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The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter - The Dinner of Trimalcho
The second volume of The Satyricon, by Petronius, featuring the Dinner of Trimalchio.
 More of This Feature
• Satyricon Introduction
• Satyricon Volume 1 - Adventures of Encolpius and His Companions
• Satyricon Volume 2 - The Dinner of Trimalcho
• Satyricon Volume 3 - Further Adventures of Encolpius and His Companions
• Satyricon Volume 4 - Encolpius, Giton and Eumolpus Escape By Sea
• Satyricon Volume 5 - Affairs at Crotona
• The Satyricon of Petronius - Editor's Notes
 
 Related Resources
• Menippean Satire and Petronius Satyricon
 

VOLUME 2. -- THE DINNER OF TRIMALCHIO

CHAPTER THE FIFTY-FIRST.

"But there was an artisan, once upon a time, who made a glass vial that couldn't be broken. On that account he was admitted to Caesar with his gift; then he dashed it upon the floor, when Caesar handed it back to him. The Emperor was greatly startled, but the artisan picked the vial up off the pavement, and it was dented, just like a brass bowl would have been! He took a little hammer out of his tunic and beat out the dent without any trouble. When he had done that, he thought he would soon be in Jupiter's heaven, and more especially when Caesar said to him, 'Is there anyone else who knows how to make this malleable glass? Think now!' And when he denied that anyone else knew the secret, Caesar ordered his head chopped off, because if this should get out, we would think no more of gold than we would of dirt."

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Satyricon Volume 2 Index

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http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_satyricon2_51.htm

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