Social Commentaries
Book X, Epigram 21 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Why, I ask, do you, Sextus, like writing what hardly Modestus himself, and hardly Claranus, could understand? Your books do not require a reader, but an Apollo; in your judgment Cinna was greater than Maro. On these terms let your books be praised by all means; let my poems, Sextus, please commentators — so as to do without commentators.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book X, Epigram 21 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1184/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book X, Epigram 21 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1184/.
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