Seven Epigrams
by Martial
translated by Ad Blankestijn
Erotion the slave-girl
(Book V:34)
to you, father Fronto and mother Flaccilla,
I commend this child, the little Erotion,
my joy and my delight
that she may not be terrified by the dark shades
and the monstrous jaws of the hound of Tartarus
she would just have passed the cold of a sixth winter
had she lived but six days longer
between protectors so venerable
may she sport and play
and with lisping speech babble my name
let no rude turf cover her tender bones
let no rude turf cover her tender bones
and press lightly on her, earth, as she pressed but lightly on you
Hanc tibi, Fronto pater, genetrix Flaccilla, puellam
Oscula commendo deliciasque meas,
Parvola ne nigras horrescat Erotion umbras
Oraque Tartarei prodigiosa canis.
Inpletura fuit sextae modo frigora brumae,
Vixisset totidem ni minus illa dies.
Inter tam veteres ludat lasciva patronos
Et nomen blaeso garriat ore meum.
Mollia non rigidus caespes tegat ossa, nec illi,
Terra, gravis fueris: non fuit illa tibi.
Lesbia, you never hide what you're up to
you like an audience better than your lover
secret pleasures don't turn you on
courtesans use curtain and bolt to exclude witnesses
and few are the peepholes in Summemius' brothel
do learn some modesty, if only from Ias or Chione -
even dirty hookers take cover in tombs
does my censure seem to harsh?
I forbid you to get caught, Lesbia, not to get laid
Incustoditis et apertis, Lesbia, semper
Liminibus peccas nec tua furta tegis,
Et plus spectator quam te delectat adulter
Nec sunt grata tibi gaudia si qua latent.
At meretrix abigit testem veloque seraque
Raraque Submemmi fornice rima patet.
A Chione saltem vel ab Iade disce pudorem:
Abscondunt spurcas et monumenta lupas.
Numquid dura tibi nimium censura videtur?
Deprendi veto te, Lesbia, non futui.
Hanc tibi, Fronto pater, genetrix Flaccilla, puellam
Oscula commendo deliciasque meas,
Parvola ne nigras horrescat Erotion umbras
Oraque Tartarei prodigiosa canis.
Inpletura fuit sextae modo frigora brumae,
Vixisset totidem ni minus illa dies.
Inter tam veteres ludat lasciva patronos
Et nomen blaeso garriat ore meum.
Mollia non rigidus caespes tegat ossa, nec illi,
Terra, gravis fueris: non fuit illa tibi.
To Lesbia
(Book I:34)
(Book I:34)
you always sin with the doors wide open
Lesbia, you never hide what you're up to
you like an audience better than your lover
secret pleasures don't turn you on
courtesans use curtain and bolt to exclude witnesses
and few are the peepholes in Summemius' brothel
do learn some modesty, if only from Ias or Chione -
even dirty hookers take cover in tombs
does my censure seem to harsh?
I forbid you to get caught, Lesbia, not to get laid
Incustoditis et apertis, Lesbia, semper
Liminibus peccas nec tua furta tegis,
Et plus spectator quam te delectat adulter
Nec sunt grata tibi gaudia si qua latent.
At meretrix abigit testem veloque seraque
Raraque Submemmi fornice rima patet.
A Chione saltem vel ab Iade disce pudorem:
Abscondunt spurcas et monumenta lupas.
Numquid dura tibi nimium censura videtur?
Deprendi veto te, Lesbia, non futui.
Carpe diem
(Book V:58)
tomorrow you will live, always tomorrow, Postumus,
tell me, Postumus, when is that tomorrow coming?
how far off is tomorrow? and where? how will you find it?
is it hidden among the Parthians and Armenians?
your tomorrow is already as old as Priam or Nestor,
for how much, tell me, may that tomorrow be bought?
you will live tomorrow? it is already too late to live today -
he who has lived yesterday, Postumus, is a wise man
Cras te victurum, cras dicis, Postume, semper.
Dic mihi, cras istud, Postume, quando venit?
Quam longe cras istud, ubi est? aut unde petendum?
Numquid apud Parthos Armeniosque latet?
Iam cras istud habet Priami vel Nestoris annos.
Cras istud quanti, dic mihi, possit emi?
Cras vives? hodie iam vivere, Postume, serum est:
Ille sapit, quisquis, Postume, vixit heri.
tell me, Postumus, when is that tomorrow coming?
how far off is tomorrow? and where? how will you find it?
is it hidden among the Parthians and Armenians?
your tomorrow is already as old as Priam or Nestor,
for how much, tell me, may that tomorrow be bought?
you will live tomorrow? it is already too late to live today -
he who has lived yesterday, Postumus, is a wise man
Cras te victurum, cras dicis, Postume, semper.
Dic mihi, cras istud, Postume, quando venit?
Quam longe cras istud, ubi est? aut unde petendum?
Numquid apud Parthos Armeniosque latet?
Iam cras istud habet Priami vel Nestoris annos.
Cras istud quanti, dic mihi, possit emi?
Cras vives? hodie iam vivere, Postume, serum est:
Ille sapit, quisquis, Postume, vixit heri.
To Aemilianus
(Book V:81)
these days they only give wealth to the rich
Semper pauper eris, si pauper es, Aemiliane.
Dantur opes nullis nunc nisi divitibus.
To Polla
(Book III.42)
(Book III.42)
when you try to conceal your belly wrinkles with beanpaste,
Polla, you smear your stomach, not my lips -
perhaps a little blemish should appear openly:
a fault concealed is presumed to be great
Polla, you smear your stomach, not my lips -
perhaps a little blemish should appear openly:
a fault concealed is presumed to be great
Lomento rugas uteri quod condere temptas,
Polla, tibi ventrem, non mihi labra linis.
Simpliciter pateat vitium fortasse pusillum:
Quod tegitur, magnum creditur esse malum.
To Candidus
(Book III.26)
(Book III.26)
Candidus, alone you possess your estates
alone your cash
alone your golden and murrhine vessels
alone your Massic wine
alone your Caecubian wines of famous vintage
you have your heart alone
alone your wit
you have everything for you alone
(do you think I wish to deny it?)
but your wife, Candidus, you share with all the world
Praedia solus habes et solus, Candide, nummos,
Aurea solus habes, murrina solus habes,
Massica solus habes et Opimi Caecuba solus,
Et cor solus habes, solus et ingenium.
Omnia solus habes - hoc me puta velle negare! -
Uxorem sed habes, Candide, cum populo.
To Marianus
(Book VI.63)
(Book VI.63)
you know, Marianus, that you are being hunted
and you know the greedy one who hunts you
and you know what he wants
yet you write in your will, you fool
that he is your heir
and you want him to take your place, lunatic
"he sent such great gifts"
but he sent them on a fishing hook
and can the fish ever love the fisherman?
will he mourn your fate with real tears?
if you wish, Marianus, that he should weep -
then give him nothing
Scis te captari, scis hunc qui captat, avarum,
Et scis qui captat, quid, Mariane, velit.
Tu tamen hunc tabulis heredem, stulte, supremis
Scribis et esse tuo vis, furiose, loco.
'Munera magna tamen misit.' Sed misit in hamo;
Et piscatorem piscis amare potest?
Hicine deflebit vero tua fata dolore?
Si cupis, ut ploret, des, Mariane, nihil.
[Bronze bust of Martial,
sculptured by Juan Cruz Melero (1910 – 1986). ]
Marcus Valerius Martialis (ca 40-104 CE) was born at Bilbilis, a small town in the north-east of Spain. He is commonly known in the English speaking world as Martial. He was a scathing satirist, often writing highly derogatory poems of his acquaintances — including his patrons — which he published under the title of Epigrammata. Though not the first Roman poet to write in an epigrammatic style he is widely considered to have brought the epigram to its peak as a literary genre.
The period in which Martialis lived is known as the heyday of the Roman Empire in terms of material prosperity. Martial arrived in Rome around 64 CE, where, thanks to the influence of fellow countrymen such as Seneca, Lucanus and Quintilian, he came into contact with the highest aristocratic circles. He depended on these patrons for the rest of his life, living by his wits. Gradually, Martial also became known for his performances at public readings. Because of his increasing popularity, he was able to move up the social ladder and later belonged to the "well-to-do citizens". During his life in Rome he was acquainted with many writers of the time. In addition to Lucan and Quintilian, he numbered among his friends Silius Italicus, Juvenal and Pliny the Younger.
His name remains associated with the many epigrams he wrote. Some epigrams can be called quite obscene and were therefore often banned from anthologies. He has had many later admirers, including Erasmus, John Dryden, Spinoza, Jonathan Swift, and Goethe. He himself was inspired by Catullus.
Martial walked the mean streets of Rome. He blasts the pretensions, addictions, and cruelties of its inhabitants with perfect comic timing and killer punchlines. Social climbers and sex-offenders, false traders and hypocrite preachers - all become the victims of his "killer epigrams." Martial's poetry is intimately bound up with the metropolis Rome and brings it vividly to life in all its variety. He sketched the fringes of society in concrete situations and with recognizable human emotions.
The period in which Martialis lived is known as the heyday of the Roman Empire in terms of material prosperity. Martial arrived in Rome around 64 CE, where, thanks to the influence of fellow countrymen such as Seneca, Lucanus and Quintilian, he came into contact with the highest aristocratic circles. He depended on these patrons for the rest of his life, living by his wits. Gradually, Martial also became known for his performances at public readings. Because of his increasing popularity, he was able to move up the social ladder and later belonged to the "well-to-do citizens". During his life in Rome he was acquainted with many writers of the time. In addition to Lucan and Quintilian, he numbered among his friends Silius Italicus, Juvenal and Pliny the Younger.
His name remains associated with the many epigrams he wrote. Some epigrams can be called quite obscene and were therefore often banned from anthologies. He has had many later admirers, including Erasmus, John Dryden, Spinoza, Jonathan Swift, and Goethe. He himself was inspired by Catullus.
Martial walked the mean streets of Rome. He blasts the pretensions, addictions, and cruelties of its inhabitants with perfect comic timing and killer punchlines. Social climbers and sex-offenders, false traders and hypocrite preachers - all become the victims of his "killer epigrams." Martial's poetry is intimately bound up with the metropolis Rome and brings it vividly to life in all its variety. He sketched the fringes of society in concrete situations and with recognizable human emotions.
Notes
(Epigram V.34)
This is one of three poems that Martial wrote on the occasion of the death of his little slave girl Erotion, a departure into mournful elegy for the satiric poet. It was long thought that the parents mentioned in the first line were those of Martial, but there is no corroboration for that. "Erotion" is a Greek name, possibly indicating the girl's origin; it is a diminutive formed from the Greek eros or erotis, meaning "little loved one" (so it is unrelated to the modern meaning of these words!). "Tartarus" are the infernal regions, believed to be guarded by a fearsome hound. The last line is especially heart-rending.
(Epigram I.34)
One of Martial's invective epigrams, in the tradition of Catullus, ending on an obscenity (somewhat mollified in my family-friendly translation). In this poem he compares the sexual habits of an exhibitionist acquaintance he calls "Lesbia" ("tongue in cheek" after Catullus' lover) unfavorable with those of prostitutes. Ias and Chione are cheap hookers of the worst kind - but even they conceal their activities, if only by making use of a monumental tomb in a graveyard.
(Epigram V.58)
A "carpe diem" poem like the one by Horace. It can also be taken in a broader sense: when you always plan to start acting tomorrow, your life will be over before you have done anything. In I.15 Martial wrote in the same vein: "Believe me, wise men don't say ‘I shall live to do that’, tomorrow's life is too late; live today." This also reminded me of a phrase by Martial that is often inscribed on sun dials: "Pereunt et imputantur," "each of us feels the good days speed and depart; they pass by and are put to our account." (V.20)
(Epigram V.81)
"Wealth is given today to none save the rich." An observation of all times...
(Epigram III.42)
"Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst." This is not only a make-up problem, on the contrary, it is something all politicians and company managers should take to heart: just be honest about your faults (something too difficult for 99.9% of all people).
(Epigram III.26)
This epigram speaks for itself.
(Epigram VI.63)
This epigram speaks for itself.
(Epigram V.34)
This is one of three poems that Martial wrote on the occasion of the death of his little slave girl Erotion, a departure into mournful elegy for the satiric poet. It was long thought that the parents mentioned in the first line were those of Martial, but there is no corroboration for that. "Erotion" is a Greek name, possibly indicating the girl's origin; it is a diminutive formed from the Greek eros or erotis, meaning "little loved one" (so it is unrelated to the modern meaning of these words!). "Tartarus" are the infernal regions, believed to be guarded by a fearsome hound. The last line is especially heart-rending.
(Epigram I.34)
One of Martial's invective epigrams, in the tradition of Catullus, ending on an obscenity (somewhat mollified in my family-friendly translation). In this poem he compares the sexual habits of an exhibitionist acquaintance he calls "Lesbia" ("tongue in cheek" after Catullus' lover) unfavorable with those of prostitutes. Ias and Chione are cheap hookers of the worst kind - but even they conceal their activities, if only by making use of a monumental tomb in a graveyard.
(Epigram V.58)
A "carpe diem" poem like the one by Horace. It can also be taken in a broader sense: when you always plan to start acting tomorrow, your life will be over before you have done anything. In I.15 Martial wrote in the same vein: "Believe me, wise men don't say ‘I shall live to do that’, tomorrow's life is too late; live today." This also reminded me of a phrase by Martial that is often inscribed on sun dials: "Pereunt et imputantur," "each of us feels the good days speed and depart; they pass by and are put to our account." (V.20)
(Epigram V.81)
"Wealth is given today to none save the rich." An observation of all times...
(Epigram III.42)
"Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst." This is not only a make-up problem, on the contrary, it is something all politicians and company managers should take to heart: just be honest about your faults (something too difficult for 99.9% of all people).
(Epigram III.26)
This epigram speaks for itself.
(Epigram VI.63)
This epigram speaks for itself.
The translations are my own versions (with some help from the online edition of Bohn's Classical Library (1897, in the public domain).
Other translations:
The Epigrams of Martial in English Prose (1897)
Selected Epigrams translated by A. S. Kline
Selected Epigrams translated by Elizabeth Duke
Latin original at Perseus Digital Library; the same at Wikisource.
Photos:
via Wikimedia Commons.