Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AD NEPOTEM, by MARCUS VALERIUS MARTIALIS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AD NEPOTEM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O nepos, twice my neighbour since at home
Last Line: For fathers also may enjoy their nights.
Alternate Author Name(s): Martial
Subject(s): Daughters; Neighbors


O NEPOS, twice my neighbour (since at home
We're door by door, by Flora's temple dome;
And in the country, still conjoined by fate,
Behold our villas standing gate by gate),
Thou hast a daughter, dearer far than life --
Thy image and the image of thy wife.
Thy image and thy wife's, and be it so!
But why for her, O Nepos, leave the can
And lose the prime of thy Falernian?
Hoard casks of money, if to hoard be thine;
But let thy daughter drink a younger wine!
Let her go rich and wise, in silk and fur;
Lay down a bin that shall grow old with her;
But thou, meantime, the while the batch is sound
With pleased companions pass the bowl around;
Nor let the childless only taste delights,
For Fathers also may enjoy their nights.





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