59. Campo-Cp. Ode i. 8, 4; Sat. ii. 6, | honesta, with the Greek invà xaι äßßnta, 49 and Epist i. 11, 4. and ῥητὸν ἄῤῥητον τ ̓ ἔπος. 60. Scitari, &c.—refers-"I would like to ascertain from the man himself all that you report." 61. Non sare, οὐ πάνυ πυix. 62. Benigne (facit)-" he is very kind," or, "I am much obliged to him." Menas expresses his thanks for the honour of the invitation, but at the same time declines accepting it. See Note on line 16. 63. Improbus-"the rascal." Et te negligit aut horret-"and either slights, or is afraid of you." Horrere and horror properly denote that awe and respect which is felt on approaching something sacred. 64. Vulteium, &c.-prior-"next morning Philip comes upon Vulteius, as he was selling old second-hand trumpery to the poorer sort of people, and salutes him first." Occupare means to surprise, to come upon One before he is aware. Up: Ode ii. 12, 28. often been seen to repair, like a fish to the 73. Hic, &c.-Latinis-"he, when he had concealed hook, in the morning a client, and now a constant guest, is desired, on the proclaiming of the Latin holidays, to accompany Philip to his country-seat near the city." 75. Mane cliens-See Note on line 68. 76. Indictis (a consule)-The Feriae Latinae, or Latiar, Latin holidays, were first appointed by Tarquin for one day, but after the expulsion of the kings they were continued for two, then for three, and at last for four days. They were kept with great epithet indictae marks them as moveable, solemnity on the Alban mountain. The and appointed at the pleasure of the consul (conceptivae) in opposition to the statae feriae, or fixed festivals of the Romans, and feriae imperativae, or those appointed on some special occasion. Philip was at liberty to go into the country on those holidays, as the courts were then shut (jus titium). 65. Tunicato popello refers to the poorer part of the citizens, who were clad merely in tunics, their poverty preventing them from purchasing a toga. As foreigners 77. Impositus mannis "mounted on were not allowed to wear the toga, homo genets (or ponies)." See Notes, Ode iii. 27, tunicatus is put for a Carthaginian, Plaut. 7. The plural of mannus may have been Pænul. v. 3, 2. Scruta is any kind of old used, to include the genet on which Philipsecond-hand furniture, moveables, clothes, pus rode; but it is more likely that it was &c. Those who vended them were called preferred to the singular to prevent elision. scrutarii. Cp. ygúrn and grutae. Menas Some have inferred that Menas was sitting was spoken of in line 56, as a praeco, or along with Philippus. in a rheda, or cisium, cryer; one of whose duties it was to attend drawn by genets. If the plural here is to auctions, and call out the price bidden for be understood as meaning more than the the articles that were put up. This would singular, I should say that it denotes that allow him many opportunities of making Menas, on such occasions, was in the habit bargains for himself, and, when not other-of using manni, not equi. In favour of this, wise employed, of becoming a scrutarius. it may be remarked that manni were more 66. Ille, &c.-providisset eum-"he began frequently employed for draught than for to plead to Philip his business and profes-riding. The same idiom would be used in sional engagements, as an excuse for not English, if he did not always get the same having waited upon him that morning; in pony. short, for not having seen him first." Sulvere jubet-Cp. Epist. i. 10, 1. 67. Mercenaria vincla-Cp. Sat. i. 6, 87. 68. Quod non, &c,-venisset-Clients and others waited upon distinguished men early in the morning, for the purpose of paying their respects. Menas apologizes for not having called upon Philip at this time, both to salute him and excuse himself for not having accepted his invitation. 69. Sic-on this condition." Putato"you shall suppose, ," the future imperative. 70. Ut libet is a form of assenting. 71. Post nonam-"after the ninth hour." See Notes, Ode i. 1, 20. 72. Dicenda tacenda-"whatever came into his head," lit., "things that should have been mentioned, and things that should have been kept quiet." With this asyndeton, compare fanda nefanda, honesta in seeks for diversion for himself, while he 79. Et sibi, &c.-quaerit-"and while he endeavours to draw amusement from everything." Risus-Cp. Sat. ii. 2, 107. terces may be converted into Pounds by dividing by 120, as a sesterce was worth about 2d. Its appearance is illustrated by the following cut. See Notes, Ode iii. 29, 64. Mutua septem promittit-"promises to lend him seven thousand more." 80. Sestertium denotes 1000 sestertu. Ses 83. Ex nitido-"from a spruce citizen." chus; not his matter and his language that drove Lycambes to despair." See Notes, Epode 6, 13. 26. Foliis-brevioribus—“with a smaller crown," i.e., with less praise, not as some would have it, "with more fading bays," lit., "with shorter leaves." Horace justifies his imitation of Archilochus, by the example of Sappho and Alcæus. Ornes-Cp. Ode iv. 3, 6. 28. Temperat, &c.-Alcaeus- the masculine Sappho tempers her effusions by the numbers of Archilochus; Alcæus tempers his." Temperat is here equivalent to moderantur et componunt. Musam (suam). Pede-numeris. Cp. Ode iv. 6, 35, and Ars Poet., 79. Sappho is styled mascula from the force and spirit of her poetry. See Notes, Ode ii. 13, 24. 29. Alcaeus-See Notes, Ode i. 32, 5. Sed rebus et ordine dispar (est)—"but he differs from him in his subjects, and in the arrangement of his measures." Alcæus employed some of the measures used by Archilochus, but arranged them with other kinds of verse. 30. Nec socerum quaerit, &c., alludes to the story of Archilochus and Lycambes. Atris-Cp. Ode iii. 4, 17; i. 37, 27; and Epode 6, 15. 31. Sponsae refers to Neobule, the daughter of Lycambes. Famoso carmine"by defamatory strains." 32. Hunc ego, &c.-fidicen-" this poet, never celebrated by any previous tongue, I the Roman lyrist first made known," i.e., I alone have dared to make this Alcæus known to Roman ears. Hunc refers especially to Alcæus as Catullus had imitated Sappho. Cp. Ode iv. 9, 3, and iii. 30, 13, &c. Latinus-fidicen-Cp. Ode iv. 3, 23, Romanae fidicen Lyrae. 33. Immemorata "a new species of poetry," lit, "productions unmentioned before," ie., by any Latin bard, refers to lyric verse. Although Horace does not expressly mention Sappho along with Archilochus and Alcæus, he imitated her as much, and esteemed her as highly, as he did them. Cp. Ode ii. 13, 24, &c. 34 Ingenuis Cp. Sat. i. 10, 81-87. Orelli supposes it opposed to grammaticas -tribus, line 40, as these were libertini. 35. Scire (si) velis. Ingratus-"ungrateful," for not acknowledging in public the pleasure which the reading of our poet's works gave him in private. Opuscula Cp. Epist. i. 4, 3. 36. Premat deprimat (ea)—" disparages (or decries) them." Cp. Virgil, En xi 401. Doering would supply invidia, or take premat in the sense of contemnat. 37. Ventosae-See Notes on Epist. i. 8, 12. Suffragia is here equivalent to gratiam or favorem. Venor Ongwual-Cp. Epist. ii. 2, 103. 39. Non ego, &c.—dignor—“I, the hearer and defender (lit., avenger) of noble writers, do not deign to go around among the tribes and stages of the Grammarians." It was then customary at Rome, for some who aspired to the reputation of superior learning, to open a kind of school or auditory for reading and criticising the works of living authors. The poet contemptuously insinuates that their favour might easily be obtained by canvassing, suppers, and old clothes. Cp. Sat. i. 4, 73. Nobilium scriptorum-Such as Pollio, Virgil, Varius, Tibullus, Fundanius, &c., and opposed to grammaticas tribus. Several take nobilium ironically, and apply scriptorum either to the poetasters or their compositions. Lambinus, Bentley, and others, understand ultor here to mean one who retaliates or revenges by inflicting recitations in return, as in Juvenal, Sat. i. 1, Semper ego auditor tantum? nunquamne reponam, Vexatus toties rauci Theseide Codri. It seems scarcely, however, in keeping with the context to make the poet represent his own recitations as an infliction on his noble auditors, and it would certainly be outrageous to make him speak of theirs as a punishment to him. Cp. Ode ii. 1. 40. Pulpita The stages, or elevated referred to were made. chairs, from which the recitations above 41. Hinc illae lacrimae - A proverbial expression, borrowed from the Andria of Terence, i. 1. 91, and there used in its natural meaning, but here equivalent to "Hence all this spite and malice." Spissis "unworthy of (lit., indigna theatris crowded theatres) your crowded audiences." Cp. Epist. ii. 1, 60, and Ars Poet, 205. 42. Et nugis addere pondus—“ and to give importance to trifles." 43. Rides, ait-"you are laughing at us, says one of these grammarians." Jovis, refers to Augustus. Cp. Sat. ii. 6, 52, and see Notes, Ode i. 12, 51. 44. Manare-This verb is here construed with the accusative, in the sense of emitiert or exsudare, as in Ovid, Met. vi. 312. 45. Tibi pulcher-"fair in your own eyes," i.e., extremely well pleased with yourself Ad haec, &c.-formido-"at these words I am afraid to turn up my nostrils," lest [ should be beaten. Cp. Sat. i. 6, 5, and i 8, 64. 46. Luctantis" of my antagonist." The metaphor refers rather to a wrestler than a gladiator. 47. Iste locus-"that place," where you propose me to recite. Et diludia posco "and I ask for an intermission (or a respite)." Diludia denotes an intermission from fighting at the public games. Horace pleasantly begs that he may have time allowed him to correct his verses, before he mounts the stage and makes a public exhibition of his powers. 48. Ludus, &c.-bellum-Sport often ends in earnest. Genuit-The aorist, is equivalent to gignere solet. EPISTLE XX-This allegorical address to his book is apparently an epilogue to the First Book of Epistles. The poet speaks to it as a prudent guardian to a wayward damsel or favourite slave, who was determined to see the world in spite of his remonstrances. He warns it that it need not expect to return to him; but to be either dishonoured and confined in obscurity at Rome, or, if popular during the bloom of youth, to be afterwards either shipped to Africa or Spain, or condemned at home to teach children their letters; and he concludes by telling it the description which it is to give of him, should it ever have an opportunity of doing so. Written probably in 20, B.C. See note on line 27. 1. Vertumnum Janumque Near the temples of Vertumnus (Notes, Sat. ii. 7, 14) and Janus (Notes, Epist. i. 1, 54) were porticoes for the sale of books. See Notes, Sat. i. 4, 71. Spectare-"to look wistfully at," 2. Scilicet is ironical. Prostes" you may be exposed for sale." There is, as Baxter observes, a dilogia, or double meaning, in prostes, pumice, claves, sigilla, &c. Sosiorum pumice mundus-"smoothed by the pumice of the Sosii." See Notes, Epode 14, 8. Pumice stone was also used in beautifying the skin. Cp. Ovid, Ars Am., i. 506. The Sosii Seneciones were a Plebeian family, well known in Kome, two brothers of which distinguished themselves as booksellers. Cp. Ars Poet., 345. C. Sosius was consul B.C. 22. 3. Odisti claves, et grata sigilla pudicoThe lids of the capsae and scrinia (Notes, Sat. i. 4, 21,) were frequently locked, and the apartments of women, particularly in Greece, were even sealed. This restraint, according to Horace, was liked by the chaste. 4. Paucis-Cp. Sat. i. 4, 73. Communia (loca)-"public places," i.e., the public shops, where it would be seen and handled by many. 5. Non ita nutritus (es)—"you were not reared with this view." Fuge, quo descendere gestis. The Roman forum was in the valley between the Capitoline and Palatine hills. 6. Miser, refers to the consequences of its own rashness. 8. In breve te cogi "that you are squeezed into small compass," to be put out of the way when not required. Plenus -"satiated." Cp. Epist. ii. 1, 100, and Sat. ii. 2, 43. Amator here designates the passionate reader who will throw it aside after his curiosity is satisfied. 9. Quod si non odio (tui) peccantis desipit augur "but if your augur (or prophet) is not deprived of his better judgment by indignation at your folly," ie., if the anger which I now feel at your rash and foolish conduct, does not so influence my mind as to disqualify me from foreseeing and predicting the truth. 10. Donec te deserat aetas-" until youth leave you," i.e., as long as you retain the charms of novelty. 11. Sordescere-"to become soiled." Cp. Sat. i. 4, 72, and Epist, i. 11, 4. 12. Tineas pasces-Cp. Sat. ii. 3, 119. Taciturnus-A book without a reader is, as it were, compelled to remain silent. 13. Aut fugies Uticam, aut vinctus mitteris Ilerdam-Utica and Ilerda are here put for distant places. The former was in the vicinity of ancient Carthage; the latter, now Lerida, was a city of Spain, the capital of the Ilergetes, near the foot of the Pyrenees. Books that were antiquated at Rome were fashionable in the Provinces. Cp. Ars Poet., 345. For vinctus-"bound,' or "tied up in a bundle," some MSS. give unctus-"greasy," or "dirty." 14. Ut, &c.-iratus-" like the man who, in a fit of passion, pushed his refractory ass over a precipice," rather than be bothered with keeping it on the road. 16. Quis, &c.-laboret-Cp. Ars Poet., 467. 17. Hoc, &c.-senectus-The poet here pretends to regard as a misfortune, what would be in reality an honour. Cp. Sat. i, 10, 75, and ii. 1, 71. This prediction was fulfilled. Cp. Juvenal, vii. 226, Stabant pueri, cum totus decolor esset Flaccus et haereret nigro fuligo Maroni. 18. Occupet-"shall seize you." Extremis in vicis-" in the outskirts of the city," where the teachers of the young resided from motives of economy. Balba-Cp. Epist. ii. 1, 126. 19. Sol tepidus-Cp. Sat. i. 4, 30. Aures auditores. This line is to be connected with what follows, not with what goes before, as is frequently done. It seems to have been fashionable at Rome to read new works in public as well as in private, in the afternoon, after the business of the day was over. Cp. Martial. x. 19, 18, and iv. | quadraginta quatuor. Cp. Ode il. 4, 23. 8, 7, Hora libellorum decima est, Eupheme, 23. Primis urbis, particularly Augustus and Mæcenas. Cp. Sat. ii. 1, 75, &c, and Epist. i. 17, 35. Belli-The poet served as a military tribune under Brutus and Cassius. See Notes, Ode ii. 7. 2. The construction is. me belli domique placuisse primis (viris) Urbis (Romae). canum-" 24. Exigui-Cp. Sat. ii. 3, 308. Praegrey before my time," is the explanation of the Scholiast. Cp Ode ii. 11, 15. The poet was probably now in his forty-fifth year. Some would have it to mean "Valde canum," as praecelsus, praecrassus, praegravis, praerapidus, &c. Solibus aptum-" fond of basking in the sun 25. Irasci celerem, tamen ut placabilis essem-"of a hasty temper, yet so as easy to be appeased." Cp. Ode iii. 9, 3. 27. Quater undenos - Decembres-annos Horace was born at Venusia, on the 8th of December, B.C. 65, in the consulship of L Aurelius Cotta and L. Manlius Torquatus. From this period to the consulship of M. Lollius and Q. Æmilius Lepidus, B.C. 21, there was an interval of forty-four years. This Epistle was probably written in the following year, along with several of those in this Book. It may have been later, though it is difficult to state any good reason why the poet should specify this year in preference to others unless to desig nate his age last birth day. 28. Collegam Lepidum quo duxit Lollius anno-" in the year that Lollius introduced Lepidus as his colleague." According to Dion Cassius (LIV. 6), Lollius, to whom the 9th Ode of the 4th Book is addressed, was elected sole consul for the commencement of B.C. 21, it being understood that Augus tus, who was then in Sicily, would become his colleague. Augustus, however, having declined the honour, Q. Æmilius Lepidus and L. Silanus became candidates for the vacant office. The former was elected after a keen contest, chiefly, it is believed, through the influence of Lollius, and hence the use of duxit, probably with allusion to the phrase ducere uxorem. Doering conjec tures dixit. [ROMAN BOOK.] For specimens of their Book-cases, see Notes, Sat. i. 4, 22, and Epist. ii. 1, 113. EPISTLE I.-The remaining Epistles are on poets and poetry. This one is addressed to Augustus, and according to Suetonius, in his life of Horace, it is a reply to the following complaint on the part of the Emperor: Irasci me tibi scito, quod non in plerisque ejusmodi scriptis mecum potissimum loquaris. An vereris ne apud posteros tibi infame sit, quod familiaris nobis esse? After a short eulogium on the government of Augustus, Horace proceeds to criticise the ancient poets of Greece and Rome, deprecating the partiality of his countrymen for ancient poetry, merely because it is ancient. While he praises poetry, and attempts a sketch of its history among the Romans, he disclaims all desire to shine in tragedy or comedy, and pleads in behalf of those who write for readers rather than spectators; commends Augustus for patronising Virgil and Varius; and concludes by alleging his incapacity as an excuse for not having made the splendid achievements of the Emperor the subject of his song. Supposed to have been written in B.C. 10, two years before the poet s death. 1. Cum-sustineas-" seeing you support (or uphold) the weight of." Negotia "occupations," here regarded as an onus. Solus-" alone," as if he had not assumed all the great offices of state, but had had them thrust upon him. 2. Res Italas-Cp. Ode iv. 15, 13, &c. Armis tuteris-Cp. Ode iv. 14, 43. Moribus ornes.-Cp. Ode iv. 5, 21, &c., and 15, 9, &c. For moribus, Bentley conjectures moenibus in the sense aedificiis magnificis, which is without authority. Leges and mores are similarly connected in Ode iii. 24, 25, and iv. 5, 22. 3. Legibus emendes-In this and the two preceding phrases are included all the benefits which a good ruler is able to confer on his subjects, except rewarding "those who do well." 4. Longo sermone longa epistola. Since this is one of the poet's longest letters, some would have these words to refer merely to the introduction, as if they had never heard any who were going to say "only a few words," make long speeches. Morer-"I should take up." Cp. Epist. L 13. 17. Caesar concludes the introduction. 5. Romulus, Bacchus, Castor, Pollux, |