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

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326 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II., ODE XII.
Ode Xn. Addressed to Msecenas. The poet, having- been reqaested
by his patron to sing the exploits of Aagnstus, dechnes attempting so
arduous a theme, and exhorts Maecenas himBelf to make them the subject
of an historical narrative.
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1-11. 1. Nolis. "Do not wish." The subjunctive is here employed as
a softened form of the imperative.—ioTt^as fera bella NumantuB. Namantia
is celebrated in history for offering so long a resistance to the Roman
arms. It was situate near the sources of the River Burias, now the
Douro, on a rising ground, and defended on three sides by very thick
woods and steep declivities. One path alone led down into the plain, and
this was guarded by ditches and palisades. It was taken and destroyed
by the younger Africanus subsequently to the overthrow of Carthage.
9. Siculum mare. The scene of frequent and bloody contests between
the fleets of Rome and Carthage.—3. MoUibus cithoira modis. " To the
soft measures of my lyre."—5. Stsvos. " Fierce." NiTndum. " Impelled
to unrestrained desire," i. e., to lewdness. Alluding to^iis attempt on the
person of Hippodamia. Compare Braunhard: "Nimius mevo, qvd, vino
largius poto calefactus, ad Hbidinem procliviorfactus est, 6,KpaT^g yEV&
fievog kirtOvfiiuv-'—7. Telluris Juvenes. "The warrior-sons of earth."
Referring to the giants, V^yevelg-— 8. Fericulum contremv.it. "In
trembling alarm apprehended danger." An active intransitive verb with
the accusative. Q. Ped&stribus historiis, " In prose narrative." Compare
the Greek ize^og Xdyof.—11. Melius. "With more success," i. c,
than I can aspire to. Ducta. "Led in triumph." Vias, Referring to
the streets of Rome through which the triumphal procession would pass,
but in particular to the Via Sacra, which led up to the Capitol.
13-28. 13. DomineB LicymnitB. " Of thy lady Licymnia." By Li-
f^ymnia is here meant Terentia, the young and beautiful wife of Msecenas,
and Horace, in speaking of her, employs, out of respect, a fictitious name,
observing, at the same time, the rule of the ancient poets, namely, that the
appellation substituted be the same in number and quantity of syllables
as the one for which it is used ( TSrintta, lAcymma). The epithet dominte
indicates respect. They who make Licymnia the name of a female friend
of the poet himself, will find a difficulty to overcome in v. 21, seqq.—
15, Bene mutuis Jidem amoribns, " Truly fjiithful to reciprocated love."
—17. F&rre pedem choris. " To join in the dance."—18. Joco. "In sportive
mirth." Dare brachia. Alluding to the movements of the dance,
when those engaged in it either throw their arms around, or extend their
hands to one another.—19. Nitidis. "In fair array."—31. Num. tu, qua
tenuit, &c. " Canst thou feel inclined to give ^ single one of the ti-esses
of Licymnia for all that the rich Achaemenes ever possessed," &.c. Crine
is put in the ablative as marking the instrument of exchange. AcJusme-
*nes. The founder of the Fersjan monarchy, taken here to denote the opulence
and power of the kings of Persia in general. Achsemenes is supposed
to be identical with Bjemschid.—22; Aui pinguis Phrygice Mygdonias
opes, " Or the Mygdonian treasures of fertile Phrygia," i. c, the
treasures (rich produce) of Mygdonian Phrygia. The epithet Mygdonian
•s applied to Phrygia, either in allusion to the Mygdones, a Thracian tribe
who settled in this country, or with reference to one of the ancient mon
archs of the land. The former is probably the more correct opinion.
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