word order: the word order in the first line echoes the familial affection of the content. Hanc ... puellam, the object of Martial's concern, stands on either end of the line, "embracing" those who are being addressed: Fronto and Flaccilla. Their nurturing roles as pater and genetrix, centered in the line, are nested between their names in an arrangement termed chiasmus (ie., if you place genetrix Flaccilla on a line below Fronto pater, the correspondences of proper name and role will form an X, the shape of the Greek letter chi).

genetrix, -icis, f.
a woman who has borne anyone or produced anything, a mother; the female form of genitor.

osculum, -i, n.
sweet mouth, little mouth (diminutive of os), kiss.

deliciae, -arum, f. pl.
delight, pleasure; sweetheart, darling.

ne= ut non; introduces a purpose clause followed by the subjunctive.

horreo, -ere, -ui, --
bristle, tremble, shudder, be frightened at.

Erotion= a Greek name, possibly indicating her origin; it is a diminutive formed from the Greek eros or erotis, meaning little loved one.

os, -oris, n.
mouth; face; head; lips; speech. The poet conjures up the triple-headed guardian of the underworld, Cerberus, as the image of all that is fearful in death.

Tartareus, -a, -um
of or belonging to Tartarus, the infernal regions.

prodigiosus, -a, -um
unnatural, monstrous.

impleo, -ere, -evi, -etum
complete, fulfill. This is the conclusion (apodosis) of a contrary to fact condition which is introduced in the next line by ni[si]. The poet uses the future active participle + the perfect of sum (impletura fuit) instead of the customary pluperfect subjunctive.

frigus, -oris, n.
cold.

bruma, -ae, f.
winter.

totidem, indeclinable adjective
so many, as many.

ni = nisi, conjunction
if not. It opens a contrary to fact condition in past time (for the conclusion see Impletura fuit above).

minus, comparative adverb
less.

ludo, -ere, lusi, lusum
frolic, play, sport. Translate the independent subjunctive as a wish.

lascivus, -a, -um
playful, frisky, wanton.

patronus, -i, m.
protector, defender, patron. The poet is referring to Fronto and Flacilla.

blaesus, -a, -um
lisping, indistinct.

garrio, -ire, -ivi, -itum
chatter, prate, talk. Translate the independent subjunctive as a wish.

mollis, -e
soft, gentle, tender.

non: the word order suggests that non negates rigidus not tegat; likewise nec illi at the end of the line.

caespes, -itis, m.
turf, sod.

tego, -ere, texi, tectum
cover, protect. Translate the independent subjunctive as a wish.

os, ossis, n.
bone.

fueris: this is the perfect subjunctive of sum, an archaic usage for the optative.

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