Social Commentaries
Book XI, Epigram 55 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Lupus urges you, Urbicus, to become a father: don't believe him; there is nothing he wishes less. The art of the legacy-hunter is to seem to wish what one does not wish: he prays you will not do what he asks you to do. Let your Cosconia only say she is pregnant, Lupus will become paler than a lady already in labour. But do you, by way of seeming to adopt your friend's counsel, die in such a way that he may think you have become a father.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book XI, Epigram 55 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1309/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book XI, Epigram 55 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1309/.
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