# Epigrammaton Libri 5.16

Martial, Epigrammaton Libri, Poem 5.16. Latin.

Canonical: https://interlinea.aeterna-institute.org/library/latin/martial/epigrammaton-libri/5.16

Seria cum possim, quod delectantia malo
scribere, tu causa es, lector amice, mihi,
qui legis et tota cantas mea carmina Roma:
sed nescis quanti stet mihi talis amor.
Nam si falciferi defendere templa Tonantis
sollicitisque uelim uendere uerba reis,
plurimus Hispanas mittet mihi nauta metretas
et fiet uario sordidus aere sinus.
At nunc conuiua est comissatorque libellus
et tantum gratis pagina nostra placet.
Sed non et ueteres contenti laude fuerunt,
cum minimum uati munus Alexis erat.
"Belle" inquis "dixti: iuuat et laudabimus usque."
Dissimulas? Facies me, puto, causidicum.

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Martial, EPIGRAMMATON LIBRI. Text: The Latin Library (thelatinlibrary.com), used with permission. Changes: HTML markup removed and the text divided into reading sections by Interlinea.
License: Used with permission (https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/about.html). Source: https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/martial.html.