An Fidenarum Gabiorumque esse potestas, and under the later empire the (4) The castra domestica, i. e. the Praetorian guard. Originally this consisted of one cohort only, and formed the body-guard of the consul or praetor (the terms being then identical) when on actual service. It was accordingly termed the 'praetoria cohors." Augustus increased the number of cohorts in the guard to nine, and formed them into a separate force, part of which was always stationed in the capital. By the advice of Sejanus, Tiberius collected the whole force in Rome, and stationed it in a permanent camp near the 'agger' of Servius Tullius; hence the phrase here "castra domestica." The number of cohorts was afterwards raised by Vitellius to sixteen. The term for the guard under the empire was 'praetoriani,' or 'praetoriae cohortes, and their commander was praefectus praetoris.' The post was one of great influence, and was held by Sejanus himself. See note on 1. 63 above. The reference in this passage, however, is not so much to the appointment to this post as to the influence acquired by having the guard itself at the minister's disposition. See the earlier part of this note. 96. et, qui] "even those who." 97, 98.1"But can any prosperity compensate for a reverse of equal magnitude ?" Ut-par sit men:""that you should have to sura: 66 undergo" 66 100 105 99. hujus] scil. of Sejanus. For praetextam" see note on Sat. i. 77, 78. 100. potestas] "A magistrate;"a familiar instance of the use of the abstract' for the concrete." The first sense of the word is "constituted authority." From this it comes to mean specifically "a magistracy," and hence "the person invested with it." It has formed the Italian podesta,' which in the same way means a magistrate." 'Fiden. Gabiorum:' see note on Sat. vi. 56. 66 101. vasa minora] "short measures." To break these was one of the aedile's duties. 102. Ulubris] A town of the same class as Gabii. See Hor. Ep. i. 11. 30: "Quod petis hic est, Est Ulubris, animus si te non deficit aequus." The" aedile" in a countrytown would be little more than a police-serjeant, and, at Ulubrae, probably ragged enough. Hence pannosus" here. " 105-107.] So Hor. Od. ii. 10. 10, "celsae graviore casu Decidunt turres.' Praeceps' is used as a substantive," downfall." Cf. Sat. i. 149. 108. Crassos-Pompeios] Plurals used for singulars. By " Crassos" is meant Licinius Crassus, the (so-called) triumvir, who was defeated and killed by the Parthians at the battle of Carrhae, B.C. 55. For the fate of Pompey see 1. 285, 286, and note. 109, 110. illum-Quirites] i. e. Julius Caesar. Elo Summus nempe locus, nulla non arte petitus, 110 Eloquium ac famam Demosthenis aut Ciceronis quence. Incipit optare, et totis Quinquatribus optat, 115 119 Quisquis adhuc uno partam colit asse Minervam, 112. generum Cereris] Pluto, 120-126.] The fate of Cicero. who wedded her daughter Proserpine. 113. sicca morte] i. e. incruenta.' "Et" has the effect of repeating the "pauci descendunt" from the preceding clause. 115. Quinquatribus] The festival of Minerva at Rome bore this name. It was so called from the "quinque dies" of the festival, which was kept on the 19th March, and four following days; or more probably because the 19th was the fifth day after the Ides. The rhetoric master's fee (Sat. vii. 157) was paid at this festival; and it would of course be a suitable time to petition for the special gifts of the goddess. 116. quisquis-Minervam] i. e. "the merest lad who still pays but anas' for his schooling." 117. custos-capsae] the " capsarius;" a small slave, who attended the pupil to school, carrying his books. The latter were rolled up and put in a case ("capsa "), from which the name was derived. See note on Sat. i. 5, 6. The slave would usually be one of the petted vernae,' or slaves born in the house; see on Sat. ix. 10. "Vernula" is nom. to "sequitur," and custos" in apposition to it. 66 120. manus caesa] Cicero was one of the earliest victims to the proscription' commenced by the triumvirs, Antony, Lepidus, and Augustus. See note on Sat. ii. 28. His twelve Philippics against Antony, although models of eloquence (see 1. 125, 126), naturally excited the animosity of their object. Cicero was at his Tusculan villa when the list of the "proscribed ". was made out. He attempted to escape by sea, but was compelled by stress of weather to land at Formiae, where he was overtaken by the executioners. His head and hands were cut off, and nailed to the 'rostra' in the Fo rum. 121. pusilli] inferior. 122.] The line here quoted is from a poem of Cicero's, "De meis temporibus." 122-124.1 "Had Cicero been as bad an orator as he was poet, he would have escaped assassination." Cicero's poetry was severely handled by ancient writers. Sec Quintilian, ix. 4. 41, where this unhappy line, "O fortunatam natam," &c., is cited to enforce the warning," Videndum ne syllabae verbi prioris ultimae sint primae sequentis." So too Martial, Ep. 2. 89. 3, 4, "Carmina quod Military fame. Quam te conspicuae, divina Philippica, famae, 125 130 Bellorum exuviae, truncis affixa tropaeis scribis Musis et Apolline nullo 126. volveris-proxima] The well-known Philippica secunda. It is the most masterly of all the speeches against Antony. See note on 1. 120 above. For "volveris" see note on Sat. i. 5, 6. 126-132.] The fate of Demosthenes. After the death of Alexander, Demosthenes succeeded in forming a general confederacy under the Athenians against the Macedonian power. After the battle of Cranon however (B.C. 322) the alliance fell to pieces, and Antipater marched against Athens, and demanded the surrender of Demosthenes. The latter had fled to the temple of Poseidon at Calauria; but finding that he was to be given up to Antipater, destroyed himself by poison; the "saevus-exitus" of I. 126, 127. 130-132.] The father of Demosthenes was a sword-cutler. 133. truncis] (adjective) "headless." The "tropaeum' was originally formed on the field of battle, by pollarding a tree, and suspending the spoils from it. So Virg. Aen. xi. 5-8: "Ingentem quercum decisis undique ramis Constituit tumulo fulgentiaque induit arma, Mezentî ducis exuvias, tibi, magne, tropaeum, Armipotens.' The shape thus given was always retained by the "tropaeum." 135. curtum temone] i. e. ' carens.' "Docked of." 136. arcu] scil. 'triumphali :' such as that of Titus at Rome. ib. tristis captivus] The bas-relief on the upper part of the arch represented the victor treading the defeated army under foot. 138. endoperator] Sat. iv. 29, and note. 139 Erexit: causas discriminis atque laboris 145 151 Expende Hannibalem: quot libras in duce summo aceto putrefaciunt." 156 156. Subura] Sat. iii. 5, and note. 157, 158.] See Livy xxii. 2 fin., Ipse Hannibal, aeger oculis ex verna primum intemperie variante calores frigoraque, elephanto vectustandem altero oculo capitur." The elephanto' is the "Gaetula belua” here. 159-166.] After the defeat of Zama, Hannibal's influence gradually declined at Carthage. Finding that he would be given up to the Romans, Hannibal fled to the court of Antiochus, who gave him the command of a naval force. After the defeat of Antiochus at Magnesia, B.C. 190, the Romans demanded the surrender of Hannibal as one of the conditions of peace. He escaped, however, to the court of Prusias, king of Bithynia (the "Bithyno tyranno of 1. 161, 162), where he passed some years in security. The Nempe, et in exsilium praeceps abit, atque ibi magnus Mirandusque cliens sedet ad praetoria regis, 160 165 Ut Gyarae clausus scopulis parvaque Seripho. 170 170. ut] "As if he had been." ib. Gyarae-Seripho] See Sat. i. 73; vi. 564, and notes. 171. a figulis munitam] i. e. Babylon. The wall was built of clay dug from the moat, and made into bricks on the spot. See Herod. i. 179. 172.] Alexander's death at Babylon from a debauch is well known. 174. velificatus Athos] See Herod. vii. 122, o MED VAUTIKOS στρατός. διεξέπλωσε τὴν διώρυχα τὴν ἐν τῷ ̓Αθῳ γενομένην. See the digging of the trench described cap. 22, 23. 175, 176.] See Herod. vii. 35, 36, πεντηκοντέρους καὶ τριήρεας συνθέντες, ἀγκύρας κατῆκαν περιμИkeas' ταῦτα δὲ ποιήσαντες, KaTÉTEIvov ik yns тà örλa. ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐγεφυρώθη ὁ πόρος, κορμούς ξύλων έπετίθεσαν καθύπερθε τῶν ὅπλων τοῦ τόνου OETES δὲ, ὕλην ἐπεφόρησαν κόσμῳ δὲ θέντες καὶ τὴν ὕλην, γῆν ἐπεφόρησαν· διέβη δὲ ὁ στρατὸς ἐν ἑπτὰ ἡμέρῃσι καὶ ἐν ἑπτὰ εὐφρόνησι. |