Marco Valerio Marziale ( 40 d.C.? 104 d.C.)
translated by Susanna
Book VI
XXIV
Basia da nobis, Diadumene, pressa. “Quot” inquis?
Oceani fluctus me numerare iubes
Et maris Aegaei sparsas per lotora conchas
Et quae Cecropio monte vagantur apes,
Quaeque sonant pleno vocesque manusque theatro,
Cum populus subiti Caesaris ora videt.
Nolo quot arguto dedit exortata Catullo
Lesbia: pauca cupit qui numerare potest.
Infinite kisses
Give me lots of kisses, Diadumene. “How many”, you ask.
The ocean’s waves do you want me to count
And the sea-shells scattered along the shores of the Egeo,
And the bees roaming on the hills around Athen
And the voices, the hands echoing in the crowded theatre
When the folk finally see Caesar? I could not tell
how many kisses Lesbia, exhorted, gave Catullo.
Those who can count kisses, do not claim for many.
Translated by Susannae (19 July 2000, Montecarlo)
>From: "sue Massey" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Moving On or A Code of Practice? A message frrom Rome.
>Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2000 19:20:11 GMT
>
>Marco Valerio Marziale ( 40 d.C.? 104 d.C.)
>
>Book V
>
>XV
>
>Quintum nostrorum liber est, Auguste, iocorum
>Et queritur laesus carmine nemo meo,
>Gaudet honorato sed multus nominee lector,
>Cui victura meo munere fama datur.
>“Quid tamen haec prosunt quamvis venerantia multos?”
>Non prosint sane, me tamen ista iuvant.
>
>
>
>“….and yet it helps”
>
>Here is my fifth book of satire, O Augustus,
>And nobody ever complained about my jokes,
>Rather many were pleased to have been named
>Since they have been given an eternal fame.
>“What is the use of all this veneration?”
>Not that I get any real wealth, and yet it helps.
>
>
>Translated by Susannae
>
>
>
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