Macrobius' Saturnalia Book One

festivals of the Saturnalia and Sigillaria (1. 7. 14-1. 11), with the legends of Saturn and Janus, and with a long digression on the treatment and behavior of slaves. The chief speaker is Praetextatus, who continues with an account of the development of the Roman calendar (1. 12-16) and a detailed exposition of the theological doctrine of syncretism—which makes all the gods of the pagan pantheon manifestations of a single divine power, the sun (1. 17-23). This is a doctrine that conveniently enables its holder to combine a profession of monotheism with the practice of polytheism.

A slighting remark by Evangelus (1. 24. 2) serves to introduce the main theme of the Saturnalia: Vergil's many-sided erudition. The poet had already been described as an authority on every branch of learning (1. 16. 12), and Symmachus and others now undertake to illustrate his knowledge of philosophy and astronomy, of augural and pontifical law, and of rhetoric and oratory; and, further, to exemplify his use of the works of earlier Greek and Latin writers (1. 24. 10-21). At this point, the company goes in to dinner.

The second book records the conversation which follows, inter pocula original: "between cups" or "while drinking". Symmachus suggests (2. 1. 15) that each of the diners in turn repeat a witty saying of some famous man of old; and, when the others have made their contributions (2. 2), he proceeds himself to relate a number of Cicero's jests (2. 3). Avienus then recalls certain bons mots original: "good words" or witty remarks attributed to Augustus, his daughter Julia, and certain others (2. 4-6). He goes on to tell the story of Caesar and Laberius and of the latter's professional rival, Publilius Syrus, while also referring (in connection with the Roman stage of those days) to the rivalry of the actors Pylades and Hylas (2. 7). In the last chapter of the book, the arrival of the dessert prompts some remarks by Flavianus and Caecina on “sweetmeats,” and there follow references by Eustathius to Plato on the use of wine and to Aristotle and Hippocrates on indulgence in sensual pleasures—a discourse (2. 8) which ends abruptly, as the last part of the book has been lost.

The third book relates to proceedings at the house of Flavianus on the second day of the festival. The exposition by Eustathius on the scholarly Vergil's knowledge of philosophy and astronomy34

34. Knowledge which Quintilian (1. 4. 4) holds to be necessary for the understanding of poetry.