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JUVENALIS

SATIRAE XVI.

WITH ENGLISH NOTES

BY

HERMAN PRIOR, M.A.

LATE SCHOLAR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD.

(EXPURGATED EDITION.Y

LONDON:

WHITTAKER AND CO. AVE MARIA LANE;

GEORGE BELL, FLEET STREET.

1862.

297.9.171.

LONDON:

GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS,

ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.

PREFACE.

THE present notes were completed without reference to any other English edition, but the compiler has since referred to Mr. Macleane's larger work (in the Bibliotheca Classica), and made some useful additions from it. In some instances he has been unable to adopt Mr. Macleane's view; and the latter has hardly done justice to the French commentator (Achaintre).

The size of the present work obviously excludes notes of criticism or illustration, merely as such; neither has it allowed much discussion of conflicting renderings. For the purposes of explanation it is hoped that it will be found reasonably exhaustive; and that the student will be able to feel that he has mastered the author's text and train of thought, as well as the collateral matters arising in his perusal. It should be observed, that no verbal explanation is given which may be obtained directly from the dictionary.

D. JUNII JUVENALIS

AQUINATIS

SATIRA I.

No apology required for

writing poetry when it

is the

INTRODUCTORY.

Semper ego auditor tantum ? nunquamne repo

nam,

Vexatus toties rauci Theseide Codri?

Impune ergo mihi recitaverit ille togatas,

Hic elegos? impune diem consumserit ingens universal Telephus, aut summi plena jam margine libri practice. Scriptus et in tergo necdum finitus Orestes?

1-18.] The recitation of original poetry was much in fashion at Rome (see Sat. vii. 39-47; 82-87); the subjects being commonly mythological or heroic. Nothing is known of the pieces or poets referred to in these lines.

2. Theseide] like "Aeneis." Musa is said to be the substantive understood.

ib. toties] It was so long, that it took several days reciting.

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3. togatas] sub. "fabulas." "Domestic comedies." The Roman stage, like our own, had the broad distinction of regular' comedy, and farce. The latter was of home growth, and comprised two kinds; the "mimus," -pantomime, or low farce, which was mere gesticulation; and the "Atellanae fabulae (introduced from Campania), which were more refined in character, and included a good deal of dialogue. The regular comedy, on the other hand, was essentially Greek. At first, indeed, it was a mere transcript, preserving the Greek names, dress, and scenes, as well as the plot and dialogue; but latterly only the two latter were re

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tained, and the piece in other respects was brought out with a Roman cast. Greek comedies thus adapted were called togatae,' from the Roman costume used; the former class, or mere transcripts, being now termed 'palliatae,' from their Greek dress. See Hor. A. P. 286-288:

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vestigia Graeca Ausi deserere, et celebrare domestica facta,

Vel qui praetextas, vel qui docuere togatas."

The 'praetextas' (i. e. praetextatas fabulas) in this passage of Horace, were comedies in which official or distinguished personages were presented; thus resembling the English 'genteel' comedy of the last century.

re

4. ingens] This is clearly an epithet of the poem, not of the man.

5, 6. summi libri-margine-tergo] Books, i. e. published compositions, were written either on parchment (membrana'), or on a material obtained from the fine pellicle which surrounds the papyrus, and from which the term 'liber' is derived.

B

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