Social Commentaries
Book VIII, Epigram 9 (Ker)
Translated by Walter C. A. Ker (1919–20) · From Epigrams (Loeb, 1919–20)
Social Commentaries
Hylas, when blear-eyed, Quintus, was willing lately to pay you three-quarters of his debt; now he is one-eyed he is willing to give half. Take it at once: brief is the opportunity for gain; if he become blind, Hylas won't pay you a penny.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Martial. “Book VIII, Epigram 9 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/994/.
Chicago
Martial. “Book VIII, Epigram 9 (Ker).” Translated by Walter C. A. Ker. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/martial/994/.
Read this poem with the Codex →