He is writing this review with a lot of enthusiasm for everyone to whom he has spoken about the book.

Don't get me wrong: he knows he told you that it was a complete mess, and, to be honest, the first part, that banquet, it is.

But after that it improves a great deal. And it improves so much that it becomes a great book: so much that he feels like doing a work on it.

He wants to share his newfound appreciation for the book with others, hoping that they will also give it a chance and discover its hidden gems.

Despite the rough start, the latter part of the book offers engaging characters, a captivating plot, and thought-provoking themes.

It has truly won him over, and he believes it has the potential to do the same for others.

So, if you were initially put off by his earlier description, he encourages you to take another look and see for yourself how this book evolves and surprises.

Erotic literature of the Roman Empire, which was written approximately two thousand years ago, has left us with only fragments from the original novel.

This was one of the discoveries during my second year of studying Latin at the university. Thankfully, we were permitted to read it in translation as the objective of that year was simply to establish contact with Roman literature.

Another significant finding of that course was The Golden Asse by Apuleius. Of course, this work is also an important part of Roman literature. It contains various elements such as adventure, romance, and satire.

Studying these ancient literary works not only provides us with insights into the culture and society of the Roman Empire but also enriches our understanding of the development of literature throughout history.

Although we only have fragments of the erotic literature, it still gives us a glimpse into the more private and sensual aspects of Roman life.

Overall, the study of Roman literature in my second year of university was a fascinating and rewarding experience.

I truly wish that there were no missing scenes. It's so frustrating when parts of a story or a memory seem to be lost.

Damn you, Time! You are constantly stealing away those precious moments that we hold dear.

Why can't you just let everything remain intact? Every scene, every detail, should be preserved for us to cherish.

We strive to remember, but sometimes, despite our best efforts, those missing scenes elude us.

It's as if Time is playing a cruel trick on us, making us yearn for what could have been.

I long for a world where there are no gaps in our experiences, where everything is clear and complete.

Until then, I will continue to curse you, Time, for taking away those precious missing scenes.

It is difficult for me to describe a novel written in the 1st century...

It has its own merits - the writing is a mixture of the tragic and the comical, absurd situations, but also things that make us think about life. There are many examples of injustice in relationships and the arbitrariness of those times.

The style has a picaresque vibe that I like, and it also reminds me personally of Candide, which I also liked.

There are also many good quotes:

"Not knowing why this is happening, but poverty is the sister of sound reason."

"...poetry misleads many! Since someone has brought the verse into measure and has intertwined in it words with a slightly special meaning, he thinks that he has climbed right onto Helicon...but the noble spirit loves the healthy and no mind can conceive or give birth without having long swum in the great river of the word."

"...Come, mortals! Roar, fill your chests with thirst for great deeds! Tremble over the wealth that you have acquired by fraud, and see if it reaches you in a thousand years! Yes, this man yesterday looked over his accounts and thought about his property; yes, he determined the day when he would return to his homeland! Gods and goddesses! How far is the place where he set off! But not only the sea plays such tricks with mortals. One goes to war and his weapon betrays him; another fulfills his vow to the gods and his native home collapses and buries him! The third falls from the chariot and loses his life from the fall! The greedy one dies from overeating, the abstinent one - from starvation and if you do the calculation well, everywhere there is a shipwreck!... Whatever happens, the end is one and the same... And what madness - to do everything only and only so that after our burial nothing remains..."

This novel seems to offer a unique perspective on the 1st century, with its blend of different elements and thought-provoking quotes. It makes one wonder about the nature of life, justice, and the human condition during that time period.

Perhaps by exploring these themes, we can gain a better understanding of our own lives and the world around us.

Overall, it seems like a fascinating work that is worth delving into further.

Reading this felt like a bad acid trip. It was a truly strange and disorienting experience. The words seemed to dance on the page in a chaotic and unpredictable manner. My mind struggled to make sense of the jumbled mess of ideas and concepts. It was as if I was trapped in a whirlwind of confusion, unable to find my way out. The overall tone of the piece was one of unease and discomfort, leaving me with a sense of lingering dread. I found myself constantly second-guessing what I was reading, wondering if there was some hidden meaning that I was missing. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to penetrate the fog of mystery that surrounded the text. In the end, I was left with a feeling of dissatisfaction and a longing for something more coherent and understandable.

The author of "Satyricon", Petronius, served as Nero's arbiter of taste, which may explain his view on the Romans' penchant for luxury, debauchery, rapacity, and other vices that come to mind. Petronius ironizes, providing a genuine superiority for the satirist's indulgences, but most of the time his view is not condemnatory, except in some brief moments, which does not prevent the reader from showing the same inclination.

Today, the Romans seem to have special manners, but their problems remain relevant. Some examples from the poem recited by the poet Eumolpus:

...

Rome has already conquered the whole world from west to east:

its was the hard one, over which the lights fly,

the whole, and insatiably greedy for more!

The warships sail on all the seas:

is there gold - the new island is hostile to Rome: the fate of gold for gold enslaved all
foreign peoples...

...

Look, what they loot, plunder and throw,

look, they steal so much that the heavy sack smears them,

look, they raise their golden palaces, high to the stars,

they make islands in the sea, they dig the sea in the rocks,

...

The opportunity to read (albeit partially) this description of the life of the people of the Roman Empire, which carries the feeling of tension in the air, of the future massacre of this fleeting world, filled with wine, beautiful boys (according to their older admirers), and social inequality, is a privilege for the modern reader. In the fragments that have come down to us, one can find everything from magical rituals for potency and all kinds of half-relations to love dramas and rich feasts. The book was definitely a challenge to my own ideas about prosperity, due to its detailed descriptions, but at the same time it won me over with several wonderful episodes, both satirical and those that introduce more serious themes.

Leaving aside the gaps that this story presents, I believe I understand that its value lies more in the sociocultural interest that the account of the habits and customs of a certain period during the Roman Empire can have, no matter how satirical this account may be (from joke to joke, the truth peeks through). The problem is that no one knows for sure (nor does this edition explain it well, or at least not in an interesting way) when it was written or even if it was written by Petronius. I feel that its estimation is more historical than literary, although I understand that the use of vulgar Latin and the colloquialisms used in it make it unique. But I can't help but think that many other more interesting works were lost and used the same narrative resources.

The fragmentary nature of the story, however, does not hinder much. The general plot is understood, which after all does not amount to much, and its picaresque/pornographic charm is shown in the fragments that remained for posterity. It is interesting to see how free the Romans were in sexual matters.

A classic that I feel is a classic only because it was rescued, but a classic at the end of the day.

In the midst of passionate embraces, we intertwined our souls in a frenzy of mutual kisses.

Goodbye to all earthly concerns.

For my part, at that moment, I felt as if I were dying.

The intensity of the moment was overwhelming, as if time had stood still and nothing else in the world mattered but our connection.

The heat of our bodies and the tenderness of our kisses merged into a single, unforgettable experience.

It was a moment of pure ecstasy, a moment when all the troubles and worries of life seemed to fade away into the background.

As we held each other tightly, I knew that this was a moment I would cherish forever.

A book that I would term a literary artefact rather than a mere novel, and other readers have elaborated on this as well. One crucial word that can disclose the plot is: debauchery. The edition I perused was published by Norilana Classics. It is presented as the ‘complete and unexpurgated translation by W.C. Firebaugh in which are incorporated the forgeries of Nodot and Marchena and the readings introduced into the text by De Salas.’ The forgeries are integrated into the text, and to distinguish them from the original, there are three codes. In parenthesis (), we encounter the forgeries of Nodot. Marchena’s forgeries are written in brackets {}, and Salas’s additions are inserted in italics.

Interestingly, the part that I relished the most was not Petronius’s so-called novel, but the notes penned by Marchena. These notes first emerged in 1800 and have now been published for the very first time by Norilana Classics. Marchena’s introduction is dedicated to The Army of the Rhine, and it is succeeded by six chapters discussing Soldiers in love, Courtesans, Greek love, Pollution, Virginity, and Pandars.

Overall, The Satyricon is a rather fragmented, crude, controversial yet well-written book. It requires being read while taking into account the historical and social context in which the narrated ‘adventures’ occur. I suspect that the majority of readers who are not accustomed to this kind of literature will not find this book enjoyable. It is a book that is meant to be appreciated by a niche audience.

WTF? This is an expression that people often use when they are confused,惊讶 or frustrated. It can be used in a variety of situations, such as when you see something strange or unexpected, or when you don't understand what is going on.

However, it is important to note that this expression can be considered vulgar or inappropriate in some contexts. Therefore, it is advisable to use it with caution and only in appropriate situations.

In conclusion, while WTF may be a useful expression in certain circumstances, it is important to be aware of its potential implications and use it appropriately.

"Not my cup of tea" is a very common and concise expression. It simply means that something is not to one's taste or preference.

For example, if someone invites you to a classical music concert and you have no interest in classical music, you might say "Classical music is not my cup of tea."

This phrase can be used in various situations to politely decline an offer or to express your lack of enthusiasm for a particular activity, food, or hobby.

It's a convenient way to communicate your personal preferences without being overly critical or negative.

Moreover, it can also be used humorously or lightheartedly. For instance, if someone shows you a very strange or unusual fashion item, you could say "That style is definitely not my cup of tea."

In conclusion, "not my cup of tea" is a simple yet effective way to convey your disinterest or lack of preference in a variety of contexts.

What awaits us if neither the gods nor men have pity on this colony?

By the lives of my loved ones, I think all this is sent to us by the gods. Indeed, no one believes anymore that the sky is the sky, no one keeps the fast, everyone makes fun of Jupiter. Everyone closes their eyes and is dedicated to their own things. In the past, the matrons dressed in long robes climbed the Capitol Hill barefoot, with their hair loose and their souls pure to implore rain from Jupiter. And the water would fall immediately into the pitchers. It was then or never, and everyone would return wet like rats. Now, do the gods have woolen feet? Because we are no longer religious. And the fields are desolate...

We seem to have lost our connection with the divine and with nature. The once-devout practices that brought us hope and sustenance have been abandoned. Without the gods' favor and our own respect for the forces that govern our lives, what future can we expect for this colony? The desolation of the fields is a sign of our neglect and the consequences of our actions. We must find a way to regain our faith and our sense of responsibility if we are to survive and thrive.