Juvenal Explains His Impulse to Satire - Weelock's Latin

Semper ego audītor erō?

Will I always be a listener?

Est turba poētārum in hāc urbe-- ego igitur erō poēta!

There are many poets in this city -- I therefore will be a poet!

Sunt mīlia vitiōrum in urbe-- dē istīs vitiīs scrībam!

There are many vices in this city -- I will write about these vices!

Difficile est saturam nōn scrībere.

It is difficult not to write satire.

Sī nātūra mē adiuvāre nōn potest, facit indignātiō versum.

If nature cannot help me, indignation makes verse.

In librō meō erunt omnia facta hominium- timor, īra, voluptās, culpa, cupditiās, īnsidiae.

In my book there will be all the deeds of men -- fear, anger, pleasure, fault, desire, treachery.

Nunc est plēna cōpia vitiōrum in hāc miserā urbe Rōmae!

Now there is a full abundance of vices in this wretched city of Rome!