Folded pages

Explicitum nobis usque ad sua cornua librum et quasi perlectum, Septiciane, refers. Omnia legisti. Credo, scio, gaudeo, verum est. Perlegi libros sic ego quinque tuos. You return me my book unrolled to its very horns, And as if, Septicianus, you had read it through. “You have read it all”. I believe it, I know it, I am glad, what you say is true. I have read through your five books in the same way. Sfogliato infino all’indice mi rendi il mio libro, siccome tutto letto l’avessi sul serio, o Setticiano. Tutto l’hai letto. Lo credo, lo so, ne son lieto, sì, è vero. Io pure così lessi i cinque libri tuoi.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 11, CVII
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

“Disobedience” by Nassia Inglessis at the Greek Pavilion in the London Design Biennale at Somerset House. Photo: Scott Garfitt/Rex/Shutterstock.