Social Commentaries
Book IX, Epigram 20 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
This spot of earth, which now lies wholly open, and is being covered with marble and with gold, knew our lord's infant years. O blessed spot! With wailings of how great a babe it echoed, and what hands it saw and upbore as they crept! Here had stood the house august that made real to the world what Rhodes, what duteous Crete made real to the starry heaven. Cybele's priests guarded Jove with their rattling arms, such arms as Plirygians, but half men, could wield; but thee the Sire of the gods safeguarded, and for thee, Caesar, thunderbolt and aegis stood for spear and buckler.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book IX, Epigram 20 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1087/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book IX, Epigram 20 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1087/.
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