Persius’s Satires

Persius (34–62), translated by Kline, A. S. (contact-email)

Aulus Persius Flaccus, born on 4 December 34 AD in Volterra and deceased on 24 November 62 AD, was a Roman satirist of Etruscan heritage. His oeuvre comprises six satires, edited and published posthumously by his Stoic mentor Lucius Annaeus Cornutus. Persius’s satires critique the moral and stylistic shortcomings of his contemporaries, adopting a Stoic perspective that contrasts with Horace’s more lenient approach. His works, marked by introspection, examine societal excess and moral lapses, underscoring his commitment to Stoicism. Despite their complexity, Persius’s satires are celebrated as a pinnacle of Roman satire, distinguished by their ethical seriousness. His influence persisted throughout the Middle Ages, attesting to his lasting contribution to satirical literature.

Author Details

Aulus Persius Flaccus, a Neronian satirist, is recorded in his ancient biography records as being a wealthy Etruscan equestrian. He was connected with Stoic opposition figures such as P. Clodius Thrasea Paetus, and the philosopher L. Annaeus Cornutus.

His satires primarily focus on inner philosophical freedom rather than political matters. He addresses moral crassness, literary taste, and his personal shortcomings.

Persius acknowledged the influence of Lucilius but presented his satires in a more concentrated form, compared to Horace's list of 18 satires producing just 6 satires, totalling 650 hexameters. This condensed style stirred strong reactions in antiquity. Lucan admired the satires as genuine poetry; Martial valued them as a precious elixir surpassing lengthy epics; Jerome, however, allegedly burned them due to what he perceived as their obscurity.

Persius died prematurely at the age of 28.

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Kline, A. S.

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