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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Martial, Epigrams on Spectacular Sights 1

M. VALERI MARTIALIS EPIGRAMMATON (LIBER DE SPECTACVLIS) I

Marcus Valerius Martial [Martial]
38-104 AD
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Imperial Era)


Barbara pyramidum sileat miracula Memphis,
Assyrius iactet nec Babylona labor;

[The city of Memphis falls silent about the strange sites of the Pyramids,
and the great masterpieces of Assyria does not stir its boasting of Babylon;]

nec Triuiae templo molles laudentur Iones,
dissimulet Delon cornibus ara frequens
aere
[and may the Triviae, with its temple, not bring praise for gentle Ionia, may its crowded altar not pretend to rival Delos,]

aere nec uacuo pendentia Mausolea 5
laudibus inmodicis Cares in astra ferant.

[and may the walls of the Mausoleum, with their spacious bronze, not carry the Carians to the heavens with ample praise.]

Omnis Caesareo cedit labor Amphitheatro,
unum pro cunctis fama loquetur opus.

[Every single work of architecture falls down in comparison to our Caesar's Amphitheater, and its fame will be declared a work of art above and beyond the rest.]