An enriched shoemaker (IX, 73), Marziale

You used to iron with teeth
Leathers of worn-out slippers
To bite an old mud-soaked sole,
now you own your deceived patron’s fields in Preneste
I wouldn’t bear if you had a single room;
drunk on the generous Falerno,
you break beautiful crystal cups
and satisfy your lower istincts
with your master’s Ganimede.
My poor parents
Made me learn a little bit of culture
What’s the benefit of rhetoric and grammar?
Break off, Talia, my insignificant pens
If a simple slipper can bring this fortune to a shoe maker.

(Marta Bolognini - Matteo Moretti - Martina Stimilli)

Used to dressoldleather with yourteeth

and to bitemud-dirtyoldsoles,

youhold the Prenestianlands of your dead master

and I would be outragedifyou’veeverhad a cupboard in them;

andyoucrush, drunk of the sparkling Falerno, the glasses

andyoufeelspicy-greedy for the Ganymedes of your master.

But, myidiotparents, theytaught me theseletters:

andwhat do I get with grammarians and rhetors?

Break the light pens and rip, Talia, these books,

if a shoe can bringthiswhole to a shoemaker.

(Agnese Bruglia - Lucia Copparoni - Rebecca Vida Gambelli)