Words and Pictures

Bella es, novimus, et puella, verum est, et dives, quis enim potest negare? Sed cum te nimium, Fabulla, laudas, nec dives neque bella nec puella es. You are beautiful, we know, and young, That is true, and rich — for who can deny it? But while you praise yourself overmuch, Fabulla, You are neither rich, nor beautiful, nor young. Bella sei, lo si sa, e giovinetta, e ricca; e chi potrebbe dir di no? Ma quando troppo, o Fabulla, ti lodi, non sei più bella e ricca e giovinetta.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 1, LXIV
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

Models present creations by Her Highness Sharifah Khatreena Nuraniah during the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from August 8–12, 2018. Photo: AFP/Manan Vatsyayana.