Centenis quod emis pueros et saepe ducenis,
quod sub rege Numa condita vina bibis, quod constat decies tibi non spatiosa supellex, libra quod argenti milia quinque rapit, aurea quod fundi pretio carruca paratur, quod pluris mula est, quam domus empta tibi: haec animo credis magno te, Quinte, parare? Falleris: haec animus, Quinte, pusillus emit. You buy slaves for a hundred thousand, And often for two hundred thousand sesterces apiece; You drink wines laid down in King Numa’s reign; No vast amount of furniture stands you in a million; A pound of silver plate runs off’ with five thousand; A gilt coach is acquired at the price of a farm; You buy a mule for more than a town mansion. Do you think, Quintus, that you acquire these things Because you have a great mind? You are deceived. These are what a puny mind buys, Quintus. Se cento mila sesterzi o duecento tu paghi un ragazzo, se vini bevi tappati sotto il dominio di Numa; se un milione ti costa il tuo non vasto apparato, e una libbra d’argento cinquecento sesterzi; se per il prezzo di un fondo un aureo cocchio ti acquisti, ed una mula più d’un palazzo la paghi: credi tu, Quinto, che ciò un animo grande dimostri? Proprio il contrario, o Quinto: un pover’uomo tu sei. |
Martial, Epigrams, Book 3, LXII
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini
Photo elaboration by Russian fine art photographer Platon Yurich. Photo © Platon Yurich.
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