Gaius Lucilius

From Philosopedia

Lucilius, Gaius (c 180–102 B.C.E.?)

Lucilius, the Latin satiric poet and founder of Latin satire, influenced Horace, Juvenal, and Persius. His works contain pungent wit and humanistic sentiment not unlike that heard in contemporary times (and as shown in a translation by Dudley Fitts):

• Darling, at the Beautician’s you buy your

[a] hair

[b] complexion

[c] lips

[d] dimples, &

[e] teeth.

For a like amount you could just as well buy a face.

• When as in sleep the slender Artemidôra lay,

Demetrios fanned her with an ostrich-plume, &

Blew her clean out of the house.

• Firmly, as with one voice,

The entire Faculty of the College of Applied Astrology

Foretold a healthy old age for my father’s brother.

Hermokleidês alone

Maintained that he would die young;

but he made this statement

At the funeral service we held for my father’s brother.