Social Commentaries
Book IX, Epigram 49 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
This is that toga much sung of in my poems, which my reader has heard of to the full, and loves. Parthenian was it once, a bard's memorable gift: in this I went conspicuous as a knight, while it was new, while it brightly shone with glossy wool, and while it was worthy of its giver's name. Now it is an old crone, and one scarcely to be accepted by a doddering pauper, which you may without contradiction call "snowy." What does not length of days, what do ye not consume, ye years .'' This toga is no longer Parthenian: it is mine.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book IX, Epigram 49 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1114/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book IX, Epigram 49 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1114/.
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