 In the case of an author whose characters speak in the argot proper to their surroundings, the necessity for revision is even more imperative; the change in the cultured speech of a language is a process that requires years to become pronounced, the evolution of slang is rapid and its usage ephemeral.  For example Stephen Gaselee, in his bibliography of Petronius, calls attention to Harry Thurston Peckâs rendering of âbell um pomumâ by âheâs a daisy,â and remarks, appropriately enough, âthat this was well enough for 1898; but we would now be more inclined to render it âheâs a peach.ââ  Again, Peck renders âillud erat vivereâ by âthat was life,â but, in the words of our lyric American jazz, we would be more inclined to render it âthat was the life.â  âBut,â as Professor Gaselee has said, âno rendering of this part of the Satyricon can be final, it must always be in the slang of the hour.â