Social Commentaries
Book XII, Epigram 59 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Rome gives you as many kisse.s, when after fifteen years you have just returned, as Lesbia never gave Catullus. Upon you all the neighbourhood presses, upon you the bristly farmer with a kiss like a he-goat's; on this side the weaver crowds you, on that the fuller, on this the cobbler who has just been kissing his hide, on this the owner of a perilous chin; on this side the one-eyed and on that the blear-eyed, and many a rascal with foulest lips. By now you find it was not worth while to return.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book XII, Epigram 59 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1411/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book XII, Epigram 59 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/1411/.
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