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

342 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK III., ODE III.
1-28. 1. Justum et tenacem, &c. " Not the wild fury of his fellow-citi.
zeDS ordering evil measures to be pursued, nor the look of the threatening
tyrant, nor the southern blast, the stormy ruler of the restless Adriatic,
nor the mighty hand of Jove wielding his thunderbolts, shakes from his
settled purpose the man who is just and iirm in his resolve." In this noble
stanza, that firmness alone is praised which rests on the basis of integrity
and justice.—-2, Pravajuben^um. Equivalent, in fact, to " iniguas
legesferentium." The people were said jufierc Zeg*c«, because the formula
by which they were called upon to vote ran thus :
VeliiiSt jubeatis Qui-
rites 1 (Braunhard, ad, foe.)—^7. Si fractm Ulabatur orbis, &c. " If the
shattered heavens descend upon him, the. ruins will strike him remaining
a stranger to fear."—9. Hoc arte. "By this rule of conduct," i. e., by integrity
and firmness of purposfc.— Vagus Hercules. "The roaming Her-
cules."—12. Purpurea ore. Keferring either to the dark-red color of the
nectar, or to t^e Bioman custom of adorning on solemn occasions, such as
triumphs, &c., the faces of the gods with vermilion.—13. Hoc merentem.
" For this deserving immortality."-t-14. Vexere, " Bore thee to the skies."
Bacchus is represented by the ancient fabulists as returning in triumph
ii-om the conquest of India and the Bast in a chariot drawn by tigers. He
is now described as having ascended in this same way to the skies by a
singular species of apotheosis.—16. Martis equis, &c. Observe the elegant
variety of diction in the phrases arces attigit igneas, quos inter Augustus
recimbeas, vexere tigres, eni AcherorUa fugH, all expressive of
the same idea, the attaining of immortality. According to the legend.
Mars carried off his son to heaven on the nones of dninctilis, and during a
tbunder-storm. Compare Ovid, Fast., ii., 490 ; Met., xiv., 816.—17. Gra-
turn elocuta, &.C. "After Juno had uttered what was pleasing to the gods
deliberating in council."—18. Ilion, Xlion, &c. An abrupt but beautiful
commencement, intended to portray the exulting feelings of the triumphant
Juno. The order of construction is as follows : Judexfatalis incestus-
que, et mulier peregrina, vertit in puJverem Ilion, Ilion, damnaium mihi
easfteque Minerva, cum popuio etfraudulento duce, ex quo Laomedon dettitmt
deos pacta mercede.—19. Fata}is incestusquejudex, Sec. ." A jadge,
the fated author of his country's ruin, and impure in his desires, and a female
from a; foreign land." Alluding to Paris and Helen, and the legend
of tbe apple of discord.— ^21. Ex quo. "From the time that," i. e., ever
since. Sap^ly t^mporc-^DestUuit deos, &.C. "Defrauded the gods of
their stipulated reward." Allndipg to the fable of Laomedon's having
refused to Apollo and Neptune their promised recompense for building
the walls of Troy.—22. Mihi casttsque damnaium Minerva. " Consigned
for punishment to me and the spotless Minerva." Oondemned-by the
gods, and given over to these two deities for punishment. The idea is
narrowed from the Bomau law by which an insolvent debtor was delivered
over into the power of his creditors.
25-48. 25. Splendet. " Displays his gaudy person." It is simplest to
tnake LacantB adulters the genitive, depending on hospes. Some, bow-
ever, regard it as the dative^ and, joining it with splendet, translate, " Displays
his gaudy person to the Spartan adulteress."-^9. Nostris ductum
seditionibus. "Protracted by our dissensions."— 31. Invisum nepolem.
Romulus, grandson to Juno through his father Mars.— TVoia sacerdo'
Dia.—34. Discere. •' To learn to know." The commas t»«« h Jm«»