Baetulo

Baetulo was founded by the Romans in the 3rd century BCE just up Hispania Citerior's coast from the colony of Barcino. Here follow a few photos from this year's festival along with some of Martial's epigrams...

 XXVII

Hesterna tibi nocte dixeramus,

quincunces puto post decem peractos,

cenares hodie, Procille, mecum.

tu factam tibi rem statim putasti

et non sobria verba subnotasti

exemplo nimium periculoso:

μισω μναμονα συμποταν, Procille.

Last night, after five pints of wine, 

I said, “Procillus, come and dine

Tomorrow,” You assumed I meant

What I said (a dangerous precent)

And slyly jotted down a note

Of my drunk offer. Let me quote

A proverb from the Greek: “I hate

An unforgetful drinking mate”.

 LXIV

Bella es, novimus, et puella, verum est,

et dives, quis enim potest negare?

sed cum te nimium, Fabulla, laaudas,

nec dives neque bella nec puella es.

That you are young, beautiful and rich,

Fabulla, no one can deny.

But when you praise yourself too much, 

None of the epithets apply.

 LXXXVII

Ne gravitis hesterno fragres, Fescennia, vino,

pastillos Cosmi luxuriosa voras.

ista linunt dentes iantacula, sed nihil opstant,

extremo ruetus cum redil a barathro.

quid quod olet gravius mixtum dispasmate virus

atque duplex animae longius exit odor?

notas ergo nimis fraudes deprensaque furta

iam tollas et sis ebria simliciter.

Hoping, Fescennia, to overpower

The reek of last night’s drinking, you devour

Cosmus’ sweet-scented pastilles by the gross.

But though they give your teeth a whitish gloss

They fail to make your breath any less smelly

When a belch boils from your abyss-like belly.

In fact, blended with lozenges it’s much stronger, 

It travels farther and lingers longer.

Give up these stale, transparent tricks. A skunk

Must be itself. Why not just be a drunk?

Here are a few videos which should give you the general idea...