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

—
320 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK 11., ODE VII
3-11. 3. Barbaras Syrtes. "The barbarian Syrtes." Alluding; to tbv
two well-known gulfs on the Mediterranean coast of Africa, the Syrtis
Major, or Gulf of Sid/ra, and the Syrtis Minor, or Gulf of Cafte«. The term
barbarus refers to the rude and uncivilized tribes in the vicinity. Mawra.
By synecdoche for Africa unda.—5. Tibur, Argeo positum colono. Compare
note on Ode i., 7, 13. t. Sit modus lasso, &c. "May it be a limit
of wandering unto me, wearied out with the fatigues of ocean, land, and
military service.^' The genitives maris, viarum, and miZitieB are put by
a Grascism for ablatives.— 8. MiliticBque. The single campaign under
Brutas, and its disastrous close at Philippi, formed the extent of the poet's
warlike experience.—9. Prokibent. "Exclude me."—10. Dulce pdlitis
ovibus. " Pleasing to the sheep covered with skins." The sheep that
fed along the banks of the Galeesns, now the Galeso, and the valley of
Anion, bad a wool so fine that they were covered with skins to protect
their fleeces from injury. The same expedient was resorted to in the case
of the Attic sheep. The K-iver Galsesus flowed wi^tbin five miles of Tarentum,
and fell into the inner harbor.—11. Laconi Phalanto. Alluding
to the story of Phalantus and the Parthenias, who came as a colony fi-om
Sparta to Tarentum, about 700 B.C.
13-22, 13. Mihi ridet. "Possesses charms for me." Literally, "looks
laughingly upon me," "smiles upon me," i. c., pleases me. A similar
usage prevails in Greek in the case of the verb "yeAdu-—14. Ubi non Hy'
metto, &c. " Where the honey yields not to that of Hymettus, and the
olive vies with the produce of the verdant Venafrum." Hymetto. Hy-
mettus was a mountain in Attica, famed foi^its honey, which is still in
high repute among the modem Greeks. It has two summits, one ancient*
ly called Hymettas, now Trelovouni; the other, Anydros (or the- dry Hy-
mettus), now Lamprovouni.—16. Venafro. Venafrum was the last city
of Campania to the north, and near the River Vultumus. It was celebrated
for its olives and oil. The modern name is Venafro.—17. Te^dasqu6
brumas. "And mild winters."—18. Jupiter, Taken for the climate
of the region, or the sky.—19. FertUi. " Rich in the gifts of the vintage,"
The common text "basfertUis. Aulon was a ridge and valley in the neighborhood
of Tarentum, and very productive. The modem name is Terra
di Melone. The term aulon itself is of Greek origin {av7i6v)t-and denotes
any narrow valley or pass. Minimum invidet. " Is far from envying," i. e.,
is not inferior to. Literally, " envies least."— ^21. BeatcB colles. " Those
delightful hills."—22. Ibi tu caleniem, &c. " There shalt thou sprinkle,
with the tear due to his memory, the warm ashes of the poet, thy friend."
—Calentem. Alluding to their being still warm from the funeral pile
Odie VTL Addressed to Fompeius, a fiiend of the poef s, who had fought
on the same side with him at the battle of Philippi. The poet returned
to Rome, but Pompeius continued in arms, and was only restored to his
native country when the peace concluded between the triumvirs and
Sextus Pompey enabled the exiles and proscribed of the republican party
to revisit their homes. The bard indulges in the present effusion on the
restoration of his friend.
Who this friend was is far from being clearly ascertained. Most commentators
make him to have been Pompeius Gros^hus, a Roman knight^
—
—