Social Commentaries
Book IX, Epigram 40 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
When Diodorus, leaving Egypt, was travelling to Rome to receive the Tarpeian crown, Philaenis made a vow for the retui-n of her husband that, as an innocent girl, she would put her lips to what - even chaste Sabine women love. His ship shattered by grim tempests, though plunged in the waves, and o'erwheluied by the deep, Diodorus, to claim the vow, swam safe to land. Oh, what a very tardy and sluggish husband! If girl of mine had made this vow on the shore, I should have returned at once!
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book IX, Epigram 40 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1107/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book IX, Epigram 40 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1107/.
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