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

EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II., SATIRE IV. 51?
Bd| than those of meadows. L enz, however, a German writer on this sub-
ject, informs us that the locality has no iniluence whatever on the edible
or poisonous properties of mushrooms. According to him, more mushrooms,
as well edible as poisonous, grow in woods than on meadows
while those which grow on meadows are generally edible, and but few
poisonous.— ^21. Male creditur. " It is nnsafe to trust." Literally, " credence
is ill given."—22. Qui nigris prandia maris Jiniet. Another false
precept. Mulberries should be eaten before, not after dinner. Compare
Pliny, " Ipsa pmna (mori) ad prasens stomacho utilia, refrigerant, sitivi
faaunt. Si non superveniat alias dbus intiimtaeunt." (H. N., xxiii.,
70.)—S3. Ante gravem qua legerit, &o. The jnices of tenderer fruit, observes
Francis, evaporate by the heat of the sun, but are collected and con-
fined by the, coldness of the night. On the contrary, harder and firmer
fruit, such as apples, should be gathered in the middle of the day, when
the sun has ripened and concocted their jaices.
24-33. 24. Aufidius forti miscebat, &c. Anfidius, an epicure, is here
blamed for having inti'odnced a kind of mulsum, or mead, composed of
honey and strong Falemian wine. In this he was wrong, for he made it
too strong. The precept laid down by Gatius goes to recommend a milder
draught. The mulsum of the Romans was either taken early in the
morning, in order to fortify the stomach and promote digestion, or else at
the gustatio, the first part of the ccena, consisting of dishes to excite the
appetite, whence what was eaten and drunk to whet the appetite was
named promulsis. The Anfidius mentioned in the text is supposed to
have been M. Anfidius Lurco, who was the first that fattened pea-fowl for
sale, and by which he made a great deal of money. (Plin., H. N., x., 20.)
—25. Vacuis venis, BecausethemuZsuTn was taken at the beginning of
the meal.—27. Si dura morabitur alvus. " If thou art costive." Lita>.
ally, "if thy stomach shall be hard-bound."—28. Concha. The mention
of shell-fish comes in very naturally here, as they formed, in general, a
part of the promulsisi—30. Lubrica nascentes implent, tec. This is an
error much older than the days of Catius. It is contradicted by constant
and universal experience.—32. Murice BaiaTW melior I/ucrina peloris,
" The peloris from the Lucrine Lake i? better than the murex from Baise."
By the peloris is meant a large kind of oyster, deriving its name, according
to Athenasus, from its size, al Si ire'KaptSes £>v6/ma6jiaav Kap& to ttc-
%iipiOV- Casaubon, however, prefers deducing the name from the Sicilian
promontory of Pelorus, around which they were taken in great numbers
The murex appeal's to be the same with- the burret, or purple fish, a species
of shell-fish, from the juice of which the purple dye was procured.
33-45. 33. EeMni. Consult note on Epode v., 27.—34. Pectinibus patulisjactat
se. Inc. " The luxurious Tarentum prides herself on her broad
scallops." The pecten of the Latins is the kthc of the Greeks, and both
receive their names from the indented and comb-like, appearance of their
UQgllg, 36. Non prius exacta tenui ratione saporum. " Unless the nice
subject of tastes shall have been first carefully considered by him."
37. Cara puces cmerrere mensa. "To sweep off the fishes from a dear
stall," i. e., to buy them at a high price.—38. Quibus est jus aptius, &o.
" For which fcmd sauce is better adapted, and for which, when broiled, the
already sated guest will replace himself on his elbow," i. e., will prepare
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