Ep. 3.21.1Audiō Valerium Mārtiālem dēcessisse et molestē ferō.I hear that Valerius Martialis has died, and I am grieved. Ep. 3.21.1Erat homō ingeniōsus acūtus ācer, et quī plūrimum in scrībendō et salis habēret et fellis nec candōris minus.He was a talented man, sharp and keen, one who in his writing had a great deal of both wit and gall, and no less candour. Ep. 3.21.2Prōsecūtus eram viāticō sēcēdentem;I had sent him off with money for the journey when he was retiring; Ep. 3.21.2dederam hoc amīcitiae, dederam etiam versiculīs, quōs dē mē composuit.I had given this to our friendship, I had given it also to the little verses he composed about me. Ep. 3.21.3Fuit mōris antīquī eōs, quī vel singulōrum laudēs vel urbium scrīpserant, aut honōribus aut pecūniā honōrāre;It was an old custom to honour with offices or with money those who had written the praises of individuals or of cities; Ep. 3.21.3nostrīs vērō temporibus ut alia speciōsa et ēgregia ita hoc in prīmīs exolēvit.but in our times this above all, like other fine and excellent things, has fallen out of use.
Ep. 3.21.3Nam postquam dēsiimus facere laudanda, laudārī quoque ineptum putāmus.For since we ceased to do things worthy of praise, we think it foolish to be praised as well. Ep. 3.21.4Quaeris, quī sint versiculī, quibus grātiam rettulī?You ask what the verses are for which I returned the favour? Ep. 3.21.4Remitterem tē ad ipsum volūmen, nisi quōsdam tenērem;I would refer you to the volume itself, if I did not remember some of them; Ep. 3.21.4tū, sī placuerint hī, cēterōs in librō requīrēs.if you like these, you will look for the rest in the book. Ep. 3.21.5Alloquitur Mūsam, mandat, ut domum meam Esquiliīs quaerat, adeat reverenter: Sed nē tempore nōn tuō disertam pulsēs ēbria iānuam vidētō;He addresses the Muse and bids her seek out my house on the Esquiline and approach it respectfully: 'But take care that you do not, drunk, knock at the eloquent door at a time that is not yours; Ep. 3.21.5tōtōs dat tetricae diēs Minervae, dum centum studet auribus virōrum hoc, quod saecula posterīque possint Arpīnīs quoque comparāre chartīs.he gives whole days to stern Minerva, while for the ears of the Hundred Men he labours at what ages to come and posterity may compare even with the pages of Arpinum.
Ep. 3.21.5Sērās tūtior ībis ad lucernās;You will go more safely at the hour of the late lamps; Ep. 3.21.5haec hōra est tua, cum furit Lyaeus, cum regnat rosa, cum madent capillī.this hour is yours, when Lyaeus revels, when the rose reigns, when hair is drenched with scent. Ep. 3.21.5Tunc mē vel rigidī legant Catōnēs.Then let even rigid Catos read me.' Ep. 3.21.6Meritōnē eum, quī haec dē mē scrīpsit, et tunc dīmīsī amīcissimē et nunc ut amīcissimum dēfūnctum esse doleō?Was I right, then, both to send off most affectionately at that time the man who wrote this about me, and to grieve now at his death as that of a most affectionate friend? Ep. 3.21.6Dedit enim mihi, quantum maximum potuit, datūrus amplius, sī potuisset.For he gave me the most he could, and would have given more had he been able. Ep. 3.21.6Tametsī, quid hominī potest darī maius quam glōria et laus et aeternitās?And yet what greater thing can be given to a man than glory and praise and eternity? Ep. 3.21.6At nōn erunt aeterna, quae scrīpsit;But what he wrote will not be eternal; Ep. 3.21.6nōn erunt fortasse, ille tamen scrīpsit, tamquam essent futūra.perhaps it will not, yet he wrote it as if it were going to be.
Ep. 3.21.6Valē.Farewell.