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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. ^BOOK II., SATIRE V. 52)[
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61. Istafahula. " That stoty," to which thon wast alluding.—62. Juvems.
The prophet, with mock gravity, fixes the time of this important event,
the poet taking occasion to compliment Augustas. The reference, in the
term juvmis, is to Octavianus (Augustus). As the present satire was
written between A.U.G. 719 and 721, Octavianus, at this time, must have
been about thirty years of age, and might therefore, without any impropriety,
be still ca&ei juvenis, according to the Roman acceptation of the
term. Parthis harrenduB. Consult notes on Ode i., 26, 3, and iii., 5, 3.
Ab alto demissum genua ^nea. Alluding to the origin of the Julian line,
into which Octavianus had come by adoption.—64. Forti. " Stout."
Procerajilia. "The tall, gawky daughter."—65. Metuentis reddere soldum.
" Disquieted about the repayment of the principal that he owes."
Soldum (contracted from salidum) here, denotes the principal, or the main
debt itself, as distinguished from the interest. The disquiet of Nasica in
the premises may have arisen from avaricious feelings, or else, and what
is far more probable, from a consciousness of his inability to refund what
he had borrowed. His creditor is Goranus, to whom he, therefore, marries
his daughter, in the hope that his new son-in-law will either forgive him
the debt at once, or else leave him a legacy to that amount in his will,
which would of course be a virtual release. He is disappointed in both
these expectations. Goranus makes his will, and hands it to bis father-inlaw,
with a request that he will read it ; the latter, after repeatedly de-
clining so to do, at last consents, and finds, to his surprise and mortifica-
tion, no mention made in the instrument of any bequest to him or his.
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67. Multum Nasica negatas, &o. The etiquette of the day required that,
in a case like this, there should be merely an interchange of compliments,
but no actual examination of the will. Poor Kasica, however, could not re-
sist the tempting ofier, and was paid for his curiosity.—69. Prater plorare.
"£xcept to go and mourn," i. e., except the bitter feelings attendant upon
disappointed hopes.
70-90. 70. Ulud ad htecjuheo. "Unto these methods 1 bid thee add
the following." Supply te adiiere. Mulier dolosa. A freed woman is
meant.T-71. Senem delirum temperet. " Shall have got the management
of some old dotard."—72. Laudes, lauderis v,t ahsens. " Praise them (to
him), that thou mayest be praised (by them untt^ him) when absent."
73. Sed vincit longe prins, &o. " But to storm the capital itself is far superior
to the former method," i. e., the best and surest way is to gain the
old fellow himself. -Prius is here in the accusative, governed by vincit,—
Anus improba. "A wicked old jade." The epithet m^oJa is here used,
not with any reference to the moral character of the person spoken of, but
in jocose allusion to the mischievous and sportive humor which dictated
so strange a will.—74. Est electa. Supply ad funus.—76. Scilicet elabi
si posset morlua. "No doubt to try if she coi^d slip through bis fingers
when dead." Supply tentans.—Tt. Institerat. "Had annoyed her."
More literally, "had pressed npon her." Supplyei. Cautus adito. "Be
cautions in thy approaches." Gompare verse 48 : " Leniter arrepe."—
78. Neu desis operac. Sec. " Neither on the one hand be wanting in thy
efforts, nor on the other be immoderately abundant in them," i. e., nor, on
the other hand, overdo the matter. With aiundes supply opera.—79. VifficUem.
"Onethatisofafastidioustnm." Ultrononetiamsileas. "And
again, thou must not be more silent than is proper."
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