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SELECTED EPIGRAMS OF MARTIAL
English / Latin Text
Rev H. M. Stephenson
Edited with Introductions, Notes and Appendices by the Rev. H. M. Stephenson, MA; Head Master of St. Peter’s School, York; Late Fellow of Christ’s college, Cambridge
Illustrations: NA
Publisher: Macmillan and Co., Limited, St. Martin’s Street, London
Copyright Date: 1907
Pages: 447
Content
- About the Book
Classic Americana Historical Vintage
Book -
….. Note, the title page and introduction are in English Text and the Epigrams are in Latin
The Romanising of Gaul and Spain was followed among other results by a large influx into Rome from Martial, those provinces, of literary talent, and, in some cases, genius. Spain in particular during the latter half of the first century after Christ, was represented at Rome by a number of literary men of various excellence. Of some of these the works remain, those of others have perished. Some of them, like Martial's friend Canius*, sported in light effusions not intended to live, others, such as Seneca, Lucan, Quintilian, produced work which the world uses still. Some of them were mere amateurs, or at least, imitators who followed in Qie wake of other writers, while others made themselves acknowledged as masters in the branches of literature to which they devoted them-selves. To the latter class belongs ,M. Valerius Martialis. Of the early years of this poet's life, before he came to Rome, we know next to nothing — only his birth-place, and (probably) the names of his parents. The birth-place was Bilbilis*, a Roman colony in
Under such patronage, as a young man of considerable ability, well educated, blest with good taste and engaging manners, perhaps even then a promising poet, he would doubtless find the means of living in tolerable comfort, and, before the downfall of those great houses and would have gained a footing in other influential families, and established
We have the choice then of two suppositions, either that in all these epigrams he is not speaking of himself, in other words, that they afford no evidence of his ever having been married, or that he was married at least four times. The former seems far the more probable. But besides this an almost stronger argument in favour of his not having been married is afforded by the general tone and feeling of the epigrams themselves. A number of incidental indications which it would be tedious to detail, combine to produce on our minds the impression that the author of these epigrams must have been a bachelor.
To instance one such indication, it is difficult to read Martial's addresses to newly-married friends without receiving the impression that the writer is a bachelor.
Taking all these things into consideration, then, we shall be justified, if not in assuming that he was never married, at least in regarding it as an open question.
What Martial really stands convicted of on his own showing, is of laughing at that which ought to have roused in him shame and indignation, and of making literary capital out of other men's vices. This from a Christian point of view is bad enough, and the same fault in a society as nearly heathen as any nominally Christian society could be, cost Swift preferment. Like Swift, Martial allowed his genius sometimes to turn mudlarker, and make dirt-pies for his own and others^ amusement. And for this he deserves censure. But a man may claim, if he likes, to be judged by the standard of his own time, and indignation at vice for its own sake, or shame at a neighbour's impurities, were not feelings that belonged……….
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Book Condition
Color Boards: Very Nice decorated outer boards for the Age, see photos.
Vintage style Red pebbled boards, gold glit lettering on the spine, book does show age wear, blind stamped center emblem front board, slight chipping at upper spine edge.
There is some markings, pencil throughout text, and some ink markings on the inside front board and back boards, see photos,
Corners / Outer Boards: Slight bumped corners, slight scuffing and rubbing,
overall nice condition for the age of the book, see photos
Binding: Overall tight
binding for the age
Pages: Overall appears to be
clean good "collectible" condition.
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