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

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II., EPISTLE I. G13
tastio genealogy to which Persiaa alladee (6, 10, seqq.). Hence the boast-
fill promises {promissa] of the old hard, that he woald poar forth strains
worthy of the father of Grecian song. The fame of Bunius, however, observes
Horace, is now completely established among the critics of the
day, and he appears to be perfectly at ease with regard to his promises
and his dreams lletiiter curare videtur, quo promissa cadant, &c.). Pos-
terity, in their blind admiration, have made him all that he professed to
be.—53. NcBBVus in manibus non est, &c. " la not Naevias in every one's
hands, and does he not adhere to onr memories almost as if he had been
a writer of but yesterday ?" With recens supply ut. The idea intended
to be conveyed is this : But why do I instance Ennias as a proof of the
admiration entertained for antiquity 1 Is not ITeevius, a much older and
harsher writer, in every body's hands, and as fresh in their memories almost
as ifhe were one of their contempQraries 1
5S-S8. 55. AmUgitur quoties. " As often as a debate arises," i. e.,
among the critics of the day. Aufert Pacuvius doetifamam senis, Attius
alti. " Pacuvius bears away the character of a skillful veteran, Attius of
a lofty writer." With aKi supply poeta. The term senis characterizes
Pacuvius as a literary veteran ; a title which he well deserved, since he
published Ms last piece at the age of eighty, and died after having nearly
completed his ninetieth year.— Docti. This epithet alludes to his acquaintance
with the Greek poets, both epic and tragic, from whom he
used to borrow the plots of his pieces.—57. Dicitur Afrani toga convcnisse
Menandro. " The gown of Afranius is said to have fitted Menander."
An expression of singular felicity, and indicating the closeness with which
Afranius, according to the critics of the day, imitated the manner and
spirit of the Attic Menander, or, in other words, was the Roman Menander.
The term toga is here employed in allusion to the subjects of Afranius's
comedies, which were formed on the manners and customs of the
Romans, and played in Roman dresses. His pieces, therefore, would receive
the appellation otcdmaedice [orfabula) togata, as those founded on
Grecian manners, and played in Grecian dresses, would be styled pallia-
its.—58. Plautus ad exemplar Sieuli properare Epicharmi. " Plautus to
harry onward, after the pattern of the Sicilian Epicharmus." The true
meaning of properare, in this passage, has been misunderstood by some
commentators. It refers to the particular genius of Plautus, whose pieces
are fuU of action, movement, and spirit. The incidents never flag, but
rapidly accelerate the catastrophe. At the same time, however, it can
not be denied that, ifwe regard his plays in the mass, there is a consider-
able, and perhaps too great, uniformiQr in their fables. This failing, of
course, his admirers overlooked.
59-62. 59: Vineere Caeihus gravitate, Terentiua arte. " Caeoilius to
excel in what is grave and affecting, Terence in the skillful construction
of his plots."—60. Edisdt. " Gets by heart." Arcto theatro. " In the
too narrow theatre," i- e., though large in itself, yet too confined to be capable
ofholding the immense crowds that flock to the representation.—62.
Lioi. Livius Andronicus, an old comic poet, and the freedman of Livius
Salinator. He is said to have exhibited the first play, A.U.C. 513 or 514,
about a year after the termination of the first Punic war. Roman literature
is considered to have commenced with Andronicus. Orelli remarks
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