Death & Dying

Book X, Epigram 71 (Ker)

by Martial c. 40–c. 104

Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)

Death & Dying

Whoe'er thou art who for thy parents prayest for a happy and a late death, regard with love this marble's brief inscription. In this earth Rabirius has hidden dearly-loved shades: with fairer lot none of the old lie in death. Twice six lustres of wedded life one night, kindly and their latest, closed; on one pyre two bodies burned. Yet he looks for them as if they had been snatched away from him in early years: naught more unwarranted can be than such a lament.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Martial. “Book X, Epigram 71 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1233/.

Chicago

Martial. “Book X, Epigram 71 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1233/.

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