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

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626 EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK 11., EPISTLE I.
poets of the same name. Incultis qui versihus et male natis^ &c. "Who
owed to his rough and ill-formed verses the Philippi, royal coin, that he
received." Acron, in his acholinm on the 357th verse of the epistle to
the Fisos, relates, that Alexander told Choerilaa he would rather be the
Thersites of Homer than the Achillea of Choerilas. Some commentators
have therefore supposed that Horace has altered the story in order the
better to suit his argument, and that, if Alexander did bestow any sum
of money upon Chcerilus, it was on condition that be should never write
about him again. It is most probable, however, that while Alexander
paid Chcerilus liberally for his flattery, he did not conceal his contempt for
his poetry. — Philippos. Gold pieces, with Philip's bead upon them*
thence called Philippi.
235-345. ^35. SedveluUtractatanotantlabemqueremittuntt&c. "But
as ink, when touched, leaves behind it a mark and a stain, so writers,
generally speaking, soil by paltry verse distinguished actions." The idea
intended to be conveyed is this : Bat this was unwise in Alexander, for
bad poets injure their subjects just as ink stains what it touches.
{Keigktley, ad /oc.)—240. Alius Lysippo. "Any other than Lysippns."
Compare the Greek idiom viXXo^ Aval'Tritov, of which this is an imitation.
—Ducerei