qvas

Wasting time, reading Martial's epigrams in latin... it's just like shopping, you can forget your problems easily with it. This one seemed particularly interesting. I wonder what the context actually is?

Martial Eppigrams - 13
Casta suo gladium cum traderet Arria Paeto,
quem de uisceribus strinxerat ipsa suis,
'Si qua fides, uulnus quod feci non dolet,' inquit,
'sed tu quod facies, hoc mihi, Paete, dolet.'

When chaste Arria handed the sword from her own to Paeto, which she drew from her own flesh, If there is any faith, the wound which I have made does not hurt, she said, but that wound which you will make, this does hurt me, Paete.

I also liked this one because it involves one of my favorite characters of latin poetry - Catullus's famed Lesbia!

34
Incustoditis et apertis, Lesbia, semper
liminibus peccas nec tua furta tegis,
et plus spectator quam te delectat adulter
nec sunt grata tibi gaudia si qua latent.
At meretrix abigit testem ueloque seraque
raraque Submemmi fornice rima patet.
A Chione saltem uel ab Iade disce pudorem:
abscondunt spurcas et monumenta lupas.
Numquid dura tibi nimium censura uidetur?
deprendi ueto te, Lesbia, non futui.

Lesbia, you are unsupervised and your doors always open, you sin and you dont cover up your tricks (furta), and a spectator delights you more than an adulterer nor is it pleasing to you if any joy lies hidden. But meanwhile a prostitute drives witnesses away with a veil and a bar. And rarely does a crack lie open in the brothels of Sumemmi. At least (saltem) learn modesty from Chioned or from Iade: dirty prostitutes hide in monuments. Now does it appear that my censures are too harsh for you? I forbid you to not get caught, Lesbia, not to not get f**ked!