Critical Essay | Lecture by John W. Spaeth, Jr.

Lecture by John W. Spaeth, Jr.

SOURCE: "Martial Looks at His World," The Classical Journal, Vol. XXIV, No. 5, February, 1929, pp. 361-73.

In the essay below, originally delivered as a lecture in 1928, Spaeth evaluates Martial's opinion of four categories of first-century Roman professionals: physicians, teachers, lawyers, and poets.

It has been observed by an eminent writer on Roman life and manners that our extant Latin literature is descended wholly from a sphere of society "which had more contempt than interest for the lower orders, the men who, day by day, tucked in their tunics behind the counter, or stood in apron and cap by their bench in the workshop, where nothing noble could be made, only the daily bread earned."¹ No doubt this reflection is largely true of the poet Martial, as of others; but in his case it deserves some qualification. For he did not view the lower ranks of society from the...
(read more)