# Epigrammaton Libri 8.3

Martial, Epigrammaton Libri, Poem 8.3. Latin.

Canonical: https://interlinea.aeterna-institute.org/library/latin/martial/epigrammaton-libri/8.3

"Quinque satis fuerant: nam sex septemue libelli
est nimium: quid adhuc ludere, Musa, iuuat?
Sit pudor et finis: iam plus nihil addere nobis
fama potest: teritur noster ubique liber;
et cum rupta situ Messallae saxa iacebunt
altaque cum Licini marmora puluis erunt,
me tamen ora legent et secum plurimus hospes
ad patrias sedes carmina nostra feret."
Finieram, cum sic respondit nona sororum,
cui coma et unguento sordida uestis erat:
"Tune potes dulcis, ingrate, relinquere nugas?
dic mihi, quid melius desidiosus ages?
an iuuat ad tragicos soccum transferre coturnos
aspera uel paribus bella tonare modis,
praelegat ut tumidus rauca te uoce magister,
oderit et grandis uirgo bonusque puer?
Scribant ista graues nimium nimiumque seueri,
quos media miseros nocte lucerna uidet;
at tu Romano lepidos sale tingue libellos:
adgnoscat mores uita legatque suos.
Angusta cantare licet uidearis auena,
dum tua multorum uincat auena tubas."

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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.