You have robbed the young gallant of nostrils and ears,
And his face now of both is bereft.
But your vengeance remains incomplete it appears;
He has still got another part left.

[Foedasti miserum, marite, moechum,
Et se, qui fuerant prius, requirunt
Trunci naribus auribusque voltus.
Credis te satis esse vindicatum?
Erras: iste potest et irrumare.]

Marcus Valerius Martial
Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis]
Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 2, epigram 83 (2.83) (AD 86) [tr. Pott & Wright (1921)]
    (Source)

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

Thou hast deform'd the poor gallant;
Nor could they justice mercy grant.
His nose so slit and ear so tore,
Now seek in vain the grace they wore.
Now vengeance boasts her ample due.
Fool! mayn't the foe the charge renew?
[tr. Elphinston (1782), 6.2.34]

Husband, you have disfigured the wretched gallant, and his countenance, deprived of nose and ears, regrets the loss of its original form. Do you think that you are sufficiently avenged? You are mistaken: something still remains.
[tr. Bohn's Classical (1859)]

You have disfigured, O' husband, the wretched adulterer, and his face, shorn of nose and ears, misses its former self. Do you believe you are still sufficiently avenged? You mistake; he still has other activities.
[tr. Ker (1919)]

The cuckold finally caught the culprit,
Boxed his ears and broke his jaw.
But hasn't he missed the point?
[tr. Murray (1967)]

Oh husband, you have disfigured your wife's
unhappy seducer; with his nose and ears your knife's
satisfied its user. How his face misses
its familiar features! This revenge, it meets your
requirements? He can still ram it up their asses.
[tr. Bovie (1970)]

You took a dire revenge, one hears,
On him who stole your wife,
By cutting off his nose and ears --
It's marred his social life.
Still there's one thing you didn't get
And that could cause you trouble yet.
[tr. O. Pitt-Kethley (1987)]

Husband, you mutilated your wife's unhappy lover, and his face, maimed of nose and ears, misses its former self. Do you suppose you are sufficiently avenged? You err. He can also give suck.
[tr. Shackleton Bailey (1993)]

You have disfigured your wife's unfortunate lover, O husband: his face, deprived of nose and ears, vainly seeks its former state. Do you think you have sufficiently taken revenge? You're wrong. The man can also fuck in the mouth.
[tr. Williams (2004)]

The man gave you the cuckold's horn?
His ears and nose your knife has shorn.
Have you deprived him of a screw?
Just ask his mouth what it can do.
[tr. Wills (2007)]

Husband, you maimed your wife's poor lover.
Shorn of its nose and ears, his face
looks vainly for its former grace.
Do you believe you've done enough?
You're wrong. He still can be sucked off.
[tr. McLean (2014)]


 
Added on 9-Dec-22 | Last updated 27-Nov-23
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