The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter - Adventures of Encolpius and His Companions

The first volume of The Satyricon, by Petronius, featuring the narrator Encolpius and Giton.

More of This Feature • Satyricon Introduction • The Satyricon of Petronius - The Dinner of Trimalcho • The Satyricon of Petronius - Further Adventures of Encolpius and His Companions • The Satyricon of Petronius - Encolpius, Giton and Eumolpus Escape By Sea • The Satyricon of Petronius - Affairs at Crotona • The Satyricon of Petronius - Editor's Notes

Related Resources • Menippean Satire and Petronius Satyricon

Elsewhere on the Web • Steve Nimis on Menippean Satire

The Satyricon

Complete and unexpurgated translation of the Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter, by W. C. Firebaugh, in which are incorporated the forgeries of Nodot and Marchena, and the readings introduced into the text by De Salas.

Volume 1. -- Adventures of Encolpius and His Companions

Chapter the Twentieth.

"Pray; madame," I groaned, "if you have anything worse in store, bring it on quickly for we have not committed a crime so heinous as to merit death by torture." The maid, whose name was Psyche, quickly spread a blanket upon the floor (and) sought to secure an erection by fondling my member, which was already a thousand times colder than death. Ascyltos, well aware by now of the danger of dipping into the secrets of others, covered his head with his mantle. (In the meantime,) the maid took two ribbons from her bosom and bound our feet with one and our hands with the other. (Finding myself trussed up in this fashion, I remarked, "You will not be able to cure your mistress' ague in this manner!" "Granted," the maid replied, "but I have other and surer remedies at hand," she brought me a vessel full of satyrion, as she said this, and so cheerfully did she gossip about its virtues that I drank down nearly all of the liquor, and because Ascyltos had but a moment before rejected her advances, she sprinkled the dregs upon his back, without his knowing it.) When this repartee had drawn to a close, Ascyltos exclaimed, "Don't I deserve a drink?" Given away by my laughter, the maid clapped her hands and cried, "I put one by you, young man; did you drink so much all by yourself?" "What's that you say?", Quartilla chimed in. "Did Encolpius drink all the satyrion there was in the house?" And she laughed delightfully until her sides shook. Finally not even Giton himself could resist a smile, especially when the little girl caught him around the neck and showered innumerable kisses upon him, and lie not at all averse to it.

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The Satyricon by Petronius