Satire II Summary

Juvenal complains about immoral people discussing and condemning others' morals. Women dress as men, and men dress as women, but Juvenal prefers an honest eunuch. One man in particular inveighs against incest; meanwhile, his niece has an abortion, and the fetus looks exactly like her uncle. When a man complains about adultery, Laronia condemns him because, not only are men more adulterous, but they sleep with one another as well. Men are allowed to be promiscuous, yet they condemn women who act the same. Juvenal wonders where and if they will draw a limit.

Juvenal expresses his disgust with homosexuals and cross dressing. He mocks their fertility rites which exclude women. Juvenal compares them to the Emperor Otho who admired his armor in the mirror and was vainer than Cleopatra. Men make themselves appear and act like women, but the only...