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

t>30 EXPLANATORY NOTES.- BOOK II., EP/tTTLE II.
ibr a support; now, however, that uu has obtained a competent^, the
inclination for verse has departed.
41-45. 41. RomtB nutriri miki contigit. Horace came to Rome with
bis father at the age of nine or ten years, and was placed under the in-
Btraction of Orbilius Papillns.— 42, Iraiua Graiis quantum nocuisset
Achilles. The poet alludes to the Iliad of Homer, which he read at school
with his preceptor, and with which the Roman youth began their studies.
•—43. BoncB Atkenee. "Kind Athens." The epithet here applied to this
celebrated city is pecoliorly pleasing. The poet speaks of it in the language
of fond and grateful recollection, for the benefits which he there
received in the more elevated departments of instruction. Artis. The
term ars is here used iu the sense of doctrina, *' learning," and the reference
is to the philosophical studies pursued by Horace in the capital of
Attica.—44. Scilicet ut possem curvo dignoscere rectum. " That I might
be able, namely, to distinguish a straight line from a curve." The poet
evidently alludes to the geometrical studies which were deemed absolute-
ly necessary, by the followers of the Academy, to the understanding of
the sublime doctrines that were taught within its precincts.—45. Silvas
' Academi. Alluding to the school of Plato. The place which the phibsopher
made choice of for this purpose was a public grove, called Academus,
which received its appellation, according to some, from Hecademus, who
left it to the citizens for the purpose of gymnastic exercises. Adorned
with statues, temples, and sepulchres, planted with lofty plane-trees, and
intersected by a gentle stream, it afforded a delightful retreat for philosophy
and the Muses. Within this inclosure Plato possessed, as a part of
bis bumble patrimony, purchased at the price of three thousand drachmiB,
a small garden, in which he opened school for the reception of those who
might be inclined to attend bis instructions. Hence the name Academy,
given to the school of this phUoaopber, and Wnich it retained long afber
his decease.
47-53. 47. CwilistBSius. " The tide of civil commotion."—48. Caserns
Augusti non responsura tlzcertis. ''Bestined to prove an unequal match
for the strength of Augustus CsBSar."—49. SimuL For simul ac.~^
Philippic Philippi, the scene of the memorable conflicts which closed
the last struggle of Roman freedom, was a city of Thrace, built by Philip
^f Macedon, on the site of the old Tbaslan colony of Cronidsa, and in thf>
vicinity of Mount FangsGus. The valuable gold and silver mines in its inkmediate
neighborhood rendered it a place of great importance. Its ruins
still retain the name of J'VM&oA.—50. Decisis kumilem pennit, inopemque,
*• &.C. Brought low with clipped wings, imd destitute of a paternal dwelling
and estate," i.e., deprivedof my office of military tribune, and stripped
of my patrimony.—51. Pa/upertas impulit audax, &c. We must not understand
these words literally, as ifHorace never wrote verses before the
battle of Philippi, but that he did not apply himself to poetry as a profes-
sion before that time.—52. Sed^ quod non desif,. kabentem, qua potG7-u7ii
unquam satis expurgoFe cicuies, &c. " But what doses of hemlock will
ever sufficiently liberate me from my phrensy, now that I have all which
is sufficient for my wants, if I do not think it better to rest than to write
verses," i. e., but now, having a competency for all my wants, I should b6
a perfect madman to abandon a life of tranquillity, and set up o^ain for h
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