Social Commentaries

Book X, Epigram 98 (Ker)

by Martial c. 40–c. 104

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

Social Commentaries

When an attendant more voluptuous than the cupbearer of Ida pours out my Caecuban, one than whom your daughter or wife, or mother or sister, is no smarter as she reclines at table, do you wish me instead to look at your lamps, or at your antique table of citrus-wood and its ivory legs? Nevertheless, that I may not be suspected by you at your table, produce for me from the throng in your rough farm-stead some short-haired, unkempt, clownish, puny fellows, sons of a malodorous swineherd. This jealousy of yours will betray you! You cannot, Publius, possess such morals and such servants at once.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Martial. “Book X, Epigram 98 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1255/.

Chicago

Martial. “Book X, Epigram 98 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1255/.

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