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

356 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK III., ODE XVI.
sent. (Ziwipt,§519,h.)—4^fAdulteri8. 'For amatorihus. Compare Orelli t
"Etiam de its dicitur qui virginum castitati insidiantur."— 5. Acrisiwm.
Acrisias was father of Danae, and king of Argos in the FeloponneBas.
6. Custodem pavidum. Allading to his dread of the fnlfiUment of the ora
cle.—7. Fore enim, &c. Understand sciebant.—8. Converso in pretium,
" Changed into gold." By the term pretium in the sense of aurum, the
poet hints at the trae solution of the fable, the bribery of the guards.
9. Zre amat. " Loves to make its way." Amai is here equivalent to the
Greek ^iTieu °^d much stronger than the Latin solet.—10. Saxa. "The
strongest barriers."—11. Auguris Argim. Amphiaraus is meant. Polynices
bribed Eriphyle with the golden collar of Harmonia to persuade
Amphiaraus her husband to accompany him in the expedition of Adrastns
against Thebes, although the prophet was well aware that no one of the
leaders but Adi'astus would return alive. Amphiaraus was swallowed up
by an opening of the earth ; and, on hearing of his father's death, his sou
Alcmseon, in obedience to his parent's injunction, slew his mother Eri>
phyle. The necklace proved also the cause of destruction to Alcmseon at
a later day.—12. Ob lucrum. " From a thirst for gold."—14. Vir Macedo.
Philip, father of Alexander. Compare the expression of Bemostheaes,
Ma/eedwv ovijp. How much this monarch effected by bribeiy is known to
all.—15. Munera na/vitim, &c. Horace is thought to allude here to Meno
doms, or Menas, who was noted for frequently changing sides in the war
between Sextus Fompeius and the triumvirs. Compare Epode, iv., 17.
—16. Sisvos. " Rough." Some, however, make seevos here equivalent
to fortes.—17. Crescentem seguituTj &c. The connection in the train of
ideas is this : And yet, powerful as gold is in triumphing over dif&culties,
and in accomplishing what^ perhaps, no other human power could effect,
atiU it must be carefully shunned by those who wish to lead a happy life,
for '* care ever follows after increasing nches as well as the craving desire
for more extensive possessions."
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19., Late conspicuum^ &c. "To raise
the far conspicuous head," i. e., to seek alter the splendor and honors
which wealth bestows on its votaries, and to make these the source of
vainglorious boasting.
22-43. 22. Plu/ra. For tanto plu/ra.—Nil cu^ientium, &c. The rich
and the contented are here made to occupy two opposite encampments.—
23. Nudus. " Naked," i. e., divested of every desire for more than fortune
has bestowed. Compare the explanation of Braunhard: "Pauper^ et in
paupertcUe sua sibi placens."—24. Idnquere gestio. ^ " I tako delight iu
abandoning."— 25. Contemtce dominua, &c. "More conspicuous as the
possessor of a fortune contemned by the great."—30. Segetis certa fides
meep. " A sure reliimce on my crop," i. e., the certainty of a good crop.—
31. Fulgentem imperioj &c. "Yield a pleasure unknown to him who is
distinguished for his wide domains in fertile Africa." Literally, " escapes
the observation of him who," &c. Fallit is here used for the Chreek 2.av-
ddvei. As regards the e^preaaianfertilis Africce, consult note on Oiei.,
1, lO.—32. Sorte beatior. " Happier in lot am I," Understand sum. The
common text places a period after heatior^ and a comma after /aZK/, a
harsh and inelegant reading, even if it be correct Latin.—33. Calabra,
&c. An allusion to the honey of Tarentum. Consult note on Ode ii., 6i
14.—34. Nee L€Bstrygoma Bacchus^ &c. " Nor the wine ripens for me in
q Laestiygonian jar." An allusion to the ^oinzian wine. Formiavr&i