Martial, Lib. I, Epig. I.
Martial, Lib. I, Epig. I. - form Summary
Epigrammatic Imitation
Byron adopts the concise epigram form to praise Martial and to urge living recognition rather than posthumous fame. The poem addresses the reader directly, naming Martial as the model and arguing that praise given while a poet lives lets him "hear, and feel, and know it." Its tight, aphoristic structure reinforces the message that immediacy matters: delayed honors, the epigram warns, seldom benefit their recipient.
Read Complete AnalysesHe unto whom thou art so partial, Oh, reader is the well-known Martial, The Epigrammatist: while living, Give him the fame thou wouldst be giving; So shall he hear, and feel, and know it– Post obits rarely reach a poet.
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