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

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530 EXPl.ANATORy NOTES. BOOK II., SATIRE VII.
ing; himself into any shape or form at pleasure, an attribute which tha
plural name is here purposely used to express, as if each new shape were
a separate Vertumnus. Hence the meaning here intended to be convey<
ed is as follows : that wheuFriscas was bom, Vertumnus, in anger, gave
bim a changing, ficjile, and inconstant diaposition.
15-26. 15. Justa. "'Well-merited," i, e., the just punishment of his intemperance
and high living.—16. Contudit. "Had crippled."— ^17. Phimum.
" The box" in which the tali and tesseree were shaken, and from
wfeichtbey were thrown out upon the gaming hoard. It is the same,
therefore, with oar modem dice-box. Other names for it were fritUlus
Hudpyrgus. It was formed with parallel indentations on the inside, so
as to make a rEUttling noise when the dice were shaken out. Phimus is
the Greek ^t/iog' Latinized. Talos. The tali here meant are those described
in the note on Ode ii., 7, 25. For the other kind, consult note on
Sat. ii., 3, 171.—19. Pamit. "Maintained" or "kept."—19. Tanto levius
miser ac prior iUo,.&c, "By so much less wretched and better off than
the other, who one while stmggles with a tight, another with a loosened
cord," i. e., who one moment struggles with his passions, and the next
instant yields to their violence. Orelli regards this as a metaphor, borrowed
from the movements of seamen, who sometimes pull the sheets of
the saUs too taut, sometimes leave them loose.—31. Hodie. Equivalent
here to statim.—Hac tarn puttda. " Such stapid stuff as this."—22. Fto'-
clfer. "Rascal." The term fttrdfer literally denotes a slave who has
been subjected to the punishment of the furca. It was a piece of wood
that went round their necks, and to which their hands were tied. In this
state they were driven about the neighborhood under the lash, more, However,
for the sake of ignominy than that of actual bodily punishment.—
23. Plebis. In the sense ofpopuli.— ^24. Ad ilia. Supply qua laudas.—
Te agat. " Transfer thee."— ^25. Aut quia non sentis. Sec. " Either because
thou dost not really think that to be more correct, which thou criest
up as such."— ^26. Mrmus. " With any kind of firmness." £t kcsres nequidquam
ccbtio, Sec. " ^d stickest fast, vainly desiring to pluck thy
foot out of the mire."
28-36, 28. Ronus. " When at Kome."—29. iepw. " Ever fickle."—
30. Secu/rum olus. "Thy quiet dish of herbs." ActVelutusguamvinctm
eas, Sec. " And, as if thou always goest out any where to sup on compol-
sion, so, if not invited abroad, thou callest thyself a lucky fellow, and art
delighted, because thou art obliged to drink nowhere."—32. Jusserit ad
Be Macenast &c. The train of ideas is as follows : But see how inconsistent
thy conduct is in this also. Should Msecenas invite thee to sup with
him, immediately with a loud tone of voice thou callest on thy slaves to
bring thee whatever may be needed for the visit, and hastenest away with
rapid footsteps. The baffocos, who expected to sup with thee, depart,
after heartily cursing and abusing thee aside.—33. Serum, sub lumina
prima. " Late in the evening, at the first lighting of the lamps." The
usual time for the Homan ccena was the^ninth hour, or three o'clock afternoon
in summer, and the tenth
ing, introsted, as minister, wa
could not observe so seasonabu
is here wanted for the lamp wfl
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