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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Martial, Spectacular Sights 4

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



Turba grauis paci placidaeque inimica quieti,
[The crowd grows glum in peace, and hostile in quiet tranquility,]

     quae semper miseras sollicitabat opes,
[which always worries about its miserable opulence,]

traducta est +Getulis+ nec cepit harena nocentis:
[and sand is led across, nor did take anything from the dangerous Getulians. <suggestions?>]

     et delator habet quod dabat exilium.
[and the spy takes possession whatever will bestow exile.]

Exulat Ausonia profugus delator ab urbe:               5
[The spy, on the lamb, flees in exile from his Italian town:]

     haec licet inpensis principis adnumeres.
[You can undoubtedly count off things like these among the endeavors of the emperor.]