Marcus Valerius Martialis
1st-2nd c. AD (over 1,900 years ago)
Trans. RMBullard
Latin (Silver Age)
Zoilus aegrotat:
(Zoilus is sick:)
faciunt hanc stragula febrem.
(His bedsheets cause his fever;)
si fuerit sanus, coccina quid facient?
(If he were healthy, what could his scarlet robes do?)
quid torus a Nilo, quid Sidone tinctus olenti?
(What could a marriage bed from the Nile, one tinted with Tyrian oil, do?)
ostendit stultas quid nisi morbus opes?
(What does a sick man have to show for himself except his stupid treasures?)
quid tibi cum medicis?
(What the use of doctors for you?)
dimitte Machaonas omnes.
(Send away all your Machaons;)
vis fieri sanus?
(Do you want to get well?)
stragula sume mea.
(Take my own bed sheets.)
