloved, O mighty Caesar's tree. 
 The doom of impious axe or flame need ne'er be feared by thee. 
 But thou unfading still may'st hope thy leafy crown to wear, 
 For 'twas not vanquished Pompey's hand but Caesar's placed 
 thee there. 
 
I lO TRANSLA TIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. (,Z. 
 
 Quid tibi nobiscum est, ludi scelerate magistef, 
 
 Invisum pueris virginibusque caput? 
 Nondum cristati rupere silentia galli : 
 
 Murmure iam saevo verberibusque tonas. 
 Tam grave percussis incudibus aera resultant, 
 
 Causidico medium cum faber aptat equum: 
 Mitior in magno clamor furit amphitheatre, 
 
 Vincenti parmae cum sua turba favet. 
 Vicini somnum non tota nocte rogamus : 
 
 Nam vigilare leve est, pervigilare grave est. 
 Discipulos dimitte tuos. Vis, garrule, quantum 
 
 Accipis ut clames, accipere ut taceas? 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 1 1 1 
 
 IX. 68. 
 
 [■The poet complains of a noisy schoolmaster who kept him awake. The 
 ^truction in the Roman schools began very early in the morning. 
 
 Sirrah, what mean you by this noise, 
 You bane ahke of girls and boys? 
 Even ere cock-crow you can't restrain 
 Your thundering voice and sounding cane. 
 Not braziers weld with so much force 
 A lawyer's statue to its horse; 
 Not such a din the circus hears, 
 When loud the mob its champion cheers. 
 We neighbours ask not all the night 
 To sleep in peace till morning light; 
 But all night long awake to share 
 Your noise is more than flesh can bear. 
 Dismiss your pupils. Since you're paid 
 For carrying on this shouting trade, 
 Do you expect, you man of lung, 
 To get as much to hold your tongue? 
 
112 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. 93- 
 
 Addere quid cessas, puer, immortale Falemum? 
 
 Quadrantem duplica de seniore cado. 
 Nunc mihi die, quis erit, cui te, Calocisse, deonim 
 
 Sex iubeo cyathos fundere? Caesar erit 
 Sutilis aptetur deciens rosa crinibus, ut sit 
 
 Qui posuit sacrae nobile gentis opus. 
 Nunc bis quina mihi da basia, fiat ut illud 
 
 Nomen, ab Odrysio quod deus orbe tulit. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. I 13 
 
 IX. 93. 
 
 On drinking to the health of Domitian. See Introduction, p. xiii. 
 
 Nay, Calocissus, why refrain 
 To pour the ambrosial draught again? 
 Three times again and three times still 
 My cup with old Falernian fill. 
 Now tell me, to what form divine 
 Six times I bid thee pour the wine? 
 See, 'tis our Caesar's name. And now 
 Ten times let roses wreath my brow; 
 And so we make his title plain, 
 Who hallowed erst the Flavian fane. 
 Now, prythee, twice five kisses give, 
 T4iat ever thus that name may live — 
 The name our godlike hero bore 
 A victor from the Odrysian shore. 
 
TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 IX. 98. 
 
 Vindemiarum non ubique proventus 
 Cessavit, Ovidi ; pluvia profuit grandis. 
 Centum Coranus amphoras aquae fecit 
 
 X. 8. 
 
 Nubere Paula cupit nobis, ego ducere Paulam 
 Nolo: anus est; vellem, si magis esset anus. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 115 
 
 IX. 98. 
 
 [artial says that the -vyet^eason has not been altogether bad for the 
 wine trade, as it has enabled the vintners to adulterate more freely. 
 
 Not everywhere has the grape-crop been a failure, 
 Friend Ovid; the rain has been good for the trade, 
 Of which we've had plenty. Coranus, for sale here, 
 A hundred odd gallons of — water has made. 
 
 V 
 
 X. 8. 
 
 The poet says he should be willing to marry Paula, if she might be 
 expected to die soon and leave him master of her property. Compare 
 Ep. I. 10, p. 3. 
 
 Paula to wed me is inclined : 
 
 I give her the cold shoulder. 
 For why? She's old. I would not mind, 
 
 If only she were older. 
 
 8—2 
 
1 1 6 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 X. 30. 
 
 O temperatae dulce Formiae litus, 
 Vos, cum severi fugit oppidum Martis 
 Et inquietas fessus exuit curas, 
 ApoUinaris omnibus locis praefert. 
 Non ille sanctae dulce Tibur uxoris, 
 Nee Tusculanos Algidosve secessus, 
 Praeneste nee sic Antiumque miratur. 
 Non blanda Circe Dardanisve Caieta 
 Desiderantur, nee Marica nee Liris, 
 Nee in Lucrina lota Salmacis vena. 
 Hie summa leni stringitur Thetis vento; 
 Nee languet aequor, viva sed quies ponti 
 Pictam phaselon adiuvante fert aura, 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 11/ 
 
 X. 30. 
 
 A description of the villa of his friend ApoUinaris at Formiae, a watering- 
 place on the west coast of Italy. Salmacis was a spring that fell into the 
 Lucrine Lake. 
 
 When from the anxious cares and strife 
 That vex our Roman city life 
 ApoUinaris fain would fly, 
 He, seeking then thy temperate sky. 
 No other spot prefers to thee, 
 Thou pleasant shore of Formiae. 
 Not so famed Tibur's charming ease, 
 His virtuous consort's home, can please; 
 Not Tusculum's sequestered groves 
 Nor Algidum's so much he loves : 
 Not Antium's or Praeneste's air, 
 Nor witching Circe's headland fair; 
 Dardan Caieta, nor the flood 
 Of Liris, nor Marica's wood. 
 Nor watery Salmacis, who laves 
 Her maiden limbs in Lucrine waves. 
 Here sea-born Thetis does not sleep 
 Unmoved, but breezes stir the deep, 
 Which on its peaceful ripples bears 
 Gay skiffs with aid of gentle airs. 
 
Il8 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 Sicut puellae non amantis aestatem 
 Mota salubre purpura venit frigus. 
 Nee seta longo quaerit in man praedam, 
 Sed e cubiclo lectuloque iactatam 
 Spectatus alte lineam trahit piscis. 
 Si quando Nereus sentit Aeoli regnum, 
 Ridet procellas tuta de suo mensa. 
 Piscina rhombum pascit et lupos veraas, 
 Natat ad magistmm delicata muraena; 
 Nomenculator mugilem citat notum 
 Et adesse iussi prodeunt senes mulli. 
 Frui sed istis quando, Roma, permittis? 
 Quot Formianos imputat dies annus 
 Negotiosis rebus urbis haerenti? 
 O ianitores vilicique felices ! 
 Dominis parantur ista, serviunt vobis. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. I 19 
 
 As fresh and cool as those diffused 
 From purple fans by ladies used. 
 Nor need the angler seek his prey 
 Far out at sea, but here he may 
 His line from couch or sofa throw 
 To fish spied in the depths below. 
 Or should the ocean-god obey 
 Old Aeolus' tempestuous sway, 
 Your table, from its stores supplied. 
 Laughs at the stormy billows' pride. 
 For in the well-stocked tank are fed 
 Turbot and pike your care has bred: 
 Choice lampreys there towards you swim; 
 Tame mullets to the water's brim 
 And well-grown barbels make their way, 
 Their keeper's summons to obey. 
 But when does Rome to us permit 
 For these delights her walls to quit? 
 How many days does each year see 
 Spent free from care at Formiae? 
 How than their masters luckier far 
 Our bailiffs and our porters are! 
 Tied fast to city life's annoy, 
 We pay for pleasures they enjoy. 
 
20 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 "3 
 
 X. 35- 
 
 Omnes Sulpiciam legant puellae, 
 Uni quae cupiunt viro placere; 
 Omnes Sulpiciam legant mariti, 
 Uni qui cupiunt placere nuptae. 
 Non haec Colchidos asserit furorem, 
 Diri prandia nee refert Thyestae; 
 Scyllam, Byblida nee fuisse credit, 
 Sed castos docet et pios amores, 
 Lusus, delicias facetiasque. 
 Cuius carmina qui bene aestimarit, 
 NuUam dixerit esse sanctioremj 
 NuUam dixerit esse nequiorem. 
 Tales Egeriae iocos fuisse 
 Udo crediderim Numae sub antro. 
 Hac condiscipula vel hac magistra 
 Esses doctior et pudica, Sappho: 
 Sed tecum pariter simulque visam 
 Durus Sulpiciam Phaon amarat. 
 Frustra: namque ea nee Tonantis uxor, 
 Nee Bacchi, nee Apollinis puella 
 Erepto sibi viveret Caleno. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READMf^^^' ^2 ^ 
 
 U^xJKr- .. TV J 
 
 X. 35. 
 
 praise of the poetess Sulpicia, and her love for her husband Calenus. 
 
 By all our wives Sulpicia's read and known, 
 Who wish to win their husbands' love alone. 
 By all our husbands is Sulpicia read, 
 Who only wish to please the wives they've wed. 
 Medea's rage she loves not to record. 
 Or the fell banquet of Thyestes' board; 
 And as for Scylla, Byblis, and the rest. 
 Believes they're nothing more than myths at best. 
 K^^ Affection chaste and true her notes employs. 
 And lovers' sprightly talk and frolic joys. 
 Who reads her book and rightly values it. 
 Would say she won the palm alike for wit 
 And modesty. Old Numa thus, I wot, 
 Toyed with Egeria 'neath their dripping grot 
 Sappho, with her as school-fellow or guide, 
 More learned had you been and chaste beside: 
 But had hard-hearted Phaon seen the two, 
 Sulpicia had been loved instead of you. 
 But loved in vain : for not as wife of Jove, 
 Or Bacchus' or Apollo's bridal love. 
 Would she have lived, if once the Fates should part 
 Her dear Calenus from her widowed heart. 
 
122 • TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 X. 47. 
 
 Vitam quae faciant beatiorem, 
 lucundissime Martialis, haec sunt: 
 Res non parta labore, sed relicta ; 
 Non ingratus ager, focus perennis;^ 
 Lis nunquam, toga rara, mens quieta ; 
 Vires ingenuae, salubre corpus; 
 Prudens simplicitas, pares amici; 
 Convictus facilis, sine arte mensa; 
 Nox non ebria, sed soluta curis; 
 Non tristis torus, et tamen pudicus; 
 Somnus, qui faciat breves tenebras: 
 Quod sis, esse velis nihilque malis; 
 Summum nee metuas diem, nee optes. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 1 23 
 
 X. 47. 
 
 To a friend, Julius Martialis, telling him in what a happy life consists. 
 The gown, or toga (like our tall hat), was worn by the Romans in the city 
 and on state occasions, and thrown off in the country. 
 
 These, Martial, are the things that give 
 
 A happier life than most men live. 
 
 A fortune not by labour won, 
 
 But left by father to his son ; 
 
 A farm that yields no scant returns, 
 
 A hearth that ever brightly burns ; 
 
 No law-suits, no heart-vexing cares ; 
 
 A gown its owner seldom wears; 
 
 A constitution firmly knit, 
 
 And healthy frame accompanying it; 
 
 An honest candour, yet discreet. 
 
 With friends congenial and meet; 
 
 Good-natured guests your joys to share, 
 
 A plain and unpretentious fare; 
 
 No nights whose hours in revel pass. 
 
 Yet not uncheered by social glass; 
 
 A spouse of chaste yet merry sort; 
 
 Sound sleep that makes the darkness short; 
 
 A mind so well contented grown, 
 
 It thinks no lot excels its own ; 
 
 So blest, you neither wish nor fear 
 
 To see the closing hour draw near. 
 
124 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 X. 6l. 
 
 Hie festinata requiescit Erotion umbra, 
 Crimine quam fati sexta peremit hiemps. 
 
 Quisquis eris nostri post me regnator agelli, 
 Manibus exiguis annua iusta dato. 
 
 Sic lare perpetuo, sic turba sospite solus 
 Flebilis in terra sit lapis iste tua. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 X. 6l. 
 
 An epitaph on the little Erotion on whom Epp. v. 36, 37 were written. 
 The poet commends her tomb to the care of his successors. At certain 
 festivals, offerings of garlands, essences, &c. were placed on the grave, as 
 tokens of pious affection. 
 
 Here lies Erotion in the shade 
 
 Of foliage planted newly. 
 In her sixth winter did she fade, 
 
 Cut off by fate unduly. 
 
 Thou, whosoe'er thou be, to whom 
 
 Ere long these fields I render, 
 The annual offerings at her tomb 
 
 Discharge; they are but slender. 
 
 So, son succeeding sire, from thee 
 No victims death shall borrow: 
 
 But on thy land this stone shall be 
 The only mark of sorrow. 
 
126 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 X. 71. 
 
 Quisquis laeta tuis et sera parentibus optas 
 
 Fata, brevem titulum marmoris huius ama. 
 Condidit hac caras tellure Rabirius umbras: 
 
 NuUi sorte iacent candidiore senes. 
 Bis sex lustra tori nox mitis et ultima clusit, 
 
 Arserunt uno funera bina rogo. 
 Hos tamen ut primis raptos sibi quaerit in annis. 
 
 Improbius nihil his fletibus esse potest. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 1 2/ 
 
 X. 71. 
 
 An epitaph on the parents of Domitian's architect, Rabirius. 
 
 Thou who for parents of thine own would' st prize 
 
 A death so happy and so long delayed, 
 Gaze on this marble's verse with loving eyes ; 
 
 For here Rabirius in the earth has laid 
 His own, departed. Is there aged pair 
 Can boast a lot that may with theirs compare? 
 
 One night, at last, by death unmixed with pain. 
 Closed the full sum of sixty nuptial years; 
 
 And, dead, one funeral pile received the twain. 
 Yet he complains with fond regretful tears, 
 
 As though he mourned them snatched in youthful bloom. 
 
 Enough ; 'tis wrong to weep o'er such a tomb. 
 
128 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 X. 72. 
 
 Frustra Blanditiae venitis ad me 
 
 Attritis miserabiles labellis. 
 
 Dicturus dominum deumque non sum. 
 
 lam non est locus hac in urbe vobis; 
 
 Ad Parthos procul ite pileatos 
 
 Et turpes humilesque supplicesque 
 
 Pictorum sola basiate regum. 
 
 Non est hie dominus, sed imperator, 
 
 Sed iustissimus omnium senator, 
 
 Per quem de Stygia dome reducta est 
 
 Siccis rustica Veritas capillis. 
 
 Hoc sub principe, si sapis, caveto, 
 
 Verbis, Roma, prioribus loquaris. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 1 29 
 
 /x. 
 
 72. 
 
 91 The old language of adulation paid to the Emperor Domitian will not, 
 says the poet, meet with the approval of his successor Nerva. Compli- 
 ments are personified, and represented as seeking admission to their old 
 haunts. 
 
 Ik In vain now, Compliments, ye come 
 
 With worn floor-kissing lips; adieu. 
 Of god and master I am dumb. 
 
 There's no more room in town for you. 
 
 Hence to the Parthian' s turbaned court, 
 And low your suppHant bodies fling; 
 
 Kneel there, and, so servilely taught, 
 Go, kiss the sole of gay-robed king. 
 
 No master s here, but soldier-chief. 
 And perfect statesman just and fair; 
 
 Who brings from Stygian realm of grief 
 Truth, rustic maid, with unkempt hair. 
 
 If you have wisdom for your day, 
 Beware you utter, Rome, no more, 
 
 Beneath this prince's manly sway, 
 
 Those flattering words you used before. 
 
 w. 
 
1 30 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 X. 97. 
 
 Dum levis arsura stniitur Libitina papyro, 
 Dum myrrham et casiam flebilis uxor emit, 
 
 lam scrobe, iam lecto, iam pollinctore parato 
 Heredem scripsit me Numa: convaluit. 
 
 XL 41. 
 
 Indulget pecori nimium dum pastor Amyntas 
 
 Et gaudet fama luxuriaque gregis, 
 Cedentes oneri ramos silvamque fluentem 
 
 Vicit, concussas ipse secutus opes. 
 Triste nemus dirae vetuit superesse ruinae 
 
 Damnavitque rogis noxia ligna pater. 
 Pingues, Lygde, sues habeat vicinus lollas: 
 
 Te satis est nobis annumerare pecus. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 131 
 
 X. 97. 
 
 A witty statement of a disappointment in an expected legacy. 
 With rushes strewn the funeral pile 
 
 All lightly laid for kindling lies; 
 Casia and myrrh his weeping wife 
 
 For her expiring husband buys: 
 The grave is dug, the bier prepared, 
 
 The anointer with his drugs attends; 
 When Numa, as a last resource, 
 
 Makes me his heir, and straight he mends. 
 
 XL 41. 
 
 On the death of Amyntas, killed by a fall from a tree. The poet warns 
 lis own herdsman not to run a similar risk. 
 
 The swain Amyntas, to his herd too kind. 
 
 Proud of their good repute and lusty show, 
 Broke through the o'erladen boughs with acorns lined, 
 
 Following himself the wealth he showered below. 
 His sire, lest it survive so dire a fall. 
 
 To feed his pyre condemned that fatal tree. 
 Our neighbours, Lygdus, fat their swine may call; 
 
 To count my flock is all I ask of thee. 
 
132 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 XL 91. 
 
 Aeolidos Canace iacet hoc tumulata sepulcro, 
 
 Ultima cui parvae septima venit hiemps. 
 Ah scelus, ah facinus ! properas quid flere, viator ? 
 
 Non licet hie vitae de brevitate queri. 
 Tristius est leto leti genus: horrida voltus 
 
 Abstulit et tenero sedit in ore lues, 
 Ipsaque crudeles ederunt oscula morbi, 
 
 Nee data sunt nigris tota labella rogis. 
 Si tam praecipiti fuerant ventura volatu, 
 
 Debuerant alia fata venire via. 
 Seel mors vocis iter properavit cludere blandae, 
 
 Ne posset duras flectere lingua deas. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 
 
 XI. 91. 
 
 On a favourite little slave-girl, who died of cancer in the lip. 
 
 Little Aeolian Canace 
 
 Lies buried 'neath this marble floor. 
 Seven winters did the maiden see, 
 
 And after them no winter more. 
 
 "Ah bitter fate, ah timeless bane!'* 
 Nay, mourn not thus, kind passer-by. 
 
 Enough, we may not here complain 
 That she, while yet so young, should die. 
 
 For cruel cancer's hateful doom 
 
 Her child-face wasted in its ire, 
 Devoured her kisses' fragrant bloom. 
 
 Nor left whole lips to grace her pyre. 
 
 Twice sad is death that comes like this; 
 
 For if the Fates were purposed still 
 To seize with sudden swoop, I wis 
 
 There yet were other ways to kill. 
 
 But Death with hasty footsteps went 
 To close the doors of speech, for fear 
 
 Those cruel goddesses relent, 
 
 If her sweet voice should reach their ear. 
 
34 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 XL 96. 
 
 Marcia, non Rhenus, salit hie, Germane: quid obstas 
 Et puerum prohibes divitis imbre lacus? 
 
 Barbare, non debet submoto cive ministri 
 Captivam victrix unde levare sitim. 
 
 XII. 21. 
 
 Dentibus atque comis, nee te pudet, uteris emptis. 
 Quid faeies oculo, Laelia? non emitur. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 135 
 
 XL 96. 
 
 On a German, who had rudely thrust a Roman boy from one of the city 
 fountains. 
 
 Here springs the Marcian water, not thy Rhine, 
 German; then why from its abundant shower 
 
 Dost drive yon boy away? Barbarian, thine, 
 I ween, it is not thus with tyrannous power 
 
 To grudge a citizen the conqueror's wave, 
 
 That it may quench the thirst of captive slave. 
 
 XII. 23. 
 
 On Laelia, who wore false hair and false teeth, and had also lost one 
 eye by ophthalmia. 
 
 To cheat our eyes, bought teeth and hair, 
 Laelia, you're not ashamed to wear. 
 What will you do now for an eye? 
 Since that, you know, you cannot buy. 
 
136 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 $ 
 
 XII. 25. 
 
 Cum rogo te nummos sine pignore, "non habeo," inquis. i 
 
 Idem, si pro me spondet agellus, habes. | 
 
 Quod mihi non credis veteri, Telesine, sodali, • '% 
 
 't 
 
 Credis coliculis arbonbusque meis. | 
 
 Ecce, reum Carus te detulit: assit agellus. | 
 
 Exilio comitem quaeris? agellus eat. | 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 13/ 
 
 XII. 25. 
 
 On an over-cautious friend of the poet's. The Roman would often come 
 forward as advocate for his friend on trial, and, if he were sentenced to 
 banishment, would sometimes even accompany him into exile. Carus was 
 a notorious informer. 
 
 Should I a friendly loan require, 
 
 You ne'er comply with my desire. 
 
 If my estate in bond you hold, 
 
 You're ready with the needed gold. 
 
 Thus more than your old friend you please 
 
 To trust my cabbages and trees. 
 
 Does Carus swear you've broke the laws? 
 
 Let my estate go plead your cause. 
 
 Must you, an exile, cross the sea? 
 
 Let my estate your comrade be. 
 
138 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 XII. 52. 
 
 Tempora Pieria solltus redimire corona, 
 
 Nee minus attonitis vox celebrata reis, 
 Hie situs est, hie ille tuus, Sempronia, Rufus, 
 
 Cuius et ipse tui flagrat amore einis. 
 Dulcis in Elysio narraris fabula campo 
 
 Et stupet ad raptus Tyndaris ipsa tuos. 
 Tu melior, quae deserto raptore redisti : 
 
 Ilia vinim voluit nee repetita sequi. 
 Ridet, et Iliaeos audit Menelaus amores : 
 
 Absolvit Phrygium vestra rapina Parim. 
 Accipient olim eum te loca laeta piorum, 
 
 Non erit in Stygia notior umbra domo. 
 Non aliena videt, sed amat Proserpina raptas ; 
 
 Iste tibi dominam coneiliavit amor. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 139 
 
 XII. 52. 
 
 To Sempronia, upon the death of her husband Rufus, a poet and orator. 
 She had, on some previous occasion, eloped from her husband, but had 
 returned to him. Hence the allusions to the rape of Helen by Paris, and of 
 Proserpine by Pluto. 
 
 He, famous erst as pleader for the oppressed, 
 Who wore a wreath plucked from the Muses' tree, 
 
 Lo ! here thy Rufus doth, Sempronia, rest, 
 Even in whose ashes glows his love for thee. 
 
 The Elysian fields thy happy story learn, 
 
 Helen herself doth marvel at the tale : 
 For thou, more true, didst to thy spouse return. 
 
 To bring her back not even did prayers prevail. 
 
 Now hears old Menelaus with a smile 
 Her love recounted for the Trojan youth. 
 
 And thinks she yet may come. His heart, the while, 
 For Phrygian Paris groweth soft with ruth. 
 
 Hereafter when the blest abode is thine. 
 No shade more famed shall in that hall be seen. 
 
 Such as thou art are loved by Proserpine ; 
 Thy wifely love renewed hath won the queen. 
 
140 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 XII. 82. 
 
 Effugere in thermis et circa balnea non est 
 
 Menogenen, omni tu licet arte velis. / 
 Captabit tepidum dextra laevaque trigonem, 
 
 Imputet acceptas ut tibi saepe pilas. 
 Colliget et referet laxum de pulvere follem, 
 
 Et si iam lotus, iam soleatus erit. 
 Lintea si sumes, nive candidiora loquetur, 
 
 Sint licet infantis sordidiora sinu. 
 Exiguos secto comentem dente capillos, 
 
 Dicet Achilleas disposuisse comas. 
 Fumosae feret ipse tropin de faece lagonae, 
 
 Frontis et humorem colliget usque tuae. 
 Omnia laudabit, mirabitur omnia, donee 
 
 Pefpessus dicas taedia mille " Veni ! " 
 
FOR ENGLISH RE. 
 
 V XII. 82. 
 
 On a greedy parasite, who would stoop to any device to secure an 
 invitation to dinner. See Inti'oduction, p. x. 
 
 Or in the baths or loitering round 
 All day Menogenes is found. 
 Go, practise every art you please, 
 You won't escape Menogenes. 
 When flies the ball, alert he'll stand, 
 And catch it deft with either hand, 
 That you may have to thank his skill. 
 Which saved you thus from stooping still. 
 He'll fetch you with the greatest gust 
 The flabby football soiled with dust. 
 Although he's sandalled, spruce and fine, 
 All ready to go out to dine. 
 You take your towel : at the sight, 
 Cries he, " Was ever snow so white ? " 
 Though all the while, (so bare's the fib), 
 'Tis dirtier than an infant's bib. 
 Arranging next with tooth of wood 
 Your scanty locks as best he should, 
 The man, in raptures, will declare, 
 " I'm combing, sure, Achilles' hair!" 
 From smoke-stained jar he'll fetch you in 
 Wine-lees himself to smear your skin ; 
 And with officious haste allow 
 No sweat unwiped upon your brow. 
 Admiring all, intent to please. 
 He praises everything he sees ; 
 Till, sick with thousand meddlings past, 
 " Pray come and dine," you cry at last. 
 
142 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 XII. 89. 
 
 Quod lana caput alligas, Charine, 
 Non aures tibi, sed dolent capilli. 
 
 XII. 90. 
 
 Pro sene, sed clare, votum Maro fecit amico, 
 Cui gravis et fervens hemitritaeus erat, 
 
 Si Stygias aeger non asset missus ad umbras, 
 Ut caderet magno victima grata lovi. 
 
 Coeperunt certam medici spondere salutem. 
 Ne votum solvat, nunc Maro vota facit. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 1 43 
 
 V XII. 89. 
 
 On one who concealed his baldness with a woollen wrapper on the 
 pretence of having the ear-ache. See Introduction, p. xiii. 
 
 You wrap your bald head, and pretend 
 You've got the ear-ache. But, my friend, 
 Your hair it is, if truth were known. 
 That aches to think how scant 'tis grown. 
 
 XII. 90. 
 
 On a legacy-hunter, who, to ingratiate himself, had offered a vow for a 
 rich friend's recovery; and being put in his will, now offers further vows 
 that he may die. 
 
 For his dear friend, now old and grey, 
 Who sorely ill with fever lay, 
 Maro, close by, in accents loud. 
 To mighty Jove a victim vowed; 
 If so the patient might not go 
 Down to the Stygian shades below. 
 But when the doctors soon began 
 To assure recovery for the man, 
 Fresh vows doth Maro offer now. 
 Lest he should have to pay his vow. 
 
44 
 
 TRANSLATIONS FROM MARTIAL 
 
 ;i 
 
 XII. 94. 
 
 Scribebamus epos ; coepisti scribere : cessi, 
 
 Aemula ne starent carmina nostra tuis. 
 Transtulit ad tragicos se nostra Thalia cothurnos: 
 
 Aptasti longum tu quoque syrma tibi. 
 Fila lyrae movi Calabris exculta Camenis: 
 
 Plectra rapis nobis, ambitiose, nova. 
 Audemus saturas: Lucilius esse laboras. 
 
 Ludo leves elegos: tu quoque ludis idem. 
 Quid minus esse potest? epigrammata fingere coepi 
 
 Hinc etiam petitur iam mea palma tibi. 
 Elige, quid nolis; quis enim pudor, omnia velle? 
 
 Et si quid non vis, Tucca, relinque mihi. 
 
FOR ENGLISH READERS. 145 
 
 XII. 94. 
 
 To Tucca, who persistently imitated Martial in every style of poetry that 
 he adopted. Lucilius was the father of Roman Satire. The plectrum, or 
 quill, was an instrument for striking the strings of the lyre. 
 
 I tried my hand at epics: you 
 
 Forthwith began to write them too. 
 
 Whereat I stopped, for fear that I 
 
 Should with your verses seem to vie. 
 
 My sportive Muse would fain prepare 
 
 The tragic buskin next to wear: 
 
 When o'er your shoulders too I spy 
 
 The sweeping pall of Tragedy. 
 
 Driven thence, the lyre's sweet chords I stirred, 
 
 Which erst Horatian music heard: 
 
 You, not to be outrivalled still. 
 
 Snatch from my hand the lyric quill. 
 
 I venture satire: you again 
 
 Labour to hit Lucilius' vein. 
 
 I elegiac trifles write: 
 
 At once like trifles you indite. 
 
 Then I, the last and least to take, 
 
 Light epigrams began to make: 
 
 You, nothing loth, endeavour now 
 
 To pluck this laurel from my brow. 
 
 What style you do not wish for, choose: 
 
 You cannot all, in reason, use. 
 
 And if for one you should not care, 
 
 That, Tucca, leave me as my share. 
 
 w. • 10 
 
INDEX. 
 
 [The references are to the pages.\ 
 
 Acrobats; 23 
 Amber; 41, 51 
 Amphitheatre, The; xiv, 7, 21 
 
 Baldness: xiiij.^, 143 
 Ball-play; x, 141 
 Bandy legs; 15 
 Baths; ix, 29, 63, 14 1 
 Bisons, trained; 9 
 Boars, trained; 7 
 Book-selling; xiv, 45 
 Breach of promise ; viii 
 
 Calydon, boar of; 7 
 Carrier pigeons; viii 
 Catullus ; 19, 23 
 Cemeteries; 5 
 Christmas boxes ; 97 
 Circus, The; 61, in 
 Cleopatra; 41 
 Clients; xi, 31 
 Critics; 23, 71, 73 
 
 Dining out; 55, 59, 67 
 Dinners; xi, 77 
 
 Domitian ; xiii, xv, 7, 25, 75, 85, 99, 
 109, 113, 129 
 
 Elephants, trained; 9 
 Epitaphs; 5, 69, 87, 125, 127, 133, 
 139 
 
 False hair; xiii, 135 
 
 „ teeth; xiii, 53, 135 
 Fans; 119 
 Fires; 33 
 Fishing; 119 
 Fop, The; vii 
 Fortune-hunting; 3, 115 
 Funerals; 91, 103, 127, 131 
 
 Gardening, Window; vii 
 
 ,, Geometrical; vii 
 
 Glass eyes; xiii 
 
 Hair-dyeing; 27 
 
 „ pins; 17 
 
 „ dressing; 17, 141 
 Hare-hunting; viii 
 Hares, trained; 9 
 Health-drinking; xiii, 95, 113 
 
 Idiots, kept; 91 
 
 Legacy-hunting; 131, 143 
 
INDEX. 
 
 H7 
 
 Leopards, trained; 7 
 Life, The happy; 123 
 Lions, trained; 9, 21 
 Lucilius; 145 
 
 Mirrors; 17, 10 1 
 
 Mithridates; 57 
 Morning Levee; xi 
 
 Nerva; 129 
 
 "Not at home"; vii 
 
 Parasite, The; 141 
 Patches; 13 
 Physicians; 47, 143 
 Plagiarism; 11 
 Poisoning; ix, 39, 43, 91 
 Pompey; 55, 109 
 Puns; xiv 
 
 Recitation; x, 19, 27, 29, 39 
 Roses, hot-house; 75 
 
 Scents; x, 13, 51 
 Schoolmaster, The; rii 
 Spendthrift, The; 89 
 Stags, trained; 7 
 Statues, equestrian ; 1 1 1 
 Sulpicia; \i\ 
 Superstition; 83 
 
 Tables, dinner; xii, 81 
 Tigers, trained; 7 
 Toga, The; 123 
 
 Villa, The; 117 
 
 Whispering; 7 
 Wine-drinking; xii, 95, 107 
 Wreaths; 75, 105, 109 
 
 CAMBRIDGE : PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A. AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. 
 
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