Lenonum pueri, quocumque in fornice nati. -Othoni] The "pulvinum equestre" (lit. knight's cushion) refers to the regulation of the "quatuordecim ordines "at the theatre. The latter, as regards the spectators' portion, consisted of semicircular tiers of benches arranged one above the other in front of the stage ('pulpitum '). It will be seen, that from the semicircular arrangement of the benches, a considerable space would be left between them and the stage. This was termed the 'orchestra;' and, in the Roman theatre, was occupied by the seats of the senate, foreign ambassadors, and other persons of distinction. In B.C. 68 a further appropriation was made by the Lex Roscia Theatralis, passed by L. Roscius Otho. By this fourteen rows of the tiers of benches immediately adjoining the 'orchestra' were cushioned and reserved for the equestris ordo.' See 1. 159; and cf. Hor. Epod. 4. 16: 6 "Sedilibusque magnus in primis eques Othone contempto sedet." The census equestris,' or qualification for that 'ordo,' was 400,000 sesterces; see note on Sat. v. 57; x. 94, 95. And cf. Hor. Ep. i. 1. 58, "Si quadringentis sex septem millia Accordingly, it follows that 'sedere quatuordecim ordinibus' is equivalent to having this property; and so Sat. xiv. 323, 324. It should be observed that this semicircular arrangement of the benches at the theatre 159 distinguished it from the amphitheatre, where they formed a complete circle round the arena. See note on Sat. ii. 147. 155. legi] i. e. the law of Otho above referred to. 158. cultos] "spruce." ib. lanistae] A trainer of gladiators; cf. Sat. xi. 8. They were called his "familia," and his establishment itself "ludus." For 'pinnirapi,' see Dict. 161. sarcinulis] Lit. "bundles." It seems to have become a cant term for the 'dos' brought by a wife to her husband. So that 'impar' will be "unsuitable;" i. e. a bad match for. This is quite intelligible, without supposing any specific obligation in the husband to settle property equal to the 'dos' of the young lady (puellæ'). 162. quando in consilio est Aedilibus] Under the republic there were four aediles; two plebeian, who were appointed at the Mons Sacer, B.C. 494, and two curule (patrician), appointed B.C. 365. Their duties were nearly trates, commissioners of the markets, identical. They were police magispublic buildings, and state lands, and directors of the festivals. Of the latter, the 'ludi magni' and 'Megalesia,' and the dramatic representations, were specially in charge of the curule aediles. In B.C. 45, two additional plebeian aediles were appointed. Under the empire, the aediles were police magistrates only, their other duties having been transferred to the curatores.' Hence, in this passage, 'Quando-aedilibus means, "when is he (the poor man) 165 170 Debuerant olim tenues migrasse Quirites. asked to assist in hearing even a 66 164, 165.] "A poor man does not easily rise' (emergere) any where; but at Rome," &c. 170. veneto] "bottle-green." For 'culullo,' see Lat. Dict. 171, 172.1 All Roman citizens were entitled to wear the toga; but, in practice, it was habitually worn only in Rome itself, its use elsewhere being reserved for solemn occasions. Thus Cincinnatus, when nominated dictator as he was ploughing, "togam e tugurio proferre uxorem jubet." Liv. iii. 26. So here, 'nemo togam sumit, nisi "mortuus."" During the republic, it could not have been said magna pars Italiae," as the above rule was universal. Under the empire, however, the use of the toga at all became confined to the upper classes, except on state occasions, when the lower orders still assumed it; see note on Sat. i. 96. It is probable that this may have led 175 to its habitual use by the upper classes in the provincial towns and watering-places, thus reversing the former rule to this extent. 173.] See Sat. vi. 67 and note. 174. pulpita] The stage properly, the front part of it only. 175. exodium] "interlude;"-the genitive' Atellanae' (i. e. 'fabulae:') being understood. See Sat. vi. 71, where the full phrase is given; and see too Livy vii. 2, "exodia conserta fabellis Atellanis." For the Atellanae fabulae,' see note on Sat. i. 3. Several of these were performed in the same day, and the exodia' (from odou) were probably short humorous pieces, whether dramatic or otherwise, recited in the intervals. They may have served the purpose of the Tupaßaois in Greek comedy; a satirical notice of events of the day, relieving the mind from the strain of continuous representation. ib. personae] "mask;" its first meaning. 177, 178. similesque-orchestram et populum] See note on 1. 154 above. 178. honoris] "office." 179.] In country places, the aedile D Physical arguments against a town Hic ultra vires habitûs nitor: hic aliquid plus, 180 185 Ille metit barbam, crinem hic deponit amati :- Quis timet aut timuit gelida Praeneste ruinam, (see note on 1. 162) would be the 179. tunicae albae] At Rome magistrates wore the toga praetexta; i. e. bordered (with a band of purple). See note on Sat. i. 78. 180. Hic] In Rome. 181. aliena arca] i. e. aere :" by borrowing." "alieno 184. Quid das] "What do you not pay ?" 184, 185. Cossum-Veiento] Great men of the day; the latter, Domitian's favourite. See Sat. iv. 113. Cossus was a cognomen in the Cornelia gens. 185. clauso labello] "even if he does not speak to you." 186-189.] Other causes which make great men's acquaintance expensive. "You have to make presents on the fêtes even of their slaves." 186. barbam — crinem] These, when first cut, were devoted at the shrine of Aesculapius or Apollo, and the day kept as a festival. The technical term for this was "deponere crinem." Here, the master dignifies a pet slave ('amati') with this ceremony. 187. Plena d. lib. ven.] "One of these fête-days comes; and straightway the house is filled with &c.' ib. libis] Cakes of fine flour, honey, and oil. These were presented to the slave, and sold by him (venalibus '), the proceeds going into his own pocket. "And ib. accipe] "hear." 187, 188. et illud-habe] take home to you this cause for anger." Lit. this leaven.' 189. cultis] pampered." ib. peculia] A slave's private earnings, which practically were his own, although in strictness a slave could not hold property. They were often considerable enough to purchase his freedom. Cf. Sat. vii. 220, 221. 190-314.] The last complaint of Umbricius;- the physical drawbacks of Rome-life: viz. fall of houses (190-196); fires (197-222); bad and noisy lodgings (223—238); the streets (239-314). 190. ruinam] fall of a house. For descriptions of the places mentioned in this and the two next lines, see Macleane. 192. proni Tiburis] Horace says "Tibur supinum;" i. e. lit. 'lying on the back,' while "pronus" is lying on the face. Applied to place, both mean the same, sloping." Tivoli slants steeply to the Anio. 193. tibicine] Props to a house were so called. How the word acquired this meaning is uncertain. life; tumbledown Magna parte sui. Nam sic labentibus obstat Villicus et, veteris rimae quum texit hiatum, 195 houses; Securos pendente jubet dormire ruina. fires; Vivendum est illic, ubi nulla incendia, nulli 201 Ucalegon; tabulata tibi jam tertia fumant: Nil habuit Codrus: quis enim negat? et tamen illud Si 194. sic] By the 'tibicines.' ib. labentibus] sub. "aedibus." 195. villicus] The landlord's agent. It is more usually the steward of a country property. 196. pendente-ruina] "With the ruin hanging about our ears." 'Ruina' properly means the act of falling, as in 1. 190. But by the use of the abstract for the concrete, it comes to mean the thing itself which falls or has fallen: as we say, "a ruin." So Plin. H. N. xxxiii. 4, "flumina ad lavandam hanc ruinam ducere." So "Ruinas transcendere conaretur.' "Liv. xliii. 163. 199. Ucalegon] Our next-door neighbour, whose house has already caught. See Virg. Aen. ii. 312, "Jam proximus ardet Ucalegon." ib. tab. tertia] The third story; just below our own garret. See note on Sat. vii. 118. 203-222.] "Besides, when you are burnt out, you lose your all, and starve in the streets. The rich man, 211 whose house has been on fire, receives so many presents that he is better off than ever." 203. Codrus] Perhaps the poet of Sat. i. 2. ib. Procula minor] Too short for his short wife. 204. abaci] "Side-board." The word has other meanings. ib. infra] below the abacus. 205. et Chiron] "And a Chiron reclining under the same marble as the cantharus:"" i. e. under the side-board also. The figure was probably recumbent. 206. Jamque] "Well, there was too a chest which." 207. opici] A form of Osci, one of the aboriginal tribes of Italy. Here, "barbarous;" as we should say, "Vandal.” 212. Arturi] He is the ' Persicus' of 1. 221: childless and rich, and therefore extensively courted. See note on Sat. iv. 18-22. Pullati proceres, differt vadimonia Praetor. accepted it, and was then said "vadari reum ;"-" to let him go on surety." The defendant, on his part, was said "vadimonium facere" (or promittere"). When he discharged the surety by his own appearance on the second day, the phrase was “vadimonium sistere." 212, 213.] You have the matrons dishevelled, the great men in black, the courts closed;" i. e. it is treated as a public calamity. See on Sat. xv. 135. 'Est' and 'sunt' 66 are understood after mater' and 'proceres; and' mater' is used for matres,' i. e. matronae.' 213. diff. vad. Praetor] i. e. the courts are closed. The technical phrase (which constantly occurs in Livy) was "justitium (jus, stare) indicitur." It was the first measure in any public danger or calamity. "Differre vadimonium" (the phrase in the text) was to postpone the day for the defendant's second appearance. This might be done by arrangement, or by the courts being closed on any particular day. The effect of this latter was that all the "vadimonia" due that day "stood over" till the next sitting. The surety in these civil causes was vas;" 66 First praes was the "bail" in criminal ib. vadimonia] The praetor did not himself try causes; he only sent them to be tried by the judices. The proceedings before the praetor consisted of two distinct parts. the actio,' or right of trial, was granted; in other words, it was decided that "the action would lie." On a second day, usually the next the plaintiff made his formal claim. If simply denied, the cause was at issue, and a 'judex' at once appointed. Frequently however the defendant tendered a plea ('exceptio) in reply. In this case the judex' was not appointed till the plea was disposed of. but one, On both days the personal attendance of the parties was required. The defendant's first attendance could be compelled by force; and he was not discharged until he had given a surety (vas) for his attendance on the second day. If the was satisfactory, the plaintiff vas cases. 66 |