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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK III., ODE XXIII. 361
verbial character, the horn being symbolical of confidence and power
Consult note on Ode ii, 19, 29.—19. Post te. "After tasting of thee."
20. Apices. " Tiaras." A particular allusion to the costume of Parthia
and the East. Militum. " Of foes in hostile array."— ^21. Lata. " Propitious."—22.
Segnes nodum solvere. " Slow to loosen the bond of union."
A Oraecism for segnes ad solvenium nodum. The mention of the Graces
alludes here to the propriety and decorum that are to prevail throughout
the banquet.—23. Vivicque lucernas, " And the living lights." Produeent.
" Shall prolong." The expression te produeent is equivalent, in fact, to
conmviuvi produeent.
Op^ XXni. The bard addresses Fhidyle, a resident in the country,
wnom the humble nature of oer offerings to the gods had filled with deep
solicitude. He bids her be of good cheer, assuring her that the value of
every sacrifice depends on the feelings by which it is dictated, and that
one of the simplest and lowliest kind, if offered by a sincere and pious
heart, is more acceptable to l^eaven than the most costly oblations.
1-20. 1. Supinae manus. " Thy suppliant hands." Literally, " thy
hands with the palms turned upward." This was the ordinary gesture
of those who offered up prayers to the celestial deities.—2. NascenteluTia.
" At the new moon," i. e., at the beginning of every month. The allusion
is to the old mode of computing by lunar months.—3. Placaris, The final
syllable of this tense is common : here it is long. (Consult Anthon's Lat.
Pros., p. 94, note.)—Et hornafruge. " And with a portion of this year's
prodnca."—S. Africum. Consult note on Ode i., 1, 19. Borne commentators
make the wind here mentioned identical with the modern Sirocco.—
6. Sterilem robiginem. "The blasting mildew."— 7. Dulces alumni.
"The sweet nurslings of my farm." Compare Ode iii., 18, 3.—8. Pomifaro
graee tempus anno. "The sickly season in the fruit-yielding period
of the year," i. «., in the autumn. As regards the poetic usage by which
annus is frequently taken in the sense of a part, not of the whole year,
compare Virgil, Bclog., iii., 57 ; Hor., Epod., ii., 39 ; Statius, Syh., i., 3,
8, &c.—9. Nam qutB nivali, &c. The construction is as follows : Nam
victima, diis devota, qua paseitwr nivali Algido, inter giiercus et ilices,
aut erescit in Albanis herbis, iiitget cervice secures pontifieum. The idea
involved firam the 9th to the 16th verge is this : The more costly victims
shall fall for the public welfare ; thou hast need of but few and simple offerings
t(f propitiate for thee the favor of the gods. Algido. Consult note
on Ode i., 21, 6.—11. Albanis in herbis. " Amid Alban pastures." Alluding
to the pastures around Mens Albanus and the ancient site of Alba
tonga. 13. Cervice. " With the blood that streams from its wounded
neck." Te nihil attinet, &c. "Itisunnecessaryforthee,ifthoucrownthy
little Lares with rosemary and the brittle myrtle, to seek to propitiate
their favor with the abundant slaughter of victims." The Lares stood in
the atrium or hall of the dwelling. Ou festivals they were crowned with
garlands, and sacrifices were offered to them. Consult note on Ode i., 7,
11. 16. Fragili. The epithet/ro^iZis here means, in fact, "whose little
stalks are easily broken."—17. Jmmunis. " Without a gift." Equiva-
lent to liier a munere, the reference being to one who neefds no gift to
ulfnr lirce his life and conduct are unstained by guilt. Hence arises the
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