Martial’s Epigrams
Marcus Valerius Martialis (known as Martial) was born in Spain. He is best known for his books of epigrams which satirised Roman life and his contemporaries. Below are three examples; unless you’re already well into Latin, I wouldn’t analyse them too deeply; I think it’s enough to know how cutting the Romans could be!
[i] Martial: 1.19
Si memini, fuerant tibi quattuor, Aelia, dentes: / Expulit una duos tussis et una duos. / Iam secura potes totis tussire diebus: / Nil istic quod agat tertia tussis habet.
If I remember right, Aelia, you had four teeth; a cough displaced two, another two more. You can now cough without anxiety all the day long. A third cough can find nothing to do in your mouth.
[ii] Martial: 1.23
Invitas nullum nisi cum quo, Cotta, lavaris / Et dant convivam balnea sola tibi. / Mirabar, quare numquam me, Cotta, vocasses: / Iam scio, me nudum displicuisse tibi.
You invite no one, Cotta, except those whom you meet at the bath; and the bath alone supplies you with guests. I used to wonder why you had never asked me, Cotta; I know now that my appearance in a state of nature was unpleasing in your eyes.
[iii] Martial: 1.28
Hesterno fetere mero qui credit Acerram, / Fallitur: in lucem semper Acerra bibit.
Whoever believes it is of yesterday's wine that Acerra smells, is mistaken: Acerra always drinks till morning.
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