ashamed of our scars, and our guilt, and of brothers." The poet was apparently going to add, "slain by the hand of brothers; " but the thought was too horrid for utterance, and the sentence is therefore abruptly broken off. Cp. Virg. Geo. ii. 510. He merely adds in general language, "What in fine have we, a hardened age, avoided?" &c. The reference throughout the stanza is to the bloody struggle of the civil wars. 35. Nefasti may be taken as the gen. sing. neut., depending on quid, or rather as the nom. plur. masc., agreeing with nos understood. 36. Unde-" from what?" 38. O utinam diffingas retusum-ferrum"O mayest thou forge again our blunted swords." The poet's prayer to Fortune is, that she would forge anew the swords which had been stained with the blood of the Romans in the civil war, so that they might be employed against the enemies of the republic. While polluted with civil blood, they must be the objects of hatred and aversion to the gods. 39. In Massagetas Arabasque-"to be wielded against the Massagetæ and the Arabians." The Massagete were a branch of the great Scythian race, and, according to Herodotus (1,204), occupied a level tract of country to the east of the Caspian. Larcher considers their name as probably equivalent to "Eastern Getæ," (Histoire d' Herodote, vol. viii. p. 323.) ODE XXXVI.-Dicolos distrophos: Metre-The Second Asclepiadean, of which the first verse is a Glyconian, and the second a Lesser Asclepiadean; thus SUBJECT-A congratulation on the return of Plotius Numida from Spain. Written probably about B.C. 24, on the conclusion of the Cantabrian war. Who this Numida is, is uncertain. By Acron and Porphyrion he is called Pomponius Numida. 1. Et thure et fidibus-et vituli sanguine debito-"with both incense and the lyre, and the blood of a steer due to the fulfilment of our vow." The ancient sacrifices were accompanied with the music of the lyre and flute. 3. Numidae-A cognomen of the Plotian and Emilian lines. 4. Hesperia (terra) ab ultima—“from the farthest western land," i.e.. from Spain. Hesperia, 'Eorigia, was a common name for Italy, as lying to the west of Greece. For distinction's sake, Spain is here called Hesperia ultima. It is elsewhere styled Hesperia Minor, and Italy Hesperia Magna. 6. Dividit "distributes." 7. Regarding L Ælius Lamia, see Ode i. 26. 8. Non alio rege-" under the same preceptor," as Burbus and Seneca, the tutors of Nero and Britannicus, are styled rectores imperatoriae juventutis, in Tacit. Ann. xiii. 2. Some, however, explain non alio rege, with reference to Epist. i. 1, 59, as "under no other king" than Lamia, implying, what is not very likely, that Lamia was always 2ected "king" by his playmates. Puertiae is syncopated for pueritiae, as lamnae for laminae, in Ode ii. 2, 2, or surpuerat for surripuerat, in Ode iv. 13, 20. 9. Mutataeque simul togae-Young men, among the Romans, when they left school, and were regarded as fit for business, laid aside the toga praetexta, and put on the toga virilis, or manly gown, which was likewise styled pura, or liberior. See Ramsay's Antiquities, page 422. 10. Cressa nota-" a white mark." The Romans marked their lucky days, in the calendar, with white, and their unlucky days with black counters. Chalk was obtained from Cimolus, a small island in the neighbourhood of Crete. 11. Neu, &c.-amphorae-"let there be no restrictions on the jar brought from the cellar (apotheca)," ie., let every one drink as much as he pleases. 12. Neu, &c.-pedum-"let there be no rest to the feet, for the Salian custom" of dancing, or of beating time. It is disputed whether Salium is an adjective for Saliarem, or a syncopated genitive plural for SalioIt may be either. The Salii, or priests of Mars Gradivus, twelve in number, were instituted by Numa. They were so called because on solemn occasions they rum. used to go through the city dancing (sal-practised by the Thracians, and consisted in tantes). After finishing their solemn pro- draining the cup without once closing the cession, they sat down to a splendid enter- lips, from &, priv., and μów, claudo. It tainment. Hence Saliares dapes means "a denotes also a large kind of drinking-cup. splendid banquet." There is no representation of their mode of dancing, but the fore- retains its verdure." 16. Vivax apium-"the parsley that long The poet is thought going cut exhibits their pointed cap (apex); to allude to a kind of wild parsley, of a their outward mantle (trabea); and the beautiful verdure, which preserves its freshwand with which they struck the sacred shields as they were carried through the short-lived lily." Crowns of such plants are ness for a long period. Breve lilium-"the belief that they tended to prevent the injusupposed to have been used at first, in the rious effects of intoxication. city. 13. Multi Damalis meri—“the hard-drinking Damalis." 14. Threïcia amystide-"in tossing off the wine-cup after the Thracian fashion." The amystis (μvoris) was a mode of drinking 17. Putres "wanton," or "languishing." 20. Ambitiosior-"embracing him more closely." ODE XXXVII.-Tricolos tetrastrophos: Metre-The Alcaic or Horatian, of which the two first verses are Greater Alcaic, the third an Archilochian, and the fourth a Lesser Alcaic; thus SUBJECT-A bacchanalian song in celebration of the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at Actium, B.C. 31. Written probably in B.C. 30, soon after their death. The name of Antony is studiously concealed, as the war had formally been declared against Cleopatra. In this way the poet dexterously avoids the appearance of calling upon his fellow-citizens to triumph over the fall of a countryman. 2. Nunc, &c.-dapibus · "now was the time to deck the couch of the gods with a splendid banquet." Nunc is emphatic, and erat implies a gentle reproof to the Senate for not having already ordained a public thanksgiving (Supplicatio), combined with a Lectisternium, in honour of the auspicious intelligence. See Notes, Ode i. 36, 12. For pulvinar, supplicatio, and lectisternium, see Antiquities. 5. Antehac is to be pronounced as a dissyllable (ant-yac), as anteit, in Ode i. 35, 17. Nefas (erat or fuerat)-"it was or had been profanity." The usual cæsura is omitted in this, and in line 14, on the fifth syllable. Caecubum-Used here to denote any of the more generous kinds of wine. Compare Notes Ode i. 20, 9. explained as an enallage for demens, with regina "a frenzied queen." Cp. Virg. An. ii. 576, Sceleratas sumere poenas. 9. Contaminato, &c.-virorum-" with a polluted herd of men, foul with diseases." Virorum is used ironically of the eunuchs by whom the queen was attended. -"weak 10. Quidlibet impotens sperare · enough to hope for anything," a Grecisi for impotens ut quidlibet speraret. 11. Fortunaque dulci ebria-"and intoxicated with prosperity." 13. Sospes ab ignibus-"saved from the flames." This would have been almost strictly true, if the name of Antony had been substituted for that of Cleopatra, which, however, did not suit the poet's object. The queen fled during the engagement with all her sixty ships; but of Antony's hundred and seventy, only the one in which he escaped was preserved. Many, however, of Cleopatra's were afterwards burned by the Arabs, at the instance of Q. Didius. 6. Cells avitis-" from the cellars filled by our forefathers," and consequently old. Strictly speaking, the celia vinaria was a cool apartment, partially under ground, in which the wine was kept in large earthen vats, (dolia, cupae, or seriae,) having their 14. Mentem lymphatam Mareotico (vino) interior coated with pitch, picata or picatae."having her mind inflamed to madness After the fermentation was completed, the with Marcotic (i.e., with Egyptian) wine." wine was transferred to jars, (amphorae, Lymphatam mentem is literally "inflamed cadi, or lagenae,) marked with the names of the consuls for the current year, and geneas to her mind." Lymphatus vvμQóàng. rally conveyed to an upper part of the house, Tos. The Mareotic wine was produced in (apotheca, horreum, or fumarium,) to ripen. the neighbourhood of Alexandria, in Egypt, See Ramsay's Antiquities, page 438. along the borders of Lake Mareotis. 7. Dementes-"madly conceived;" usually 16. Ab Italia, &c.—adurgens-"pursuing her with (lit. oars) galleys, as she fled from, Italy." This is somewhat inaccurate, as Octavianus visited both Italy and Asia after the battle of Actium, before proceeding to Egypt. 20. Haemoniae-Hæmonia, a poetic name of Thessaly, from Hæmon, one of its kings, and father of Thessalus. 21. Fatale monstrum-"the fated monster," i.e., the fated cause of evil to the Roman world. Quae (at ea), &c.-quaerens -"but she, seeking to perish more nobly," is a syllepsis, the relative being made to refer to the person indicated by monstrum, not to the grammatical gender of the ante cedent itself. 23. Expavit ensem-An allusion to the attempt which Cleopatra made upon her own life, when Proculeius was sent by Augustus to secure her person. Nec, &c.-oras "nor with her swift fleet did she procure (i.e., repair to) hidden shores." It is stated by Plutarch (Antony, 69) that Cleopatra caused some of her galleys to be drawn across the isthmus of Suez into the Red Sea, purposing, with her wealth and forces, to seek some remote country, where she might neither be reduced to slavery nor involved in war; but that, as the first galleys carried over were burned by the Arabians of Petra, she abandoned the enterprise, and resolved to fortify the avenues of her kingdom against the approach of Octavianus. Some understand latentes oras to apply to Egypt, and translate reparavit-"fortified," lit. repaired," which is contrary to fact. One MS. gives repetivit, and the conjectural readings are numerous; such as penetravit, repadavit, peraravit, &c. 25. Ausa (est), &c.-fortis fuit) et-"she dared both to visit, with a placid countenance, her dejected palace, and was brave enough." For jacentem, one MS. gives tacentem. Fortis tractare is a Grecism for adeo fortis ut tractaret. 26. Asperas-"exasperated." Cp. Virg. Geo. iii. 433. Horace here adopts the com. mon opinion, that Cleopatra's death was occasioned by the bite of an asp, the animal having been previously irritated by the There is a queen with a golden bodkin. great deal of doubt, however, on this subject, as may be seen from Plutarch. 29. Deliberata morte ferocior (fuit)-"she became more fierce after having determined to die," lit, "her death being deliberately planned." 30. Saevis, &c.—triumpho-"dis daining. when divested of her authority, to be led away, forsooth, in the hostile galleys of the Liburnians to a proud triumph, as no mean woman." In explaining this passage, Porphyrion states that Cleopatra, after suspecting the intention of Octavianus, repeatedly exclaimed, où giaμßsúcoμas! "I shall not be led in triumph!" Superbo triumpho is a Grecism for ad superbum triumphum. The naves Liburnae were a kind of light galleys used by the Liburnians-an Illyrian race addicted to piracy, along the coast of the Adriatic. To ships of this construction Augustus was in a great measure indebted for his victory at Actium. vessels of Antony, on the other hand, were remarkable for their great size. Cp. Epode 1, 1. The annexed cut exhibits the sharp build fore and aft, the mast amid ship, and the levantine sail of a small Liburnian vessel, and may be compared with the one given of a Roman ship, Que i. 3, 7 The ODE XXXVIII.-Dicolos tetrastrophos: Metre-The Lesser Sapphic, of which the three first verses are Lesser Sapphic, and the fourth an Adonian; thus SUBJECT-A song in praise of simple decorations. The poet is content with the myrtle. 1. Persicos apparatus "the festal preparations of the Persians," i.e., luxurious and costly preparations. Cp. Corn. Nep. Paus. iii.; Xen. Cyr. viil. 8, 15-19; and Herod. ix. 82. Puer, à ai,-"O boy!" is the usual designation of a "cup-bearer," (puer a cyatho, or pocillator,) in the Lyric poets. 2. Nexae philyra coronae "chaplets bound with the inner bark of the linden, or lime-tree (tilia)." These were termed Sutiles coronae, and are exemplified in the foregoing head of a Roman empress. Cp. Ovid, Fast. v. 335, &c. Coloured ribbons (lemnisci) frequently supplied the place of the strips of bast (philyrae), and, in either case, the loose ends (taeniae) were formed into an ornamental knot behind, as exhibited in three of the ancient crowns given below. See also Notes, Ode i. 17, 27. 3. Mitte sectari-"give over searching." Quo locorum in quibus locis. 4. Moretur "lingers." 5. Nihil allabores sedulus curo (ut)-"I am particularly anxious that you do not toil to add anything." One MS. gives sedulus curae-"strive not with earnest care to add anything," sedulus curae being a Grecism for sedula cura. Allaborare is a ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, except in Epode 8, 20. 7. Arcta-umbrosa, or densa. Cp. i'aμπέλω. ODE I-Tricolos tetrastrophos: Metre-The Alcaic or Horatian, of which the two first verses are Greater Alcaic, the third an Archilochian, and the fourth a Lesser Alcaic; thus ~1 Addressed to C. Asinius Pollio, probably in B.C. 29, when he seems to have been dividing his attention between composing tragedies and writing a history of the civil wars, in which for eleven years he had taken an active part. SUBJECT-After showing the difficulties of treating such an extensive subject, Horace advises Pollio, till it was complete, to abandon tragedy, and after giving a glowing panegyric on such portions of the history as he had heard read, he concludes by depicting some of the horrors of civil war, and reminding his readers that his province is to seek "measures of a lighter strain." Virgil dedicated two Eclogues to Pollio, the fourth in 40, and the eighth in 39, B.C. 1. Motum-civicum civile bellum, governed by tractas. Ex Metello consule "from the consulship of Metellus." Pollio's history is said to have consisted of seventeen books, beginning with the formation of the first triumvirate, by Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus, в c. 60, in the consulship of Q. Cæcilius, Metellus, Celer, and L. Afranius, which may well be considered as the origin of the civil wars that broke out in B.C. 50, between Cæsar and Pompey, and ended with the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra by Octavianus, at Actium, in 31. 2. Causas "the causes," such as the murder of Crassus, the death of Julia, and the ambition and rivalry of Cæsar and Pompey. Vitia-"the errors," such as the ex pedition of Crassus against the Parthians, and the unwise plans of Pompey and his followers. Modos-"the operations." 3. Ludumque Fortunae "and the sport of Fortune," i.e., "and of the game that Fortune played." Gravesque principum amicitias-"and of the grievous confederacies of the chiefs," referring to the two triumvirates, the first in 60, by Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus, and the second by Octavianus, Antony, and Lepidus, in 43 B.C. 4. Arma, &c.-cruoribus-Referring principally to the battle of Pharsalia in 48, of Thapsus in 46, and of Munda in 45, in all of which Pollio fought for Cæsar. 5. Nondum expiatis-Cp. Ode i. 2, 29. |