The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Nos bibimus vitro, tu murra, Pontice. Quare? Prodat perspicuus ne duo vina calix. We drink from glasses, you from porphyry. Ponticus, why do you like an opaque cup? Transparency might make you blush Seeing you serve yourself the vintage stuff. Beviam nel vetro e tu’n vasi murrini Pontico bei; perché? Perché non sveli diafana tazza i due diversi vini.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 4, LXXXV
English translation by Richard O’Connell
Italian translation by Giornale di Scienze ed Arti, Tomo VI, 1817

A glove painted in red is seen in a fountain during an action entitled “Sea Rescue is not a crime” at Athens central Syntagma Square, to denounce Italy’s and EU policy regarding migrants. Photo: AFP/Louisa Gouliamaki.