Social Commentaries
Book V, Epigram 58 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
"To-morrow you will live, to-morrow," you are always saying, Postumus. Tell me, when does that "morrow" of yours arrive, Postumus? How distant is that morrow? where is it? or in what quarter should we look for it? Surely it does not lie hid among the Parthians and Armenians? Already that morrow is as old as Priam or as Nestor. That morrow — tell me for how much it can be bought? To-morrow will you live? To live to-day, Postumus, is already too late. He is wise, whoever he be, Postumus, who "lived" yesterday.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book V, Epigram 58 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/777/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book V, Epigram 58 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/777/.
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