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

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428 EXPLANATOEY NOTES. BOOK I., SATIRE I,
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alent to quandoquidem.—68. Tantalus a labris, Sec. The idea intended
to be conveyed is this : Thou who merely gazest on thy money hoarded
up in thy coffers without putting it to any use, or deriving any benefit
from il^ art like Tantalus, who, tormented with thirst, catches in vain at
the water that escapes from his lips. This is sapposed to be addressed
by the poet, not to the miser with whom he has been reasoniug, but to
tKe sordid Athenian whom he bas just been picturing to the view. On
hearing the allusion to Tantalus, the miser bursts into a laugh, and the
poet turns upon him with the question Quid rides ? The miser laughs at
the poef B citing what the prevalent skepticism of the day regarded as one
of a mere tissue of fables.
69-79. 69. Mutato nomine, &c. "The name changed, the story is told of
thee." The train of ideas is as follows : Bost tbon laugh, and ask what
Tantalus is to thee 7 Change names with Tantalus, and thou wilt occupy
his place *, for, as he saw the water before bis eyes and yet could not taste
it^ BO thou gazest upon thy money, bat derirest no benefit from the accamnlated
hoard.— 70. Congestis undique stzccis, &c. "Gaping at them
with eager admiration, thou makest thy bed upon thy money-bags, brought
together irom on all sides." The miser makes his bed upon his bags, in
order to guard them the better ; and he keeps gazing eagerly at them, as
if he would devour them in his delight, until nature overpowers him, and
be falls asleep upon them. Undique refers to the circumstance of his
wealth's being accumulated in every way. A striking picture of the dis*
turbed and restless slumbers of the miser, who, even in his sleeping moments,
appears engrossed with the thoughts of his darling treasure.
71. Et tanquam parcere aacrist &c. "And art obliged to spare them as
if sacred offerings," &:c., i. e., thy avarice will no more let thee use thy
money than if the coins were the sacred offerings in some temple, which
it would be impiety to touch, and gives you no more enjoyment of them
than if they were paintings, which only give, pleasure to the sight.
(Keigktley, ad loc.)— ^73. Needs quo valeat nummus 7 " Art thou ignorant
of the true value of money 1" Literally, *' Knowest thou not in what direction
money may avail?"— ^74, Vini sextarius. "A pint of wine." The
textarius was one sixth of the congius, whence its name. It was about
an Bnglisb pint. Adde quels humana, &c. " Add those other comforts,
which being withheld from her, buman nature will experience pain," i. e.,
those comforts which nature can not want without pain.—77. Malosfwres.
"Wicked thieves." The poet imitates here the simplicity of the Homeric
idiom : thus we have in Homer, naKog &dvaTOCt " Bvil death ;" KaKog fiopog,
KOK^ vovffof, &.C.—78. Ne te compilsnt fugientes. "Lest they rob
thee, and abscond."—79. Semper ego optarvm, &c. "For my par^ I wish
to be ever very poor in such possessions as these," i. e., I never wish to
come to the possession of such burdensome and care-producing riches.
80-100. 80. At si condoluit, &o. The miser here rallies, and advances
a new argument. When sickness comes apon us, our wealth, according
to him, will secure ua good and faithful attendance, and we shtdl speedily
be restored to the domestic circlQ.—Tentatumfrigore. "Attacked with
the chill of fever."—81 . Habes qui assideat. " Thou bast one to sit by thy
bed-side."—82. Fomenta paret. " To prepare warm fomentations."
te. suscitet. " To raise thee from the bed of sickness," or, more freely, " to
Ut