Recall that Don Juan's mother referred to them as "the nauseous epigrams of Martial," in Byron. She's probably thinking in particular of Book XI. They are a delight, a crude, base, insulting, very funny satire on different sexual crimes and misdemeanors. The only English verse that comes close is JV Cunningham, such as: "Lip is a man who used his head, / He used it when he went to bed / With his friend's wife..." and it gets better, "With either sex at either end."
M. Valerius Martialis, born in Bilbilis, Hispania (near Zaragoza) published his first book of epigrams the same year the Colisseum was completed, 80 A.D (at age 40). He advises readers who hold the book can pick one up at Secunda's stall in the Forum of Pallas, back of the Gate of Peace. He considers the losing soldier's fame cheap, just falling on his sword: "I'd prefer to be famous still alive." And he's ascerbic on the man who proposes to a rich woman: Why does he propose? She has a bad cough...(so she'll die and leave him her dowry).
One Lupercus asks to borrow his epigrams; Martial directs him to his bookseller, because he's closer. He parodies Catullus, who calls his girl Lesbea a "pet, a sparrow"--Martial calls his Stella a dove (maybe renowned for screwing). Martial also has many epigrams about his book, "Go--if you must, you'd be safer at home."
But some epigrams are longer than our idea of the form. I believe late 16C writers debated whether the sonnet was a lyric or an epigram.
But some epigrams are longer than our idea of the form. I believe late 16C writers debated whether the sonnet was a lyric or an epigram. The one great poet in English who writes epigrams is Emily Dickinson, but her epigrams are entirely uninfluenced by Martial. ED, "What soft, cherubic creatures / These gentlewomen are--/ One would as soon assault a Plush, / Or violate--a Star./ Such Dimity convictions, / A horror so refined / Of Freckled human Nature--/ Of Deity--Ashamed." ( )