--- title: "Fragments and Poems · Fragmenta et poemata" author: "Petronius" translator: "Michael Heseltine" languages: [la, en] shelf: "Classical Latin" section: 1 of 2 url: https://scriptura.si/works/petronius-fragments-and-poems/1/ cite: "Petronius, tr. Michael Heseltine, Fragments and Poems · Fragmenta et poemata, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/petronius-fragments-and-poems/1/" --- # Fragments and Poems · Fragmenta et poemata *Petronius, tr. Michael Heseltine* What survives of Petronius outside the Satyricon: fragments quoted by later writers and short poems on love, dreams and the passing of things. > Latin: ed. Michael Heseltine, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0972.phi001f, phi0972.phi001p, CC BY-SA 4.0). > English: Michael Heseltine, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0972.phi001f.perseus-eng1, phi0972.phi001p.perseus-eng1). Notes are not included. > Rows follow the references the two texts share (chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence. ## 1. Sections 1–25 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/petronius-fragments-and-poems/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/petronius-fragments-and-poems/1/#p-N [¶0] 1. Servius on Virgil, Aeneid III, 57: “The sacred hunger for gold.” “Sacred” means “accursed.” This expression is derived from a Gallic custom. For whenever the people of Massilia were burdened with pestilence, one of the poor would volunteer to be fed for an entire year out of public funds on food of special purity. After this period he would be decked with sacred herbs and sacred robes, and would be led through the whole state while people cursed him, in order that the sufferings of the whole state might fall upon him, and so he would be cast out. This account has been given in Petronius. > Latin: 1. Servius ad Vergili Aen. III 57: auri sacra fames sacra id est execrabilis. Tractus est autem sermo ex more Gallorum. Nam Massilienses quotiens pestilentia laborabant, unus se ex pauperibus offerebat alendus anno integro publicis sumptibus et purioribus cibis. Hic postea ornatus verbenis et vestibus sacris circumducebatur per totam civitatem cum exsecrationibus, ut in ipsum reciderent mala totius civitatis, et sic proiciebatur. Hoc autem in Petronio lectum est Servius ad Vergili Aen. [¶1] 2. Servius on Virgil, Aeneid XII, 159, on the feminine gender of nouns ending in -tor: But if they are not derived from a verb they are common in gender. For in these cases both the masculine and the feminine end alike in -tor, for example, senator, a male or female senator, balneator, a male or female bath attendant, though Petronius makes an exception in speaking ofa “bath-woman” (balneatricem). > Latin: 2. XII 159 de feminino nominum in tor exeuntium genere: Si autem a verbo non venerint, communia sunt. Nam similiter et masculina et feminina in tor exeunt, ut hic et haec senator, hic et haec balneator, licet Petronius usurpaverit balneatricem dicens Pseudacro ad Horati epod. [¶2] 3. Pseud-Acro on Horace, Epodes 5, 48: “Canidia biting her thumb”: He expressed the appearance and movements of Canidia in a rage. Petronius, wishing to portray a furious person, says “biting his thumb to the quick.” Sidonius Apollinaris Carmen XXIII, 145, 155: Why should I hymn you, tuneful Latin writers, thou of Arpinum, thou of Patavium, thou of Mantua? And thou, Arbiter, who in the gardens of the men of Massilia findest a home on the hallowed tree-trunk as the peer of Hellespontine Priapus? > Latin: 3. 5, 48: Canidia rodens pollicem habitum et motum Canidiae expressit furentis. Petronius ut monstraret furentem, pollice ait usque ad periculum roso Sidonius Apollinaris carminis XXIII: quid vos eloquii canam Latini, Arpinas, Patavine, Mantuane?— Et te Massiliensium per hortos sacri stipitis, Arbiter, colonum Hellespontiaco parem Priapo? [¶3] 5. Priscian Institutiones VIII, 16 and XI, 29 (pp. 881, 567 ed. Hertz) among the examples by which he shows that the past participles of deponent verbs have a passive meaning: Petronius, “the soul locked (amplexam) in our bosoms.” > Latin: 5. Priscianus institutionum VIII 16 p. 381 et XI 29p. 567 Hertzii inter exempla quibus deponentium verborum participia praeteriti temporis passivam significationem habere declarat: Petronius animam nostro amplexam pectore Boethius in Porphyrium a Victorino translatum dialogo II extreme p. [¶4] 5b. Boethius on Victorinus's translation of Porphyry, Dialogue II (p. 45 ed. Basle): I shall be very glad to do it, he said. But since the morning sun, in Petronius's words, has now smiled upon the roofs, let us get up, and if there is any other point, it shall be treated later with more careful attention. > Latin: 5b. 45 exemplarium Basiliensium: Ego faciam, inquit, libentissime. Sed quoniam iam matutinus, ut ait Petronius, sol tectis arrisit, surgamus, et si quid est illud, diligentiore postea consideratione tractabitur Fulgentius mythologiarum I p. [¶5] 6. Fulgentius Mythologiae I (p. 22 ed. Muncker): You do not know... how women dread satire. Lawyers may retreat and scholars may not utter a syllable before the flood of a woman's words, the rhetorician may be dumb and the herald may stop his cries; satire alone can put a limit to their madness, though it be Petronius's Albucia who is hot. > Latin: 6. 23 Munckeri: Nescis.. quantum saturam matronae formident. Licet mulierum verbialibus undis et causidici cedant nec grammatici muttiant, rhetor taceat et clamorem praeco compescat, sola est quae modum imponit furentibus, licet Petroniana subet Albucia Fulgentius mythologiarum III 8 p. [¶6] 7. Fulgentius Mythologiae III, 8 (p. 124), (where he remarked that essence of myrrh is very strong): hence too Petronius Arbiter says that he drank a cup of myrrh in order to excite his passion. > Latin: 7. 124 ubi sucum myrrhae valde fervidum esse dixit: Unde et Petronius Arbiter ad libidinis concitamentum myrrhinum se poculum bibisse refert Fulgentius in expositione Virgilianae continentiaep. [¶7] 8. Fulgentius in his Treatise on the Contents of Virgil's works (p. 156): For we have already explained above the application of the myth of Cerberus with Three Heads to quarrels and litigation in the courts. Hence too Petronius says of Euscios, “The barrister was a Cerberus of the courts.” > Latin: 8. 156: Tricerberi enim fabulam iam superius exposuimus in modum iurgii forensisque litigii positam. Unde et Petronius in Euscion ait Cerberus forensis erat causidicus Fulgentius in expositione sermonum antiquorum 42 p. [¶8] 9. Fulgentius in his Explanation of Old Words, 42 (p. 565 in Mercer's edition): Ferculum means a dish of flesh. Hence too Petronius Arbiter says, “After the dish offlesh (ferculum) was brought in.” > Latin: 9. 565 Merceri: Ferculum dicitur missum carnium. Unde et Petronius Arbiter ait postquam ferculum allatum est Fuigentius ibidem 46 p. [¶9] 10. Fulgentius ibid. 46 (p. 565): Valgia really means the twisting of the lips which occurs in vomiting. As Petronius also says, “With lips twisted as in a vomit (valgiter).” > Latin: 10. 565: Valgia vero sunt labellorum obtortiones in supinatione factae. Sicut et Petronius ait obtorto valgiter labello Fulgentius ibidem 52 p. [¶10] 11. Fulgentius ibid. 52 (p. 566): Alucinare means to dream falsely, and is derived from alucitae, which we call conopes (mosquitoes). As Petronius Arbiter says, “For the mosquitoes (alucitae) were troubling my companion.” > Latin: 11. 566: Alucinare dicitur vana somniari, tractum ab alucitis, quos nos conopes dicimus. Sicut Petronius Arbiter ait nam contubernalem alucitae molestabant Fulgentius ibidem 60 p. [¶11] 12. Fulgentius ibid. 60 (p. 567): Manubiae means the ornaments of kings. Hence Petronius Arbiter also says, “So many kingly ornaments (manubiae) found in the possession of a runaway.” > Latin: 12. 567: Manubiae dicuntur ornamenta regum. Unde et Petronius Arbiter ait tot regum manubiae penes fugitivum repertae Fulgentius ibidem 61 p. [¶12] 13. Fulgentius ibid. 61 (p. 567): Aumatium means a private place in a public spot such as theatres or the circus. Hence Petronius Arbiter also says, “I hurled myself into the privy-place (aumatium).” > Latin: 13. 567: Aumatium dicitur locum secretum publicum sicut in theatris aut in circo. Unde et Petronius Arbiter ait in aumatium memet ipsum conieci Isidorus originum V 26, 7: Dolus est mentis calliditas ab eo quod deludat: aliud enim agit, aliud simulat. [¶13] 14. Isidorus Origines V, 26, 7: Dolus is the mental cunning on the part of the deceiver: for he does one thing and pretends another. Petronius takes a different view when he says, “What is a wrong (dolus), gentlemen? It occurs whenever anything offensive to the law is done. You understand what a wrong is: now take damage...” > Latin: 14. Petronius aliter existimat dicens quid est, iudices, dolus? Nimirum ubi aliquid factum est quod legi dolet. Habetis dolum: accipite nunc malum Glossarium S. [¶14] 15. Glossary of St. Dionysius: The spring-board is a kind of game. Petronius, “Now lifted high at the will of the spring-board.” > Latin: 15. Dionysii: Petaurus genus ludi. Petronius petauroque iubente modo superior. [¶15] 16. From the Glossary of St. Dionysius: Petronius, 'It was quite certainly their usual plan to go through the Grotto of Naples only with backs bent double. > Latin: 16. Petronius satis constaret eos nisi inclinatos non solere transire cryptam Neapolitanam ex glossario S. Dionysii. [¶16] 17. Another Glossary: Suppes suppumpis, that is with feet bent backwards. Tullia, mediator (?) or princess. > Latin: 17. In alio glossario: Suppes suppumpis, hoc est supinis pedibus. Tullia, media vel regia. [¶17] 18. Nicolaus Perottus in the Cornucopia (p. 200, 26 in the Aldine Edition of 1513): Cosmus too was a superb perfumer, and ointments are called Cosmian after him. The same writer (Juvenal 8, 86) says, “and let him be plunged deep in a bronze vase of Cosmus.” Petronius, “Bring us, he said, an alabaster box of Cosmus ointment.” > Latin: 18. Nicotaus Perottus Cornu copiae p. 200, 26 editionis Aldinae anni 1513: Cosmus etiam excellens unguentarius fuit, a quo unguenta dicta sunt Cosmiana. idem [luvenalis 8, 86] Cet Cosmi toto mergatur aheno. Petronius affer nobis, inquit, alabastrum Cosmiani Terentianus Maurus de metris: Horatium videmus versus tenoris huius nusquam locasse iuges, at Arbiter disertus libris suis frequentat. [¶18] 19. Terentianus Maurus on Metre: We see that Horace nowhere employed verse of this rhythm continuously, but the learned Arbiter uses it often in his works. You will remember these lines, which we are used to sing: “The maidens of Memphis, made ready for the rites of the Gods. The boy coloured deep as the night with speaking gestures.” Marius Victorinus III, 17 (Keil, Grammatici, II, 138): We know that the lyric poets inserted some lines of this rhythm and form in their works, as we find too in Arbiter, for example: “The maidens of Memphis, made ready for the rites of the Gods,” and again“Coloured deep as the night, [dancing] Egyptian dances.” > Latin: 19. Agnoscere haec potestis, cantare quae solemus: “Memphitides puellae sacris deum paratae. Tinctus colore noctis manu puer loquaci” Terentianus Maurus de metris: Nunc divisio, quam loquemur, edet metrum, quo memorant Anacreonta dulces composuisse cantilenas. [¶19] 20. Terentianus Maurus on Metre: Now the analysis, which we will explain, will give us the metre in which they say that Anacreon wrote his sweet old songs. We find that Petronius, as well as many others, used this metre, when he says that this same lyric poet sang in words harmonious to the Muses. But I will explain with what kind of caesura this verse is written. In the line “Iuverunt segetes meum laborem ” (“The cornfields have lightened my labour ”), the word “iuverunt ” is the beginning of a hexameter: the remaining words “segetes meum laborem ” are in the same metre as "triplici vides ut ortu Triviae rotetur ignis volucrique Phoebus axe rapidum pererret orbem" (“You see how the fire of Trivia spins round from her threefold rising, and Phoebus on his winged wheel traverses the hurrying globe ”.) > Latin: 20. Hoc Petronius invenitur usus, Musis cum lyricum refert eundem consonantia verba cantitasse, et plures alii. Sed iste versus quali compositus tome sit, edam. Iuverunt segetes meum laborem. Iuverunt caput est id hexametri— quod restat segetes meum laborem, tale est ceu “triplici vides ut ortu Triviae rotetur ignis volucrique Phoebus axe rapidum pererret orbem” Diomedes in arte IIIp. [¶20] 21. Diomede on Grammar III (Keilp. 518): Hence arises the caesura which Arbiter employed thus: "Anus recocta vino trementibus labellis" (“An old woman soaked in wine, with trembling lips ”) Servius on the Grammar of Donatus (Keil p. > Latin: 21. 518 Keilii: Et illud hinc est comma quod Arbiter fecit tale “Anus recocta vino trementibus labellis” Servius in artem Donati p. [¶21] 22. 432, 22): Again, he uses “Quirites” (“Roman citizens”) only in the plural number. But we read in Horace the accusative “hunc Quiritem” (“this Roman citizen”) making the nominative “hic Quiris.” Again, the same Horace says “Quis te Quiritem?” and there the nominative will be “hic Quirites,” as Petronius says. Pompeius in his Commentary on the Art of Donatus (Keil p. 167, 9): No one says “this Roman citizen,” but “these Roman citizens,” although we find the former in books. Read Petronius, and you will find this use of the nominative singular. And Petronius says “Hic Quirites ” (“this Roman citizen).” > Latin: 22. 432,22 Keilii: Item Quirites dicit numero tantum plurali. Sed legimus apud Horatium hunc Quiritem, ut sit nominativus hic Quiris. Item idem Horatius quis te Quiritem? cuius nominativus erit hic Quirites, ut dicit Petronius Pompeius in commento artis Donatip. 167,9 K: Nemo dicit hic Quirites sed hi Quirites, licet legerimus hoc. Legite in Petronio, et invenietis de nominativo singulari hoc factum. Et ait Petronius hic Quirites grammaticus de dubiis nominibus p. [¶22] 23. A Grammarian on Nouns of uncertain gender (Keil p. 578, 23): Fretum (“a strait”) is of the neuter gender, and its plural is freta, as Petronius says“Freta Nereidum ” (“The straits of the Nereids ”). > Latin: 23. 578,23 K: Fretum generis neutri et pluraliter freta, ut Petronius freta Nereidum Hieronymus in epistula ad Demetriadem CXXX p. [¶23] 24. Hieronymus in his Letter to Demetriades CXXX, 19 (Vallarsius p. 995): Boys with hair curled and crimped and skins smelling like foreign musk-rats, about whom Arbiter wrote the line, “To smell good always is not to smell good,” showing how the virgin may avoid certain plagues and poisons of modesty. > Latin: 24. 995 Vallarsii: Cincinnatulos pueros et calamistratos et peregrini muris olentes pelliculas, de quibus illud Arbitri est Non bene olet qui bene semper olet, quasi quasdam pestes et venena pudicitiae virgo devitet Fulgentius mythologiarum II 6 p. [¶24] 25. Fulgentius Mythologiae II, 6 (p. 80, on Prometheus): Although Nicagoras... represents his yielding his liver to a vulture, as an allegorical picture of envy. Hence too Petronius Arbiter says: “The vulture who explores our inmost liver, and drags out our heart and inmost nerves, is not the bird of whom our dainty poets talk, but those diseases of the soul, envy and wantonness.” > Latin: 25. 80 de Prometheo: Quamvis Nicagoras … quod vulturi iecur praebeat, livoris quasi pingat imaginem. Unde et Petronius Arbiter ait “qui voltur iecur intimum pererrat et pectus trahit intimasque fibras, non est quem lepidi vocant poetae, sed cordis mala, livor atque luxus”