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Juvenal: Satire 4

Juvenal: Satire 4. Crispinus (ln 1-27). Satire 1: “blob of Nilotic scum, bred in Canopus...” Wholly immoral...and rich! Enjoys luxurious property in the middle of the city Adulterer and sex criminal in general Ln 8: “a villain is never happy...”. Crispinus (ctd). Extravagant eating

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Juvenal: Satire 4

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  1. Juvenal: Satire 4

  2. Crispinus (ln 1-27) • Satire 1: “blob of Nilotic scum, bred in Canopus...” • Wholly immoral...and rich! • Enjoys luxurious property in the middle of the city • Adulterer and sex criminal in general • Ln 8: “a villain is never happy...”

  3. Crispinus (ctd) • Extravagant eating • Buys a fish for an outrageous price (ln 24-25) • Does not share the fish • “Purple-clad clown of the royal palace” (ln. 31) • Lit. scurra Palati • Palatine Hill, site of the imperial palace • Segue into a description of Domitian • Similarities between Domitian and Crispinus • Both are adulterous and gluttonous

  4. Crispinus (ctd) • Alleged affair with a Vestal Virgin • Description of the Vestal’s punishment (ln 10) • Is Crispinus punished?

  5. Bridge Passage (ln 28-72) • Domitian • Giant Fish • Delatores

  6. Domitian’s Reign (ln 34-38) • “last of the Flavian line” (ln 37) • Vespasian Titus  Domitian • “a bald-headed Nero” (ln 38) • Nero and Domitian had similar reigns • Damaged and subjugated world

  7. Giant Fish (ln 39-46) • Caught in Ancona • Juvenal’s description • Embellishment of the fish’s size • Fisherman • Brings the “monster” (monstrum) to the high priest (pontifex maximus), i.e. the emperor (ln 45-46)

  8. Informers-Delatores (ln 47-57) • ln 46-52: dangers posed by the delatores • delatores, a.k.a inquisitores • Spies or informers who discovered or invented conspiracies • Obviously not always truthful (ln 50-52)

  9. Informers-Delatores (ctd) • ln 48: “public inspectors of seaweed, scattered over the shore” • Image of a desolate beach full of snoops, looking through rubbish

  10. Domitian’s Council (ln 58-149) • Fisherman rushes to Alba • Site of Domitian’s villa • Fish is admitted • Senators look on in amazement; they are blocked out! • Example of flattery by the fisherman • Domitian’s chief advisory council is summoned • Why? –ln 72

  11. Domitian’s Council (ctd) • Members of the Council • Pegasus and Crispus (ln 78-93) • Examples of wasted potential in advisors • Pegasus: “Justice without her sword” ln 80-81 • Crispus’ old age • Acilius Glabrio • Forced to fight in the arena in Alba by Domitian, but is successful • Incurs the wrath of the emperor and is executed

  12. Domitian’s Council (ctd) • Montanus (the Stomach) • Cf. “the...litter of Matho...filled with himself” –Satire 1 • Crispinus, again • Perfume smells like a pair of “funerals” (funera) • Veiento • Flatterer and false prophet-figure (ln 123-129) • Parody of taking the auspices • Blind Catullus, not Catullus the poet! • “no one was more amazed at the turbot. Facing left, he praised it greatly...However, the creature was lying on the right” (ln 119-120)

  13. Domitian’s Council (ctd) • Domitian’s only words in the satire: “So what do you recommend? Cut in him pieces?” • Montanus has the final say • Ln 131-135

  14. Final Focus on Domitian • Council is dismissed • Ln 146-148: shows the triviality of the meeting and apprehension Domitian causes • “If only he had spent his entire reign on such silly matters...” • Domitian’s reign is cruel and bloody • While the aristocracy is too cowed to stand up to the emperor, the “workers” (cerdones) assassinate him • Final image of the satire: “hands stained with blood of the Lamiae” (ln 152)

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