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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK I., SATIRE I. 426
of wealth, and replies to all the arguments vrfaich the miser adduces in
favor of hoarding. {Dunlop's Roman Literature, vol. iii., p. 247.)
1-10. 1. Qui Jit, Mascenas, &o. The construotion is as follows : Qui
Jit, Macenas, ut nemo vioat contentus ilia sorte, guam sortem seu ratio
dederit, seufors oijecerit, (sed) laudet sequenta diversa. " How happens
it, Maecenas, that no man lives contented with that lot, which either re-
flection may have given him, or chance have thrown inhis way, but rather
deems their condition enviable, who follow pnrsnits in life that are dif-
ferent from his own?" Ratio here denotes that deliberation and reflection
which direct oar choice in selecting a career for life.—
^3. Laudet. We
must mentally supply juug^ue from nemo, as a subject for Umdct, although
there is, in reality, no ellipsis of it. (Heindorf, ad Zoc.)—4. Ofortunati
mercatores. " Ah ! ye happy traders." As regards the peculiar meaning
of the term mercator, consult note on Ode i., 1, 16. Gravis annis. " Bowed
down by long years of tnilitaiy service," i. e., after long service and
little remuneration.—^7. JUilUia est potior. "A soldier's life is better,"
i. e., than this which I pursue. Quid enim ? " Why, then, {is it) V i. e.,
why, then, does he think it preferable. Quid is governed by oh under-
stood. Compare the Greek rl yap.— Concurritur. "The combatants engage."
Taken impersonally. Hora. momenta. "In an hour's space."
Momenta iscontracted from movimento, " in the motion," i, e., in the space.
— 9. JurisJegumqueperitus. "Thelawyer." Literally, "he who is versed
in the principles of justice and in the laws."—10. Sub galli cantum, &c.
" When a client knocks,'^by cock-crow, at his door." The Koman lawyeni
received their clients early in the morning ; but here the client rouses him
at the period caUed Oallicinium, or the first cock-crow, about three o'clocll
in the morning.
11-S2. 11. Ille, datis vadihus, &c. " He who, having given bail for bis
appearance, has been forced from the country into the city." The allusion
is to the defendant in a suit. In the Boman courts of law, as in our own,
the plaintiff required that the defendant should give bail for his appearance
in court (vades) on a certain day, which was usually the tbird day
after. Hence the plaintiff was said vadari ream, and the defendant vades
dare, or vadimonium promittere.—14. Fahivm.. The individual here named
appears to have been a loquacious and tiresome personage, but whether
a philosopher or a lawyer is uncertain.—15. Quo rem deducamu "To what
conclusion I will bring the whole affair."—18. Mutatis partibits. " Your
conditions in life being changed." Partes is a term borrowed from the
language of the stage, and denotes a part or character sustained by one
—Eia! quid statis? "Come! why do yoa stand here?" i. e., why do
yon not go aiid assume the different characters for which yon are longing?
(Compare Hand, ad Tnrs,, ii., p. 364.)—19. Nolint. " They will be unwilling
(to accept the offer)." The subjunctive is here employed, because
the sentence depends on si guis dicat which precedes.—^^^^ui licet esse
beafis. "And yet they have it in their power to be happy." AGrreecism
for licet iis esse ieatos.—20. Meisft" guin illis, lea. "Why justly offended
Jove may not puff out against them both his cheeks." The poet draws
rather a ludicrous picture of angry J^ove, swelling with indignation. Perhaps,
however, it is on this very account more in keeping with the con
text.—22. Facilem. "Beady."
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