Social Commentaries
Book IV, Epigram 1 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Propitious day of Caesar, and more hallowed than that morn whereon consenting Ida gave bii-th to Jove in Dicte's cave, come thou oft, I pray, and in fuller number than the Pylian's2 years, and ever shine with countenance such as now, or with one fairer still! May he full oft honour the Tritonian maid amid Alba's gold, and through those mighty hands may many an oak-wreath pass! May he honour the ages as they come round in their mighty lustre, and the holy festival that Romulean Tarentos keeps. Great things, ye Lords of Heaven, we ask for, howbeit due to earth: for so great a god what vows are too profuse?
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book IV, Epigram 1 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/633/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book IV, Epigram 1 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/633/.
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