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

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390 EXPLANATOKY NOTES. BOOK IV., ODE XIV.
Aafidus rolled along." The epithet taurifdrmis,a.na[ogosa to the Greek
Tavp6fj[oa(t>oc, allades either to the hall's head, or to the horns with which
the gods of rivers were anciently represented. The scholiast on Enrip-
ides (Orest., 1378) is qaite correct in referring the explanation of this to
the roaring of their waters. Consult note on Ode iii., 30, 10.—26. Qua
regna Daunt, 4c. "Where it flows by the realms of Apnlian Daunus,"
e. e., where it waters the land of Apulia'. Prajluit. Far prteterfiv.it.
Compare Ode iv., 3, 10.—29. Agminaferrata. " The iron-clad hands."—
31. M^tendo. " By mowing down."—33; BiTie clade. " Witlioat loss to
himself," i. e., with trifling injnxy to his own army.—33. Consilium ct iuos
divos. " Thy coansel and thy favoring gods," i. e., thy counsel and thy
auspices. By the expression tuos divos, the poet means the favor of
heaven, which had constantly accompanied the arms of Augustus : hencs
the gods are, by a bold figure, called his own. A proof of this favor is
given in the very next sentence, in which it is stated that, on the filteenth
anniversary of the capture of Alexandrea, the victories of Dmsus and Ti-
berius were achieved over the r barbarian ibes.
34-52. 34. Nam, tibi quo die, &c. " For, at the close of the third lastrum
&om the day on which the suppliant Alexandrea opened wideto
thee her harbors and deserted court, propitious fortune gave a favorable
issue to the war." On the fourth day before the calends of September
(August S9th), B.C. 30, the fleet and cavalry of Antony went over to Oc-
tavius, and Antony and Cleopatra fled to the mausoleum, leaving the palace
empty. The war with the Baeti and Vindelici was brought to a close
on the same day, according to the poet, fifteen years after.—^36. Vamam
aulam. Alluding to the retreat o£ Antony and Cleopatra into the mauso-
leum.—37. Lustra. Consult note on Ode ii., 4, 22.—40. Laudemgue el optatum,
&c. " And claimed priuse and wished-for glory unto your finished
campaigns."—41. Camtaher. Consult note on Ode ii., 6, 2.—.42. Medusque.
Compare Introductory Eemarks, Ode iii., 5, and note on Ode i., 26,
3. Irifdus. Consult note on Ode i., 12, 55. Scythes. Consult notes on
Ode ii., 9, 23, and iii., 8, 23.—43. Tutela prmsens. Consult note on Ode
iii, S, 2.^4. Domince. " Mistress of the world."—45. Fontinm qui cdat
origines Nilus. The Nile, the largest river of the Old World, still con-
ceals, observes Malte-Bran, its true sources from the research of science.
At least scarcely any thing more of them ia known to us now than was
knowninthe time of Eratosthenes.
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IS. Zster. The Danube. The poet
alludes to the victories of Augustus over the Bacians and other barbarous
tribes dwelling in the vicinity of this stream.—46. Sapidus Tigris. The
reference is to Armenia, over which country Tiberius, by the orders of
Augustus, A.U.C. 734, placed Tigranes as king. The epithet here applied
to the Tigris is very appropriate. It is a very swift stream, and its great
rapidity, the natural effect of local circumstances, has procured for it the
name of Tigr in the Median tongue, DigUto in Arabic, and Hiddekd in
Hebrew, all which terms denote the flight of an arrow.—47. BeUuosus.
" Teeming with monsters."—48. Britannis. Consult note on Ode iii., 5,
3.—^9- iVo« pawerttii funera Gallid. Lucan (i., 459, seqg.) ascribes the
contempt of death which characterized the Gauls to their belief in the
metempsychosis, as taught by the Druids.—50. Audit. " Obeys."—51.
Sygambri. Consult note on Oie iv., 3, 36. 5i. Compoiiiis armia. "Theil
arms being laid up."