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

554 EXPLANATORY NOTES.—BOOK I. EPISTLE III.
55-70. 55, Emta dolore. " When purchased with pain," i. e., when go
purchased that pain follows after it. The poet here adds some yvufiac, or
moral sentences. The passions noticed by him are those which make the
vas non esse sincerum. [Orellitad loc.)—56, Cerium voto pete ^nem,
" Seek a certain limit for thy wishes," i. e., set a fixed limit to thy wishes.
58. Siculi tyranni. Alluding to Fhalaris, Agathocles, and the two Dio-
nysiuses. The particular reference, however, is to the brazen bull of Phal-
aris,—60. Dolor quoA suaserit amens. "Which mad, resentment shall
have prompted." The common reading is Dolor quod suaserit et mens,
but mens appears entirely out of place here, and we have therefore adopted
amens for et mens. The reading amens is given in one of the oldest
Vatican MSS., and is advocated and adopted by several editors. Compare
the remarks of Cromhie, Gtfmnas., ii., p. 136.—61, Dum panas odio,
&c. "While by some act of violence he hastens satisfaction for his unappeased
vengeance," i. e., while he is impatient to satiate it.—62. A7iimum
rege. " Govern thy temper (therefore)."—64. Fingit equum te-nera docilem,
&c. The idea intended to be conveyed is this : As steeds dnd hounds are
trained when young, so should our earlier years be given to the lessons of
wisdom and virtue, for the mind, at that period of life, easily receives impressions,
and what is then learned is seldom forgotten. 66. Ccrvinam
pellem latravit in aula. Alluding to the custom of training up young
hounds by placing before them the skin of a stag, stuffed with straw or
other materials, so as to resemble the living animal. Latravit for aliairavit.—In
aula. " In the court-yard." Aula is here a courfc-yar-d, or area
generally, inclosed on. all sides, and in which young dogs were trained ta
the hunt.—67. Militat. "Performs service," i. c, hunts.— JVwnc adbibt
puro pectore verba, &c. " Now, in the days of thy youth, drink deep into
thy pure breast the language of instruction ; now give thyself up to those
who are wiser." Verba may also be here rendered " these my words,"
but with less propriety and force.—69. Q,uo semel est imhuta recens, &c.
"A jar will long retain the odor of the liquor, with which, when new, it
was once impregnated."—70. Quod si cessaSf &c. The idea intended to
oe here conveyed is thus expressed by Francis, from Torrentius and Dacier
: If thou wilt run the race of wisdom with me, let us run together
for if thou stoppest or endeavorest to get before me, I shall not wait for
thee, nor strive to overtake thee. When we enter the lists of virtue, to
wait for those behind us is indolence, too earnestly to pursue those before
us is envy.
£iPi9TLE in. In the year of the city 731, Tiberias was sent at the head
of an army into Dahuatia. Julius Floras, to whom this epistle is address-
ed, was in his train. He continued visiting and regulating the provinces
until the year 734, when he received orders from Augustus to march to '
Armenia, and replace Tigranes on the throne. It is at this time that Ho^
ace writes to Floras. Ourpoet here marks the route of Tiberius through
Thrace, and across the Hellespont, into Asia Minor, thus making his epistle
a kind of public historical monument. Floras had reproached the bard
for never vniting to him, and the latter, in a pleasant kind of revenge,
reckons a large number of particulars of public and private news which
he expected in answer to his letter. It would seem, however, that Horace
had also another object in view, and this was, to make his iHend sens
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