| Martial |
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| I translated these around the same time for a poetry reading at the web site, The Back Door. As a result, they all have a similar rhythm. |
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| Book 1-1 |
Hic est quem legis ille, quem requiris,
Toto notus in orbe Martialis
Argutis epigrammaton libellis.
Cui, lector studiose, quod dedisti
Viventi decus atque sentienti,
Rari post cineres habent poetae.
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Here's the man you're looking for,
And whom you've often read,
Martial, known the whole world o'er,
For witty things I've said.
I have received the honours you
Adoring fans have giv'n,
That seldom few dead poets do,
While I'm alert and livin'.
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| Book 10-8 |
Nubere Paula cupit nobis, ego ducere Paulam
Nolo: anus est. Vellem, si magis esset anus. |
Paula wants to marry me;
I gave her the cold shoulder.
She's just a little old, you see
- If only she were older! |
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| Book 11-17 |
Non omnis nostri nocturna est pagina libri:
invenies et quod mane, Sabine, legas. |
Not all the verses in my book belong to sordid night:
You'll find some fit to read, Sabinus, in the morning light. |
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| Book 1-38 |
Quem recitas meus est, o Fidentine, libellus:
Sed male cum recitas, incipit esse tuus. |
Fidentinus, you're reciting from my book:
But since you read so poorly, you can keep what you took... |
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| Book 1-47 |
Nuper erat medicus, nunc est vispillo Dialus;
Quod vispillo facit, fecerat et medicus. |
Dialus was a doctor once,
But now he's a mortician;
It's just a change of titles, though-
It's still the same position.
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| Book 10-16 |
Dotatae uxori cor harudine fixit acuta,
Sed dum ludit Aper: ludere novit Aper.
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The archer pierced his rich wife's heart
while "practising" one day -
Practice makes perfect is what I always say. |
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