Father of Roman satire

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

Lucilius (175-103 B.C.). Lucilius was the man who, bravely bold, To Roman vices did the mirror hold; Protected humble goodness from reproach, Showed worth on foot, and rascals in a coach. JDRYDEN: Art of Poetry, c, ii.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “Father of Roman satire” mean?

Lucilius (175-103 B.C.). Lucilius was the man who, bravely bold, To Roman vices did the mirror hold; Protected humble goodness from reproach, Showed worth on foot, and rascals in a coach. JDRYDEN: Art of Poetry, c, ii.

Is “Father of Roman satire” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.