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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II., ODE XVI 331
texthas inpatenti. We have given impotenti with Bentley and otiiers.
i. Pressus. Understand ^lerica/o. The common reading is pt-ctjsms. Si
mul. "Por simul ac.— 3. Condidit Lunam. "Has shrouded the moon from
view." Certa. "With steady lustre."—5. Thrace. The Greek nominative,
OpfKT), for Thracia.—6. Medi pkareira decori. " The Parthians
adorned with the quiver." Compare note on Ode 1., 3, 51.—7. Grosphe
non gemmis, lea. In construing, repeat the term otium. " Kepose, O
Grosphna, not to he purchased by gems, nor by purple, nor by gold."
9. Gazie. "The wealth of kings." Consularislictor. " The lictor of the
consul." Each consul was attended by twelve lictors. It was one of their
duties to remove the crowd ifurba-m suhmovere) and clear the way for the
magistrates whom they attended.—11. Curas lagueata circum, &c "The
carea that hover around the splendid ceilings of the great." Laqueaia
tecta is here rendered in general language. The phrase properly refers
to ceilings formed into raised work and hollows by beams cutting eachother
at right angles. The beams and the interstices (lacus) were adorn
ed with rich carved work and with gilding or paintings.—13. Viviturparvo
bene, &c. " That man lives happily on scanty means, whose patema!
salt-cellar glitters on his fragfil board." In other words, that man is happy
who deviates not from the mode of life pursued by his forefathers, who
retains their simple household furniture, and whose dwelling is the abode
not only of frugality, bjt of cleanliness. Vivitur is tak^n impersonally
understand iUi.'—14. Salinum. Among the poor, a shell served for a saltcellar
; but all who were raised above poverty had one of silver, which
descended from father to son and was accompanied by a silver plate or
patten, which was used, together with the salt-cellar, in the domestic sac
rifices.—15. Cupido sordidus. *' Sordid avarice."
17-26. 17. Quid brevi fortes, &c. " WTiy do we, whose strength is of
short duration, aim at many things ? Why do we change our own for
lands warming beneath another sun ? What exile from bis country is an
exile also from himself?" After nrntamus understand nostra [sdl. terra),
the ablative denoting the instrument of exchange ;
and as regards the
meaning of the phrase brevifortes tBvo, compare the explanation of Braun.
hard; " Quid nos, qui ad breve fempus Jtoremus, valemus, et vivimus,mul
ta nobis proponirnus" &c.—19. Patrim quit exsul. Some commentators
regard the expression patrim exsul aa pleonastic, and connect patritB with
the previous clanse, placing after it a mark of interrogation, and making
it an ellipsis for patrice sole.—20. 8e quoquefugit. Keferring to the cares
and anxieties of the mind.^—21. j^ratas naves, " The brazen-beaked
galleys." The ancient ships of war usually had their beaks covered with
plates of brass.— Vitwsa cwfa. "Corroding care."—23. Agente nimbos.
"As it drives onward the tempests."—25. Laius in prceeens, dec. "Let
the mind that is contented with its present lot dislike disquieting itself
about the events of the future."—26. Lento risu. '• With a oareleas
smile," i. e., with the calm smile of philosophic indifference. Lentus here
is passionless, as opposed to violentus. The common reading is lasto,
30-38. 30. Tithonum minuit. " Wasted away the powers of Tithonus."—32.
Hora. " The changing fortune of the hour." (Compare Rukn
ken, ad Veil. Paterc., ii., 18, p. 127.)—34. Hinnitum. The last syllable
being cut off before apta by ecthlipsis and synaloepha, ni becomes the last
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