Walk on by

Quod tibi Decembri mense, quo volant mappae gracilesque ligulae cereique chartaeque et acuta senibus testa cum Damascenis, praeter libellos vernulas nihil misi, fortasse avarus videar aut inhumanus. Odi dolosas munerum et malas artes: imitantur hamos dona: namque quis nescit, avidum vorata decipi scarum musca? Quotiens amico diviti nihil donat, o Quintiane, liberalis est pauper. Because in the month of December, When napkins, delicate spoons, waxed spills And pointed crocks of dried damsons fly, I have sent you nothing (Except my home-grown booklets) Perhaps I seem stingy or impolite. I dislike The cunning and noxious arts of giving. Presents resemble hooks. Who does not know That the greedy trout is betrayed By the fly he has gulped? The poor man is generosous, Quintianus, to his rich friend Whenever he gives him nothing. Quando nel mese di Dicembre volano mappe, carte, candele e spilli esili e vasi con le prugne di Damasco, io non ti mando che i libretti miei: onde avaro mi credi o discortese. Odio l’ipocrita arte dei regali. I doni sono come gli ami; e infatti la mosca attira e inganna il pesce ingordo. Quando all’amico ricco nulla dà, o Quinziano, è liberale il povero.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 5, XVIII
English translation by William G. Shepherd
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

Two painted staring eyes lay on South Korean makeup artist Dain Yoon (윤다인)’s thigh legs. Photo (and video): Dain Yoon (@designdain).