| EPIGRAMS - V.34 | EROTION THE SLAVE-GIRL |
| Martial (M. Valerius Martialis) | trans. A.S.Kline |
|
Hanc tibi, Fronto pater, genetrix Flaccilla, puellam oscula commendo deliciasque meas, paruola ne nigras horrescat Erotion umbras oraque Tartarei prodigiosa canis. Impletura fuit sextae modo frigora brumae, uixisset totidem ni minus illa dies. Inter tam ueteres ludat lasciua patronos et nomen blaeso garriat ore meum. Mollia non rigidus caespes tegat ossa nec illi, terra, grauis fueris: non fuit illa tibi. |
To your shades Fronto, and Flacilla, this child I commend: she was my sweet and my delight. Little Erotion shall not fear the darkened shades nor the vast mouths of the Tartarean hound. She’d have completed her sixth chill winter, if she’d not lived a mere six days too few. Now let her frisk and play among old friends now let her chatter, and so lisp my name. And let the soft turf cover her brittle bones: earth, lie lightly on her: she lay lightly on you. |
Trans. Copyright © A.S.Kline 2003