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

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EXPLAN^ICRY NOTES. BOOK II., EPISTLE II. 635
dote on Sat. i„ 5, 63. The idea intended to be conveyed by the vrhda
passage is this : that as the actor who dances the part of a satyr or a
Cyclops throws himself into different attitudes, and moves bis limbs in
various ways, so ho who composes verses should transpose, vary, bring
forward, draw back, and, in general, keep shifting his words and ezpressions
in every possible variety of way.
126-140. 126. Prtetulerivi scriptor delirus inersgue viderif &c. " For
my own part, I had rather be esteemed a foolish and dull writer, provided
my own faults please me, or at least escape my notice, than be wise and
a prey to continual vexation." The poet means that he would rather be
a bad poet, if he could only imagine himself the contrary, than a good one
at the expense of so much toil and vexation. Observe the force of the
subjunctive in prcBtul&rvm.—128. Ringi. The deponent ringor literally
means, " to show the teeth like a dog," "to snarl." It is then taken in a
figurative sense, and signifies " to fret, chafe, or fume," &c. Puit hand
ignobilis Argis, &;c. The poet here gives an amusing illustration ofwhat
he has just been asserting. Aristotle {de Mirab. Au8cult.j init.) tells a
similar story, but makes it to have happened at Abydos, and .^lian V. (
H., iv., 25) of an Athenian named Thrasyllus.— 131. Sarvaret. "Discharged."
In the iensG oVobseroaret ov exsequeretur^—iZi. Etsigno laso
tion tTisanire lagena. " And would not rave if the seal of a wine-vessel
Were broken." The ancients generally sealed the lagena^ to prevent their
slaves from stealing the wine.—137. Elleboro. Consult note on Sat. ii.,
3, 82. Morbum. Alluding to his madness, which the addition of bUem
serves more clearly to indicate. Hence the expression atra hilis, so frequently
used in the sense of insania.—140. £!t demtus, pretium mentis^
&c. " And a most pleasing delusion, a (fair) price for reason, has been
taken away," i. e., a pleasing delusion, the enjoyment of which one would
consider cheaply purchased by the loss of reason. The common text has
Et demtus per vim mentis gratissimus error, " and a most pleasing delusion
of mind has been taken away by force." In place of thi«. we have
adopted the singularly elegant reading (pretium) found in u, wiition of
Zarot, in behalf of which Gesner remai-ks, " Fulcherrimam sententiam
parit lectio Zaroti ; qua pretium Tnenfis dicitur error gratissimus : i. e.,
facile aliquis sana mente careat, ut tam jncundo errore fmatur."
141-156. lil. Nimirumsapere est abjectis' utile rmgis. Ice. "(Such being
the case), it certainly is a useful course (for us) to pursue and acquire
wisdom, trifles being laid aside, and to give up to boys a sport that is suited
to their years." By ludum is here meant verse-making, poetic composition.
Observe the force of nimirum here, " certainly," " doubtless."
The poet now takes a more serious view of the subject, and this forms
the seventh excuse. He has put it last, that he might more naturally fall
into the vein of morality which concludes his epistle. He would convince
us that good sense does not consist in making verses, and ranging words
in poetical harmony, but in regulating our actions according to the better
harmony of wisdom and virtue. " Sed verts numerosgue modosque
tdiscere vita."—145. Quocirca mecum loguor htec, tacitusgue recordor.
" It is for this reason that I commune as follows with myself, and silently
revolve in my own mind." The remainder of the epistle is a conversation
which the poet holds with himself. This solibqay is designed to make
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