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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II., SATIRE III. 501
Staberius laid upon faia heirs. Aa he himself thought every thing of
wealth, he conceived that posterity would adopt the same standard of excellence,
and entertain the higher opinion of him, the greater they saw
the sum to be which be had amassed during his life, and left by testament
to his heirs. 99. Quid simile isti Gracus Aristippus. " What did the
Qrecian Aristippns do like this msin," i. e., how unlike to this was the
cpndact of the Grecian Aristippus. The philosopher here named was
founder of the Cyrenaic sect, which derived its name from his native city,
Cyrene in Africa. Pleasure, according to him, ia the ultimate object of
human pursuit, and it ia only in subserviency to this that fame, friendship,
and even virtue are to be desired. Since pleasure then, argued
ourphilosopher, is to be derived, not irom the past or the future, but the
present, a wise man will take care to eiyoy the present hour, and will be
indifferent to life or death. His doctrine was, of course, much d,ecried by
the Stoics, and Stertiuina, who was himself a Stoic, has given an ill-natored
turn to this story.— ^103. Nil agit exemplwm Htem quod lite resolvit.
"An instance, which solves one difficulty by raising another, concludes,
thou wilt say, nothing." Stertinius here anticipates an objection that
might be urged against his mode of reasoning, and in so doing indulges
his feelings of opposition to the doctrines of Aristippus. The excessive
regard for wealth which characterized Staherius can not be censured by
adducing the opposite example of Aristippus, for this last, according to
him, is equally indicative of an insane and distempered mind.
104-138. 104. Si quis emat citharas, Ice. Stertinius allow&the force
of the objection, that it is impossible to decide who is the greater fool,
Staberina or Aristippus ; hut he now gives other instances to determine
the question against the former. Money to a miser is like an instrument
of music in the hands of a man who knows not how to play on it. They
both owe their harmony to the art of using them.—105. Nee studio citharee,
Tiec MuscB deditus ulli. " Neither from any love for the lyre, nor because
attached to any Muse," i. e., to any branch of the liberal arts.—106. Formas.
" Lasts."—108. Undique. " On all sides," i. e., by all. Qui. " How."
110. Compdsitis. "What he has accumulated." 113. Dominus. "Though
the owner of the same."—114. Foliis amaris. "Bitter herbs," i, e,, succory,
endive, &c.—115. Chii veterisqiie Falemi. The Chian was the most
valued of the Greek wines, the Falemian of Ijie Italian ones.—116. JViM
est. "Nay." Literally, " 'tis nothing,". CpmparjB Orelli, " Qaid dico
mm s