The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson

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Martial, Epigram 10.47 translated (‘The things that make the happier life are these’)

      [Martial, Epigram 10.47 Translated]

The things that make the happier life are these,

Most pleasant    Martial: substance got with ease,

Not laboured for, but left thee by thy sire;

 A soil not barren; a continual fire;

Never at law;  seldom  in office gowned; 5

A quiet mind;   free powers; and body sound;

A wise simplicity; friends   alike-stated;

Thy table without art, and  easy rated;

Thy  night not drunken,  but from  cares  laid waste;

No sour or  sullen bed-mate, yet a chaste; 10

 Sleep that will make the darkest hours   swift-paced.

 Will to be  what thou art; and nothing more:

Nor fear thy latest day, nor wish therefor.

Martial, Epigram 10.47 Ad Seipsum

Vitam quae faciant beatiorem,

Iucundissime Martialis, haec sunt:

Res non parta labore, sed relicta;

Non ingratus ager, focus perennis;

Lis numquam, toga rara, mens quieta; 5

Vires ingenuae, salubre corpus;

Prudens simplicitas, pares amici;

Convictus facilis, sine arte mensa:

Nox non ebria, sed soluta curis:

Non tristis torus, attamen pudicus: 10

Somnus, qui faciat breves tenebras:

Quod sis, esse velis nihilque malis:

Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes.

Martial, Epigram 10.47 Translated First printed from Jonson’s autograph copy in J. P. Collier (1841), p. 54. Composed before 1618, since it is mentioned in Informations, 10–11, 74. Jonson’s autograph (copy-text here) is JnB 319. Henry Wotton’s ‘Character of a Happy Life’ is transcribed by Jonson on the same bifolium. The date of Wotton’s poem is probably 1612–13 (see C. F. Main, 1955 and Pebworth, 1978; the date is also discussed in L. P. Smith, 1907, 2.415 and 1.129–30); this makes it probable that Jonson’s translation dates from 1612–18. Since the MS is in the Alleyn papers and appears to have been a presentation piece, the poems may belatedly respond to the actor’s retirement from the stage some time before 1612 (as indicated by Heywood, An Apology for Actors, sig. E2v). Jonson is likely to have revised the poem slightly, as the variants in JnB 320 indicate (JnB 321 is a late and unreliable copy of the earlier version from a MS which also contains an early version of Epigr. 101). A selection of versions of and responses to this poem by Martial appears in Ashmore, Certain Selected Odes (1621), sigs. O2-O2v, under the heading ‘A Blessed life’. Howard, Earl of Surrey, Poems, 34, and Randolph, Poems, 88, produced versions. An anonymous English translation, beginning ‘What makes a life most blest to be’ is in Harvard MS Eng 703, fol. 39v, which contains copies of four Jonson poems. The Latin text (not in the manuscript) is supplied here from Farnaby’s edition. [Editor: Colin Burrow]
Autograph copy in JnB 319 headed ‘Martial’
[Martial, Epigram 10.47 Translated]] this edn; Martial JnB 319
2 Martial The poem is addressed to Martial’s older friend Julius (as are e.g. 1.15, 3.5, 4.64, 6.1, 7.17, 12.34), whom earlier commentators believed to be Martial’s cousin. 5.20, also to Julius, sets out a similar rural ideal. See P. Howell (1980), 141–2. Farnaby entitles it ad seipsum (‘to himself’), whilst noting that it is in fact to Julius in the margin. Jonson therefore probably read the poem as part self-exhortation and part address to another.
2 Martial] JnB 319; howses JnB 321
4 A soil] JnB 319; land, and JnB 320 (there may be a scribal contraction of es at the end of ‘land’); Lands and JnB 321
5 seldom . . . gowned Toga rara, literally ‘rarely in a toga’. This could mean the toga of office, as in this version, or for formal dinners. Farnaby’s Martial (1615) has the note officia togata, urbana, clientum, ambitus &c, ‘togaed duties, in the city, to do with clientage, ambition and so on’.
5 in office] JnB 319; for visitts JnB 320, JnB 321
6 free powers The personal strength that enables the autonomy of a Roman noble.
6 free powers] JnB 319; cleare strength JnB 320; cleane strength JnB 321
7 alike-stated of similar status.
7–8 not in JnB 320
8 easy rated regarded as congenial. Translates convictus facilis, easy company.
9 night] JnB 319; nights JnB 320, JnB 321
9 but] JnB 319; yet JnB 320, JnB 321 subst.
9 cares] JnB 319; care JnB 320
9 laid waste freed (translating soluta).
10 sullen] JnB 319; sober JnB 320, JnB 321
11 Sleep that will make] JnB 319; and sleepe, wch makes JnB 320
11 swift-paced Vividly renders the bald breves, short.
11 swift-paced.] JnB 319 (swift pac’t.); swift-pac’t; H&S mistranscribing JnB 319
12 Will An imperative verb, rather than a noun: desire, urge yourself. See A. Miller (1983c).
12 what] JnB 319; that JnB 320, JnB 321 subst.