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

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EXPLANATORY NOTIIS. BOOK I., ODE XXXI. 305
Literally, "shall be placed," &o.— 9. Doclus tendere. "Skilled in aiming."
A Groeoism. Sericas. The Seres were famed for their management
of the bow. The reference here, however, is not so much to these
people ia particular as to the Eastern nations in geneial. In relation to
the Seres, compare Explanatory Note, Ode i., 12, 5S.—11. Rdabi posse.
" Can glide back." In this sentence, montibus is the dative by a Gras-
cism. Prose Latinity wonld require ad monies. Some make montibus the
ablative, with which they join pronos in the sense of decurrentes. This
arrangement is decidedly inferior to the one first given. As regards the
idea intended to be conveyed, it may be observed, that the poet compares
his friend's abandonment of graver studies for the din of arms to a total
alteration of the order of nature. The expression appears to be a pro-
verbial one, and is evidently borrowed from the Greek.— 12. Recerti.
" Return in its course."—13. Ceemtos undigue. "Bought up on all sides."
A pleasant allusion to his friend's previous ardor in philosophic pursuits.
—14. Panaii. Fausetius, a native of Hhodes, holds no mean rank among
the Stoic philosophers of antiquity. He passed.Ji considerable part of his
life at Kome, and enjoyed an intimate acquaintance with several eminent
Romans, particularly Scipio and Laelius. Cicero highly extols his moral
doctrine in his treatise "De Offidis." Toward the end of his life Pansetins
removed to Athens, where he died. Socraticam et domum. " And
the writings of the Socratic school." AUuding to the philosophical inves-
1^ga*aons of Plato, Xenophon, i^schines, and others.—15. Lorieis Iberis^
The Spanish coats of mail obtained a decided preference among the Romans,
from the excellence of the metal and its superior temper. Corapare
.Shakspeare : " It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper :" Othello,
v., 11, referring to the blades of Toledo.
Ode XXX. Venus is invoked to grace with her presence, and with
that of her attendant retinue, the temple prepared for her at the home of
Slycera.
1-8. 1. Cnidi. Cnidus was a Dorian city, on the coast pf Caria, at the
extremity of the promontory of Triopium. Venus was the tutelary god'
dess of the •plase.—Paphique. Paphos was a very ancient city of Cyprus,
on the southwestern side of the island. It was famed for the worship of
Venus, who was fabled to have been wafted from Cythera to the coast in
its vicinity after her birth amid the waves.—2. Sperne. " Look with contempt
on," i. e., leave.—3. Decoram. " Adorned for thy reception."—5.
Fervidus puer. Cupid.— Solutis zonis. Indicative, as Braunhard remarks,
ol"-7begligentia amabilis."— 7. Parum camis siTie te. " Little able
to please without thee." Observe the inverted, form of expression, for
"deriving additional attractions from thee." Juventas^ The goddess of
youth, or Hebe, who appears also in the train of Venus in the Homeric
Hymn to Apollo, v. 195.— 8. Merenriusque. Mercury is enumerated
among the retinue of Venus, in allusion to his being the god of language
and persuasive eloquence.
Ode XXXI. The poet raises a prayer to Apollo on the day when Augustos
dedicated a temple to this deity on the Palatine Hill. Standing
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