The Life of Petronius Arbiter

• Posted by mgr on November 18th, 2008 filed in Berühmte Dandys, HISTORISCHES
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When he had compleatcd himself in the first Rudiments in Learning, he made his appearance at the Imperial Court of Claudius; but his great Assiduity there was no Impediment to the chief design of perfecting himself in the Liberal Sciences, and therefore employ’d his leisure Hour’s in making Declamations, which was the custom of those times, in order to exercise and enable their young Men of the first Quality to speak in Publick, for which purpose they had Schools to Declaim in and by this successful method, furnish’d themselves with so many famous Oratours, both in their Senate and Armies to the great advantage of their Republick.

The Court of Claudius was then the very Seat or Mansion of Pleasures; for the Empress Messalina employ’d all her Cares and Thoughts to make it so, in accommodating it with all imaginable Delights and Recreations, which she more easily accomplish’d, by having a great Ascendant over the Person and Inclinations of the Emperor; for he being a weak Prince, comply’d with every thing, provided they accommodated him with a plentiful Table, for he was an extreme lover of good Eating, and of drinking Wine even to excess; and his Courtiers following the Example of their Prince, Debauchery was no less familiar with them.

Petronius becoming a Courtier under a Reign where the manner of living was agreeable to his Temper, he also became insensibly Voluptuous; tho’ at the same time it was observ’d, that he took no delight in the brutal Pleasures of Love, like Messalina nor in those of the Table and Drunkenness with Claudius; only in a gallant and delicate manner took a relish of both, rather to gratifie his Curiosity than his Senses. In this manner he employ’d a part of the Day in Sleeping, and dedicated the whole Night to Pleasure and Business. His House was the Rendezvous of the better fort of the People of Rome: He pass’d away his time agreeably with those that visited him, and with others was celebrated for Intrigues. Petronius also procur’d himself a Reputation by an agreeable Employment, and in a method of acting easily, readily and freely, and his natural way of discoursing. One might then represent him in a continual exercise of Wit in Conversation, in the most charming Pleasures of the Table, publick Sights, Gaming, and in spending his Estate not like a Prodigal and Debaoshee, but like a nice and learned Artist in the Science of Voluptuousness.

When Petronius had thus pass’d away his Youth in a Life of so much Softness and Tranquility, he took a Resolution, to convince those that doubted of the extent of his Mind and Qualifications, that he was capable of the first and chiefest Employments in the Government; for putting an Interval to his Pleasures, he accepted the Office of Pro-Consul of Bithynia; went into that Province, where he discharg’d all the Duties of his Place with great Applause; but having put a period to that exercise of his Parts, and returning to Rome, Nero, who succeeded Claudius in the Empire, in recompence of the Services, made him Consul. This new Dignity gave him a great and ready Access to the Emperor, who at first honour’d him with his Esteem, and afterwards with his Friendship, in acknowledgment of the sumptuous Entertainmeats he sometimes gave that Prince, to refresh him when fatigued with Business.

The time of Petronius’s Consulate being come to a Conclusion, after having laboured in quest of Glory, without quitting the Court, he reassum’d his first manner of living, and whether it proceeded from his own Inclination,or a desire to please Nero, he soon became one of the Emperor’s Confidents, who could find nothing agreeable to his Humour, but what was approv’d by Petronius; and being thus possess’d of the Authority of deciding what might be acceptable, gave him the Surname of Arbiter, as being Matter and Controller in those Affairs.

Nero, in the first part of his Reign, acted like a very wise Prince, and apply’d himself with care to the Government of the State: However Petronius remembred, that he was naturally inclin’d to Lust and Sensuality, and therefore like an able Politician, being in possession of his Prince’s Mind, he season’d it with honest Delights, and procur’d him all the Charms imaginable, in order to remove the thoughts of seeking after others, which per adventure would have been more disorderly, and to be dreaded by the Republick.

Things continu’d in this posture while the Emperor kept within the bounds of Moderation, and Petronius acted chearfully under him, as Intendant of his Pleasures, ordering him Shows, Games, Comedies, Musick, Feasts, pleasant Seats in the Country, with delicious Gardens, charming Lakes, and all that might contribute towards the making of a Prince’s Life happy and delightful.

But the Emperor some time after complying with his Nature, chang’d his Conduct, not only in respect of Governing the Empire, but also in relation to his own Person. He gave ear to the Counsels of others, rather than those of Petronius, insensibly plung’d into Debauchery, abandoned himself to his Passions, and became as morose and wicked a Prince, as before he had been pleasant and equitable.

Nero was a learned Prince, of which he had given sufficient Proofs from his Youth, for at Fifteen Years of Age he pleaded in the Senate, in his own Tongue, on behalf of the Boulonnois, and in Greek for the Rhodians; but his Knowledge was confus’d and much embarass’d.

He also lov’d Men of Wit, and had Courtiers near him, who following the corruption of the Court, treated Seneca like a Pedant, and could not suffer that he should Preach to them the Exercise of Vertue and Modesty, because they had imbib’d an Opinion, that he himself did not live like a Philosopher in that particular.

Thus continuing frequently to ridicule him, it at length insinuated into the Emperor’s Mind, and expos’d him to his Contempt, which being joyn’d with his own Knowledge of the unjust ways by which he had acquir’d the immense Riches he was possess’d of, his Contempt grew into Hatred, and his Hate at last caus’d the Ruin of Seneca.

And now indeed Petronius saw with sorrow, that the Emperor began to hide himself from him, and sometimes to shun him, and that, following his own corrupt Inclinations, he was grown utterly debauch’d, and forgot what he ow’d to his Imperial Dignity, that he would frequently run wild up and down the Streets, and into wicked Places, outraging all he met, and would also offer Violencies to Roman Ladies of the best Quality.

The Favour to which Petronius was rais’d had also drawn upon him the Jealousie of those who pretended, as well as he, to the Grace and savour of the Prince, and, among others, that of Tigillinus, Captain of the Guard, who was a dangerous Rival. This Man, of obscure Birth and corrupt Manners, had in a short time acquir’d a great power over the Emperor’s Genius, and as he perfectly knew his blind side, began feriously to contrive the Ruin of his Competitor, and by such means, as ’twas thought would also have destroy’d the Empire.

The choice and delicious Pleasures invented by Petronius grated the gross Debauches of Tigillinus, and foreseeing that the Credit Pretronius had with the Emperor would always be an Obstacle to his Designs, he therefore endeavour’d to pofress himself of the Heart of the Prince; and finding himself prevail by degrees, he soon engag’d him in the foulest Brutalities.

It’s true, ’twas no difficult thing to succeed in this attempt, for finding a Nature wholly dispos’d, he quickly, and with little trouble, seduc’d him to embrace such Pleasures, as were neither approv’d nor advis’d by Petronius, which were entirely dropt in order to remove his Rival; for Nero had already committed Parricide, by murdering his Mother, and no sooner hearken’d to the Persuasions of Tigellinus, but he signaliz’d his Power, by putting Sylla and Rubellius Plautus to death, who were both Persons dreaded by them for their celebrated Vertues, and being highly esteemed and in favour with the People. Afterwards, Fury and Brutality render’d themselves Mistresses of his Heart to such an excess, that all manner of Crimes were perpetrated by him.

When the Emperor had confirmed himself in these Disorders, our ancient Favourite, by the Artifices of the new one, found himself almost without Employment near the Prince, and Nero himself could not endure so nice a Witness of his Infamias, nor give him so free an entrance into his Pleasures as he formerly enjoy’d.

Tigillinus serving himself of these Dispositions, omitted nothing that might satisfie the Desires of his Prince, by the magnificent Feasts he provided; and as his Rival (according to Tacitus) much surpass’d him in the Science of Pleasures, one might conclude, without fear of being deceiv’d, that those which Petronius ordered were of another nature, and had nothing of those disorders in them that were seen in one of the Feasts which that Historian relates as an Example of all the rest,which he describes in this manner: They provided a stately Feast on the Lake of Agrippa; in a Vessel cover’d with Plates of Gold and Ivory; the Rowers were plac’d in their Ranks, which they took according to their Age and Experience in Debauchery. They had sent to the very ends of the Earth for the rarest Eatables. The Lake was edg’d with Porches, in which were great numbers of Chambers, fill’d on one side with Women of Quality, who prostituted themselves to the first comers, and the other with naked Courtizans in a thousand lascivious postures; at Night appear’d in all parts surprizing Illuminations, the Woods and Palaces round about ecchoed with Conforts of Musical Instruments and Songs adapted to the Feast. To conclude this grand Debauch in a famous Adion, Nero was married a little after, to one of the most corrupted Wretches of this Troop, named Pythagora, and that publickly, with all the accustom’d Ceremonies. They put upon the Emperor’s Head the Espoused’s Vail, sent him two Auspices, assign’d him the Marriage- Portion, adorn’d the Nuptial Bed, lighted Flambeaux, and to conclude the Marriage, permitted that to be seen to the open view of all the Company, which the Shades of Night hide from the Eyes in the most lawful Pleasures.

Petronius being extremely disgusted at the Horrours he saw, insensibly withdrew himself from Court, and being of a mild and unenterprizing Nature, suffer’d things to run in the train they had form’d, without attempting to re-establish them in the Condition he had left them. I am of Opinion, it was about this time that he took his Pen in Hand to compose this Satyr, which so exactly represents the Nature and Character of Nero, and under the Names of Debauchees and Lewd Women, decry’d all the Vices of this Prince and his Courtiers.

While Petronius liv’d in a retired Tranquility, Tigillinus labour’d with all his power to destroy him, and take away his Rival from all possibility of re-ent’ring into favour; and knowing that the Prince’s Nature was inclining to Cruelty, he insinuated, that Petronius was too familiar with Scevinus, not to be dipt in Piso’s Conspiracy; and for that end having suborn’d one of Petronius’s Slaves to swear against his Matter, to deprive him of all means of justifying himself, they put the greatest part of his Domesticks in Prison.

Nero was well enough pleas’d to find an opportunity of losing a Man who was become a dead Weight upon his Affairs; for the Vicious cannot endure the presence of such Persons, whose fight reproaches them with their abominable Practices; therefore favourably receiv’d the Accusation against Petronius, and order’d him to be apprehended at Cuma, when the Emperor made a Voyage thither, where he was one of the Company: But as it requir’d some time to deliberate, whether they ought to put a Man of his consideration to Death, without clearer Proofs of his being guilty of the Crimes he stood charg’d with; he was so extreamly disgusted, and also weary of living under the Domination of such a detestable Prince, that seeing himself so long a time made the Sport of his Caprices, he resolv’d to dye. However, that he might not give himself a precipitate Death, he open’d his Veins, and afterwards clos’d them again, that he might have time to enjoy the Conversation of his Friends, who came to see him in his last Moments; whom he requested to entertain him, not with Discourses of the Immortality of the Soul, and the celebrated Axioms that the Pride of Philosophers had invented,to acquire Glory and a vain opinion of their Constancy, but with the recital of some curious Pieces of Poetry.

And to convince the Spectators that he did not Dye, but only cease to Live , he continu’d his ordinary Functions, took a particular account of the Demeanour of Domesticks; recompenc’d some of his Slaves, and chastis’d others; set himself as formerly at his Table, and also slept very quietly, in so much, that he rather seem’d a Man in perfect Health than one that was dying; so that his Death, tho’ Violent, appeared to his Friends as if it had been Natural.

Now, as Petronius abhorr’d the People of Nero’s and Tigillinu’s Character, so he would never condescend to the baseness of imitating those Animals, who dying in these wretched Times by the order of this Prince, made him their Heir, and stuff’d their Testaments with Elegies on the Tyrant and his Favourite.

But on the contrary, being possess’d of a Goblet of precious Stones, which cost him above 2000 Pistoles, and out of which he commonly drank, he broke it to pieces,vthat Nero might not have it after his death; and after this, thought fit to present him this Satyr, writ against him, and having seal’d it up, tore off the Seal again, for fear (after his Death) they might employ it as an instrument to destroy those in whose Hands it might be found.

This made Nero extremely chagrine, to see his infamous Actions made known to Petronius, and having levell’d his Suspicion upon all those who he thought might discover his Secrets, at last fix’d it upon the Wife of a Senator, named Silia, with whom he had been too familiar; but because she was also a great Friend of Petronius’s, he imagin’d that, by a particular grief, she had hazarded a discovery of what had been more her Interest to conceal; upon which she was exil’d.

It was in the Year of the Foundation of Rome 819, (under the Consulate of Caius Suetonius Paulinus; and of Lucius Pontius Telefinus) that City lost so great a Person.

Quoted from: St. Evremond: The Life of Petronius Arbiter. London: Briscoe, 1714.

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