The works of Horace : with English notes, critical and ... - Cristo Raul

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOi)K I., ODE I. 259
con&Uionihus. " By offers of all the wealth of Attalus." Alluding to Attatas
m., the last king of Pergamus, famed for his riches, which he hequeathed,
together with his kingdom, to the Roman people.—13. Trdbe Cypria.
The epithet " Cyprian" seems to allude here not so much to the commerce
of the island, extensive as it was, as to the excellent quality of its naval
timber. The poet, it will be perceived, uses the expressions Cypria^
Myrtoum, Xcariis, Africum, Massici, &c. kqt' ^^axvVt for any ship, any
eea, any waves, &c. li. Myrtoum. The MyrtoattSea was a part of the
Mgean, extending from the promontoiy of CarystuSj at the southeastern
extremity of Eubcea, to the promontory of Malea in Laconia, and there*
fore lying off Attica, Argolis, and the eastern coast of Laconia. It reached
eastward as far as the Cyclades. The name was derived from the
small island of jtf^r^os near Eqboaa. Pavidus nauta, "Becoming a timid
mariner."—15. IcaHis fiuctibus. The Icariau Sea was part of the ^gean,
between and also to the south of loaria and Samos. It derived its name,
as the ancient mythologists pretend, from Icarus, the son of Dsedalus, who.
according to them, fell into it and was drowned, when accompanying his
father in his flight from the island of Crete. Africiim. The wind Africus
denotes, in strictness, the "west-southwest." In translating the text, it
will be sufBcient to render it by " southwest." It derived its name from
the circumstance of its coming in the direction of Africa Propria.
16-19, 16. Mercator. The ikferca^ores, among the Romans, were thoso
who, remaining only a short time in any place, visited many countries,
and were almost constantly occupied with the exportation or importation
of merchandise. The Negotiatorest on the other hand, generally continued
for some length of time in a place, whether at Rome or in the
provinces. Metuens. "As long as he dreads." Equivalent to dum
metuit,—OHum et oppidi, Sec. "Praises a retired life, and the rural
scenery around his native place." OrelH, less correctly, joins in construction
oppidi sui otium et rura. Acidalius [ad Veil. Paterc.) conjectures
tTtia for rura, which Bentley adopts. But the received reading is eveiy
way superior.—18. Pauperiem. " Contracted means." Horace and the
best Latin writers understand by pauperies and paupertaSf not absolute
poverty, which is properly expressed by egestas, but a state in which we
are deprived indeed of the comforts, and yet possess, in some degree, the
necessaries of life.—19. Massici. Of the Roman wines, the best growths
are styled indiscriminately Massicum and Falernum (vinum). The Massic
wine derived its name from the vineyards of Mons Massieus, now Monte
MassicOj near the ancient Sinaessa. Consult Excursus VIII.
20-21. 20. Partem solido, &.C. Upon the increase of riches, the Romans
deferred the ccena, which used to be their mid-day meal, to the ninth hour
(oi three o'clock afternoon) in summer, and the tenth hour in winter, taking
on,y a slight repast {prandium) at noon. Nearly the whole of the natural
day was therefore devoted to affairs of business, or serious employment,
and was called, in consequence, dies solidus. Hence the voluptuary, who
begins to quaff the old Massic before the accustomed hour, is said "to
take away a part from the solid day," or from the period devoted to more
active pursuits, and expend it on his pleasures. This is what the poet,
on another occasion (Ode 2, 6, 7) calls "breaking the lingermg day with
wine," diem, morantemfrangerc mero. Wolf, less correctly, uuderstanda
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