epigrammata Martialis translations

dē Tuccā, quī saepe postulat ut Mārtiālis libellōs sibi dōnet

exigis ut nostros donem tibi, Tucca, libellos.

nōn faciam: nam vīs vēndere, nōn legere.

About Tucca, who often demands that Martial gives his little books to him

You demand that I give my little books to you, Tucca

I will not do it: for you want to sell them, not read them

dē Sextō, iuvene glōriōsō

dīcis amōre tuī bellās ardēre puellās,

quī faciem sub aquā, Sexte, natantis habēs.

About Sextus, a boastful young man

You say that pretty girls burn by love of you,

you have a face of one swimming underwater, Sextus

dē Symmachō medicō discipulīsque eius centum

languēbam: sed tū comitātus prōtinus ad mē

vēnistī centum, Symmache, discipulīs.

centum mē tetigēre manūs Aquilōne gelātae;

nōn habuī febrem, Symmache: nunc habeō.

About Symmachus, the doctor, and his 100 students

I was feeling ill: but you came to me immediately, accompanied with a 100 students, Symmachus

100 hands frozen by the North wind touched me;

I did not have a fever, Symmachus: now I have one

dē Catullō, quī saepe dīcit Mārtiālem hērēdem sibi esse

hērēdem tibi mē, Catulle, dīcis.

nōn crēdam nisi lēgerō, Catulle.

About Catullus, who often says that Martial is the heir to him

You say that I am the heir to you, Catullus.

I will not believe it unless I have read it, Catullus.

dē Quīntō, quī Thāida lūscam amat

"Thāida Quīntus amat." "quam Thāida?" "Thāida lūscam."

ūnum oculum Thāis nōn habet, ille duōs.

About Quintus, who loves the one-eyed Thais

"Quintus loves Thais." "Which Thais?" "One-eyed Thais."

Thais does not have one eye, he does not have two.

dē Vaccerā, quī veterēs poētās sōlōs mīrātur

mīrāris veterēs, Vacerra, sōlōs

nec laudās nisi mortuōs poētās.

ignōscās petimus, Vacerra: tantī

nōn est, ut placeam tibī, perīre.

About Vacerra, who admires old poets only

You admire old poets only, Vacerra, and you do not praise poets except dead poets.

We ask that you forgive us, Vacerra: it is not worth dying to please you.