Silenced Intertext: Pliny on Martial on Pliny (on Regulus)

Going beyond the explicit dialogue between Epistle 3.21, by Pliny on Martial, and Epigram 10.19(20), by Martial on Pliny, this paper discusses a range of peripheral texts addressing issues of political patronage (Epistle 1.5, in the context of Epigrams 1.12 and 1.82), social customs (Epistle 4.2 and 4. 9 along with Epigram 6.38), and editorial etiquette (Epistle 3.1 and 3.20 in light of Epigram 10.19[20]). This reconnaissance into the subtler intertextual links uniting Pliny and Martial’s bodies of writing brings to the fore the figure of Regulus--his adversarial relation to Pliny, his display of mourning at his son’s death, and the frantic activity as self-editor--as the deeper connecting element, the embarrassing and yet unavoidable point of reference for both Pliny and Martial in their work as producers of culture.