Social Commentaries

Book IV, Epigram 59 (Ker)

by Martial c. 40–c. 104

Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)

Social Commentaries

While a viper crept along the weeping poplar-boughs there flowed a gummy drop o'er the beast that met its path, and while she marvelled to be stayed by that clinging dew, suddenly she grew stiff, enfettered by the congealing mass. Pride not thyself, Cleopatra, on thy royal sepulchre if a viper lies in a nobler tomb!

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Martial. “Book IV, Epigram 59 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/689/.

Chicago

Martial. “Book IV, Epigram 59 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/689/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Martial