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Friday, March 11, 2011

Martial, Epigram 3.65

Marcus Valerius Martialis
1st-2nd c. AD (over 1,900 years ago)
Trans. RMBullard
Latin (Silver Age)

Quod spirat tenera malum mordente puella, quod de Corycio quae venit aura croco;
(Whatever evil a smooth maiden breathes in her bites, it comes like a breeze of Corycian saffron;)

vinea quod primis cum floret cana racemis, gramina quod redolent, quae modo carpsit ovis;
(Like a white vine than flowers among the harvest grapes; like the way grass emits its fragrance: the type that a sheep has just now plucked;)

quod myrtus, quod messor Arabs, quod sucina trita, pallidus Eoo ture quod ignis olet;
(Like myrtle, like an Arabian farmer, like polished amber, like the shining flame of Arabian frankincense, does she smell;)

gleba quod aestivo leviter cum spargitur imbre, quod madidas nardo passa corona comas:
(Like the soil that is sprinkled lightly with summer rain, like the head that has given its dewy hair to shampoo;)

hoc tua, saeve puer Diadumene, basia fragrant.
(This is how your kisses, Diademenus- you cruel boy- smell;)

quid si tota dares illa sine invidia?
(What if you could give them all without reluctance?)