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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK IV., ODE II. 373
more especially by Pindar, of forming novel compoauds, introdacing novel
arrangements in the Btructui-e of their sentences, and of attaching to terms
a boldness of meaning that almost amounts to a change of signification.
Hence the epithet "daring" {andaces) applied to this species of poetry.
Dithyrambics were originally odes in praise of Bacchus, and their very
character shows their Oriental origin,—11. Numeris lege solutis. "In
onsbackled numbers." Alluding to the privilege ei^oyed by dithyramb' '
poets, of passing rapidly and at pleasure from one measure to another.
13-32. 13. Sea deos, regesve, &c. Alluding to the Peeans. The reges,
deorum sanguinem, are the heroes of earlier timei ; and the reference to
the centaurs and the cbimaera calls up the recollection of Thesens, Firithous,
and Bellerophon.—17. Sive quos Elea, Ice. Alluding to the Kpinicia.
Elea palma. " The Elean palm," t. «., the palm won at the Olym-
pic games, on the banks of the Alphens, in Elis. Consult note on Ode
i., 1, 3.—18. Ccelestes. " Elevated, in feeling, to the skies." Equumve.
Not only the conquerors at the games, but their horses also, were celebrated
in song and honored with statues.— 19. Centum potiore signis.
" Superior to a hundred statues." Alluding to one of his lyric effusions.
— Flebili. "Weeping." Taken in an active sense. The allusion is now
to the Epicedia, or funeral dirges. Jiwenemve. Strict Latinity requires
that the enclitic be joined to the first word of a clause, unless that be a
monosyllabic preposition. The present is the only instance in which Hor-
ace deviates from the rul6.—32. Et vires animumque, kc. ' And extols
his strength, and courage, and unblemished morals to the stars, and rescues
him &om the oblivion of the grave." Literally, " envies dark Orcns
the possession of him."—25. Multa Dircteum. "A swelling gale raises
on high the Dirceean swan." An allusion to the strong poetic flight of
Pindar, who, as a native of Thebes in Boeotia, is here styled "Dirceean,"
fix)m the fonntain of Dirce situate near that city, and celebrated in the
legend of Cadmus.—27. Ego apis Matints, tus. " I, after the nature and
habit of a Matinian bee." Consult note on Ode i., 28, 3.-^29. Per laborem
plurimum. " With assiduous toil."—31. Tiburis. Alluding to his villa
at Tibur.—32. Fingo. The metaphor is well kept up by this verb, which
has peculiar reference to the labors of the bee.
33-59. 33. M^ore poeta plectra. " Tholi, Antonius, a poet of loftier
strain." Antonius distinBtished himself by an epic poem in twelve books,
entitled Diomedeis.—34. Quandoque. For qiiandocunque.—35. Per so
cram climim. " Along the sacred ascent." Alluding to the Via Sacra,
the street leading up to the Capitol, and by which triumphal processions
were conducted to that temple.—36. Fronde. Alluding to the laurel
crown worn by commanders when they triumphed. Sygambrot. The
Sygambri inhabited at first the southern side of the Lupia or Lippe.
They were afterward, during this same reign, removed by the Bomans
into Gaul, and had lands assigned them along the Hhine. Horace here
alludes to them beibre this change of settlement took place.—39. In
aurum priscum. " To their early gold," i. e., to the happiness of the
Qolden Age.—43. Forumque litibus orbrnn. "And the forum free from
litigation." The courts of justice were closed at Rome not merely in
cases of public mourning, but also of public rejoicing. This cessation of
business was called Justitium.—45. Turn. Alludipg to the expected
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