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

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278 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK I., ODE XII.
and the air of earnestness with which the poet addresses his female
friend is increased by the insertion of the personal pronoun. Q. Finem.
"Term of existence." Bahylonios numeros. " Chaldean tables," t. e.,
tables of nativity, horoscopes. The Babylonians, or, more strictly speaking,
Chaldeans, were the great astrologers of antiqaity, and constructed
tables for the calculation of nativities and the prediction of future events.
This branch of charlatanism made such progress and attained so regular a
form among them, that subsequently the terms Chaldean and Astrologer
became completely synonymous. Rome was filled with these impostors.
—3. Utmelius. "How much better is it." '^q^\vz\ent to quanta sapieji^
ii/us.—Erit* "For accideriL—4. Ultimam. " This as the last."
5-8. 5. Quae nunc oppositis. Sec. "Which now breaks the strength
of the Tuscan sea on the tipposing rocks corroded by its waves." By tbo
term pumicihis are meant rocks corroded and eaten into caverns by the
constant dashing of the waters.—5. Vina liques. "Filtrate thy wines."
Observe that sapias and liques are subjunctives used as imperatives.
[Zumpt, $ 529.) The wine-strainers of the Biomans were made of linen,
placed round a irame-work of osiers, shaped like an inverted cone. la
consequence of the various solid or viscous ingredients which the an-
cients added to their wines, frequent straining became necessary to prerent
inspissatlon. Consult Excv/rsus VI. Spatio brevit &c. *< lu consequence
of the brief duration of existence, cut short long hope (of the fa*
')ure)," i. e., since human life is at best but a span, indulge in no lengthen-
(id hope of the future, but improve the present opportunity for enjc^ment
—8. Carpe diem. "Enjoy the present day." A pleasing metaphor.
"Pluck" the present day as a flower from the stem, and enjoy its fragrance
while it lasts.
Ode XIL Addressed to Augustus. The poet, intending to celebrate
the praises of his imperial master, pursues a course extremely flattering
to the vanity of the latter, by placing his merits on a level with those of
gods and heroes. This ode is generally supposed to be in part imitated
from Pindar^ OL, ii., 1, seq.: 'Ava^t^dpfiiyyEg Hfivotj k. t. A.
1-6. 1. Quem virum aut keroa. "What living or departed hero."
Compare the remark of the scholiast, " Quem virum de vivis ? quem keroa
de mortuis ?"—Lyra vet acri tibia. "On the lyre, or shrill-toned pipe,"
t. e.f in strains adapted to either of these instruments.—2. Odebrare. A
Ghraacism for ad celebrandum.— Clio. The first of the nine Muses, and pre
siding over epic poetry and history,—3. Jocosa imago. " Sportive echo."
Xlnderstand vocis. Iiiterally, " the sportive image (or reflection) of the
voice." As regards the term jocosa^ compare the explanation of Orelli
"Jocosa autem, quia •piatores quasi consulto ludi^catur, unde aurihus ae
pidat, ignorajhtes."—5. In umhrosis Heliconis oris. " Amid the shady
regions of Helicon." A mountain of Boeotia, sacred to Apollo and the
Muses. On its summit was the grove of the latter, and a little below
the grove was the fountain of Aganippe, produced from the earth by a blow
of the hoof of Pegasus. Helicon is now called Paltsovouni or Zagora.-^
6. Super Pindo. " On the summit of Pindus." The chain of Pindua
separated Thessaly from EJpin?3, It was sacred to Apollo and the Muses
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