Such wholesome truths as these and many more did Juvenal press home upon his generation. And he speaks no less to all humanity; for the problems of human life and conduct are not peculiar to any age, but are always and everywhere the same.
We have now reviewed two centuries of Roman preachers, and it may naturally be asked, "What was their influence upon the Roman world?" No direct results are traceable to their efforts. Society went on its accustomed course; the seeds of decay and death sprang up, grew to maturity, and brought forth their natural fruits of national destruction in due season, apparently unchecked by the counter influences of which we have spoken. These influences cannot yet be weighed and known—not until account has been taken of all the factors in the world's life problem, the grand totals cast up and the trial balance made. But in that time the bead-roll of the world's real benefactors will contain the names of these Roman satirists whose voices were raised against an age of wrong in immemorial protest, who were the numb and dormant conscience of the human race awakened and incarnate in a human tongue.
SUMMARY AND QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW
Roman Satire, as illustrated by the works of Ennius (239-169 B. C.), Lucilius (180-103 B. C.), Horace (65-8 B. C.), Persius (34-62 A. D.), and Juvenal (48(?)-138(?) A. D.).
1. What position did the Roman satirist occupy as a teacher of morals? 2. Show how the great Greek writers served as models for the leading Roman men of letters. 3. In what literary field did the Romans strike out for themselves? 4. What may we suppose was the character of the rude satire of ancient Italy? 5. What position does Ennius hold among Roman satirists? 6. What famous events took place within the lifetime of Lucilius? 7. How did his social position help to make his writings effective? 8. What did the Romans themselves think of him? 9. How have fragments of his works been preserved to us? 10. What picture of life in the Roman Forum does he present? 11. Give other examples of the teachings of Lucilius. 12. Quote his definition of virtue. 13. How does Horace's attitude toward his fellow-men differ from that of Lucilius? 14. What advantage had he in his early education? 15. Illustrate his habit of personal reflection upon the events of the day. 16. What are the marked qualities of his style? 17. Describe his argument in favor of contentment. 18. What qualities of the "bore" are brought out in his famous satire on this subject? 19. What is his criticism of Lucilius? 20. Give an account of Horace's own life. 21. What ideas does he set forth in his satire to Mæcenas? 22. What description does he give of his father? 23. What picture does he give of his life on his farm as contrasted with his life in Rome? 24. How did the circumstances of the life of Persius differ from those of Horace? 25. How different is his poetry for this reason? 26. Illustrate the poet's high estimate of Stoicism. 27. How does he treat the subject of prayer in one of his famous satires? 28. How is his skill shown in his picture of the false suppliant? 29. What do we know of the life of Juvenal? 30. What was the character of the times in which he lived? 31. How does his style differ from that of Horace? 32. How does he deal with the Hellenizing tendencies of his time? 33. Give an outline of his satire upon the vanity of human wishes. 34. What is his solemn warning to parents?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Simcox, History of Latin Literature: Early Satire, Lucilius, Vol. I, pp. 62-68; Horace, pp. 283-300; Persius, Vol. II, pp. 80-86; Juvenal, pp. 118-138.
- Sellar, The Roman Poets of the Republic: Early Roman Satire, C. Lucilius, pp. 222-252. The Roman Poets of the Augustan Age—Horace and the Elegiac Poets: The Satires of Horace, pp. 51-84.
- Tyrrell, Latin Poetry: Horace and Lucilius, pp. 162-181; Latin Satire, pp. 216-259.
- Nettleship, The Original Form of the Roman Satura. Lectures and Essays: Horace, Life and Poems, pp. 143-167.
- Conington, The Satires of Persius, with translations and commentary: Lecture on Life and Writings of Persius, pp. xiii-xxxii.
- Gifford, Satires of Juvenal and Persius, translated into English verse: The Life of Juvenal, Vol. I, pp. xxxi-xlviii; The Roman Satirists, pp. xlix-lxxxii; Life and Satires of Persius, Vol. II, pp. v-xlvii.
- Pearson and Strong, Thirteen Satires of Juvenal (the best text edition with commentary): Life of Juvenal, pp. 9-46.