In Macrobius' Saturnalia, Book 1, Chapter 11 is famously extensive. It covers the treatment of slaves, the historical background of the holiday, and religious customs. [1, 2, 3]

The text opens at 1.11.1 with the combative speaker Evangelus, who mocks the host Praetextatus for over-intellectualizing children's clay toys (sigillaria) and objects to the social breakdown of dining alongside household slaves. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The Latin text and corresponding English translation (as rendered by scholar Robert A. Kaster for the Loeb Classical Library) for the opening paragraph are as follows: [1, 2]

Latin Text (Saturnalia 1.11.1)

"Et Evangelus, 'Ecce', inquit, 'Praetextatus noster magnam nobis et, ut ipse putat, divinam religionem de ritu occultiore protulit: nam et Sigillaria quae nominavit, quorum celebritate ac fictilibus oscillis infantes adhuc a crepundiis avocamus, ad caerimoniam trahere conatur, et quia hunc diem festum prae ceteris habet, servilis quoque ad nos communionis maculam trahit, quasi vero non hi sint qui vernacula licentia convicia in dominos iaciant, aut quasi domus ulla sit in qua non serves sit hostis.' "

English Translation (Saturnalia 1.11.1)

"And Evangelus said: 'Look, our friend Praetextatus has brought out for us a great and, as he thinks, divine religious duty from some rather hidden rite: for even the Sigillaria he mentioned, whose festival and clay figurines we use to distract infants still in their rattles, he attempts to drag into the realm of sacred ceremony; and because he holds this holiday above all others, he drags down upon us the stain of communing with slaves, as though these are not the very people who hurl insults at their masters with homegrown impudence, or as though there is any house where a slave is not an enemy.' " [1, 2, 3]

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If you are looking for a different specific subsection within the 50 total paragraphs of Chapter 11 (such as his famous quotation of Seneca's Epistle 47 or the origins of the Juno Caprotina festival), let me know! I can provide the exact snippet or thematic analysis you need. [1, 2]

in what passage cites Labienus?

Macrobius cites the historical example of Labienus in Saturnalia 1.11.18. [1]

This specific passage occurs within the same extensive chapter on the treatment of slaves and dependents. In this section of the text, the speaker Praetextatus provides a historical catalog of profound loyalty exhibited by social inferiors toward their masters to prove that slaves and freedmen possess noble character. [1, 2]

The original Latin text and corresponding English translation for this precise subsection are as follows:

Latin Text (Saturnalia 1.11.18)

"Et ne aestimes ab uno facile celari posse secretum, Labienum ope libertorum latentem ut indicarent liberti nullo tormentorum genere conpulsi sunt." [1]

English Translation (Saturnalia 1.11.18)

"And lest you think that a secret can easily be kept by only one person, look at the case of Labienus: when he was hiding with his freedmen’s help, no form of torture could force them to betray him." [, 2]

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If you would like to examine the passages directly surrounding this one—such as the famous anecdote of Antius Restio or the freedman of Demosthenes that immediately follow—just let me know! [1, 2]