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 Ninth.

(After having tramped nearly all over the city,) I caught sight of Giton, as though through a fog, standing at the end of the street, (on the very threshold of the inn,) and I hastened to the same place. When I inquired whether my brother had prepared anything for breakfast, the boy sat down upon the bed and wiped away the trickling tears with his thumb. I was greatly disturbed by such conduct on the part of my brother, and demanded to be told what had happened. After I had mingled threats with entreaties, he answered slowly and against his will, "That brother or comrade of yours rushed into the room a little while ago and commenced to attempt my virtue by force. When I screamed, he pulled out his tool and gritted out -- If you're a Lucretia, you've found your Tarquin!" When I heard this, I shook my fists in Ascyltos' face, "What have you to say for yourself," I snarled, "you rutting pathic harlot, whose very breath is infected?" Ascyltos pretended to bristle up and, shaking his fists more boldly still, he roared: "Won't you keep quiet, you filthy gladiator, you who escaped from the criminal's cage in the amphitheatre to which you were condemned (for the murder of your host?) Won't you hold your tongue, you nocturnal assassin, who, even when you swived it bravely, never entered the lists with a decent woman in your life? Was I not a 'brother' to you in the pleasure-garden, in the same sense as that in which this boy now is in this lodging-house?" "You sneaked away from the master's lecture," I objected.

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The Satyricon by Petronius