ginlindzey (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ginlindzey) wrote2007-03-15 11:31 am
ginlindzey) wrote2007-03-15 11:31 am
Entry tags:
More Martialis: CRAS, as in, don't proCRAStinate
Martialis V. 58
cras te victurum, cras dicis, Postume, semper
dic mihi, cras istud, Postume, quando venit?
quam longe cras istud, ubi est? aut unde petendum?
numquid apud Parthos Armeniosque latet?
iam cras istud habet Priami vel Nestoris annos
cras istud quanti, dic mihi, possit emi?
cras vives? hodie iam vivere, Postume, tardum est.
ille sapit quisquis, Postume, vixit heri.
The translation from the Loeb:
You say you will live tomorrow, Postumus, always tomorrow. Tell me, that tomorrow, Postumus, when is it coming? How far off is that tomorrow? where is it, or where will you go to get it? Is it hiding in Parthia or Armenia? That tomorrow of yours is already as old as Priam or Nestor. How much, tell me, would that tomorrow cost to buy? Will you live tomorrow? It's already overlate, Postumus, to live today. He is wise, Postumus, who lived yesterday.
WOW.
Who are these Romans that we study? Who is Martial? He was raunchy, outspoken, and clever. He apparently had a wife, but seemed keen on boys as well. He could say the meanest, vilest things about people, poke fun at others' misfortunes... and here he is, with the ultimate of truths.
You can't live for tomorrow. Carpe diem, fine, but Horace is a bit challenging and too lofty for the average reader/listener perhaps. But here it is for anyone to get, using the name Postumus--how apt. And not even live for today, but pointing out that whoever has lived YESTERDAY is wise.
We don't know what will happen to us. We can't say we're going to do X tomorrow or next year and know that can happen. This year I've seen the worst of car crashes, cancer, and heart disease. You only get older and your body betrays you. Live for today, not tomorrow.
This is why I read Martial.
cras te victurum, cras dicis, Postume, semper
dic mihi, cras istud, Postume, quando venit?
quam longe cras istud, ubi est? aut unde petendum?
numquid apud Parthos Armeniosque latet?
iam cras istud habet Priami vel Nestoris annos
cras istud quanti, dic mihi, possit emi?
cras vives? hodie iam vivere, Postume, tardum est.
ille sapit quisquis, Postume, vixit heri.
The translation from the Loeb:
You say you will live tomorrow, Postumus, always tomorrow. Tell me, that tomorrow, Postumus, when is it coming? How far off is that tomorrow? where is it, or where will you go to get it? Is it hiding in Parthia or Armenia? That tomorrow of yours is already as old as Priam or Nestor. How much, tell me, would that tomorrow cost to buy? Will you live tomorrow? It's already overlate, Postumus, to live today. He is wise, Postumus, who lived yesterday.
WOW.
Who are these Romans that we study? Who is Martial? He was raunchy, outspoken, and clever. He apparently had a wife, but seemed keen on boys as well. He could say the meanest, vilest things about people, poke fun at others' misfortunes... and here he is, with the ultimate of truths.
You can't live for tomorrow. Carpe diem, fine, but Horace is a bit challenging and too lofty for the average reader/listener perhaps. But here it is for anyone to get, using the name Postumus--how apt. And not even live for today, but pointing out that whoever has lived YESTERDAY is wise.
We don't know what will happen to us. We can't say we're going to do X tomorrow or next year and know that can happen. This year I've seen the worst of car crashes, cancer, and heart disease. You only get older and your body betrays you. Live for today, not tomorrow.
This is why I read Martial.