Social Commentaries

Book VII, Epigram 58 (Ker)

by Martial c. 40–c. 104

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

Social Commentaries

Already you have married six or seven paederasts, Galla; long hair and a combed-out beard much attract you. Next, when you have tested their capacity, and their flaccid and used-up powei's, you desert weaponless encounters, and an effeminate husband, and yet again you continually fall back upon the same amours as before. Look out for some fellow who is always prating of the Curii and Fabii, shaggy, and with a savage look of stubborn rusticity: you will discover him; but even the grim tribe has its paederasts: it is difficult, Galla, to marry a genuine man.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Martial. “Book VII, Epigram 58 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/947/.

Chicago

Martial. “Book VII, Epigram 58 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/947/.

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