Redun dance of the material, in the vices and follies of the day: 79 Argentum vetus et stantem extra pocula caprum. Gaudia, discursus, nostri est farrago libelli. nally, praetorium,' probably with 76. argentum "plate." govern ib. stantem extra] "standing out on. The cup had a figure (crusta') of a goat in high relief. See Macleane as to these " crustae," which were moveable. 77, 78. nurus-adulter] "the seducer of his own gold-craving daughter-in-law" (he has corrupted her with gifts); "the dishonoured wives and adulterer in robes of office." The toga praetexta (i. e. the "bordered toga," but for which 'praetexta' alone is generally used) had a broad purple stripe or border. It was the distinctive dress (1) of all the magistrates, excepting perhaps the tribunes of the people, censors, and quaestors: (2) of children of both sexes. Girls wore it until marriage, and boys up to the age of 'pubertas' (fourteen or thereabouts), when they assumed the 'toga virilis. From the last-mentioned use of the 'praetexta,' the word has been rendered here" the boy adulterer," as having more point. 85 But this is somewhat strained; and there is no special point in the companion-picture of the " sponsae turpes." 80. Cluvienus] An indifferent poet, only known from this passage. 82. montem-sortes poposcit] See Ov. Met. i. 316-321; 367-383. The mountain was Parnassus, and the oracle whose response (sortes') was required, that of Themis. 'Sortes' is the Italian type of an oracular response, which was given, especially in the temple of Fortuna, by drawing lots from a coffer. The Greek responses, at Dodona, Delphi, &c., were oral. 83.] Cf. Ov. Met. i. 399-402, "Ponere duritiem coepere (scil. saxa)... Mollirique mora, mollitaque ducere formam." Juvenal has improved on his original. 86. discursus] "inquietude;" lit. running to and fro.' ib. libelli] "volume;" see note on 1. 5, 6. So Hor. Sat. i. 10. 92, "I, puer, atque meo citus haec subscribe libello." 88. sinus] The fold of the toga over the breast, where the purse was kept. "When swelled wider (i. e. to pocket its gains) the toga-fold of avarice ?" ib. alea] sub. "habuit." For the prevalence of gaming, see Macleane ad loc. 90 Hos animos? Neque enim loculis comitantibus itur 89. loculi, orum] (always plural in this sense.) A portable cash-box, opposed to the strong-box, "arca,' 1. 90. Cf. Sat. xi. 26. 90. tabulae] "the gaming-table." See note on 1. 63. ib. posita] "staked." 91. dispensatore-armigero] abl. absolute. "With the steward of the estate for armour-bearer." The arms were the money staked, and the player's man of business was there to supply it. 66 92. Simplexne furor] "Is it mere common madness ?" ib. sestertia centum] See note on 95 in which the dole was carried off. It became an every-day part of Roman life; see Sat. iii. 246 seq., x. 46; and it would appear from this passage, that there were noble and even official candidates for it. Eventually, money was given instead of the food. 96. turbae togatae] Under the empire the habitual use of the "toga" in the city, which had before been universal, became confined to the aristocracy; see note on Sat. iii. 172. On state occasions, however, it was still worn by the middle and lower classes; and the reception of the 'sportula' was one of these. See Mar. Ep. xiv. 125, "Attrita veniet sportula saepe toga." 97. Ille] The butler. 98. Suppositus] Counterfeiting some one else. 100. Ipsos Trojugenas] The 'ancienne noblesse' itself. The term refers to the distinction which under the empire was still kept up between patricians of the " majorum" and "minorum gentium" respectively. Originally, the former meant the two patrician tribes of the Ramnes and Tities, who dated from the foundation of Rome, while the "minorum gentium" families were those of the more recently added Luceres. As fresh additions were made, however, the Luceres themselves were promoted to the " ma Nobiscum. Da praetori, da deinde tribuno! 105 Quadringenta parant. Quid confert purpura major jorum gentium," and the newly- 104. fenestrae] Holes pierced for the earrings a badge of servitude in the East. 105. quinque tabernae] See note on Sat. vii. 220, 221. 106. quadringenta] Large amounts were computed at Rome by sestertii, as in France now by francs. The sestertius ("semis tertius," the "third a half;" i. e. two and a half) was of the denarius, =2 asses. Its symbol is H.S. (or II;) i. e. two; and S. for semis. (a) 1000 sestertii were called "sestertium" (perhaps not used in fact): (b) 2000 to 999,000 were called "duo sestertia," &c.; or, " duo &c., millia (sub. sestertiorum');" or else (as here "quadraginta ") the numeral was used alone; (sub. "millia sestertiorum.") (c) For 1,000,000 and upwards, the numeral adverbs were used, after which "centena millia sestertiorum is understood; thus" decies" (centena millia sest.) = 1,000,000. To translate these sums of decies and upwards rapidly, take off a cypher, and add a million; thus vicies, 20, and taking off the "0," 2 million. The word sestertium,' which is sometimes written after the “millia," is always the contracted genitive plur. from sestertius. When written in numerals, a stroke over the numeral shows that it is the adverb, and therefore "centena millia" understood. Thus H.S.M. 1000 sestertii; H.S.M. "millies centena millia sestertiorum," = 100,000,000 sestertii. ib. quadringenta parant] Give me a knight's income. See note on Sat. iii. 154, 155. ib. purpura major] The senatorial laticlave. 107, 108.] i. e. when noble families are thus reduced. Corvinus; cognomen of the Messalae, a branch of the Valeria gens. 109.] Pallas, the freedman of 110 Vincant divitiae: sacro nec cedat honori, Nondum habitas, nullas nummorum ereximus aras, Sed quum summus honor finito computet anno, Et panis fumusque domi? Densissima centum 119 Ostendens vacuam et clausam pro conjuge sellam. Ipse dies pulcro distinguitur ordine rerum : Claudius, and Licinus, freedman of Augustus, were both proverbially wealthy. Cf. Sat. xiv. 306. 110. sacro honori] The tribunes of the people, who were inviolable; sacro sancti," Liv. ii. 33. 66 111. pedibus albis] Newly imported slaves were chalked on the foot ("gypsati pedis," Ov. Am. i. 8. 62); why, or on what part of it, is uncertain. It is said to have been on the sole; but query? 116.] The reference is probably to the old temple of Concord, erected by Camillus, and re-consecrated by Tiberius. The building was full of birds' nests, and therefore "Concord, (i. e. her temple,) sounded with greetings to the nest," on the birds returning home to their young. For the temples of the divinities in 1. 115, see Macleane ad loc. 117. summus honor] "Senatorial rank" i. e. senators. 118. rationibus] "Income;" lit. accounts." 119. hinc] From the "sportula." 120, 121. densissima-petit] The "dense (i. e. densely crowded) litters ask their hundred quadrantes." 'Densissima lectica' is for the plur. 'lecticae.' See Dict. 121. quadrantes] Antiq.as.' 123. Hic] Here is one who (absenti,' sub. uxori ') asks for a wife who is not there at all; pretending that she is in the litter. 126. Profer-caput] The words of the butler. 128-130. jurisque peritus Apollo triumphales] sub. "statuae." The forum contained an ivory statue of Apollo, and figures of eminent men placed there by Augustus. 'Tituli' are the inscriptions on the latter. 128. juris peritus] From hearing so much of it there. 132 135 Nescio quis titulos Aegyptius atque Arabarches. Nil erit ulterius, quod nostris moribus addat Posteritas: eadem cupient facientque minores. Omne in praecipiti vitium stetit. Utere velis, but as it Totos pande sinus. Dicas hic forsitan : Unde 150 might be Ingenium par materiae est ? Unde illa priorum 130. Arabarches] Probably, prefect of the 'Αράβιος νόμος, in Egypt. Crispinus (1. 27) is perhaps intended. 133. deponunt] "give up as hopeless." ib. longissima] "longest-lived." 136. rex] The patron. Sat. v. 14. ib. vacuis-jacebit] "And will recline with only himself on the empty couches." This use of 'tantum' is rare. 137. orbibus] "Tables;" as in Sat. xi. 122; lit. the circular top of the table. Under the empire, each guest had a separate table, which was carried in and out at the courses, with the dishes upon it; so that the word is equivalent to 66 courses. Here the rich man has them all served, as if he had company. The ancient usage was the 'triclinium;' see note on Sat. v. 17. 138. mensa] "meal." upon you.", 143. crudum]" Undigested." The custom of taking a bath after the 'coena' (see note on 1. 49, "ab octava") was begun by Nero. 145. fabula] "story." 146. iratis Because his intestacy (1. 144) had lost them their legacies. 149.] "Every vice has reached its climax :" lit. " stands already on the summit," cliff's brink; and there fore" can go no higher." 149. Utere velis] Addressed to himself as satirist. 151. Unde illa]" Or again, where is ?" |