Sunday, September 25, 2016

Arcovazzi Burning

Rumpitur invidia quidam, carissime Iuli,
quod me Roma legit, rumpitur invidia.
Rumpitur invidia, quod turba semper in omni
monstramur digito, rumpitur invidia.
Rumpitur invidia, tribuit quod Caesar uterque
ius mihi natorum, rumpitur invidia.
Rumpitur invidia, quod rus mihi dulce sub urbe est
parvaque in urbe domus, rumpitur invidia.
Rumpitur invidia, quod sum iucundus amicis,
quod conviva frequens, rumpitur invidia.
Rumpitur invidia, quod amamur quodque probamur:
rumpatur, quisquis rumpitur invidia.

There is a certain man, my dearest jewel!
That bursts with envy, spite, and malice cruel,
He bursts with envy, ’cause with wit I’m read;
And let him burst; Gods, curse him till he’s dead;
Because I’m pointed out, where-e’er I go,
He bursts with envy; let him burst in two.
Because restored unto my right I am,
He bursts with envy; let him burst and damn;
Because, in town, I’ve got a little box;
He bursts with envy; let him burst and pox;
And in the country too, a rural cot;
He bursts with envy; let him burst and rot;
Because I’m loved for mirth, and reckoned droll,
He bursts with envy; let him burst his soul;
Because in feasts, I’m asked to take a part
He bursts with envy; let him burst his heart;
Let all such wretches ever be accurst,
And burst with envy, who with envy burst.

Crepa di gelosia un tale, o carissimo Giulio,
perché Roma mi legge; crepa di gelosia.
Crepa di gelosia perché sempre in mezzo alla folla
vengo mostrato a dito; crepa di gelosia.
Crepa di gelosia, perché m’hanno dato due Cesari
il diritto di padre; crepa di gelosia.
Crepa di gelosia, perché oltre a una dolce campagna
ho la casetta in città; crepa di gelosia.
Crepa di gelosia, perché son diletto agli amici,
che m’invitano spesso; crepa di gelosia.
Crepa di gelosia, perché son cercato e stimato.
Crepi dunque chiunque crepa di gelosia.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 9, XCVII
English translation by The Gentleman’s Magazine (1753)
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

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