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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES.—BOOK I., SATIRE VI. 463
nwary part of the spectators. Circum. The allusion is to the Circus
Maximus, situate m the eleventh region of Borne, in the valley between
the Aventine and Palatine Hills. VespertiTiMmque forum. The foram,
at evening, must have been the scene of many carious adventures, as it
was the common place of resort for the idlers among the lower orders.
Horace esteems it one of the peculiar pleasures of his humble situation,
sa a private individual, that he can mingle unnoticed with the crowds of
the populace, amuse himself with their various modes of diversion, and
stroll wherever he pleases through the lanes and by-ways of the Capital.
This one of higher rank could not do without being noticed and insulted.
—114. Divims. " The fortune-tellers."
115-118. 115, Ciceris. The chick-pea, which is here meant, is stiU a
favorite article of food in the south of Burope. It is the case of the Italians,
and the ^arianzo of the Spaniards. {Keightley, ad loe.)—Lagani. "Pancakes."—116.
Fueris tribus. Namely, a cook, a stmctor, or slave who
laid the table, and brought on the viands, and a pociUator, or cup-bearer.
—Lapis albus. The scholiut Acron explains this by " mensa marmorea,"
but Fea shows veiy conclusively that the reference here is to a species
of marble stand, with holes cut in for the purpose of receiving drinkingcnps
and other vessels of this kind, which could not stand of themselves,
by reason of their spherical bottoms. "Wiistemann calls it a dumb-waiter.
—117. Pocula cum cyatho duo. One of these cups held water, the other
wine, and the cyatliui would be used for mixing the contents of the two.
— Etihinus. This term is commonly, though erroneously, supposed to denote
here a vessel in which the cups were washed. The true meaning,
however, is " a salt-cellar."—118. Guttus. " A cruet." A small vessel
with a narrow neck, from which the liquor which it contained issued by
drops (guttatim), or else in very small quantities. It was chiefly used in
sacred rites, and is therefore classed here with the patera, or bowl for offering
libations. Campana supellex. " Companian ware." This was
cheap and common.
119-120. 119. Non solUcitus, mihi quod eras, Sm, " Disquieted ty no
necessity of rising early the next morning, and visiting the statue of Mareyas."
Literally, " not disturbed in mind because I must rise," &c. The
poet means that he has no lawsuit, nor any business whatever connected
with the courts, that will disturb his slumbers over night, and require
his attendance early in the morning.—120. Marsya. A statue of Marsyas,
the satyr, who contended with Apollo for the prize in music, and
was flayed alive by the conqueror, stood in the Komau forum, in front of
the rostra. The story of Marsyas presents a remarkable instance of wellmerited
punishment inflicted on reckless presumption, and as this feeling
is nearly allied to, if not actually identiiied with, that arrogant and ungovernable
spirit which formed the besetting sin of the ancient democracies,
we need not wonder that, in many of the cities of antiquity, it was
customary to erect a groupe of Apollo and Marsyas in the vicinity of their
courts of justice, both to indicate the punishment which such conduct
merited, and to denote the omnipotence of the law. Quise jiuUumferre
negat, &c. The younger Novius, as the scholiast informs us, was accustomed
to carry on bis shameful usuries near the statueof Marsyas, and, as
the satyr was represented with one hand raised up (compare Serviua, ad
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