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

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&82 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK I., EPISTLE XISL
ceeds to communicate four pieces of intelligence to Icciua : Ist, 'I'ho «duction
of the Cantabri by Agrippa. 2d. The pacification of Armenia by
Tiberius. 3d. The acknowledgment of the Roman power by the Parthians.
4th. The abundant harvests of the year. This was A.IT.C.734, B.C. i20^-
S6. Canidber Agrippa. Consult note on Ode iii., 8, 22. ClauAi virtuU
Neronis Armenius occidit. Horace, it will he perceived, does not here
follow that account which makes Artaxias, the Armenian kitfg, to have
fallen by the treachery of his relations, but ennmerates his death among
the exploits of Tiberius. This, of course, is done to flatter the young
prince, and is in accordance with the popular belief of the day.-^-^. Jus
imperivm^ue PkrahateB Casaris ^ecfepit, &c. "Fhrahates, on bended
knee, has acknowledged the supremacy of Csesar." Genibus minor means
literally, "lower than the knees of," i. e., at the knees of Ceesar. This,
after all, however, is only a poetical mode of expression for " submissive<
ly," since Fhrahates never met Augustus in person. Jus impervwmqmt
as here employed, includes the idea of both civil and militaiy power, i, e.,
fall and unlimited authority. The allusion is to the event already men-
tioned in the note on Ode i., 86, 3, when Fhrahates, through dread of the
Roman power, surrendered the Roman standards and captives.
EpiSTtE Xin. The poet, having intrusted Vinins with severaLwlls of
his writings i^olumvnei^ that were to be delivered to Augtistus^ amuses
himself with giving him directions about the mode of carrying them, and
the form to be observed in presenting them to the emperor.
1-7. 1. Ut projidsc^tem docui, &c. " Vinius, thou wilt deliver these
sealed rolls to Augustus in the way that I repeatedly and long taught
thee when setting out," u e., in handing these rolls to the emperor, remem-
ber the many and long instructions which I gave thee at thy departure.
2. Signata volumina. Horace is supposed by the commentators to have
sent on this occasion not only the -epistle to Augnstns (the first of the second
hook), but also the last odes and epistles be had written. He calls
these pieces volumina, because they were separately rolled up (the usual
form of books in those days], and they are sealed, in order that they might
not be exposed to the piling curiosity of the courtiers. Vini. Vinius is
thought to have been one of our poef s neighbors, and a man evidently of
low birth. The family, however, rose into importance under the succeeding
emperors, and we find Titus Vinius filling the consulship under Galba.
—3. 8i validus, si Icetus eritf &c. "If he shall be in health, if in spirits, i^
in fine, he shall ask for them." Validus stands opposed to male validus.
With poscet we may supply tradi sihi volumina.—4. Ne studio nostri
pecees, &o. "Lest, through eagerness to serve me, thou give offence, and
industriously bring odium on my productions as an over-officious agent."
Join in construction opera vehemente, as the ablative of quality, with minister.
Literally, "as ap agent of vehement endeavor."—6. Uret. Equivalent
to premet or vexaMt.—7. Quam quo p&rferre juheriSf &c. "Thap
roughly throw down thy pannier where thou, art directed to carry it, and
tarn into ridicule thy paternal cognomen of Asella," i. e., thy family name
of Asella. Horace puns upon the name ofhis neighbor, and tells him that
ue shonid beware of blnndering in the presence of the courtiers, who
would most certainly rally him, in such an event, upon his surname of
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