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

EXPLANATORY NOTES.—BOOK I., EPISTLE IX. 573
Epistle IX. A letter of introdaodon to Tiberius Claudius Nero, given
by the poet to his friend Titins Septimius. Horace seema to hare been
very sensible of the care and nicety that were requisite on such occasions,
especially in addressing the great, and he has left the epistle now before
OS as an undoubted proof of this. He stood high in favor with Tiberius,
and the regard Augustus had for him gave him a further privilege. Moreover,
Septimius was one of his dearest friends, a man of birth and known
merit yet with ;
what modesty, diffidence, and seeming reluctance does
the poet recommend him to the notice of the prince. The epistle appears
to have been written a short time previous to the departure of Tiberius
for. the Bastem provinces.
1-6. 1. Septimius, Claudi, nirniirwm intelligit unus, dec. " O Claudius,
Septimius alone knows, forsooth, how highly thou esteemest me." The
poet modestly seeks to excuse his own boldness in addressing an epistle
like the present to the young Tiberius, on the ground that his friend Septimius
would have that he stood high in favor with the prince, whereas
he himself knew no such thing.—3. Scilicet ut tiii se laudare, &c. " To
undertake, nfimely, to recommend and introduce him to you"^A. Dignum
mente domoque, &c. " As one worthy the esteem and intimacy of Nero,
who always selects deserving objects," i. e., one whose habits of thinking
and acting are in unison with those of the individual addressed, and who
is worthy of being numbered among his intimate friends, and becoming a
member of his household. This verse does equal honor both to Tiberius
and Septimius, since it shows the one a discerning prince, and the other
a deserving man. We are not to consider these as words of mere compliment
on the part of the poet. Tiberius, in his early days, was indeed
the person he is here represented to be, a good judge of merit, and ready
to reward it.—5. Munere fungi propioris amici. " That I fill the station
of an ifitimate friend."—6. Quidpossim videt, &c. " He sees and knows
what I can effect with thee better than I do myself," i. e., he sees and
knows the extent ofmy influence with thee, &c. This explains the nimirum
intelligit unus of the first line. Observe that vcUdius is here equivalent
to melius.
8-13. 8. Sed timui, mea ne, tec. "But I was afiraid lest I might ba
thought to have pretended that my interest with thee was less than it really
is i to be a dissembler of my own strength, inclined to benefit myself
alone." By dissimulator opis propnce he means, in fact, concealing his
own influence, and reserving it all for himself.—10. Majoris ealpie. The
major culpa, here alluded to, is the unwillingness to serve a friend.—H.
Froniis ad urbancB descendi prcemia. " I have descended into the arena
to contend for the rewards qf town-bred assurance," i. «., I have resolved
at last to pat in for a share of those rewards which a little city assurance
is pretty certain of obtaining. The from, urbana is sportively but truly
applied to that open and unshrinking assurance so generally found in the
population of cities.—12. Jussa. " The importnnitiesw"—13. Scribe tut
grcgirlmnc. "Enroll this person among thy retinue." (xrex is here taken
in a good sense to denote a society of friends and followers.