Social Commentaries
Book X, Epigram 98 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
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.
Cite this poem
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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