sc. aqua. 84. Quis, second person of queo. 89. Join cont. pop. with miror. 90. Rude pictures were set up as advertisements of the games. 93. Audis, art called. 102. F. s., a stolen strigil, which the boy exchanges for a bunch of grapes. The strigil was a scraper of horn, brass, silver, or gold, of a curved form and a sharp edge, with which (instead of a flesh-brush) the skin was scraped after bathing or exercise in the gymnasium. 107. Comes atra, i. e. Cura. Carm. III. i. 40. 108. Lap., sc. sumam vel petam. 110. I'll send thee away to work with my eight field-hands on my farm. To be sent to work in the country was a common punishment, much dreaded by city slaves.

Sat. VIII. (727, 728.)

An account of a supper given by the vain, vulgar parvenu and gourmand, Nasidienus Rufus. The story is told by the comic poet Fundanius, one of the guests.

1. Juvit delectavit.

=

=

Beati divitis.

2. Dictus, sc. es. 3. The usual hour of the cena was three; to begin earlier was a mark of luxury and excess. 13. At. virgo. This refers to the stately, solemn pace of the virgin basket-bearers in the sacred processions in Athens. 14. Hydaspes, a slave from India, was of a tawny color (fuscus). 15. Maris expers, untempered with sea-water, (an ingredient used in flavoring wines.) Y. takes maris as gen. of mas, and tr. "wanting in body" or strength. 17. Ap., sc. vinis.

Imus lectus.

Medius lectus.

4

7

Mensa.

Summus lectus.

20. Summus, i. e. first on the highest couch. The guests reclined (each on his left arm) in the following places, as indicated in the diagram: 1) Fundanius; 2) Viscus; 3) Varius; 4) Servilius; 5) Vibidius; 6) Maecenas, (in the place of honor, called the locus consularis ;) 7) Nomentanus, (in the place which should be occupied by the host; the reason is given in lines 25, 26;) 8) Nasidienus himself; 9) Porcius. 22. Umbrae is the appropriate name of the uninvited followers that great men bring with them to feasts, to laugh at their jokes and confirm their boasts. 24. Rid. abs. An inf. added to an adj., by a Greek usage, for specification and nearer definition. 25. Ad hoc, for this purpose (cf. vi. 42). Qui is. Nomentanus's business, as nomenclator, was to direct the attention of the guests to any dainties they might have overlooked, and to explain to them the mysterious composition of each dish. 26. The thumb was called pollex; the forefinger index, the middle medius or famosus

= ut

(as the finger of scorn), the ring-finger anularis or medicus (from its supposed connection with the heart), and the little finger minimus. 29. The passer was a flounder or plaice. 30. Ing., such as I had never tasted before. 34. Damnose, to his loss. Mor. in., spoken "with comic pathos." Cf. Aen. II. 670; IV. 659. As Horace could not have taken this from Virgil, R. thinks they may both have drawn from some older author, perhaps Ennius. 36. Par., of our purveyor, (the host.) 37-8. Other reasons than the parsimony of the host are ironically given. 39. Inv. Al. (poculis) vin. (vasa) tota, empty whole wine-jars into Allifanian cups (which were of a larger size than usual, and named from Allifae in Samnium). 40, 41. The host's parasites, sitting by his side, did not dare to drink largely. Some, however, understand the reasons in verses 37, 38 as honestly given, and as preventing the epicures from excessive drinking. 44. Carne, abl. of specification. 45. His, of these ingredients. 48-9. Ut non ullum aliud (vinum) magis (conveniat) hoc (vino). 50. Which by its sharpness has soured the Methymnæan grape (i. e. the Lesbian wine, of which this vinegar is made). Some take vitio as dat. = in vitium. 52. Incoq., to dress in (or with) this sauce. 53. As (the taste) which the sea shell-fish (naturally) gives out is better than (prepared) pickle. Rem., subj., because the whole is stated as the opinion of Curtillus. 54. Aulaea, the curtains, i. e. the tent-like canopy over the table. 58. Rufus, the cognomen of Nasidienus. 59, 61. Esset, tolleret, imperf. instead of pluperf., both in the protasis and in the apodosis, for rhetorical liveliness. 63. Mappa, with a napkin. 64. Susp. om. n., i. e. making sport of everything. 67. Te-ne torquerier, (to think) that thou shouldst be tortured! M. 399; Z. 609; H. 553, III.; A. & S. 270, R. 2, (a); B. 1159; A. 58, IV. end. 72. Ag. Nasid., for want of slaves, had to make his groom wait at table, and he had broken a plate. 77. "While reclining at the triclinium, the slippers were put off; to call for them, therefore, was preparatory to rising and leaving the table." Quoque from quisque. 81. Quoque, also; as well as everything else, by the fall of the canopy. 83. Sec., seconding him; keeping up the joke. Y. 86. Mazonomo, a large dish, from which properly (páša véμɛraι) bread or cake was handed round. Y. 90. Edit = edat. Subjunctive, as part of the remarks of the loquacious host: who had taken pains to tell them the sex both of the crane and the goose, and the color of the latter and the mode in which it was fattened. 91. The rumps were considered as the most delicious parts of pigeons. Cf. Gell. 15, 8. 92. Causas, the reasons of their being cooked as they were, or of the host's offering them to his guests. 95. African serpents were particularly venomous.

Hor. 25

EPISTVLARVM

LIBER I.

66

Horace's Epistles are the work of his mature years, when all his powers were developed, his knowledge of the world complete, and his taste ripe and mellow. Hence they are, by universal confession, his most perfect compositions. Critics unite in eulogizing their "exquisite urbanity," their "calm nd commanding good sense," their "extraordinary and undefinable charms." They have all the grace of the most animated and refined conversation. They are the Spectator of the Roman supper-tables. Shrewd sense is relieved by seasonable anecdote; a general rule of life by its pertinent application; the wisdom of age and the sallies of youth are reconciled; and the individual interest is extended and elevated by its connection with the manners of the time and with the universal instincts of polite society in all ages. As miniature-painters of the humours and foibles of mankind, Addison, Fontaine, and Charles Lamb alone approach the curious felicity of Horace." The poet himself styled his Epistles as well as his Satires Sermones, in allusion to the unpretending conversational tone in which he wrote. The greater perfection of their metre, and their finished style, however, remove them farther than the Satires from the domain of the Musa pedestris. Their personal and subjective character gives a peculiar charm to these "ripest fruits" of a genius "alike instructed by Life and Art."

Epist. I.-Ad Maecenatem. (734.)

Some time after Horace had published his three books of Odes, and had, as it appears, laid aside that sort of writing, it seems that Maecenas, and probably his other friends, begged him to return to it. That is the obvious meaning of the remonstrance with which the Epistle opens. Horace expresses an earnest wish to retire into privacy, to abandon poetry, and to devote himself to the study of philosophy and virtue, which he recommends as the only true wisdom.

1. Summa = ultima. 2. The metaphors are derived from the arena. Spect., approved. Tickets with the letters SP upon them were given to gladiators who had distinguished themselves. When gladiators received their discharge, they were presented with a rudis, a wooden rapier or foil. 3. Ludo, the (gladiatorial) school. 5. The discharged gladiator hangs up his weapons appropriately in the temple of Hercules. 6. Ext. ar., from the end of the arena. The arena was separated from the seats, which went round the circus, by a wall called the podium, near which a gladiator would stand to appeal to the people for their intercession to obtain his discharge. 7. H. alludes to an inward voice. Purg., i. e. attentive; lit. purged (from all that could obstruct the entrance of the truth). 9. Il. d., (lit. contract his flanks.) become broken-winded. 11. Quid (sit), etc. Decens decorum, honestum. 14 sq. H. is an Eclectic, the servile follower of no school: per

=

haps in some danger, however, of being "blown about by every wind of doctrine." 20. Ut dies (videtur) longa deb. op., etc. 31. Esttenus, it is possible to advance to a certain point. 36. The ancients ascribed to the number three a mysterious magical power. 46. Ne cures ut desinas curare. 47. Mel. sapientiori. Non vis. "A question with non expresses surprise that a thing is not so, or a doubt of the possibility [or propriety] of its being denied." M. 451, c. Obs. Cf. Krüger's Gr. 514, 2, b. 49. Olympia. Acc. of specification, by a Greek construction, 'Odúμñia oтepavovoda. 53. Janus s. ab i. Like all Wallstreet. See Sat. II. 3, 19 note. Let all liberally educated scholars, who should give the tone to the best society in every civilized community, maintain the standard of high thought and simple living, rebuking the vulgar worship of wealth, which has as many slavish devotees in America as in ancient Rome. 56. Susp., used as middle voice, governing the acc. 56. But from the four hundred (thousand sesterces) (requisite by the Roscian law (61) for a knight's estate, and equal to about $15,000), six (or) seven thousand are wanting. 60. Sibi, used of the 2d pers., as is davr sometimes in Greek. Nil c. s., to be conscious of no crime. Culpa, accusation. 63. Mar., masculine, manly. 64. Qui, sc. suadet (ut). Rem, money. 66. Men who possessed 400,000 sesterces (the census equester) were allowed to sit in the theatre on the knights' benches directly behind the senators in the orchestra. 68. Praesens, standing by thy side, always ready to help. 75. "Thou many-headed monsterthing, O who would wish to be thy king?" Lady of the Lake, V. 30. 83. Lacus Lucrinus. Sentit am., etc. Cf. Carm. III. i. 33-37, and note. 85. Tean. Acc. of terminus. 86. The nuptial couch was called genialis as sacred to the Genius of the family who gave increase and blessing. 92. Naus., is fastidious. 100. Soll. Adj. like adv. Cognate acc. 107. Praec., i. e. above all others. Sanus, sound in mind and body. Nisiest, a humorous addition. Pit-ui-ta, trisyllable.

Epist. II. Ad Lollium Maximum. (727-733.)

In this admirable Epistle an allegorical explanation of the Homeric poems is given, followed by a series of moral principles, clearly and keenly laid down for the due regulation of life.

1. Maxime has generally been tr. here eldest or most illustrious. We have authority of inscriptions (Grut. 638, 2), however, for the fact that Maximus is a cognomen of the gens Lollia. 2. Decl., practisest thyself in (the) declamation (of original compositions, as speeches, forensic arguments in supposed cases, etc.). 3. Pulc., rò kaλóv, honorable,

good in itself, virtuous. Utile, rò ovμpepov, expedient, advantageous. 6. Fabula, the story, i. e. the Iliad. 7. Barbariae, (dat.,) with a foreign nation. 9. Antenor advises (them) to cut off the cause of the war, (by giving Helen back to Menelaus. See Iliad. VII. 348–364.) 10. Paris, sc. facit. Paris says, I cannot be compelled to give up my wife; the poet exposes his arrogance and blindness by substituting to reign in safety and live in happiness. Regnet applies to P. at least as a prince. 11, 12. Cf. Iliad. I. 247 sqq.; IX. 96 sqq. 13. Hunc, Agamemnon. Amor (for Chryseis). 16. Peccatur, there is trouble. 19 sqq. Imitation of the opening lines of the Odyssey. 23. The change to the second person (nosti) is lively and effective; in the next line, Horace, who never carries anything too far, returns to the third. 25. Excors, senseless, without mind. Cf. Cic. Tusc. I. Ix. 18. 27. Numerus, mere "ciphers." Fr. cons. nati, "Who know no reason why they're born, But only to consume the corn." 28. Sponsi, suitors. 29. In cute cur., in pampering the body. 31. To lull care to rest. Cess., supine. 34. Si noles (currere). Celsus 3, 21: (hydropicis) multum ambulandum, currendum aliquid est. 36. Stud. and rebus, dat. 37. Am., lust. 39. Est from edo. 40. "Well begun is half done." "Frisch gewagt ist halb gewonnen." 42. Rust. (like the) countryman, in some fable, who waits for the water to flow away before he crosses. 43. Notice the liquids, and the flow of the metre, in this verse. 44. Beata, rich. Puer. cr. dat. of end for which. 46. Cui cont. q. satis est, (is) optet nihil amplius. 48. Deduxit. Perf. used of a general truth, like the gnomic aorist. 49. Valeat, (both in mind and body.) 54. Sincerum, clean. 56. Voto, dat. 58. Phalaris, tyrant of Agrigentum, in Sicily, invented a brazen bull. Persons were put inside, and the metal was gradually heated till they were roasted to death. Other tyrants in Sicily were notorious, as Agathocles and the Dionysii: tulit enim illa quondam insula multos et crudeles tyrannos. Cic. in Verr. 5, 56, 145. 60. Dolor et mens, his indignation and rage. 61. Odio inulto, for his unsatiated hate. 65. Venaticus catulus. 67. Militat, hunts. 68. Puer, in thy youth. Lollius was about five and twenty. Nunc-offer, now present thyself to thy betters, seek their society and advice. 69. Recens, when Here Moore has been often quoted:

new.

"You may break, you may ruin the vase, if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still."

70, 71. With his accustomed ease, Horace ends his didactic strain by a sportive allusion to his own practical philosophy of doing neither too much nor too little.