Yet soft, my books, no haste, nor hurry fate;
If fame must wait on death, then let it wait.

[Vos tamen o nostri ne festinate libelli:
Si post fata venit gloria, non propero.]

Marcus Valerius Martial
Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis]
Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 5, epigram 10 (5.10.11-12) (AD 90) [tr. Pott & Wright (1921)]
    (Source)

Compare to Epigram 1.25.

"To Regulus." (Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

But haste not you (my Bookes) for Fame, to whom
Tis soone enough if after death it come.
[tr. May (1629)]

Let others to the Printing Presse run fast.
Since after death comes glory, Ile not haste.
[tr. Herrick (1648)]

O my small books, ne'er hasten to go out:
If praise come after death, I'll not go on.
[tr. Fletcher (1656)]

Yet you (my Bookes!) hast not to much, I pray:
If fame come not till after death, I'll stay.
[British Library MS Add. 27343]

With patience then, my Muse, to glory hy:
If after death she come, I shall not dy.
[tr. Elphinston (1782), 3.62]

Do not, however, you little books of mine, be in haste for fame:
if glory comes only after death, I am in no hurry for it.
[tr. Bohn's Classical (1859)]

If I gain fame after my death, I am content to wait.
[tr. Paley/Stone (1890), ep. 221]

Therefore, little books of mine,
Haste not; if glory comes but after death,
I'll wait awhile for glory.
[ed. Harbottle (1897)]

Pray, my impatient Muse, don't worry.
If death's due first, I'm in no hurry.
[tr. Francis & Tatum (1924), ep. 221]

Impatient little books of verse
For the plaudits of the universe,
If fame comes only after death,
Let's pause and rest, and catch our breath.
[tr. Marcellino (1968)]

But there's no cause, my little books, to worry:
If glory must be posthumous, why hurry?
[tr. Michie (1972)]

So, little books, let's not rush to our fate.
Since death comes before glory, let's be late.
[tr. Matthews (1992)]

So be calm, my Muse -- no need to rush or fret:
If death must precede fame, I'll not be famous yet.
[tr. Ericsson (1995)]

If I must die to get my fame,
I gladly will put off the same.
[tr. Wills (2007)]

Then be content, my books, to be slow paced;
Death before glory means -- no need for haste.
[tr. Pitt-Kethley (2008)]

But you, my little books, don’t hurry:
if glory comes only after death, I will not rush.
[tr. Robinson (2022)]

If glory comes after death, I hurry not.
[tr. Rush]


 
Added on 7-Mar-18 | Last updated 29-Dec-23
Link to this post | No comments
Topics: , , , , , , , ,
More quotes by Martial

Thoughts? Comments? Corrections? Feedback?