Social Commentaries
Book I, Epigram 88 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Alcimus, whom, snatched from thy master in thy burgeoning years, Lavican earth shrouds with its light turf, take from me, not a nodding weight of Parian stone, the perishable gift which vain toil makes to the dust, but pliant box, and the vine's dense shadow, and grass that grows green, dewy with my tears. Take them, loved boy, as tokens of my sorrow. Here for all time shall thy honour live. When Lachesis shall have spun to their end my latest years, I charge that in none other sort my ashes lie.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book I, Epigram 88 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/424/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book I, Epigram 88 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/424/.
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