Satire 7 Summary

All hopes for the arts rest on Caesar; it is he alone who respects for the Muses. Poets work as auctioneers, but that is better than degrading themselves by serving as witnesses in the court. Caesar is the poets' only hope of patronage. Millionaires flatter artists, but they will not support them. It is hard for artists to revel in inspiration when they are worried about raising money to buy food. Renown without money is unfulfilling because they still starve. They must sell their works to the Paris theatre to earn money. The age of the private patron is over. History writers also toil in vain, while idle people are too fond of their shady beds. Although lawyers speak well, they make little money too. They must pretend to be rich in order to gain clients, because clients only want to hire lawyers...