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

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534 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II., SATIRE VIII.
fall. What is here stated respecting the hours of the Roman ceana, ap
plies, of course, only to times of luxury and wealth. The primitive Komans
supped at evening", and made the prandium, or dimier, a hearty
meal, whereas with their descendants the prandium became a very slight
repast, and the ccsna the principal meal. Sic ut miki nunquam in t^ita
faerit melius. " Why, it pleased me so much, that nothing in the whole
course of my life ever delighted me more."
4-11. 4. DOf si grave non est. " Tell me, if it is not too much trouble."
—5. Placaverit, "Appeased."— 6. lAtcarms ap&r. Consult note on Sat,
ii., 3, 234. Lenifuit Austro cappus. " It was taken while the south wind
blew gently." The flesh of the boar, if the animal was taken when the
south wind blew violently, soon became rancid, but if taken when the
same wind blew gently, would be tender and high. Either by buying it
cheap, or by keeping it too long, the boar in question was probably tainted
; but the host would insinuate that it had a particular flavor by being
taken when the south wind blew gently, and was delicate and tender,
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7. Acria circum rapula, &c. The articles here mentioned were such as
might best, by their sharp and pungent taste, overcome the tainted flavor
of the boar, as well as excite the guests to eat.—8. Rapula. Consult
note on Sat. ii., 2, 43. Lactucee, Consult note on Sat. ii., 4> 59.—9. Fervellunt..
"Arouse." Literally, "pinch," "pluck," &c. Allec. Consalt
note on Sat. ii., 4, 73. Feecula Coa. "Buqied tartar of Coan wine."
Consult note on Sat. ii., 4, 73.—10. Puer alte cinctus. " A young slave
tucked high." Among the Ilomans, the young slaves, employed in the
interior of the dwellings, were generally clad in a short tunic, descending
no farther than the knees. This was done, not so much with a view to
activity and expedition, as irom a refinement of luxury. The custom is
here carried by Nasidienus to a ridiculous extreme, in order that every
part of thfs strange entertainment may be in unison. Acernam. According
to Pliny {H. ^., xvi., 15), the maple was next in value to the citron
wood. The scholiast remarks that the circumstance of his having a maplewood
table is another proof of the sordid habits of Nasidienas, since a man
of his riches should have had a table of citron wood, with which, too, the
gausape purpv/reumf mentioned inunediately after, would have much better
comported.—11. Ga/iisapepurpurea. The gausape {gausapa or gausapum)
was a kind of towel or cloth, having on one side a long nap ; those
used by the rich were made of wool, and dyed of some bright color. Et
alter sublegit quodcunguejaceret inutile, Sec. The allusion is to the fragments
of the feast, the crumbs, hones, &c. The slave, whose duty it was
to collect these, was styled analecta.
13-20. 13. Ut Attica virgo cum sacris Cereris, The allusion is to the
Canephori, or young Athenian females, who bore, at the mystic festival
of Ceres and Proserpina, certaiik sacred symbols belonging to the secret
worship of these deities, covered over in baskets. Their pace was always
slow and solemn. Horace, in expressing the comparison between
the gait of Hydaspes and that of the females just alluded to, means, of
course, to turn into ridicule the stately march of the slave.—14. Hydaspes,
A slave, as his name proves, from India. The wealthy Romans were
fond of having in their hoasehol'd establishments slaves of various nations.
--15. Chium maris expera. Horace is generally supposed to mean th»t
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