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

350 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK III., ODE VHI.
Compare the account given by Heineccias of the Lxx Julia, "De aduUe
rio," and the remarks of the same writer relative to the laws against this
offence prior to the time of Augastus. {Antiq. Rom.^ lib. 4, tit. 18, $ 61,
ed. Haubold, p. 782.) Consult, also, Suetonius^ Vit. Aug.^ 34.—20. In patriam
populumque. The term patriam contains an allusion to public ca-
lamities, while populum, on the other hand, refers to such as are of a private
nature, the loss of property, of rank, 6f character, &c.—21. His parentibus,
" From parents such as these."—23. Cecidit. " Smote."—25. Rusticorum
militum. The best portion of the Boman troops were obtained
from the rustic tribes, as being most inured to toil.—36. Sabellis legionibus.
The simple manners of earlier times remained longest in force
among the Sabines and the tribes descended from them.—30. Etjuga denieret.
Sec. Compare the Greek terms ^ovkvaig and j3ouAvrof^—33. Agens.
"Bringing on." Restoring.—33. Damnosa dies. "Wasting time." Di^
is most commonly masculine when used to denote a particular day, and
feminine when it is spoken of the duration of time.
Ode VIII. Horace had invited Meecenas to attend a festal ce^bratiou
on the Calends of March. As the Matronalia took place on this same day,
the poet naturally anticipates the surprise of his friend on the occasion.
" Wonderest thou, Maecenas, what I, an unmarried man, have to^^o with
a day kept sacred by the matrons of Rome 7 On this very day my life was
endangered by the falling of a tree, and its annual retram always brings
with it feelings of grateful recollection for my providential deliverance."
1-10. 1. Martiis coslebst &c. " Maecenas, skilled in the lore of either
tongue, dost thou wonder what I, an unmarried man, intend to do on the
Calends of March, what these flowers mean, and this censer," &c., e. e.,
skilled in Greek and Roman antiqbities, especially those relating to
sacred rites.—7. Libera. In a previous ode (ii., 17, 27) the bard attributes
bis preservation to Faunas, but now Bacphus is named as the author of
his deliverance. There is a peculiar propriety in this. Bacchus is not
only the protector of poets, but also, in a special sense, one of the gods of
the country and of gardens, since to him are ascribed the discovery and
culture of the vine and of apples. {Tkeocr.t ii,, 120. Warton, ad loc.
AthencEus, iii., 23.)
—
Diesfestus. Consult note on Ode ii., 3, 6.—10, Cor-
ticem adstrictutn, Sec. "Shall remove the cork, secured wi£h pitch, from
the jar which began to drink in the smoke ifi the consulship of Tullas."
Amphora:, the dative, is put by a Groecism for ab amphora. When the
wine-vessels were filled, and the disturbance of the liq,uor had subsided,
the covers or stoppers were secured with plaster, or a coating of pitch
mixed with the ashes of the vine, so as to exclude all communication
with the external air. After this, the wines were mellowed by the ap-
plication of smoke, which was prevented, by the ample coating of pitch
or plaster on the wine-vessel, from penetrating so far as to vitiate the
genuine taste of the liquor. Previously, however, to depositing the amphora)
ru the wine-vault or apotheca, it was usual to put upon them a
label or mark indicative of the vintages, and of the names of the consols
in authority at the time, in order that, when they were taken oUff their
age and growth might be easily recognized. If by the consulship of Ttillas.
mentioned in the text, be meant that of L. Volcatias Tullua, who had