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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK I., SATIJIB 11. 431
dancers, fiom Syria. The morals of this class of females may be ascer-
tained from Juvenal, iii., 68. They were accnstomed to wander aboat the
Forum and the streets of the capital, and the poet very pleasantly applies
here to their strolling bands the dignified appellation of collegia, a term
reserved at B.ame for legal associations, such as that of the augurs.—
PharmaeopoliS. Not "apothecaries," as some translate the term, but
rather wandering quachs, armed with panaceas and nostrums.-n3. Mendid.
The allusion here is not to actual mendicants, but to the priests of
Isis and Cybele, and other persons of this stamp, who, while in appearance
and conduct but little removed from mendicil^, practiced eveiy mode
of cheating and imposing npon the lower orders. Minus. These were
female players ef the most debauched and dissolute kind. Balatrones.
The various explanations given of this term render it difficult to determine
what the true meaning is. Our translation accords with the remark
of Doring, who makes the word denote the whole class of low and dirty
parasites, f estus says that the proper meaning of this word was the
clots of mud that adhered to people's clothes or shoes after a journey. It
then was applied to the scurrie, perhaps, as Orelli says, because they
stuck to the rich man like dirt to the shoes. (Kdghtley, ai loc.)— ^3. Tigdli.
The reference is to M. Hermogenes Tigellius, a native of Sardinia,
and a well-known singer and musician of the day, who had stood high in
favor with Julius Ceesai-, and after him with Augustus. He seems to have
been indebted for his elevation to a fine voice, and a courtly and insinuating
address. His moral character may be inferred from those who are
said here to deplore his death, and on whom he would appear to have
squandered much of his wealth.—4. Quippe henignus erat. " "For he was
a kind patron." Contra hie. The reference is now to some other indi-
vidual of directly opposite character.—7. Hunc si perconteris, &c. " If
thou ask a third, why, lost to every better feeling, he squanders the noble
inheritance of his ancestors in nngratefiil gluttony."—8. Stringat. The
aUusiou is properly a figurative one to the stripping off the leaves from a
branch.—9. Omnia conductis coemens, &o. " Buying up with borrowed
money every rare and dainty viand." The lender is said loca/re pecuniam,
the borrower, eonducere peeuniam.—10. Animi parvi. " Of a mean
spirit.-"—11.. Laudatwr ab his, &c. *' For this line of conduct, he is commended
by some, he is censured by others." .
12-20. 12. Fvfidiita. A noted usurer.— Vappte fama/m timet ae nebulonis-.
Consult note on Satire i., 1, 104.—13. Positis infenore, " Laid
out at interest." PecunioTn in fetiore ponere is used for peeuniamfenon
dare.—14. Quinas hie eapiti, &c. " He deducts from the principal five
common interests." Among the Romans, as among the Greeks, money
was lent from, month to month, and the interest for the month preceding
was paid on the calends of the next. The usual rate was one as monthly
for the use of a hundred, or twelye per cent, per annum ; which was
called usura eeniesima, becatise in a hundred months the interest equalled
the principal. In the present case, hewever, Fufidins charges five per
cent, monthly, or sixty per cent, per annum ; and, not content even with
this exorbitant usury^ actually deducts the interest before the money is
lent, for instance, he lends a hundred pounds, and- at the end of the
month the borrower is to pay him a hundred and five, principal and interest.
But he gives only ninety-fire pounds, deducting his interest wher
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