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

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544 EXPLANATORY NOTKS. BOOK I., EPISTLE 1,
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hospes. A pleasing image borrowed from the sea, " Whitbcrsoeve- Ae
tempest hurries me, thither am I borne a guest," i. e., to the writing of
whatsoever philosopher, the inclination of the moment, or the course of
events, ehall drive me, with them do I take up my abode, but only as a
guest, and as one who intends, when circumstances shall demand it, to re-
tire to some other quarter. The poet here describes himself as a species
of Eclectic philosopher, cuUing from the doctrines of different sects whatever
appears to approach nearest to the truth, but blindly following the
general authority of none.
16-18. 16. Nunc agitisJlOf &c. "Now I become an active man, and
plunge amid the waves of public life," i. e., now I follow the precepts of
the Stoic sect, and lead an active life amid the bustle of public affairs.
Observe that mersor has here the force of the middle voice. The Stoics di-
rectly inculcated the propriety of their wise man's exerting his best endeavors
for the general welfare of those around him, and the common good
of mankind. Attention to civil or public affairs would be a necessary consequence
of this rule.—17. Virtutis vercE. The aUusion, as Orelli remarks,
is to the ideal virtue of the Stoics. Rigidus. Alluding to the rigor of the
Stoic discipline.—18, Nuncin Aristippifttriim, &c. "Now I glide back
iasensibly into the precepts of Aristippus." Horace says relahor, because
this was the system to which he was originally inclioed. {Keigktleff, ad
loc.) Aristippus, the founder of the Cyrenaic sect, made the summum bo-
7mm consist in pleasure. Consult note on Sat. ii., S, 99.
20-23. 20. Lenta dies, &c. " As the day passes tardily unto those who
owe to another the performance of any task." Supply est in both this and
the succeeding clause. ' The allusion is a general one to all who owe the
performance of any daily task or labor, either for actual hire, or from sit
nation and circumstances. Ut piger annus -pupillis, &c. "As the year
moves slowly to minors, whom the strict watchfulness of mothers re-
strains." Since minors were not under the guardianship of the mothers,
the reference here must of course be to that watchful care which a parent
exercises over her young offspring, in restraining them from the paths of
dissipation, and teaching them the lessons of frugality and virtue.—22.
Sic mihi tarda Jluunt ingrataque tempora, &c. The poet, ardently desirous
of making a rapid advance in the pursuit of true wisdom, and perceiV'
ing, at the same time, how little the actual progress he had made accorued
with his own wishes, well describes, by the comparisons here em
ployed, the impatience under which he labors, at being withheld from a
speedy cAasummation of what he so earnestly Govets.-^23. Quod ague
pauperibus prodest, locupleHhus ceque^ &c. Tbes'e lines Contain a true
and weU-merited eulogium on wisdom. For, as it is what eqnaUy concerns
rich and poor, atid what, when neglected, proves equally injurious
to young and old, it naturally follows that the study of it ought to be our
first care, as being essential to our happiness.
26-33. 26. Resiat, ut his ego me, &c. The connection in the train of
ideas is as follows : Since I can not then embrace in its full extent tbat
wisdom which I so earnestly desire, " it remains for me to govern and
console myself by these first principles of philosophy." The maxim
which the poet proceeds to inculcate is this : Never aim at any thing bs