SOURCE: Conington, John. “Lecture on the Life and Writings of Persius.” In The Satires of A. Persius Flaccus, translated by John Conington, pp. xv-xxxv. Oxford, Eng.: Clarendon Press, 1893.

In the following lecture, originally delivered at Oxford University in 1855, Conington discusses Persius's life, influences, writings, and philosophy.

It is my intention for the present to deliver general lectures from time to time on the characteristics of some of the authors whom I may select as subjects for my terminal courses. To those who propose to attend my classes they will serve as prolegomena, grouping together various matters which will meet us afterwards as they lie scattered up and down the course of our expository readings, and giving the point of view from which they are to be regarded: to others I trust they may not be without their use as Sketches Historical and Literary, complete in themselves, in which...