Eloquence (114–32)

This chapter provides the Latin text and a literal translation into English of the section on prayers for eloquence in Juvenal’s tenth satire and a detailed critical appreciation of those lines (114-132), paying particular attention to poetic aspects such as sound, style, rhythm, diction, imagery, vividness and narrative technique, and also assessing humour, wit, irony and the force and validity of the satirical thrusts. Questions of text are considered as well, where they are of substantial importance. In this section of the poem the attack shifts to a corner-stone of the Roman education system (oratory), and the tone becomes more sad. The critical position adopted here is a lot more questionable and weak than hitherto, as Juvenal employs two examples (Cicero and Demosthenes) to support the idea that eloquence leads to death, without allowing that they achieved anything significant through their speeches.