Social Commentaries
Book IV, Epigram 14 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Siuus, the pride of the Castalian Sisters, who with your mighty tones crush the perjuries of barbaric frenzy, and compel Hannibal's false wiles and the faithless Carthaginians to yield to the great Africani, awhile lay aside your mien austere, what time December, idling amid alluring hazard, rings on this side and on that with risky dice-box, and tropa sports with the licentious knuckle-bone. Lend thy leisure to my Muse, and read with a smooth, not frowning brow, poems steeped in wanton quips. So belike tender Catullus ventured to send his Sparrow to great Maro.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book IV, Epigram 14 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/646/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book IV, Epigram 14 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/646/.
Read this poem with the Codex →