Social Commentaries
Book I, Epigram 18 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Why do you choose, Tucca, to mix with old Faler nian the must stored in Vatican casks? What is this great benefit the vilest wines have bestowed on you, or what harm have the best wines caused you? As to us, 'tis no matter; it is a crime to murder Falernian, to apply to Campanian wine deadly poison. Your guests perhaps have deserved extinction: a jar so priceless did not deserve to die.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book I, Epigram 18 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/354/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book I, Epigram 18 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/354/.
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