Note 1536 — Chapter VII · MARTIAL AND MINOR FLAVIAN POETRY
Reading edition
IV. xliv.:
“Licuisse” in the closing couplet,
“Cuncta iacent flammis et tristi mersa fauilla: Nec superi uellent hoc licuisse sibi”
is surprisingly taken to refer to auction-bidding by Prof. Courthope, Selectns. fr. Martial Translated, 1914:
“Now for the place ’neath these sad ashes hid, If up for sale, what single god would bid?”