Marcus Valerius Martialis
1st-2nd c. AD (over 1,900 years ago)
Trans. RMBullard
Latin (Silver Age)
X
Laeserat ingrato leo perfidus ore magistrum,
[The wicked lion had torn the teacher apart in its merciless jaws,]
ausus tam notas contemerare manus,
[as he dares so much to withstand the scratches of its paw,]
sed dignas tanto persoluit crimine poenas,
[but he paid a price worthy of so great a crime,]
et qui non tulerat uerbera, tela tulit.
[and a man who had never before endured the blows of a whip, now suffers the spear.]
Quos decet esse hominum tali sub principe mores,
[It seems right, under an emperor like this, to be the customs of people,]
5
qui iubet ingenium mitius esse feris!
[since he's a man who orders a talent so soothing to be thrown to the beasts!]
