Social Commentaries

Book I, Epigram 91: Ad Bassam tribadem

by Martial c. 40–c. 104

Translated by R. Fletcher (1656) · From Ex Otio Negotium (1656)

Social Commentaries

Cause amongst males thou nere was seen to be
Nor as unchast no fable feigned thee,
But all thy offices discharged were
By thy own sex, no man intruding there,
I grant thou seem'dst Lucretia to our eye,
But (o mistake!) Bassa th' art out ont, fie.
Two Twatts commit the fact, and dare it can,
Whiles a prodigious lust supplies the man,
Th' hast made a riddle worth the Thebane guile,
Where no man is, adultery bred the while.

MLA

Martial. “Book I, Epigram 91: Ad Bassam tribadem.” Translated by R. Fletcher. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/29/.

Chicago

Martial. “Book I, Epigram 91: Ad Bassam tribadem.” Translated by R. Fletcher. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/29/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Martial