Satire 11 Summary

People mock gourmands who have gone broke; a good example of this is a scandal involving a man named Rutilus. Gourmands will sell anything for spices, and then they are reduced to the gladiator's ring. Men should know their financial means and the limitations of their talents. Men borrow money but leave Rome to avoid repaying their debt. Juvenal addresses Persicus, his guest, who now has the chance to see if Juvenal is a secret glutton. Juvenal's supposedly meager meal used to be considered a luxurious banquet. Soldiers used to eat from earthenware plates; now, they receive their meals on silver platters. Men used to buy tables made from local timber, but now they want decor imported from around the world. Juvenal brags that his boy is still a novice, his cups are the cheapest he could find, his servants all dress alike...