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

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672 EXPtANATORV NOTliS.—BPtS-TLE TO THE H903*
phion, Sec. Consnlt note on Ode iii., 11, 2.—396. ^it kceC sapieittia
quondam. " For this-, of old, was accounted wisdom." Supply nam be-
fore fuit.—398. Maritis. " To those in the married state," i. e., both to
husbands and wives, who were equally obliged by the laws to preserve
their chastity inviolable .-^399. Leges incidere ligno. Xiaws wereorigfinally
written in verse. Those of Solon were cut on tablets of wood. Brazen
plates were afketward employed both among the Greeks and Romans.
402-406, 402. Mares animos. "Manly spirits."—403. Dicfee per car
mina sorles. The oracles here spoken of, remarks Hard, are such as re
spect not private persons (whom a natural curiosity, qttickened by anxious
superstition, has ever prompted to pry into their future fortunes), but entire
communities ; and for these there was little plaCe till ambition had
inspired great and eventful designs, and, by involving the fate of nations,
had rendered the knowledge of futurity important. Hence, in marking
t^e progress of ancient poesy, Horace judiciously postpones oracles to the
celebration of martial prowess, as being that which gave the principal eclat
to them. This species of poetry, tben> is rightly placed ; though it be trae,
as the commentators have objected, that oracles were much more ancient
than Homer and the -Trojan war.—404. Et vitee monstrata via est. Alluding
to the productions of Hesiod, Theognis, and other poets, which,
abonnding in moral precepts, are elegantly said to lay open or discover
the road of life.—405. Tentata. "Was sought." Ludusqne repertus, et
longorum operumfinis. " Sports were also introduced, and faetive relax-
ation after long-continued toil." Alluding particularly to exhibitions of a
ncenic nature {ludMS being here equivalent to Indus scenicus)^ the rude
twmmencement of the drama. These' ludi were the finis longorum
ttpemm, and succeeded to the labors of harvest.*—406. Ne forte pudori sit
}'.ibi Musa, &c. " Let not, then, the Muse> the mistress of the lyre, and
Apollo, the god of song, haply bring the blush to thy cheeks>" i. e., blush
not therefore, Piso* to make court to Apollo and the Muse.
408-417. 408. Naturafieret laudabile carmeny &.C. In writing precepts
for poetry to young persons this question could not be forgotten. Horacet
therefore, to prevent Piso's falling: into a fatal eiTor^ by too mach confidence
in his gienins, asserts most decidedly that Nature and Art must
both conspire to form a poet.*~^409. Qucesitum est. " It has been made a
subject of inquiry," i. e., by philosophers and critics. Studium. " Mere
study," i. c, mere art.—410. Rude. Equivalent to incuUum.—411. Et
conjurat amice. " And conspires amicably to the same end."—412. Qui
studet optatamy Sec. The connection in the train of ideas is as follows
As the athlete, who aims at the prize, is compelled to undergo a long and
rigorous training ; and as the musician, who performs at the Pythian
solemnities, has attained to excellence in his art by the strict discipline
of instruction ; so must he, who seeks for the name and honor of a poet*
undergo a long and rigoroas course of preparatory toil and exercise.^
413. Puer. " From early life." The rigorous training of the ancient
athletoB is weW-lmown.—'Sudavit et alsit. " Has borne the extremes of
heat and cold."—414. P'ythia, "The Pythian strains." Supply cantica.
The allusion is generally supposed to be to the musical contests which
took place at the celebration of the Pythian gamfes. Orelli, however, says
Itisnot a musical contest that is here meant but a playing on the pipe the
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