But the Grace, with her twin naked sisters, shuns quarrel, And to more than three measures refuses her sanction.

Ho! ho! what a joy to go mad for a time!

Why on earth stops the breath of that fife Berecynthian?

And pray, why is that harp so unsocially silent,
And the lively Pandèan pipe idly suspended?

Quick, roses and more! Let it rain with the rose!
There's nothing I hate like the hand of a niggard.

Let the noise of our mirth split the ears of old Lycus.
He is envious-our riot shall gorge him with envy.

The ears of our neighbour, his wife, let it reach.

No wife could suit less the grey hairs of old Lycus.1

Thee, O Telephus, radiant with locks of thick cluster,
Thee, with face like the star of the eve at its clearest,
Budded Rhode is courting; I too am on fire,

But me Glycera keeps in the flames, burning slowly.

2

The graduated process of a drinking-bout is most naturally simulated in these verses. First stage, the amiable expansion of heart in the friendly toast-the toleration of differing tastes ;-each man may drink as much as he likes. Secondly, the consciousness of getting drunk, and thinking it a fine thing;-joy to go mad. Thirdly, the craving for noise ;-let the band strike up. Fourthly, a desire for something cool; --roses in ancient Rome-soda-water in modern England. Fifthly, the combative stage ;-aggressive insult to poor old Lycus. Sixthly, the maudlin stage, soft and tender; complimentary to Telephus, and confidingly pathetic as to his own less fortunate love-affairs.

2 Commentators have endeavoured to create a puzzle even here, where the meaning appears very obvious. Rhode runs after you (petit), who are so handsome-Glycera does not run after me, but keeps me languishing; the sense is consistent with the tone, half envious, half sarcastic, with which the poet a ways speaks of Telephus, the typical beauty-man and lady-killer.

Nudis juncta sororibus.

Insanire juvat: cur Berecyntiæ Cessant flamina tibiæ ?

Cur pendet tacita fistula cum lyra?

Parcentes ego dexteras

Odi: sparge rosas; audiat invidus Dementem strepitum Lycus

Et vicina seni non habilis Lyco.1

Spissa te nitidum coma,

Puro te similem, Telephe, Vespero, Tempestiva petit Rhode:

Me lentus Glyceræ torret amor meæ.2

ODE XX.-OMITTED.

U

ODE XXI.

TO MY CASK.

This poem appears composed in honour of some occasion in which Horace entertained the famous L. Valerius Messala Corvinus. No man in that great age was more remarkable for the variety of his accomplishments than this Corvinus. Sprung from one of the greatest consular families, he espoused the senatorian party in the civil wars, and attached himself especially to Cassius. He held the third place in the command of the Republican army, and at

Coeval with me, born when Manlius was consul,
Whatsoe'er the effects of thy life, while in action-
Spleen or mirth, angry brawl or wild love,

Or, O gentle cask,' ready slumber

Philippi

Under what head soe'er there be entered account of 2
The grapes thou hast kept since in Massicus gathered,
Thou art worth being roused on a day

Of good fortune; descend3 for Corvinus

Asking wines by age mellowed! He will not neglect thee,
All imbued though he be with Socratical maxims.
Father Cato, full often, 'tis said,

Warmed his virtue with wine undiluted.1

Thou givëst a soft-pricking spur to the sluggish,
Makest gentle the harsh, and confiding the cautious.

''Pia testa.' The exact meaning of 'pia' here has given rise to much critical disputation. Macleane says he knows no better translation than Francis's 'gentle cask,' for the meaning is to be derived from its connection with 'facilem somnum.' Yonge adopts the same interpretation, gentle, kindly,'-observing 'it would be "impia" if producing "querelas, rixas," &c. I have translated 'testa' cask, as a word familiar to the English reader, but it here properly means the amphora, a vessel into which the wine was, as we should say, bottled.

Philippi turned Augustus's flank, stormed his camp, and nearly took him prisoner. Subsequently he made terms with Antony, whom he left for Augustus, after Antony's league with Cleopatra-and at Actium commanded the centre of the fleet with great distinction. Besides his eminence as a commander and a statesman, he was conspicuous as an orator, a wit, a historian, and a grammarian. He also wrote poetry.-See Smith's Dictionary for fuller details of his life, art. 'Messala.'

CARM. XXI.

O nata mecum consule Manlio,
Seu tu querelas, sive geris jocos
Seu rixam et insanos amores,
Seu facilem, pia testa,' somnum,
Quocunque lectum nomine2 Massicum
Servas, moveri digna bono die,

3

Descende, Corvino jubente

Promere languidiora vina.

Non ille, quamquam Socraticis madet
Sermonibus, te negleget horridus:
Narratur et prisci Catonis
Sæpe mero caluisse virtus.

Tu lene tormentum ingenio admoves
Plerumque duro; tu sapientium

Quocunque nomine,' on whatever account.' On the technical meaning of 'nomen,' signifying an entry in an account,' see Mr. Long's note on Cicero in Verr. 11, 1, 38. ""Lectum," which Forcellini interprets "selected," rather applies to the gathering of the grape from which the wine was made. Massic wine was from Mons Massicus in Campania.'-MACLEANE.

''Descende'-i.e., descend from the place where it was kept (apotheca), in the upper part of the house.

4 'Mero,' wine undiluted.

Chasing care from the brows of the wise,

Thou unlockest their hearts to Lyæus.'

Hope and nerve thou restorest to minds worn and harassed, Add'st the horn that exalts to the front of the beggar; Fresh from thee he could face down a king,

Fresh from thee, brave the charge of an army.

Thee, shall Liber and Venus, if Venus come merry,
And the Graces, reluctant their bond to dissever,
And the living lights gaily prolong,

Till the stars fly from Phoebus returning.

Retegis Lyæo.' 'The dative case, "to" Lyæus, appears here to be employed rather than the ablative.'-ORELLI.