SOURCE: "The Obituary Epigrams of Martial," The Classical Journal, Vol. 49, No. 6, March, 1954, pp. 265-72.

In this essay, originally delivered as a lecture in 1952, Johnson examines Martial's epigrams on death and dying. He calls attention to the poet's use of conventional tropes—especially from mythology—but he also remarks on the originality and genuine emotion in several of these obituaty epigrams.

There are some twenty-five obituary epigrams¹ in Martial's corpus of 1561 poems.² If one includes all the pieces pertaining to death the total is considerably increased. To these Pliny's³ familiar appraisal of Martial par excellence applies. Though wit is less appropriate in them than pathos⁴ it is present here, but, as one would expect, well within bounds. A sufficiency of fel is assuredly to be found in his satirical epigrams on the blame-worthy dead. However, in the majority of his obituary pieces Martial qualifies for Pliny's candor. The term...