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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK IV., ODE IV. 375
note on Oie i., 6, 2.—22. Quod monstror. " That I am pointed cut.'
53. RomaruB Jidieen lyra. " As the minstrel of the Boman lyre."—
54. Quod spi/ro. " That I feel poetic inspiration."
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Obe IV The Rseti and Vindelici having made frequent inroads into
the Boman territory, Angnistus resolved to inflict a signal chastisement on
these barharona tribes. For this pnrpose, Drasns Nero, then only twentythree
years of age, a son of Tiberius Nero and Livia, and a step-son consequently
of the emperor, was sent against them with an army. The ex- .
pedition proved eminently successful. The young prince, in the very first
battle, defeated the Raeti at the Tiidentine Alps, and afterward, in conjunction
with his brother Tiberius, whom Augustus had added to the war,
met with the same good fortune against the Vindelici, united with the
remnant of the Beeti and with others of their allies. (Compare Dio Cossins,
liv., 22 ; Veil. Patcrc, ii., 95.) Horace, being ordered by Augustus
{Sueton., Vit. Horat.) to celebrate these two victories in song, composed
the present ode in honor of Drusus, and the fourteenth of this same book
in praise of Tiberius. Tbe^iece we are now considering consists of three
divisions, la the first, the valor of Drusus is the theme, and he is compared
by the poet to a young eagle and lion. In the second, A-ugastus is
extolled for his paternal care of the two princes, and for the correct culture
bestowed upon them. In the third, the praises of the Claudian line
are sung, and mention is made of C. Claudius Nero, the conqueror of Hasdmbal,
after the victory achieved by whom, over the brother of Hannibal,
Fortune again smiled propitions on the arms of Borne.
1-21. 1. Qualem ministrum, &c. The order of construction is as fol-
Qualem olimjwoentas et patrius vigor propulit nido inscium labo-
lows :
rum alitem ministrumfulminis; cui JitpiteTt rex deorum, permisit regnum
in vagas aves, expertus (eum) fidetem in fiavo Ganymede^ vemique vemtit
nimbis jam remotis, docuere paventcm. insolitos nisus ; mox vividus im
peius. Ice, (talem) Vindelici videre Drusum gerentem hella sub Sietts
Alpibui. " As at first, the fire of youth and hereditary vigor have im
polled fi'om the nest, still ignorant of toils, the bird, the thunder-bearer, to
whom Jove, the king of gods, has assigned dominion over the wandering
fowls of the air, having found him faithful in the case of the golden-haired
Ganymede, and the winds of spring, the storms of winter being now removed,
have taught him, still timorous, nnusual darings ; presently a fierce
impulse, A:c., such did the Vindelici behold Drusus waging war at the
foot of the Beetian Alps." Alitem. Alluding to the eagle. The ancients
believed that this bird was never injured by lightning, and they therefore
made it the thnnder-bearer of Jove. Vemigue. The eagle hatches her
eggs toward the end of April.—12. Amor dapis atque pugna. "Adesire
for food and fight."—14.' FulvcB matris ah ub&re, &c. " A lion just weaned
from the dug of its tawny dam." 16. Dente novo peritwra. "Doomed
to perish by its early fang."—17. Ratis Alpibus. The B^tian Alps ex
tended from the St. Gothard, whose numerous peaks bore the name of
Adula, to Mount Brenner in the Tyrol.—18. Vindelici. The country of
the Vindelici extended from the Lacus Brigantinns (Lake of Constance)
to the Danube, while the lower part of the CGnus, or Inn, separated it
rrom Noricum. Quibi s mos itnde deductus, &c. "To whom fi'om what
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