Pagan Prayers of M. Valerius Martialis
Translations by M. Moravius Piscinus
IV 13.7-8: To Concordia
Radiant
Concordia, ever reside in this marriage, and so, fitly joined in matrimony, may
Venus always bless with children this couple.
An
offering I gladly give You, Phoebus, a box of fragrant incense, from Palatinus
Parthenius on behalf of his son.
V 7.5 To Vulcan
Soon,
I pray, Vulcan, memories of whispered rumors of disgrace and loud quarrels of
complaint You will no longer hold against the children of Mars; we are also the
children of Your sweet wife Venus, spare us, Father.
VI 38.9-10 To the Gods
Gods
preserve him, I pray, until returned from distant wars he fulfills his vows to
You, and in the son will be found both his father and his brother. (i. e. in Domitian, Vespasian and Titus.)
VI 43 To Egeria
Divine
Nymph, gliding through my Stellas house, your waters lave your lords fair
halls and court. Perchance Egaria,
divine wife of royal Numa, sent you forth from Dianas sacred grove, or have
you come from the nine heavenly Muses?
This sacrifice of a virgin sow I, Marcus, offer at your shrine, since,
while ill, by stealth I took a draught of your healing waters. Accept my quittance, Nymph, and henceforth
freely allow me to be safe and sound.
VII 60 To Jupiter
Jupiter,
sacred ruler on Tarpeian Heights, who we call Thunder, let other men petition
You and request Your divine favor, while Caesar is safe. But be not wroth with me if nothing I desire,
and nothing for my own bounty I ask, and all my prayers to the heavens are made
for Caesars good health, for all I truly need, from Caesar it is freely given.
VII 74 To Mercury
Mercury,
Cyllenes Glory, Heavens pride, Messenger with the clever tongue, around whose
golden staff the serpent coil, may it shine brightly among the Gods. May You enjoy Your stolen loves, whether You
desire Venus or Ganymede, and on the Ides may Your Mothers altar be adorned
with laurels, and Your grandfather Atlas bear a lighter load, if You will allow
Norbana and Carpus, who met for the first time today, to always celebrate their
nuptials together. This a pious master
of the arts offer a gift to Your wisdom, this incense I send to You, faithfully
I pray, and faithfully also to Jupiter.
VIII 2.8 To Janus
May
You give, Father Janus, what we ask of You.
VIII 8.1-6 To Janus
Janus,
though You begin each fleeting year, and renew the long ages wherever You
appear, though vows and incense are piously first offered to You, and the
consuls begin each year by laying offerings at Your feet, still there is no
more joy for You to know than that our divine emperor (Domitian) returns from
the northern climes.
VIII 39.5-6 Domitian
Much
later, I pray, it will be until you wish to ascend to your Heavenly Father and
rejoin His convivial company; if the Thunderer is in haste, let Jupiter descend
to you.
IX 17 To Asculapis
Latonas
grandson, revered Aesculapis, by whose mild herbal remedies too briefly are the
Fates beguiled, from Rome this child sends You his golden locks, that were once
his lords delight, and along with these the mirror that often assured him he
was fair. He hastens to sacrifice these
tresses that once circled his shining face, happily to serve, in payment for a
vow, if You judge that out of danger he will be. Preserve his youthful grace,
though his hair is now shortened, and long may You keep him handsome.
IX 42 To Apollo
May
Myrinas richness ever You hold, Apollo, thus always the swan song, too, may
You enjoy, may the well versed sisters ever serve You, the Delphic Pythia ever
reveal any of Your oracles, may the Palatia ever love and revere You, Were You ever to ask, and Caesar grant, that
he should invest Stella with consular powers, then gladly would I by vow become
indebted to You.
IX 58 To a Lake Nymph
Nymph
who reigns over this sacred lake, for whom grateful Sabinus piously
commissioned and enclosed this temple precinct.
Thus may mountainous Umbria always worship You there; its townsfolk of
Sarsina never lured off to Baia. Gently dispel my anxieties, accept my humble
books into Your care, and You will have been a Pegasean fountain of pure waters
to my Muse. (The Nymph replies) “Whoever
offers his songs into the care of nymphs, foretells what renown his own books
will receive.”
IX 90.13-8 To Venus
Restore
our youth, Venus, restore our healthy glow, and the kalends of March they will
devote to the Paphian goddess. Gladly
will the procession wind to Your altar, in shining white robes they will bring
You sweet incense and pure wine, served with glistening morsels of meat piled
as delicate petit fors.
X 7.1-2 For the Rhine
Rhine,
Father of every northern stream and of every northern nymph whoever drinks your
hoarfrost fed waters.
X 28.1-2 To Janus
Sower
of the years, Janus, beginning of the shining and most beautiful world, with
You begins our prayers and public vows.
XI 4 Nerva
Lares
whose sacred Phrygian rites the heir of Troy chose to preserve, brought by
Aeneas from when that city fell, so that now the gods, eternally crowned in
gold, sit on high. Jupiter, and Juno,
His heavenly sister and daughter of the Highest Father, and Janus, to You I
pray, I piously call on You to preserve the Senate, preserve the purple robed
emperor, leader of all, Nerva three times elected consul. May this prince live just as he is now, free
from death and disease.
XII 62.1 To Saturnus
Saturnus,
Great King of ancient starry skies and earth primieval, under Your peaceful
reign never was anyones tranquility disturbed by labor.