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

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638 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II., SATIRE VIII.
" Might one see."—78. Siridere secrda dwisos aure susurros. "Divided
w-hispers buzzing in each secret ear." An elegant verse. The expres-
sion secreta aure has reference to the ear's being the confidential deposi-
tory of secrets, while by divisos susurros are meant whispers on the part
of each to his companion.
82-94. 82. Non dantur pocuta. Alluding to the slowness of the air
tendants in furnishing the wine. Dumqtte ridetur fictis rerum. " And
while we give vent to our laughter under various pretences." Hideiur
is used impersonally. Fictis rerum is a Gh'aacism for Jictis rehus. The
guests laugh in reality at the avarice and folly of Nasidienns, but pretend
to have their mirth excited by other causes.—83. Balatrone secundo.
"Balatro seconding us."—84. Nasidiene redis mutatce frontis. A burlesque
imitation of the epic style.—86. Mazonomo. The mazonamm
{fia^6vofio^t fia^o^opog) was a kind of large dish or " charger." The name
was first applied to a large dish used for the purpose of holding the spe-
cies of food termed maza (/id^a), but was afterward extended so as to
become a general term.—87. Grais, As regards the estimation in which
cranes were held by the Homan epicures, compare the remarks of Pliny,
H. N., X., 30 :
" Cornelius Nt^os, qui Dim Augusti prvncipatu obiit, cum
scriberet turdos paulo ante ciBptos saginarif addidii, dconias magis placere
guam grues : cum hasc nunc ales inter primas expetatur, illam nemo
velit attigisse."—Non sine farre. "Together with grated bread."—88.
Pinguihus. "fattening." Fids pastum. The livers of geese were esteemed
by the B/Oman, as they still are by modem epicures, a great delicacy,
and these birds were purposely fattened on various kinds of food,
among the rest onfigs,with the view of increasing the size of their livers.
—Anseris albce. The liver of the goose was preferred to that of the gander,
and the white geese were esteemed the best of their kind.^—89. L»
porum armos. Kasidienus should have kept these awayfrom his guests,
and have served np the other parts that are ironically condemned in the
text.—90. Edit. The old form of the subjunctive, from edim. Compare
Epode iii., 3. Adusto.' "Burned."—91. Merulas. "Blackbirds." Sine
dune palumbes. Our host, observes Francis, had probably bought these
birds at a cheap price, since the rumps, which are the most delicious part,
were so tainted as not to be brought on table.—92. Suaves res. Ironical.
—Causas et naiuras. "Their canses and natures," *. €, the causes, by
reason of which a particular part was sometimes to be preferred to all the
.rest of the body, and one part to another, as well as the peculiar natures
of these seversd parts. Jn other words, their talkative host became more
insupportable than the entertainment itself and they were glad to escape
from him.—94. Velut illis Canidia a^assetj &c. " As if Ganidia, more
vonomous than Afiican serpents, had poisoned them with ,ber breath."
With qfflasset supply venenum.
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