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

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EXPIiANATORY NOTES. BOOK H,, SATIRE VH. 631
to the residence of his patron, and also when returning from the same.—
36. Mulvius et scurres. Supply ceteris Horace would seem from this to
have had parasites of his own as well as the gi'eat. In a city like Rome,
which might be called a world in itself, this could not he well otherwise.
' Tibi tion referenda precati, "Alter having uttered secret imprecations
against thee." The expression tibi non referenda is equivalent here to
tibi non audienda,
37-45. 37. JStenim, fateor, me, dixerit Ule, Sec. Mulvius here utters a
part of the abuse which has just been alluded to. It must be supposed,
however, to be spoken aside. Dixerit ille. " Mulvius may say."—38. Dud
ventre leoem. " That I am easily led away by my stomach," to play the
part of a parasite and buffoon. ^Naswm nidore supiTwr. " I raise my nose
at a savory smell." A Qraecism for nasiis miki supinatar.—39. Si quid
vis. " If thou pleasest." iO. Ultro. "Unprovoked by me." il. Verhis-
que decoris obvolvas vitiuTn 1 "And vrilt thou cloak thy vices beneath
specious names 7"—42. Q,ii,id si me stuUior ipso, ice, Bavus now speaks
in his own person. "What if thou art found to be a greater fool even
than myself, who was purchased for five hundred drachmas ?" i. e., even
than myseli; a poor cheap slave. Five hundred drachmas was a low price
for a slave. It would amount in our currency to about S88.—43. Aufer
me vultu terrere, &c. Horace, unable to bear patiently the sarcasms of
Davus, especially the one last uttered, assumes an angry look, and raises
his hand in a threatening manner, and hence the slave observes, " Away
with trying to terrify me by that look ; restrain thy hand and thy anger." '
45-51. 45. Tune mihi dominus, &c. "Art thou, my master, thyself
subjected to the dominion of so many and powerful passions and men,
whom the praetor's rod, though thrice and four times laid upon thy head,
can never free from wretched fears 1"—46. Vindicta. The rod with which
the praetor touched the head of those who received their freedom, according
to the form of manumission styled "per Vindictam." The meaning
of the passage is, that the prastor might make the body indeed free, but
not the mind. This last was only to be accomplished by wisdom.
48, Adde super, dictis quod non levius valeat. '* Add, besides, what is of
no less weight than the things already mentioned by me."—49. Vicarius.
" An underling." Slaves were sometimes allowed by their masters to lay
out what little money they had saved with their consent (called their peca-
Hum) in the purchase of a slave for themselves, who was styled vicarius,
and from whose labors they might make profit. Uti mos vester ait. " As
your custom expresses it," i. e., as it is customary with your masters to
call him.—50. Tibi quid sum ego 1 " What am I in respect of thee V—
51. Miis servis miser, atque duceris, &c. " Art thyself a wretched slave to
others, and art managed, as a puppet is by means of sinews not his own."
53-61. 53. Sapiens. Davus here quotes the well-known maxim of the
Stoic sect. Consult note on Sat. i., 3, 133.
exercises dominion over himself." — 55.
Sibi qui imperiosus: "AVho
Responsare eupidiniblis, &e.
"Firm in resisting his appetites, in contemning the honors of the world."
Fortis responsare is a Graecism forfortis in responsando, and so, aUo,fov
tis contemnere torfortis in coniemnendo.—56. In se ipso totus. " Belying
solely on himself." According to the Stoie.?, sin: e those things only are
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