The Satyricon

Download or read book The Satyricon written by Petronius and published by Penguin. This book was released on 1983-11-01 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This version by a translator who understands the high art of low humor is conspicuously funny."—Time The Satyricon is a classic of comedy, a superbly funny picture of Nero's Rome as seen through the eyes of Petronius, its most amorous and elegant courtier. William Arrowsmith's translation—a lively, modern, unexpurgated text—recaptures all the ribald humor of Petronius's picaresque satire. It tells the hilarious story of the pleasure-seeking adventures of an educated rogue, Encolpius, his handsome serving boy, Giton, and Ascyltus, who lusts after Giton—three impure pilgrims who live by their wits and other men's purses. The Satyricon unfailingly turns every weakness of the flesh, every foible of the mind, to laughter.