Night and Day

Formosa Phyllis nocte cum mihi tota se praestitisset omnibus modis largam, et cogitarem mane quod darem munus, utrumne Cosmi, Nicerotisan libram, an Baeticarum pondus acre lanarum, an de moneta Caesaris decem flavos: amplexa collum basioque sunt nuptiae columbarum, rogare coepit Phyllis amphoram vini. When lovely Phyllis had all the evening Yielded herself bounteously to me in every way, And I was considering next morning what present to give her, Whether a pound of unguent of Cosmus’ or Niceros’ make, Or full weight of Baetic wool, Or ten yellow boys of Caesar’s mintage, Phyllis, embracing my neck, and wheedling me with a kiss As lingering as that of wedded doves, Began to ask me for a—jar of wine! Poi che Filli la bella tutta notte si prodigò con me in mille modi, ed io pensavo che donarle poi — o profumi di Cosmo o di Nicero, o un peso liberal di lana Bètica, o dieci scudi di monete d’oro —: al collo m’abbracciò, e con un bacio lungo come un amplesso di colomba, Filli mi chiese un’anfora di vino.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 12, LXV
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

Pablo Picasso, Bottle and Wine Glass on a Table, 1912. Credit: The Met.