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

640 EXPLANATORY NOTES.—EPISTLES.
certainty of the capital prodnctions of tlie Uoman genius, and the condnct
of their most admired writers, and thus observe the address of Horace in
adjasting his compliments to the varioas tempers of his friends. One was
another
proud of his high descent,- but ashamed to own that he was so ;
valued himself on the honors and offices he had borne ; and a third, de-
spising these honors, bngged himself in the elegance of his table, and the
pleasures ofhis private life. A hint to the first of these, of the nobleness
of his blood, woi^d mike it flush in his face. Consulships, and triumphs,
and provinces would be the welcome subject to the ears of the second
and the vanity of these pageants, a smile at a lictor, or a jest on the fas-
ces, would steal a smile from the last."
The first book contains twenty epistles of a very miscellaneous nature.
Oar poet asks news from Julius Idioms, inquires concerning the health
and occupations of TibuUus, invites Manlius Torquatus to supper, recommends
a friend to Tiberius, and explains himself to Maecenas with regard
to some want of deference or attention, of which his patron had complain-
ed. On sijch ordinary and even trivial topics, be bestows novelty, variety,
and interest, by the charm of language and expression. Other epistles
treat of his favorite subject, the happiness and tranquillity of a country
life ; and we know that these were actually penned while enjoying, during
the autumn beats, the shady groves and the cool streams of bis Sabine
retreat, la a few, he rises to the higher tone of moral instruction,
explaining his own philosophy, and inveighing, as in the satires, against
the incongistency of men, and their false desires for wealth and.honors,
From his early youth, Horace had collected maxims from all the sects of
Greece, searching for truth with an eclectic spirit, alike in the shades of
the Academy and the Gardens of Epicurus. In these philosophic epis-
tles, be sometimes rises to the moral grandeur and majesty of Jtivenal,
while other lines possess all the shrewdness, good sense, and brevity of
the maxims of Publius Byrus.
The great principle of his moral philosophy is, that happiness depends
on the frame of the mind, and not on the adventitious circumstances of
wealth or power. This is the precept which he endeavors to instill into
Aristius, this is his warning to BuUatius, who sought, by roaming to other
lands, to heal his distempered spirit. What disposition of mind is most
conducive to tranquillity and happiness, and how these are best to be ob-
tained, form the constant subject ofhis moral inquiries.
The epistles of the first book are chiefly ethical or familiar. Those of
the second are almost wholly critical. The critical works of Hftace have
generally been considered, especially by critics themselves, as the most
valuable part of his productions. Hard has pronoanced them " the best
and most exquisite of all his writings," and of the Bpistle to the Fisos, in
particular, he says, " that the learned have long since considered it as a
kind of summary of the rules of good writing, to be gotten by heart by ev'
eiy student, and to whose decisive authority the greatest masters in taste
and composition n^nst finally submit." Mr,.Gifibrd, in the introduction to
his translation of Juvenal, remarks, that, " as an ethical writer, Horace
has not many claims to the esteem of posterity ; but as a critic, he is en-
titled to all our veneration. Such is the soundness of his judgment^ the
;