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You admire, Vacerra, only the poets of old and praise only those who are dead. Pardon me, I beseech you, Vacerra, if I think death too high a price to pay for your praise.

Martial

One genius has made many clever artists.
MARTIAL

Artist Genius Oneself
They let out on hire their passions and eloquence. [Referring to lawyers.]
MARTIAL

Elegant Hire Passion
Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are bald. Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are carrotty. Why do I not kiss you, Philaenis? you are one-eyed. He who kisses you, Philaenis, sins against nature.
MARTIAL

Bald Kiss Myself Nature Sin Yourself
You complain, friend Swift, of the length of my epigrams, but you yourself write nothing. Yours are shorter.
MARTIAL

Friendship Short Writing Yourself
You puff the poets of other days, The living you deplore. Spare me the accolade: your praise Is not worth dying for.
MARTIAL

Death Live Poet Praise Worth
However great the dish that holds the turbot, the turbot is still greater than the dish.
MARTIAL

Food Greatness Hold Value
Service cannot be expected from a friend in service; let him be a freeman who wishes to be my master.
MARTIAL

Friendship Master Service Yourself
Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.
MARTIAL

Flaw Imagination World Worst
I wont let a wife lead me to the altar.
MARTIAL

Leadership Myself Wife
A cook should double one sense have: for he Should taster for himself and master be.
MARTIAL

Cook Doubt Himself Master Taste
You may envy every one, but no one envies you.
MARTIAL

Envy Jealous Yourself
He who writes distichs, wishes, I suppose, to please by brevity. But, tell me, of what avail is their brevity, when there is a whose book full of them?
MARTIAL

Book Himself Writing
Red-haired, black-lipped, club-footed, and blink-eyed; if you’re a good man, you’re a wonder!
MARTIAL

Goodness Man Yourself
I am a shell-fish just come from being saturated with the waters of the Lucrine lake, near Baiae; but now I luxuriously thrust for noble pickle.
MARTIAL

Lake Luxury Myself Water
Givers of great dinners know few enemies.
MARTIAL

Enemy Food Greatness
In adversity it is easy to despise life; he is truly brave who can endure a wreched life.
MARTIAL

Adversity Brave Easy Endurance Life True

You admire, Vacerra, only the poets of old and praise only those who are dead. Pardon me, I beseech you, Vacerra, if I think death too high a price to pay for your praise.

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You admire, Vacerra, only the poets of old and praise only those who are dead. Pardon me, I beseech you, Vacerra, if I think death too high a price to pay for your praise.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Martial Quotes