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

312 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK I., ODE XXXVIl.
Ode XXXYII. Written in celebration of this victory at Actinm, and
the final triumph of Angnatus over the arms of Antony and Cleopatra
The name of the unfortunate Roman, however, is studiously concealed,
and the indignation of the poet is made to fall upon Cleopatra.
a-S. 3. Nunc Saliaribus, &.c. "Now was it the time to deck the
temples of the gods with a splendid banquet." The meaning becomes
plainer by a paraphrase : "We were right, my friends, in waiting until
the pr&sent moment : this was indeed the true period for the expression
of our joy." We must imagine these words to have proceeded from tho
poet after the joyous ceremonies had already begun. Saliaribus dapibus.
Literally, "with a Salian banquet." Consult note on verse 12 of the pre
ceding ode.—3. Pulmnar. The primitive meaning of this term is, a cushion
or pillow for a couch ; it is then taken to denote the couch itself; and
finally it signifies, irom the operation of a peculiar custom among the
Romans, a temple or shrine oi the gods. When a general had obtained
a signal victory, a thanksgiving was decreed by the Senate to be made in
all the temples, and what was called a LecHstemium took place, when
oouches were spread for the gods, as if about to feast ; and their images
were taken down from their pedestals, and placed upon these couches
aroQud the altars, which were loaded with the richest dishes. Dr. Adam,
in his work on Roman Antiquities, states that on such occasions the image
of Jupiter was placed in a reclining posture, and those of Juno and Minerva
?rect on seats. The remark is an erroneous one. The custom to which
le refers was confined to solemn festivals in honor of Jove. Compare
Val. Max., ii., 1, 2. With regard to the meaning we have assigned ^^
nnar in the text, and which is not given by some lexicographers, con-
•ult Ernesti, Clav. Cic, s. v. Sckutz, Index Lat. in Cic. Op., s. v.—
S. Antehac. To be pronounced as a dissyllable {ant-Tfoc). ' The place of
ihe coesura is not accurately observed either in this or the 14tb line. Consult
Classical .Journal, vol. xi., p. 354. CtBcuhum. Used here to denote
any of the more generous kinds of wine. Compare note on Ode i., 20, 9.
—6. Dum Capitolio, &c. "While aphrensied queen was preparing rain
for the Capitol and destruction for the empire." An bypallage for dum
Capitolio rcgina dcmcns, &c.. Horace indulges here in a spuit of poetio
exaggeration, since Antony and Cleopatra intended merely, in case they
proved victorious, to transfer the seat of empire from Rome to Alexandrea.
Dio Cassius (50, 4, vol. i,, p. 606, ed. Reimar) states as one of the rumors
of the day, that Antony had»pramised to bestow the city of Rome as a
present upon Cleopatra, and to remove the government to Egypt.
9-14. 9. Contajninato cum grege, &c. "With a contaminated herd of
followers polluted' by disease."-^10. Quidlibet impotens sperare. "Weak
enough to hope for any thing." A Graecism for impotens nit guidlibel
speraret. Observe that impotens is here equivalent to impotens sui, i. e.,
having so little control over herself as to hope for any thing. Hi, Fortunaque
dulci ebria. "And intoxicated with prosperity."—13. Sospes ah
ignibus. " Saved from the flames." We have here somewhat ofpoetic
exaggeration. Cleopatra fled with sixty ships, while three hundred were
taken by Augustus. Many of Antony's vessels, however, were destroyed
by fire during the action.—14, Lymphatam Mareotico. "Maddened
with Mareotic wine." A bitter, though not strictly accurate, allusion ta
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