The Plague of Lust, Vol. 1 (of 2): Being a History of Venereal Disease in Classical AntiquityRosenbaum, Julius
History
The Plague of Lust, Vol. 1 (of 2): Being a History of Venereal Disease in Classical Antiquity
Rosenbaum, Julius
Sexually transmitted diseases -- History
[341] Satir. II. 16. _W. E. Weber_ (“Die Satiren des _D. J.
Juvenalis_.”—The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Halle 1838.)
is mistaken in his way of taking this passage. Not only does he in
his translation assign Peribomius’ words to Juvenal himself, but
also in the notes, pp. 286 sqq., gives quite wrong explanations of
several words. For instance he says, “_inter Socraticos ... cinaedos_,
(amongst the Socratic cinaedi), the Socratic breed of wantons, the kind
that give themselves an air of sober and highly moral habits, like
Socrates;” but really the poet merely meant to express the idea of
later times that Socrates had been a paederast. Discussing the passage
Weber remarks of Peribomius, “One who in looks and gait, as being
effeminate and of a womanish dandified bearing, confesses his evil
state,—one of enervation and womanish amorousness,” whereas as a matter
of fact Peribomius makes no other confession than simply that he is a
pathic. We are not to suppose any sort of intentional suppression of
the facts, as indeed is shown both by the rest of the translation and
also expressly on p. VI of the Preface; so we are bound to characterize
what is said in these places as the result of downright mistake.
[342] When _Juvenal_, V. 50., says: Hippo subit iuvenes et _morbo_
pallet _utroque_, (Hippo submits to young men, and is pale with a
double disease), this must be understood to mean that Hippo is not only
a pathic, but also a Fellator (see subsequently). Further Epigr. 131.
of _Ausonius_ is to the point in this connection:
Inguina quod calido levas tibi dropace, causa est:
Irritant volsas levia membra lupas;
Sed quod et elixo plantaria podice vellis,
Et teris incusas pumice Clazomenas,
Causa latet: _bimarem nisi quod patientia morbum
Appetit et tergo femina, pube vires_.
(The reason why you make the private parts smooth with hot
pitch-ointment (as a depilatory) is this: Smooth limbs excite the
passions of the harlots, plucked smooth themselves. But why you pluck
the hair from your fundament, soaked in hot water first, and polish
with pumice your well-pounded Clazomenae (i. e. buttocks) the reason is
obscure: _unless indeed your long-suffering lust hankers for a double
disease (vice),—a woman behind, in your member a strong man_).
_Manilius_, Astronomica bk. V. vv. 140-156., says:
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