Things You Won’t Say

Non dicam, licet usque me rogetis, qui sit Postumus in meo libello, non dicam: quid enim mihi necesse est has offendere basiationes, quae se tam bene vindicare possunt? As much as you might ask me, I won’t say who the Postumus of my book is. I won’t! After all, why should I offend Those kisses of his When they can avenge themselves so well? Non dico – avete voglia a domandarmelo – quale Postumo sia quello ch’io canto. No, non lo dico. Che bisogno c’è d’offender certi baci puzzolenti che poi si posson vendicar sì bene?

Martial, Book 2, XXIII
English translation by ‎Craig A. Martial Williams
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

Photo elaboration by Russian fine art photographer Platon Yurich. Photo © Platon Yurich.