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Another poet, in this period, was FABRICIUS VEIENTO, who wrote a severe satire against the priests of his time; as also one against the senators, for corruption in their judicial capacity. Nothing remains of either of those productions; but, for the latter, the author was banished by Nero. There now likewise flourished a lyric poet, CAESIUS BASSUS, to whom Persius has addressed his sixth satire.
"Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico Tangit, et admissus circum praecordia ludit." This was the commendation which Persius gave him; where by vitium he means those little vices which we call follies, the defects of human understanding, or at most the peccadilloes of life, rather than the tragical vices to which men are hurried by their unruly passions and exorbitant desires.
It is a retaliation on Satire's part for the intimate knowledge she had allowed us to gain of Horace and Persius through their works. In manner Juvenal is the most original of poets; in matter he is the glorifier of common-place. His strength lies in his prejudices.
Some verses are wanting at the end of the book , but Cornutus thoughtlessly recited it, as if it was finished; and on Caesius Bassus requesting to be allowed to publish it, he delivered it to him for that purpose., In his younger days, Persius had written a play, as well as an Itinerary, with several copies of verses on Thraseas' father-in-law, and Arria's mother, who had made away with herself before her husband.
Scaliger the father, Rigaltius, and many others debase Horace that they may set up Juvenal; and Casaubon, who is almost single, throws dirt on Juvenal and Horace that he may exalt Persius, whom he understood particularly well, and better than any of his former commentators, even Stelluti, who succeeded him.
At that time Cornutus was a tragic writer; he belonged to the sect of the Stoics, and left behind him some philosophical works. Lucan was so delighted with the writings of Persius Flaccus, that he could scarcely refrain from giving loud tokens of applause while the author was reciting them, and declared that they had the true spirit of poetry.
Contempt is to me a luxury. I would not lose the privilege of loathing for all the objects which fools ever admired. What does old Persius say on the subject? "'Hoc ridere meum, tam nil, nulla tibi vendo Iliade."* * "This privilege of mine, to laugh, such a nothing as it seems, I would not barter to thee for an Iliad."
Lucan and Persius represent the effect which Roman Stoicism had on two natures of equal sensibility but widely different quality and taste.
"Do not let us suppose," says Captain Persius the most honest of German naval critics, in a recent article "that we have shaken the sea-power of England. That would be foolishness." While Mr.
The writing of Persius was that of a student who gathered the types he satirised from books rather than from life. Juvenal brought to his task not only a wide knowledge of the world or, at least, of the world of the capital but a singular power of mordant phrase, and a mastery over crude and vivid effect that keeps the reader suspended between disgust and admiration.
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