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

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«HJ EXPLANATOKy NOTES. BOOK II., EPISTLE I.
fection it turned in good t. ne to the onltivation of some other. So that
the very caprice of humor (line 101) assisted in this country to advance
and help forward the puhlio taste. Such was the effect of peace and op.
portanity with them. Hoc paces habuere bona ventigue secundi. The
Komans, on the other hand (to line 108), acting nnder the influence of a
colder temperament, had directed their principal efforts to the pursuit of
domestic utilities, and a more dexterous management of the arts of gain.
The consequence was, that when (to line 117) the old frugal spirit bad in
time decayed, and they began to seek for the elegances of life, a fit of
versifying, the first of all liberal amusements that usually seize an idle
people, came apon them. But their ignorance of rules, and want of exer-
cise in the art of writing, rendered them wholly unfit to succeed in it.
The root of the mischief was the idolatrous regard paid to their ancient
poets, which checked the progress of true genius, and drew it aside into
a vicious and unprofitable mimicry of earlier times. Hence it came to
pass that wherever, in other arts, the previous knowledge of rules is required
to the practice of them, in this of versifying no such qnaliScation
was deemed necessary. Scriiimus indoeti doctique poemata jjassim
(Hwd, ad loc).—92. Quod legeret tereretque, &c. " Which general use
would read and thumb over man by man," a. c, which would he read and
thumbed in common by every body.
93-102. 93. Vtjmmnm. "As soon as." More literally, " when first."
-^Nugari. " To turn her attention to lighter themes," i. e., to poetry,
painting, sculpture, gymnastic exercises, &c. Sellis. Alluding particu-
larly to the Persian war, since from this period more attention began to
be paid to literature and the peaceful arts.—94. Et in vitiumfortwnala-
Mer aqua. " And, from the influence of prosperity, to glide into corruption,"
i. e., to abandon the strict moral discipline of earlier days. ^qua.
Equivalent to secunda.—Labier. Old form for labi.—96. Studiis. "With
an impassioned fondness for." ^quorum. Alluding to equestrian games.
—96. Fabro$, " Artists."-^97. Suspendit.picta vultum mentemque ta-
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bella. " She fixed her look and her whole soul upon the painting," i. e^
she gazed with admiration on fine paintings, and her very soul, not mere-
ly her eyes, hung, as it were, from the painting. The elegant use of sms-
pendere, in this passage, is deserving of particular attention.—98. Tibi-
cinibus. The players on the tibia^ who used to contend at the public
games. They stand here for music in general, as tragoedds does for
plays, the drama.—99. Sub nutricepudla, Sec. "ABif,'aninfant girl, she
were sporting under a nurse, quickly cloyed she abandoned what (a moment
before) she had eagerly sought," &o. The nurse had care of the
child till it was about three years old. Observe that mature is to be consti'ued
with plena, not with reliquit—ltf2. Hoc. " This effect." Pacea
bona ventigue secundi. " The happy times of peace, and the favoring
galea of national prosperity." Compare note on verse 90.
103-117. 103. Reclusa mane domo vigUare, &c. " To be up early in
the morning with open doors, to explain the laws to clients, to put out
money carefully guarded by good securities." The terms rectis nomini*
bus have reference to the written obligation of repayment, as signed by
the borrower, and having the name of witnesses also annexed.—106. itfo-
jores audire, minori dicere, *o. " To listen to the old, to teacfa the Tonng."