Social Commentaries
Book I, Epigram 106 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
You often put water in your wine, Rufus, and, if you are pressed by a friend, drink — but seldom — a twelfth-part measure of diluted Falernian. Is it that Naevia has promised you a night of joy, and you prefer the lecheries by sobriety assured? You sigh, you are dumb, you groan: she has denied "you. So you may drink full cup after full cup, and throttle with wine your cruel pain. Why spare yourself, Rufus? Remains but to sleep.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book I, Epigram 106 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/442/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book I, Epigram 106 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/442/.
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