The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter/Chapter 133

by Petronius Arbiter

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CHAPTER THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THIRD. I called Giton when I had finished my meditation: “Tell me, little brother,” I demanded, “tell me, on your honor: Did Ascyltos stay awake until he had exacted his will of you, the night he stole you away from me? Or was he content to spend the night like a chaste widow?’ Wiping his eyes the lad, in carefully chosen words took oath that Ascyltos had used no force against him. (The truth of the matter is, that I was so distraught with my own misfortunes that I knew not what I was saying. “Why recall past memories which can only cause pain,” said I to myself. I then directed all my energies towards the recovery of my lost manhood. To achieve this I was ready even to devote myself to the gods; accordingly, I went out to invoke the aid of Priapus.) Putting as good a face upon the matter as I could I knelt upon the threshold of his shrine and invoked the God in the following verses:

“Of Bacchus and the nymphs, companion boon,Whom fair Dione set o’er forests wideAs God: whom Lesbos and green Thasos ownFor deity, whom Lydians, far and wideAdore through all the seasons of the year;Whose temple in his own Hypepa placed,Thou Dryad’s joy and Bacchus’, hear my prayer!To thee I come, by no dark blood disgraced, No shrine, in wicked lust have I profaned;When I was poor and worn with want, I sinnedNot by intent, a pauper’s sin’s not bannedAs of another! Unto thee I prayLift thou the load from off my tortured mind,Forgive a light offense! When fortune smilesI’ll not thy glory shun and leave behindThy worship! Unto thee, a goat that feelsHis primest vigor, father of the flocksShall come! And suckling pigs, the tender youngOf some fine grunting sow! New wine, in crocksShall foam! Thy grateful praises shall be sungBy youths who thrice shall dance around thy shrineHappy in youth and full of this year’s wine!”

While I was engaged in this diplomatic effort in behalf of the affected member, a hideous crone with disheveled hair, and clad in black garments which were in great disorder, entered the shrine and, laying hands upon me, led me thoroughly frightened, out into the portico.