* Johnson 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 



OCT 9 1884 



THE 



SA T I R E S 



OF 



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s Persius Flaccus 



EDITED, WITH ENGLISH NOTES, 



PRINCIPALLY PROM CONINGTON, 



BY 



Henry Clark Johnson, A.M., LL.B. 



PROFESSOR ;>F LATIN IN THE LEHKiH UNIVERSITY. 




A. S. BARNES & COMPANY, 

NEW YORK AND CHICAGO. 



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COPYRIGHT BY 

A. S. BARNES & COMPANY. 
1884. 



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THIS WORK 

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 

TO THE 

Ker». 3°fy n CaDarlcy ITTibMeton, 5. CD., 

RECTOR OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, GLEN COVE, L. I., 

AS A 

MARK OF HIGH ESTEEM, AND IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

OF A LONG AND FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIP. 



PREFACE. 



The commentary on the Satires of Persius, by the late 
Professor Conington of Oxford University, has for years 
been celebrated and is to-day highly valued among scholars, 
but, on account of its form and price, it is not well adapted 
for use in American colleges. My purpose in this edition is 
to make our students acquainted with this valuable commen- 
tary, but, in pursuance of my plan, I have ventured to re- 
model and simplify it so as to adapt it to the class-room, and 
to add much additional matter from the works of other editors, 
including explanations of difficult passages and peculiar con- 
structions, and a considerable body of references to several of 
the best American grammars. 

Believing that the interest and enthusiasm of the student 
in an author are quickened by a full understanding of his 
personal and literary history, and by an acquaintance with 
the influences which may have worked upon him as he wrote, 
I have retained in its entirety, on account of its merit and 
interest, the " Lecture on the Life and Writings of Persius, 1 ' 
contained in the edition of Conington, as edited by Professor 
Nettleship. 

The text is with few exceptions, that of Conington. In 
no case, however, has another reading been adopted which 
has not some good external authority. 

The notes were originally compiled nearly eleven years 
ago, without thought of publication, when, as a student with 
an honest determination t<> become as thoroughly acquainted 
with the subject as possible, I was preparing myself for an 



VI PREFACE. 

examination on the works of our author, which had been 
assigned me as one of the subjects in a course of study 
leading to an advanced Degree in Arts. Hence, there is no 
credit given any one in them ; there is no attempt at anything 
original, but the material amassed by preceding commentators 
has been carefully used and arranged. 

My labor consisted in examining the various expositions 
contained in the editions of Casaubon, Conington, Dennis, 
Diibner, Gilford, Heinrich, Hermann, Jahn (1843 and 1868), 
Konig, Macleane, Orelli, Prateus (Delphin), Pretor, and 
Stocker, all of which were read on each passage, and in de- 
ciding which were the most reasonable and which had the 
weight of authority and then writing down my decision, in 
all cases following Conington where our opinions coincided. 

Shortly after the notes were finished, I was called upon to 
give instruction in this subject and from time to time I have 
added to them some valuable material suggested by the wants 
of my students, much of which was gathered from the various 
editions (notably that of Professor Gilclersleeve) in use in the 
class. 

Having used these notes very satisfactorily for several 
years as the basis of my instruction, and, believing that the 
work will now be found to contain nearly everything calcu- 
lated to clear up the difficulties of the original and to make 
Persius less distasteful to the average student, I give it to the 
public with the hope that it may be useful to other teachers 
and students. 

HENRY C. JOHNSON. 



The Lehigh University, 

Bethlehem, Pa., August 1, 1884. 



LECTURE 

ON THE 

LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIUS. 



It is my intention for the present to deliver general lectures from 
time to time on the characteristics of some of the authors whom 
I may select as subjects for my terminal courses. To those who 
propose to attend my classes they will serve as Prolegomena, 
grouping together various matters which will meet us afterwards 
as they lie scattered up and down the course of our expository 
readings, and giving the point of view from which they are to be 
regarded ; to others I trust they may not be without their use as 
Sketches Historical and Literary, complete in themselves, in 
which an attempt will be made to bring out the various features 
and circumstances of each author into a broad general light, and 
exhibit the interest which they possess when considered independ- 
ently of critical minutiae. 

The writer of whom I am to speak to-day is one who, as it 
seems to me, supplies ample materials both for detailed study 
and for a more transient survey. It is a very superficial criti- 
cism which would pretend that the reputation of Persius is owing 
simply to the labor which has been spent upon him : still, where 
the excellence of an author is undoubted, the difficulties of his 
thought or his language are only so many additional reasons why 
the patient and prolonged study of him is sure to bo profitable. 
The difficulties of Persius, too, have the advantage of being definite 



Vlll LECTURE ON THE 

and unmistakable — like those of Aeschylus, not like those of 
Sophocles — difficulties which do not elude the grasp, but close 
with it fairly, and even if they should be still unvanquished, are 
at any rate palpably felt and appreciated. At the same time he 
presents many salient points to the general student of literature : 
his individual characteristics as a writer are sufficiently prom- 
inent to strike the most careless eye ; his philosophical creed, 
ardently embraced and realized with more or less distinctness, is 
that which proved itself most congenial to the best parts of the 
Roman mind, the Stoicism of the empire ; while his profession of 
authorship, as avowed by himself, associates him not only with 
Horace, but with the less known name of Lucilius, and the 
original conception of Roman satire. 

The information which we possess concerning the personal his- 
tory of Persius is more copious than might have been expected in 
the case of one whose life was so short and so uneventful. His 
writings, indeed, can not be compared with the ' votive tablets ' 
on which his two great predecessors delighted to inscribe their 
own memoirs : on the contrary, except in one famous passage, 
the autobiographical element is scarcely brought forward at all. 
We see his character written legibly enough in every line, and 
there are various minute traces of experience with which the 
facts of his life, when ascertained, are perceived to accord ; but 
no one could have attempted to construct his biography from his 
Satires without passing even those extended limits within which 
modern criticism is pleased to expatiate. But there is a memoir, 
much more full than most of the biographical notices of that period, 
and apparently quite authentic, the authorship of which, after 
being variously assigned to his instructor and literary executor 
Cornutus, and to Suetonius, is now generally fixed, agreeably to 
the testimony of the best MSS., on Valerius Probus, the celebrated 
contemporary grammarian, from whose commentary, doubtless 
an exposition of the Satires, it is stated to have been extracted. 
Something has still been left to the ingenuity or research of later 
times to supply, in the way of conjectural correction or illustra- 
tion, and in this work no one has been more diligent than Otto 
Jahn, to whom Persius is probably more indebted than to any 
other editor, with the single exception of Casaubon. I have, 



LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIUS. IX 

myself, found his commentary quite invaluable while preparing 
my own notes, and I shall have to draw frequently upon his 
Prolegomena in the course of the present lecture. 

Aulus Persius Flaccus was born on the 4th of December, 
A.D. 34, little more than two years before the death of Tiberius, at 
Volaterrae in Etruria, a country where antiquity of descent wag 
most carefully cherished, and which had recently produced two 
men well known in the annals of the empire, Maecenas and 
Sejanus. His father was of equestrian rank, and his relatives 
included some of the first men of his time. The connection of 
the family with his birth-place is substantiated by inscriptions 
which have been discovered there, as its memory was long pre- 
served by a tradition professing to point out his residence, and 
by the practice of a noble house which was in the habit of using 
his name. That name was already not unfamiliar at Rome, 
having been borne by a contemporary of Lucilius, whose critical 
judgment the old poet dreaded as that of the most learned man 
of the age, as well as by a successful officer in the time of the 
Second Punic War. Persius' early life was passed in his native 
town, a time to which he seems to allude when he speaks of 
himself in his third satire as evading the lessons in which he was 
expected by his admiring father to distinguish himself, and 
ambitious only of eminence among his playmates. When he was 
six years old his father died, and his mother, Fulvia Sisennia, a 
genuine Etruscan name, found a second husband, also of eques- 
trian rank, called Fusius, who within a few years left her a second 
time a widow. At twelve years of age Persius was removed to 
Rome, where he studied under Remmius Palaemon the gram- 
marian, and Verginius Flavius the rhetorician. Of the latter, 
we only know that he had the honor of being banished by Nero 
— on account, so Tacitus says, of the splendor of his reputation — 
in the burst of jealous fury which followed the conspiracy of Piso ; 
that he wrote a treatise on rhetoric, to which Quintilian so re- 
peatedly refers as authoritative, and that he made a joke on a 
tedious rival, asking him how many miles long his speech had 
been. Of the former, an odious character is given by Suetonius, 
who says that his extraordinary memory and facility of expres- 
sion made him the most popular teacher in Rome, but represents 



X LECTURE ON THE 

him as a man of inordinate vanity and arrogance, and so in- 
famous for his vices that both Tiberius and Claudius openly de- 
clared him to be the last man who ought to be trusted with the 
instruction of youth. The silence with which Persius passes 
over this part of his experience may perhaps be regarded as 
significant when we contrast it with the language in which he 
speaks of the next stage in his education. It was, he tells us, 
when he first laid aside the emblems of boyhood and assumed 
the toga — just at the time when the sense of freedom begins, and 
life is seen to diverge into different paths — that he placed himself 
under another guide. This was Annaeus Cornutus, a Stoic 
philosopher of great name, who was himself afterwards banished 
by Nero for an uncourtly speech — a man who, like Probus, has 
become a sort of mythical critic, to whom mistake or forgery has 
ascribed writings really belonging to a much later period. The 
connection thus formed was never afterwards broken, and from 
that time Persius seems to have declared himself a disciple of 
Stoicism. The creed was one to which his antecedents naturally 
pointed, as he was related to Arria, daughter of that 'true wife' 
who taught her husband how to die, and herself married to 
Thrasea, the biographer and imitator of the younger Cato. His 
literary profession was made soon after his education had been 
completed. He had previously written several juvenile works — 
a tragedy, the name of which has probably been lost by a cor- 
ruption in the MS. account of his life ; a poem on Traveling 
(perhaps a record of one of his tours with Thrasea, whose favorite 
and frequent companion he was) in imitation of Horace's Jour- 
ney to Brundusium, and of a similar poem by Lucilius; and a 
few verses commemorative of the elder Arria. Afterwards, when 
he was fresh from his studies, the reading of the tenth book of 
Lucilius diverted his poetical ambition into a new channel, and 
he applied himself eagerly to the composition of satires after the 
model of that which had impressed him so strongly. The later 
Scholiasts, a class of men who are rather apt to evolve facts, as 
well as their causes, partly from the text itself which they have 
to illustrate, partly from their general knowledge of human 
nature, tell us that this ardor did not preclude considerable 
vacillation: he deliberated whether to write or not, began and 



LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIUS. XI 

left off, and then began again. One of these accounts says that 
he hesitated for some time between a poetical and a military life 
— a strange but perhaps not incredible story, which would lead 
us to regard the frequent attacks on the army in his Satires not 
merely as expressions of moral or constitutional antipathy, but as 
protests against a former taste of his own, which may possibly 
have still continued to assert itself in spite of the precepts of 
philosophy. He wrote slowly, and at rare intervals, so that we 
may easily imagine the six Satires which we possess — an im- 
perfect work, w r e are told — to represent the whole of his career 
as a professed author. The remaining notices of his life chiefly 
respect the friends with whom his philosophical or literary sym- 
pathies led him to associate. The earliest of these were Caesius 
Bassus, to whom his sixth Satire is addressed — himself a poet of 
some celebrity, being the only one of his generation whom Quin- 
tilian could think of including with Horace in the class of Ro- 
man lyrists — and Calpurnius Statura, whose very name is a mat- 
ter of uncertainty. He was also intimate with Servilius Nonia- 
nus, who would seem from an incidental notice to have been at 
one time his preceptor — a man of consular dignity, distinguished, 
as Tacitus informs us, not merely by high reputation as an orator 
and a historian, but by the polished elegance of his life. His 
connection with Cornutus, who was probably a freedman of the 
Annaean family, introduced him to Lucan ; and dissimilar as their 
temperaments were, the young Spaniard did ample justice to the 
genius of his friend, scarcely restraining himself from clamorous 
expressions of rapture when he heard him recite his verses. At 
a later period Persius made the acquaintance of Seneca, but did 
not admire him. Two other persons, who had been fellow-students 
with him under Cornutus, are mentioned as men of great learn- 
ing and unblemished life, and zealous in the pursuit of philosophy 
— Claudius Agathemerus of Lacedaemon, known as a physician of 
some name, and Petronius Aristocrates of Magnesia. Such were 
his occupations, and such the men with whom he lived. The 
sixth Satire gives us some information about his habits of life, 
though not more than we might have been entitled to infer from 
our knowledge of his worldly circumstances and of the custom of 
the Romans of his day. We sec him there retired from Koine 



Xll LECTURE ON THE 

for the winter to a retreat on the bay of Luna, where his mother 
seems to have lived since her second marriage, and indulging in 
recollections of Ennius' formal announcement of the beauties of 
the scene, while realizing in his own person the lessons of content 
and tranquility which he had learned from the Epicureanism of 
Horace no less than from the Stoicism of his philosophical 
teachers. This may probably have been his last work — written, 
as some have thought from internal evidence, under the con- 
sciousness that he had not long to live, though we must not press 
the language about his heir, in the face of what we are told of 
his actual testamentary dispositions. The details of his death 
state that it took place on the 24th of November, A.D. 62, to- 
wards the end of his twenty-eighth year, of a disease of the 
stomach, on an estate of his own eight miles from Rome, on the 
Appian road. His whole fortune, amounting to two million 
sesterces, he left to his mother and sister, with a request that a 
sum, variously stated at a hundred thousand sesterces, or twenty 
pounds weight of silver, might be given to his old preceptor, to- 
gether with his library, seven hundred volumes, chiefly, it would 
seem, works of Chrysippus, who was a most voluminous writer. 
Cornutus showed himself worthy of his pupil's liberality by re- 
linquishing the money and accepting the books only. He also 
undertook the office of reviewing his works, recommending that 
the juvenile productions should be destroyed, and preparing the 
Satires for publication by a few slight corrections and the omis- 
sion of some lines at the end, which seemed to leave the work 
imperfect — perhaps, as Jahn supposes, the fragment of a new 
satire. They were ultimately edited by Caesius Bassus, at his 
own request, and acquired instantaneous popularity. The memoir 
goes on to tell us that Persius was beautiful in person, gentle in 
manners, a man of maidenly modesty, an excellent son, brother, 
and nephew, of frugal and moderate habits. This is all that we 
know of his life — enough to give the personal interest which a 
reader of his writings will naturally require, and enough, too, to 
furnish a bright page to a history where bright pages are few. 
Persius was a Roman, but the only Rome that he knew by ex- 
perience was the Rome of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero 
— the Rome which Tacitus and Suetonius have portrayed, and 



LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIT7S. Xlll 

which pointed St. Paul's denunciation of the moral state of the 
heathen world. Stoicism was not regnant but militant — it pro- 
duced not heroes or statesmen, but confessors and martyrs ; and 
the early death w r hich cut short the promise of its Marcellus 
could not in such an age be called unseasonable. 

It was about two hundred years since a Stoic had first ap- 
peared in Rome as a member of the philosophic embassy which 
Athens dispatched to propitiate the conquering city. Like his 
companions, he was bidden to go back to his school and lecture 
there, leaving the youth of Rome to receive their education, as 
heretofore, from the magistrates and the laws ; but though the 
rigidity of the elder Cato triumphed for a time, it was not 
sufficient effectually to exorcise the new spirit. Panaetius, under 
w r hose influence the soul of Stoicism became more humane and 
its form more graceful, gained the friendship of Laelius, and 
through him Scipio Aemilianus, whom he accompanied on the 
mission which the conqueror of Carthage undertook to the kings 
of Egypt and Asia in alliance with the republic. The foreign 
philosophy was next admitted to mould the most characteristic 
of all the productions of the Roman mind — its jurisprudence, 
being embraced by a long line of illustrious legists ; and the rela- 
tive duties of civil life were defined and limited by conceptions 
borrowed from Stoic morality. It was indeed a doctrine which, 
as soon as the national prejudice against imported novelties and 
a systematic cultivation had been surmounted, was sure to prove 
itself congenial to the strictness and practicality of the old Roman 
character ; and when in the last struggles of the commonwealth 
the younger Cato endeavored to take up the position of his great 
ancestor as a reformer of manners, his rule of life was derived 
not only from the traditions of undegenerate antiquity, but from 
the precepts of Antipater and Athenodorus. The lesson was one 
not to be soon lost. At the extinction of the republic, Stoicism 
lived on at Rome under the imperial shadow, and the govern- 
ment of Augustus is said to have been rendered milder by the 
counsels of one of its professors; but when the pressure of an un- 
disguised despotism began to call out the old republican feeling, 
the elective affinity was seen to assert itself again. This was the 
complexion of things which Persius found, and which he left. 



XIV LECTURE ON THE 

That sect, as the accuser of Thrasea reminded the emperor, had 
produced bad citizens even under the former regime : its present 
adherents were men whose very deportment was an implied re- 
buke to the habits of the imperial court ; its chief representative 
had abdicated his official duties and retired into an unpatriotic 
and insulting privacy ; and the public records of the administra- 
tion of affairs at home and abroad were only so many registers of 
his sins of omission. There was, in truth, no encouragement to 
pursue a different course. Seneca's attempt to seat philosophy 
on the throne by influencing the mind of Nero, had issued only 
in his own moral degradation as the lying apologist of matricide, 
and the receiver of a bounty which in one of its aspects was 
plunder, in another corruption ; and though his retirement, and 
still more his death, may have sufficed to rescue his memory 
from obloquy, they could only prove that he had learned too 
late what the more consistent members of the fraternity knew 
from the beginning. From such a government the only notice 
that a Stoic could expect or desire was the sentence which 
hurried him to execution or drove him into banishment. Even 
under the rule of Vespasian the antagonism was still unabated. 
At the moment of his accession, Euphrates the Tyrian, who was 
in his train, protested against the ambition which sought to 
aggrandize itself when it might have restored the republic. 
Helvidius Priscus, following, and perhaps deforming, the foot- 
steps of his father-in-law Thrasea, ignored the political existence 
of the emperor in his edicts as praetor, and asserted his own 
equality repeatedly by a freedom of speech amounting to per- 
sonal insult, till at last he succeeded in exhausting the forbear- 
ance of Vespasian, who put him to death and banished the 
philosophers from Italy. A similar expulsion took place under 
Domitian, who did not require much persuasion to induce him 
to adopt a policy recommended by the instinct of self-preservation 
no less than by Nero's example. Meantime, the spirit of Stoicism 
was gradually undergoing a change. The theoretic parts of the 
system, its physics and its dialectics, had found comparatively 
little favor with the Koman mind, and had passed into the shade 
in consequence : but it was still a foreign product, a matter of 
learning, the subject of a voluminous literature, and as such a 



LIFE ANT) WRITINGS OF PERSIUS; xv 

discipline to which only the few could submit. It was still the 
old conception Qf the wise man as an ideal rather than a reality, 
a being necessarily perfect, and therefore necessarily super- 
human. Now, however, the ancient exclusiveness was to be re- 
laxed, and the invitation to humanity made more general. 
'Strange and shocking would it be,' said Musonius Rufus, the 
one philosopher exempted from Vespasian's sentence, 'if the 
tillers of the ground were incapacitated from philosophy, which 
is really a business of few words, not of many theories, and far 
better learnt in a practical country life than in the schools of the 
city.' In short, it was to be no longer a philosophy, but a re- 
ligion. Epictetus, the poor crippled slave, as his epitaph pro- 
claims him, whom # the gods loved, turned Theism from a specu- 
lative dogma into an operative principle, bidding his disciples 
follow the divine service, imitate the divine life, implore the 
divine aid, and rest on the divine providence. Dependence on 
the Deity was taught as a correlative to independence of external 
circumstances, and the ancient pride of the Porch exchanged for 
a humility so genuine that men have endeavored to trace it home 
to a Christian congregation. A Stoic thus schooled was not 
likely to become a political propagandist, even if the memory of 
the republic had been fresh, and the imperial power had con- 
tinued to be synonymous with tyranny — much less after the 
assassination of Domitian had inaugurated an epoch of which 
Tacitus could speak as the fulfillment of the brightest dreams of 
the truest lovers of freedom. Fifty years rolled away, and 
government became continually better, and the pursuit of 
wisdom more and more honorable, till at last the ideal of Zeno 
himself was realized, and a Stoic ascended the throne of the 
Caesars, and the philosophy of political despair seemed to have 
become the creed of political hope. The character of Marcus 
Aurelius is one that it is ever good to dwell on, and our sym- 
pathies cling round the man that could be rigorously severe to 
himself while tenderly indulgent to his people, whose love broke 
out in their fond addresses to him as their father and their 
brother; yet the peace of his reign was blasted by natural 
calamities, torn by civil discord, and tainted by the corruption of 
his own house, and at his death the fair promise of the common- 



XVI LECTURE ON THE 

wealth and of philosophy expired together. Commodus ruled 
the Roman world, and Stoicism, the noblest of the later systems, 
fell the first before the struggles of the enfeebled yet resisting 
rivals, and the victorious advances of a new and living faith. 

It is not often that a poet has been so completely identified 
with a system of philosophy as Persius. Greece had produced 
poets who were philosophers, and philosophers who were writers 
of poetry ; yet our first thought of Aeschylus is not as of a 
Pythagorean, or of Euripides as of a follower of the Sophists ; 
nor should we classify Xenophanes or Empedocles primarily as 
poets of whose writings only fragments remain. In Lucretius 
and Persius, on the other hand, we see men who hold a prom- 
inent place among the poets of their country, yet whose poetry is 
devoted to the enforcement of their peculiar philosophical views. 
The fact is a significant one, and symptomatic of that condition 
of Roman culture which I have noticed on a former occasion. 
It points to an age and nation where philosophy is a permanent, 
not a progressive study — an imported commodity, not an in- 
digenous growth — where the impulse that gives rise to poetry is 
not so much a desire to give musical voice to the native thought 
and feeling of the poet and his fellow-men, as a recognition of 
the want of a national literature and a wish to contribute to- 
wards its supply. At first sight there may seem something ex- 
travagant in pretending that Persius can be called the poet of 
Stoicism in the sense in which Lucretius is the poet of Epicure- 
anism, as if there were equal scope for the exposition of a philos- 
ophy in a few scholastic exercises and in an elaborate didactic 
poem. On the other hand, it should be recollected that under 
the iron grasp of the Roman mind, Stoicism, as was just now re- 
maned, was being reduced more and more to a simply practical 
system, bearing but a faint impress of those abstruse cosmological 
speculations which had so great a charm for the intellect of 
Greece even in its most sober moments, and exhibiting in place 
of them an applicability to civil life the want of which had been 
noted as a defect in the conceptions of Zeno and Chrysippus. 1 
The library and the lecture-room still were more familiar to it 

1 Cic. Leg. 3, 6. 



LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIT>. XV11 

than the forum or the senate; but the transition had begun ; and 
though Persius may have looked to his seven hundred volumes 
for his principles of action, as he did to Horace for information 
about the ways of the world, the only theory which he strove- to 
inculcate was the knowledge which the founders of his sect, in 
common with Socrates, believed to be the sole groundwork of 
correct practice. Using the very words of Virgil, he calls upon 
a benighted race to acquaint itself with the causes of things : but 
the invitation is not to that study of the stars in their courses, of 
eclipses, and earthepjakes and inundations, of the laws governing 
the length of days and nights, which enabled Lucretius to triumph 
over the fear of death, but to an inquiry into the purpose of 
man's being, the art of skillful driving in the chariot-race of 
life, the limits to a desire of wealth and to its expenditure on un- 
selfish objects, and the ordained position of each individual in the 
social system. Such an apprehension of his subject would natur- 
ally lead him not to the treatise, but to the sermon — not to the 
didactic poem, but to the satire or moral epistle. But though 
the form of the composition is desultory, the spirit is in the main 
definite and consistent. Even in the first Satire, in which he 
seems to drop the philosopher and assume the critic, we recog- 
nize the same belief in the connection between intellectual 
knowledge and practice, and consequently between a corrupt 
taste and a relaxed morality, which shines out so clearly after- 
wards when he tells the enfranchised slave that he can not move 
a finger without committing a blunder, and that it is as porten- 
tous for a man to take part in life without study as it would be 
for a ploughman to attempt to bring a ship into port. It is true 
that he follows Horace closely, not only in his illustrations and 
descriptions of manners, but in his lessons of morality — a strange 
deference to the man who ridiculed Crispinus and Damasippus, 
and did not even spare the great Stertinius ; but the evil and 
folly of avarice, the wisdom of contentment and self-control, and 
the duty of sincerity towards man and God, were doctrines at 
least as congenial to a Stoic as to an Epicurean, and the am- 
bition with which the pupil is continually seeking to improve 
upon his master's felicity of expression shows itself more success- 
fully in endeavors to give greater stringency to his rule of life 



XV111 LECTURE ON THE 

and conduct. In one respect, certainly, we may wonder that he 
has failed to represent the views of that section of the Stoics with 
which he is reported to have lived on terms of familiar inter- 
course. There is no trace of that political feeling which might 
have been expected to appear in the writings of a youth who was 
brought into frequent contact with the revolutionary enthusiasm 
of Lucan, and may probably have been present at one of the 
banquets with which Thrasea and Helvidius used to celebrate 
the birthdays of the first and the last of the great republican 
worthies. The supposed allusions to the poetical character of 
Nero in the first Satire shrink almost to nothing in the light of a 
searching criticism, while the tradition that in the original 
draught the emperor was directly satirized as Midas receives no 
countenance, to say the least, from the poem itself, the very 
point of which, so far as we can apprehend it, depends on the 
truth of the reading given in the MSS. The fourth Satire does 
undoubtedly touch on statesmanship : but the tone throughout is 
that of a student, who in his eagerness to imitate Plato has ap- 
parently forgotten that he is himself living not under a popular 
but under an imperial government, and the moral intended to be 
conveyed is simply that the adviser of the public ought to possess 
some better qualification than those which were found in Alcibi- 
ades — a topic about as appropriate to the actual state of Home 
as the school-boy's exhortation to Sulla to lay down his power. 
Thus his language, where he does speak, enables us to interpret 
his silence as the silence not of acquiescence or even of timidity, 
though such times as his might well justify caution, but rather 
of unworldly innocence, satisfied with its own aspirations after 
moral perfection, and dreaming of Athenian license under the 
very shade of despotism. On the other hand, it is perfectly in- 
telligible that he should have seen little to admire in Seneca, 
many as are the coincidences which their common philosophy 
has produced in their respective writings. There could, indeed, 
have been but little sympathy between his simple earnestness and 
that rhetorical facility — that Spanish taste for inappropriate and 
meretricious ornament — that tolerant and compromising temper, 
able to live in a court while unable to live in exile, which, how- 
ever compatible with real wisdom and virtue, must have seemed 



LIFE AND WHITINGS OF PERSIUS. x I \ 

to a Stoic of a severer type only so many qualifications for 
effectually betraying the good cause. So, again, he does not 
seem to exhibit any anticipation of the distinctly human and re- 
ligious development which, as we have seen, was the final phase 
of Stoicism. His piety is simply the rational piety which would 
approve itself to any Roman moralist — the piety recommended 
by Horace, and afterwards by Juvenal — pronouncing purity of 
intent to be more acceptable in the sight of Heaven than costly 
sacrifice, and bidding men ask of the gods such things only as 
divine beings would wish to grant. In like manner his humanity, 
though genial in its practical aspect, is still narrowed on the 
speculative side by the old sectarian exclusiveness which barred 
the path of life to every one not entering through the gate of 
philosophy. In short, he is a disciple of the earlier Stoicism of 
the empire — a Roman in his predilection for the ethical part of 
his creed, yet conforming in other respects to the primitive 
traditions of Greece — neither a patriot nor a courtier, but a 
recluse student, an ardent teacher of the truths which he had 
himself learned, without the development which might have been 
generated by more mature thought, or the abatement which 
might have been forced upon him by a longer experience. 

We have already observed that the character of Persius' 
opinions determined his choice of a poetical vehicle for express- 
ing them. With his views it would have been as unnatural for 
him to have composed a didactic treatise, like Lucretius, or a re- 
publican epic, like Lucan, as to have rested satisfied with multi- 
plying the productions of his own boyhood tragedies and pilgrim- 
ages in verse. And now, what was the nature and what the his- 
torical antecedents of that form of composition which he adopted 
as most congenial to him ? 

The exploded derivation of satire from the Greek satyric drama 
is one of those not infrequent instances where a false etymology 
lias preserved a significant truth. There seems every reason to 
believe thai the first beginnings of satire among the Romans are 
parallel to the rudimental type from which dramatic entertain- 
ments were developed in Greece. ' When I am reading on these 
two subjects,' says Dryden, in his admirable essay on Satire, 
' methinks I hear the same story told twice over with very little 



XX LECTURE ON THE 

alteration.' The primitive Dionysiac festivals of the Greek rustic 
populations seem to have answered with sufficient exactness to 
the harvest-home rejoicings of agricultural Italy described by 
Horace, when the country wits encountered each other in Fescen- 
nine verses. Nor did the resemblance cease at this its earliest 
stage. Improvised repartee was succeeded by pantomimic repre- 
sentation and dancing to music, and in process of time the two 
elements, combined yet discriminated from each other, assumed 
the form of a regular play, with its alternate dialogues and can- 
tica. Previous to this later development there had been an in- 
termediate kind of entertainment called the satura or medley, 
either from the miscellaneous character of its matter, which ap- 
pears to have made no pretence to a plot or story, or from the 
variety of measures of which it was composed — a more pro- 
fessional and artistic exhibition than the Fescennine bantering- 
matches, but far removed from the organized completeness of 
even the earlier drama. It was on this narrow ground that the 
independence of the Roman genius was destined to assert itself. 
Whether from a wish to take advantage of the name, or to pre- 
serve a thing, once popular, from altogether dying out in the 
process of improvement, a feeling which we know to have oper- 
ated in the case of the exodia or interludes introduced into the 
representation of the Atellane plays, Ennius was led to produce 
certain compositions which he called satires, seemingly as various 
both in character and in versification as the old dramatic medley, 
but intended not for acting but for reciting or reading — in other 
words, not plays but poems. All that we know of these is com- 
prised in a few titles and a very few fragments, none of which 
tell us much, coupled with the fact that in one of them Life and 
Death were introduced contending with each other as two 
allegorical personages, like Fame in Virgil, as Quintillian re- 
marks, or Virtue and Pleasure in the moral tale of Prodicus. 
Little as this is, it is more than is known of the satires of Pacu- 
vius, of which we only hear that they resembled those of Ennius. 
What was the precise relation borne by either to the later Roman 
satire, with which we are so familiar, can but be conjectured. 
Horace, who is followed as usual by Persius, ignores them both 
as satirists, and claims the paternity of satire for Lucilius, who, as 



LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIUS. XXI 

he says, imitated the old Attic comedy, changing merely the 
measure ; nor does Quintilian mention them in the brief but 
celebrated passage in which he asserts the merit of the invention 
of satire to belong wholly to Rome. This silence may be taken 
as showing that neither Ennius nor Pacuvius gave any exclusive 
or decided prominence to that element of satire which in modern 
times has become its distinguishing characteristic — criticism on 
the men, manners, and things of the day ; but it can scarcely im- 
peach their credit as the first founders of a new and original 
school of composition. That which constitutes the vaunted 
originality of Roman satire is not so much its substance as its 
form: the one had already existed in perfection at Athens, the 
elaboration of the other was reserved for the poetic art of Italy. 
It is certainly not a little remarkable that the countrymen of 
Aristophanes and Menander should not have risen to the full 
conception of familiar compositions in verse in which the poet 
pours out desultory thoughts on contemporary subjects in his 
own person, relieved from the trammels which necessarily bind 
every dramatic production, however free and unbridled its spirit. 
That such a thing might easily have arisen among them is evident 
from the traditional fame of the Homeric Margites, itself appar- 
ently combining one of the actual requisites of the Roman medley, 
the mixture of metres, with the biting invective of the later satire 
— a work which, when fixed at its latest date, must have been one 
of the concomitants, if not, as Aristotle thinks, the veritable 
parent, of the earlier comedy of Greece. In later times we find 
parallels to Roman satire in some of the idylls of Theocritus not 
only in those light dialogues noticed by the critics, of which the 
Adoniazusae is the best instance, but in the poem entitled the 
Charites, where the poet complains of the general neglect into 
which his art has fallen in a strain of mingled pathos and sarcasm 
which may remind us of Juvenal's appeal in behalf of men of 
letters, the unfortunate fraternity of authors. But Greece was 
not ordained to excel in everything; and Rome had the oppor- 
tunity of cultivating a virtually unbroken Held of labor which 
was suited to her direct practical genius, and to her mastery over 
the arts of social life. There can be no question but that the 
conception of seizing the spirit of comedy — of the new comedy no 



XX11 LECTURE ON THE 

less than the old — the comedy of manners as well as the comedy 
of scurrilous burlesque — and investing it with an easy undress 
clothing, the texture of which might be varied as the inward 
feeling changed, was a great advance in the progress of letters. 
It would seem to be a test of the lawful development of a new 
form of composition from an old, that the latter should be 
capable of including the earlier, as the larger includes the 
smaller. So in the development of the Shaksperian drama from 
the Greek the chorus is not lost either as a lyrical or an ethical 
element, but is diffused over the play, no longer seen indeed, but 
felt in the art which heightens the tone of the poetry, and brings 
out the moral relations of the characters into more prominent 
relief. So in that great development which transcends as it em- 
braces all others, the development of prose from poetry, the 
superiority of the new form to the old as a general vehicle of 
expression is shown in the expansive flexibility which can find 
measured and rhythmic utterance for the raptures of passion or 
imagination, yet give no undue elevation to the statement of the 
plainest matters of fact. And so it is in the generation of satire 
from comedy : the unwieldy framework of the drama is gone, but 
the dramatic power remains, and may be summoned up at any 
time at the pleasure of the poet, not only in the impalpable 
shape of remarks on humau character, but in the flesh-and-blood 
fullness of actual dialogue such as engrosses several of the satires 
of Horace, and enters as a more or less important ingredient 
into every one of those of Persius. Or, if we choose to regard 
satire, as we are fully warranted in doing, in its relation not only 
to the stage but to other kinds of poetry, we shall have equal 
reason to admire it for its elasticity, as being capable of rising 
without any ungraceful effort from light ridicule to heightened 
earnestness — passing at once with Horace from a ludicrous de- 
scription of a poet as a marked man, to an emphatic recognition 
of his essential greatness ; or with Juvenal from a sneer at the 
contemptible offerings with which the gods were commonly pro- 
pitiated, to a sublime recital of the blessings which may lawfully 
be made objects of prayer. This plastic comprehensiveness was 
realized by the earlier writers, as we have seen, by means of the 
variety of their metres, while the later were enabled to compass 



LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PERSIUS. Will 

it more artistically by that skillful management of the hexameter 
which could not be brought to perfection in a day. But the con- 
ception appears to have been radically the same throughout; and 
the very name satura already contains a prophecy of the dis- 
tinctive value of Roman satire as a point in the history of letters. 
If, however, the praise of having originated satire can not be 
refused to Eunius, it must be confessed as freely that the in- 
fluence exercised over it by Lucilius entitles him to be called its 
second father. It belongs to one by the ties of birth — to the 
other by those of adoption and education. Unlike Eunius, the 
glories of whose invention may well have paled before his lame 
as the Roman Homer and the Roman Euripides, Lucilius seems 
to have devoted himself wholly to fostering the growth and 
forming the mind of the satiric muse. He is thought to have so 
far departed from the form of the old medley as to enforce a 
uniformity of metre in each separate satire, though even this is 
not certainly made out ; but he preserved the external variety 
by writing sometimes in hexameter, sometimes in iambics or tro- 
chaics, and also by a practice, seemingly peculiar to himself, of 
mixing Latin copiously with Greek, the language corresponding 
to French in the polite circles of Rome. It is evident, too, both 
from his numerous fragments and from the notices of the early 
grammarians, that he encouraged to a large extent the satiric 
tendency to diversity of subject -at one moment soaring on the 
wing of epic poetry and describing a council of the gods in lan- 
guage which Virgil has copied, the next satirizing the fashion of 
giving fine Greek names to articles of domestic furniture, — com- 
prehending in the same satire a description of a journey from 
Rome to Capua, and a series of strictures on his predecessors in 
poetry, whom he seems to have corrected like so many school- 
boys ; — now laying down the law about the niceties of grammar, 
showing how the second conjugation is to be discriminated from 
the third, and the genitive singular from the nominative plural ; 
and now talking, possibly within a few lines, of seizing an an- 
tagonist by the nose, dashing his list in his lace, and knocking 
out every tooth in his head. But his great achievement, as at- 
tested by the impression left on the minds of his Roman readers, 
was that of making satire henceforth synonymous with free 



XXIV LECTURE ON THE 

speaking and personality —he comes before us as the reviver of 
the Fescennine license, the imitator of Cratinus and Eupolis and 
Aristophanes. There seems to have been about him a reckless 
animal pugnacity, an exhilarating consciousness of his powers as 
a good hater, which in its rude simplicity may remind us of 
Archilochus, and certainly is but faintly represented in the arch 
pleasantry of Horace, the concentrated intellectual scorn of 
Persius, or the declamatory indignation of Juvenal. Living in a 
period of political excitement, he plunged eagerly into party 
quarrels. The companion of the younger Scipio and Laelius, 
though a mere boy, and himself of equestrian rank, he attacked 
great consular personages who had opposed his friends : as 
Horace phrases it, he tore away the veil from private life and 
arraigned high and low alike — showing no favor but to virtue 
and the virtuous — words generally found to bear a tolerably 
precise meaning in the vocabulary of politics. It was the satire 
of the republic, or rather of the old oligarchy, and it was im- 
possible that it could live on unchanged into the times of the 
Empire. But the memory of its day of freedom was not for- 
gotten ; the ancient right of impeachment was claimed formally 
by men who intended no more than a common criminal informa- 
tion ; and each succeeding satirist sheltered himself ostentatiously 
under an example of which he knew better than to attempt to 
avail himself in practice. 

It was to Lucilius, as we have already seen, that Persius, if 
reliance is to be placed on the statement of his biographer, owed 
the impulse that made him a writer of satire. Of the actual 
work which is related to have produced so remarkable an effect 
on its young reader, the tenth book, scarcely anything has been 
preserved ; while the remains of the fourth, which is said to have 
been the model of Persius' third satire, comparatively copious 
and interesting as they are, contain nothing which would enable 
us to judge for ourselves of the degree of resemblance. Hardly 
a single parallel from Lucilius is quoted by the Scholiasts on any 
part of Persius : but when we consider that the aggregate of their 
citations from Homer, though much larger, is utterly inadequate 
to express the obligations which are everywhere obvious to the 
eye of a modern scholar, we can not take their omissions as even 



LIFE AXD WRITINGS OF PERSIUS. \\\ 

a presumptive proof that what is not apparent does not exist. 

On the other hand, the Prologue to the Satire-, in scazon 
l ambic8, is supposed, on the authority of an obscure passage in 
Petronius, to have had its prototype in a similar composition by 
Lucilius ; and it is also a plausible conjecture that the first line 
of the first satire is taken bodily from the old poet — two distinct 
proclamations of adhesion at the very outset, in the ears of those 
who could not fail to understand them. There is reason, also, 
for believing that the imitation may have extended further, and 
that Persius' strictures on the poets of his day, and in particular 
on those who affected a taste for archaisms, and professed to read 
the old Roman drama with delight, may have been studied after 
those irreverent criticisms of the fathers of poetry, some of which, 
as the Scholiasts on Horace inform us, occurred in this very 
tenth book of Lucilius. On the ethical side we should have 
been hardly prepared to expect much similarity : there is, how- 
ever, a curious fragment of Lucilius, the longest of all that have 
come down to us, containing a simple recital of the various con- 
stituents of virtue, the knowledge of duty no less than its practice, 
in itself sufficiently resembling the enumeration of the elements 
of morality which Persius makes on more than one occasion, and 
showing a turn for doctrinal exposition which was sure to be 
appreciated by a pupil of the Stoics. So there are not wanting 
indications that the bold metaphors and grotesque yet forcible 
imagery which stamp the character of Persius' style so markedly 
may have been encouraged if not suggested by hints in Lucilius, 
who was fond of tentative experiments in language, such as 
belong to the early stages of poetry, when the national taste is in 
a state of fusion. The admitted contrast between the two men, 
unlike in all but their equestrian descent, — between the prema- 
ture man of tin 1 world and the young philosopher, the inipro- 
visatore who could throw off two hundred verso in an hour, and 
the Student who wrote; seldom and slowly, — may warrant us in 
doubting the success of the imitation, but does not discredit the 

fact Our point is, that Persius attempted to wear the toga <>!' 
hie predecessor, not that it fitted him. 

The influence of Horace upon Persius is a topic which ha-, in 
part, been anticipated already. It is a patent tact which may 



XXVI LECTURE ON THE 

be safely assumed, and I have naturally been led to assume it as 
a help towards estimating other things which are not so easily 
ascertainable. Casaubon was, I believe, the first to bring it for- 
ward prominently into light in an appendix to his memorable 
edition of Persius ; and though one of the later commentators 
has endeavored to call it in question, cautioning us against mis- 
taking slight coincidences for palpable imitations, I am confident 
that a careful and minute study of Fersius, such as I have lately 
boon engaged in, will be found only to produce a more complete 
conviction of its truth : nor can I doubt that an equally careful 
perusal of Horace, line by line, and word by word, would enable 
us to add still further to the amount of proof. Yet it is curious 
aud instructive to observe that it is a point which, while estab- 
lished by a superabundance of the best possible evidence, that of 
ocular demonstration, is yet singularly deficient in those minor 
elements of probability to which we are constantly accustomed to 
look in the absence of anything more directly conclusive. The 
memoir of Persius mentions Lucilius, but says not a word of 
Horace : the quotations from Horace in the commentary of the 
pseudo-Cornutus are, as I have said, tar from numerous: while 
the difference of the poets themselves, their personal history, 
their philosophical profession, their taste and temperament, the 
nature and power of their genius, is greater even than in the case 
of Persius and Lucilius, and is only more clearly brought out by 
the clearer knowledge we possess of each, in the possession of the 
whole of their respective works. The fact, however, is only too 
palpable — so much so that it puzzles us, as it were, by its very 
plainness : we could understand a less degree of imitation, but 
the correspondence which we actually see makes us, so to speak, 
half incredulous, and compels us to seek some account of it. It 
is not merely that we rind the same topics in each, the same class 
of allusions and illustrations, or even the same thoughts and the 
same images, but the resemblance or identity extends to things 
which every poet, in virtue of his own peculiarities and those of 
his time, would naturally be expected to provide for himself. 
With him. as with Horace, a miser is a man who drinks vinegar 
for wine, and stints himself in the oil which he poms on his 
vegetables ; while a contented man is one who acquiesces in the 



LIFE AND \\'IMT1N<;s OF PERSIU8. xxvn 

prosperity of people whose start in life ia worse than liis own. 
The prayer of the farmer is still that he may turn up a pot of 
money sonic day while he is ploughing: the poet's hope is still 
that his verses may be embalmed with cedar oil, his worst fear 
still that they may furnish wrapping for spices. Nay, where he 
mentions names they are apt to be the names of Horatian per- 
sonages : his great physician is Craterus, his grasping rich man 
Nerius, his crabbed censor Bestius, his low reprobate Natta. 
Something is doubtless due to the existence of what, to adopt a 
term applied by Colonel Mure to the Greek epic writers, we may 
call satirical commonplace, just as Horace himself is thought to 
have taken the name Nomentanus from Lucilius ; or as, among 
on i- own satirists, Bishop Hall talks of Labeo, and Pope of 
Gorgonius. So Persius may have intended not so much to copy 
Horace as to quote him — advertising his readers, as it were, from 
time to time that he was using the language of satire. But the 
utmost that can be proved is, that he followed prodigally an ex- 
ample which had been set sparingly, not knowing or not remem- 
bering that satire is a kind of composition which of all others is 
kept alive not by antiquarian associations, but by contemporary 
interest — not by generalized conventionalities, but by direct in- 
dividual portraiture. We can hardly doubt that a wider worldly 
knowledge would have led him to correct his error of judgment, 
though the history of English authors shows us, in at least one 
instance, that of Ben Jonson, that a man, not only of true comic 
genius but of large experiences of life, may be so enslaved by 
acquired learning as to satirize vice and folly as he reads of it in 
his books, rather than as he sees it in society. 

lint time warns me that I must leave the yet unfinished list of 
the influences which worked or may have worked upon IVrsius, 
and say a few words upon his actual merits as a writer. The 
tendency of what has been advanced hitherto has been to make 
us think of him as more passive than active -as a candidate 
more for our interest and our sympathy than for our admiration. 
But we must not forget that it is his own excellence that has 
made him a classic, — that the great and true glory which, as 
Quintiliail says, he gained by a single volume, has been due to 
that volume alone. If we would justify the award of his con- 



XXV 111 LECTURE ON THE 

temporaries and of posterity, we must be prepared to account for 
it. It was not, as we have seen, that he was an originating 
power in philosophy, or a many-sided observer of men and 
manners. He was a satirist, but he shows no knowledge of 
many of the ingredients which, as Juvenal rightly perceived, go 
to make up the satiric medley. He was what in modern par- 
lance would be called a plagiarist — a charge which, later if not 
sooner, must have told fatally on an otherwise unsupported 
reputation. I might add that he is frequently perplexed in 
arrangement and habitually obscure in meaning, were it not that 
some judges have professed to discover in this the secret of his 
fame. A truer appreciation will, I believe, be more likely to 
find it in the distinct and individual character of his writings, 
the power of mind and depth of feeling visible throughout, the 
austere purity of his moral tone, relieved by frequent outbreaks 
of genial humor, and the condensed vigor and graphic freshness 
of a style where elaborate art seems to be only nature triumph- 
ing over obstacles. Probably no writer ever borrowed so much 
and yet left on the mind so decided an impression of originality. 
His description of the willful invalid and his medical friend in 
the third Satire owes much of its coloring to Horace, yet the 
whole presentation is felt to be his own — true, pointed, and 
sufficient. Even when the picture is entirely Horatian, like that 
of the over-covetous man at his prayers, in the second Satire, the 
effect is original still, though the very varieties which discriminate 
it may be referred to hints in other parts of Horace's own works. 
We may wish that he had painted from his own observation and 
knowledge, but we can not deny that he has shown a painter's 
power. And where he draws the life that he must have known, 
not from the descriptions of a past age but from his own ex- 
perience, his portraits have an imaginative truth, minutely 
accurate yet highly ideal, which would entitle them to a distin- 
guished place in any poetical gallery. There is nothing in 
Horace or Juvenal more striking than the early part of the third 
Satire, where the youthful idler is at first represented by a series 
of light touches, snoring in broad noon while the harvest is 
baking in the fields and the cattle reposing in the shade, then 
starting up and Calling for his books only to quarrel with them 



LIFE AND WHITINGS OF PER8IUS. XXIX 

— and afterwards as we go further the scene darkens, and we see 
the figure }f the lost profligate blotting the background, and 
catch an intimation of yet more fearful punishments in store for 
those who will not be warned in time— punishments dire as any 
that the oppressors of mankind have suffered or devised — the 
beholding of virtue in her beauty when too late, and the con- 
sciousness of a corroding secret which no other heart can share. 
Nor would it be easy to parallel the effect of the sketches in the 
first Satire, rapidly succeeding each other, — the holiday poet with 
his wdiite dress and his onyx ring tuning his voice for recitation ; 
a gray and bloated old man, giving himself up to cater for the 
itching ears of others ; the jaded, w r orn company at the table, 
languidly rousing themselves in the hope of some new excite- 
ment ; the inferior guests at the bottom of the hall, ready to 
applaud when they have got the cue from their betters — all flung 
into a startling and ghastly light by the recollection carefully 
presented to us that these men call themselves the sons of the old 
Romans, and recognize poetry as a divine thing, and acknowledge 
the object of criticism to be truth. Again we see the same 
pictorial skill and reality, though in a very different style, toned 
down and sobered, in those most sweet and touching lines de- 
scribing the poet's residence with his beloved teacher, when they 
used to study together through long summer suns and seize on 
the first and best hours of the night for their social meal, each 
working while the other worked and resting while the other 
rested, and both looking forward to the modest enjoyment of the 
evening as the crown of a well-spent day. Persius' language has 
been censured for its harshness and exaggeration : but here, at 
any rate, he is as simple and unaffected as an admirer of Horace 
or Virgil could desire. The contrast is instructive, and may 
perhaps suggest a more favorable view of those peculiarities of 
expression which are generally condemned. The style which his 
taste leads him to drop when he is not writing satire, is the style 
which his taste leads him to assume for satiric purposes, lie 
feels that a clear, straightforward, every-day manner of speech 
would not suit a subject over which the gods themselves might 
hesitate whether to laugh or to weep. He has to write the tragi- 
comedy of his day, and he writes it in a dialed where grandiose 



XXX THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OE PEKSItTS. 

epic diction and philosophical terminology are strangely blended 
with the talk of the forum, the gymnasia, and the barber's shop. 
I suggest this consideration with the more confidence, as I find it 
represented to me and, as it were, forced on me by the example 
of a writer of our own country, perhaps the most remarkable of 
the present time, who, though differing as widely from Persius in 
all his circumstances as a world-wearied and desponding man of 
the nineteenth century can differ from an enthusiastic and inex- 
perienced youth of the first, still appears to me to bear a singular 
resemblance to him in the whole character of his genius — I mean 
Mr. Carlyle. If Persius can take the benefit of this parallel, he 
may safely plead guilty to the charge of not haying escaped the 
vice of his age, the passion for refining still further on Augustan 
refinements of expression and locking up the meaning of a sen- 
tence in epigrammatic allusions, which in its measure lies at the 
door even of Tacitus. 

I have exhausted my time and, I fear, your patience also, 
when my subject is still far from exhausted. I am glad, how- 
ever, to think that iu closing I am not really bringing it to an 
end, but that some of my hearers to-day will accompany me to- 
morrow and on future days in the special study of one who, like 
all great authors, will surrender the full knowledge of his beauties 
only to those who ask it of him in detail. 



A. PERSII FLACCI 

SATURARUM 

LIBER. 



A. PERSII FLACCI 

8ATURARTJM 



LIBER. 



PROLOGUS. 



Nec fonte labra prolui cabal lino, 

Nee in bicipiti somniasse Parnaso 

Memini, ut repente sic poeta prodirem. 

Heliconidafcque pallidamque Pirenen 

Illis remitto, quorum imagines lambunt 5 

Hederae sequaces : ipse semipaganus 

Ad sacra vatum carmen adfero nostrum. 

Quia expedivit psittaco suum chaere 

Picamque docuit nostra verba conari ? 

Magister artis ingenique largitor 10 

Venter, negatas artifex sequi voces; 

Quod si dolosi spes refulserit nummi, 

Corvos poetas el poetridas picas 

Cantare credas Pegaseium nectar. 



PERSII 



SATURA I. 

'O curas hominum ! O quantum est in rebus inane!' 
"Quis leget haec?" 

Min tu istud ais ? Nemo hercule ! 

"Nemo?" 
Vel duo, vel nemo. 

" Turpe et miserabile !" 

Quare ? 
Ne mihi Polydamas et Troiades Labeonem 
Praetulerint ? Nugae. Non, si quid turbida Roma 5 

Elevet, accedas examenque improbum in ilia 
Castiges trutina, nee te quaesiveris extra. 
Nam Romae quis non — ? a, si fas dicere — sed fas 
Turn, cum ad eanitiem et nostrum istud vivere triste 
Aspexi ac nucibus facimus qiiaecumque relietis, 10 

Cum sapimus patruos ; tunc, tunc — ignoscite. 

"Nolo." 
Quid faciam ? sed sum petulanti splene cachinno. 

Scribimus inclusi, numeros ille ? hie pede liber, 
Grande aliquid, quod pulmo animae praelargus anhelet. 
Scilicet haec populo pex usque togaque recenti 15 

Et natalicia tandem cum sardonyche albus 
Sede leges celsa, liquido cum plasmate guttur 
Mobile collueris, patranti fractus ocello. 
Hie neque more probo videas nee voce serena 
Ingentis trepidare Titos, cum carmina lumbum 20 

Intrant, et tremulo scalpuntur ubi intima versu. 
Tun, vetule, auriculis alienis colligis escas ? 
Auriculis, quibus et dicas cute perditus ohe. 

" Quo didicisse, nisi hoc fermentum et quae semel intus 
Innata est, rupto iecore, exierit caprificus ?" 25 



SATURA I. O 

En pallor seniumque! O mores! usque adeone 
Scire tuuni nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter? 

"At piilehrnin est digito monstrari et dicier hie ett! 
Ten cirratorum centum dictata fuisse 
Pro nihilo pendas ?" 

Ecce inter pocula quaerunt 30 

Romulidae saturi, quid dia poemata narrent. 
J lie aliquis, eui circa umeros hyacinthia laena est, 
Rancidulum quiddam balba de nare locutus, 
Phyllidas, Hypsipylas, vatum et plorabile si quid, 
Eliquat ac tenero supplantat verba palato. 35 

Adsensere viri : nunc non cinis ille poetae 
Felix? non levior cippus nunc inprimit ossa? 
Laudant convivae : nunc non e mauibus illis, 
Nunc non e tumulo fortunataque favilla 
Nascentur violae ? 

"Rides," ait, "et nimis uncis 40 

Naribus indulges. An erit qui velle recuset 
Os populi meruisse et cedro digna locutus 
Linquere nee scombros metuentia carmina nee tus?" 

Quisquis es, O, modo quern ex ad verso dioere feci, 
Non ego cum scribo, si forte quid aptius exit, 45 

Quando haee rara avis est, si quid tamen aptius exit, 
Laudari metuam, neque enim mihi cornea fibra est ; 
Sed recti finemque extremumque esse recuso 
Eugk tuum et belle. Nam belle hoc excute totum : 
(iuid non intus habet? Non hie est Ilias Alt! 50 

Ebria veratro? non si qua elegidia crudi 
Dictarunl proceres? non quidquid deuique lectis 
Scribitur in citreis? Calidum scis ponere sumen, 
Scis comitcin horridulum trita donare lacerna, 
Et, ' Vcrum,' in(|iiis, 'amo: vcrinn mihi dicite de me. 1 55 

Qui pote? \ T i- dicam? Nugaris, cum tibi, calve, 
Pinguis aqualiculuH protenso sesquipede extet. 
() lane, a tergo quern nulla ciconia pinsit, 



6 PERSII 

Nec manus auriculas imitari mobilis albas, 

Nee linguae, quantum siliat canis Apula, tantae ! 60 

Vos, o patricius sanguis, quos vivere fas est 

Occipiti caeco, postieae occurrite sannae ! 

Quis populi sermo est? quis enim, nisi carmina molli 
Nunc demum numero fluere, ut per leve severos 
Etfundat iunctura unguis? scit tendere versum 65 

Non secus ac si oculo rubricam derigat uno. 
Siye opus in mores, in luxum, in prandia regum 
Dicere, res grandis nostro dat Musa poetae. 

Ecce modo heroas sensus adferre videmus 
Nugari solitos Graece, nec ponere lucum 70 

Artifices nec rus saturum laudare, ubi corbes 
Et focus et porci et fumosa Palilia faeno, 
Unde Remus, sulcoque terens dentalia, Quinti, 
Cum trepida ante boves dictatorem induit uxor 
Et tua aratra domum lictor tulit — euge, poeta ! 75 

Est nunc Brisaei quern venosus liber Acci, 
Sunt quos Pacuviusque et verrucosa moretur 
Antiopa, aerumnis cor luctifieabile fulta. 
Hos pueris monitus patres infundere lippos 
Cum videas, quaerisne, unde haec sartago loquendi 80 

Venerit in linguas, unde istuc dedecus, in quo 
Trossulus exsultat tibi per subsellia levis ? 

Nilne pudet capiti non posse pericula cano 
Pellere, quin tepidum hoc optes audire decenter? 
' Fur es ' ait Pedio. Pedius quid ? crimina rasis 85 

Librat in antithetis : doctas posuisse figuras 
Laudatur ' bellum hoc!' hoc bellum ? an, Romule, ceves? 
Men moveat ? quippe et, cantet si naufragus, assem 
Protulerim ? Cantas, cum fracta te in trabe pictum 
Ex umero portes ? Verum, nec nocte paratum 90 

Plorabit, qui me volet incurvasse querela. 

" Sed numeris decor est et iunctura addita crudis. 
Cludere sic versum didicit Berecyntius Attis 



SATURA I. ( 

FA qui caerulewm dirimebai Nerea delphin 

Sic costam longo subduximus Appennino." 1)5 

Anna virv/m! nonne hoc spumosum et cortice pingui, 
Ut ramale vetus vegrandi subere coctum ? 
Quidnam igitur tenerum ct laxa cervice legendum? 

'' Torva Mimalloneis mpIerurU oornua bombis, 
El raptum vitido oaput ablatura mperbo 100 

Bassaris ct lyncem Mamas flexura corymbis 
En f lion ingeminat, reparabilis adsonat Echo?" 

Haec h'erent, si testiculi vena alia paterni 
Viveret in nobis? summa delumbe saliva 
Hoc natat in labris, et in udo est Maenas et Attis, 105 

Nee pluteum caedit, nee demorsos sapit unguis. 

"Sed quid opus teneras raordaci radere vero 
Auriculas? vide sis, ne maiorura tibi forte 
Limina frigescant: sonat hie de nare canina 
Littera." 

Per me equidem sint omnia protinus alba ; 110 

Nil moror. Euge ! omnes, omnes bene mirae eritis res. 
Hoc iuvat ? ' Hie/ inquis, ' veto quisquam faxit oletum.' 
Pinge duos anguis: pueri, sacer est locus, extra 
Meite ! Discedo. Secuit Lucilius urbem, 
Te, Lupe, te, Muci, et genuinum f regit in illis; 115 

Omne vafer vitiuin ridenti Flaeeus amico 
Tangit et admissus circuin praecordia ludit, 
Callidus excusso populum suspendere oaso: 
Men muttire nefas? nee clam, nee cum scrobe? nusquam? 
I lie tamen infodiam. \ T idi, vidi ipse, libclle: 120 

Auriculas asini <juis oon habet? Hoc ego opertum, 
Hoc ridere meum, tarn nil, nulla tibi vendo 
J bade. Audaei quicumque adflate Cratino 
Ii'atiiin Eupolidem praegrandi emu sene palles, 
Aspice et haec, si forte aliquid decoctius audis. L25 

Inde vaporata lector niilii ferveal aure: 
Non hie, (jui in crepidas Graiorum ludere gestil 



PEESII 



Sordidus, et lusco qui possit dicere 'Lusce/ 

Sese aliquem credeus, Italo quod honore supinus 

Fregerit heminas Arreti aedilis iniquas ; 130 

Nee qui abaco numeros et secto iu pulvere metas 

Sett risisse vafer, multum gaudere paratus, 

Si cyuico barbam petulans nonaria vellat. 

His mane edictum, post prandia Calliroen do. 



SATURA II. 



SATURA II. . 

Hunc, Macrine, diem numera tneliore lapillo, 

Qui til>i labentis apponit candidus annos. 

Funde merum geoio. Non tu prece poscis emaci, 

Quae nisi seductis nequeas oummittere divis; 

At bona pars procerum tacita libabit aoerra. 5 

Hand cuivis promptum est murmnrque humilisque 6usurro6 

Tollere de templis et aperto vivere voto. 

' Mens bona, fama, fides' haee elare et ut audiat hospes; 

Ilia sibi introrsuni et sub lingua niurniurat l O si 

Ebulliat patruus, praeclarum f'unus!' et ' O si 1<) 

Sub rastro crepet argenti niihi seria dextro 

Hercule !' ' Pupillumve utinani, quem proximus heres 

Inpello, expungam ! namque est scabiosus et acri 

Bile tumet.' ' Xerio iani tertia ducitur uxor.' 

Haee sancte ut poscas, Tiberino in gurgite mergis 15 

Mane caput bis terque et noetem flumine purgas. 

Heus age, responde — minimum est quod scire laboro — 
De love quid sentis ? estne ut praeponere cures 
Hunc — 'cuinam?' cuinam? vis Stain? an scilicet baeres? 
Quis j)otior index, puerisve quis aptior orbis? 20 

Hoc igitur, quo tu Eovie aurem inpellere temptas, 
Die agedum Staio, l Pro Iuppiter! o bone' clamet 
'Iuppiter!' at sese non clamet Iuppiter ipse? 
Ignovisse putas, quia, cum tonat, ocius ilex 
Sulpure discutitur saero quam tuque dom usque? 25 

An quia non fibris ovium Ergennaque iubente 
Triste iaces lucis evitandumque bidental, 
Idcirco stolidara praebet fcibi vellere barbam 
Iuppiter? an t quidnara est, qua tu mercede deorum 
Emeris auriculas ? pulmone et lactibus unctis ? 30 



1 PERSII 

Ecce avia ant metuens divum matertera cunis 
Exemit puerum frontemque atque uda labella 
Infami digito et lustralibus ante salivis 
Expiat, urentis oculos iuhibere perita ; 

Tunc manibus quatit et spem macram supplice voto 35 

Nunc Licini in campos, nunc Crassi mittit in aedis 
' Hunc optet generum rex et regina ! puellae 
Hunc rapiant ! quidquid calcaverit hie, rosa fiat !' 
Ast ego nutrici non mando vota : negate-, 
Iuppiter, haec illi, quamvis te albata rogarit. 40 

Poscis opem nervis corpusque fidele senectae. 
Esto age ; sed grandes patinae tuccetaque crassa 
Adnuere his superos vetuere Iovemque morantur. 

Rem struere exoptas caeso bove Mercuriumque 
Arcessis fibra ' da fortunare Penatis, 45 

Da pecus et gregibus fetum !' Quo, pessime, pacto, 
Tot tibi cum in flammas iunicum omenta liquescant ? 
Et tamen hie extis et opinio vincere ferto 
Intendit ' lam crescit ager, iam crescit ovile, 
lam dabitur, iam, iam !' donee deceptus et exspes 50 

Nequiquam fundo suspiret nummus in imo. 

Si tibi crateras argenti incusaque pingui 
Auro dona feram, sudes et pectore laevo 
Excutiat guttas laetari praetrepidum cor. 
Hinc illud subiit, auro sacras quod ovato 55 

Perducis f acies ; nam fratres inter aenos 
Somnia pituita qui purgatissima mittunt, 
Praecipui sunto sitque ill is aurea barba. 

Aurum vasa Numae Saturniaque inpulit aera, 
Vestalisque urnas et Tuscum fictile mutat. 60 

O curvae in terris animae et caelestium inanis ! 
Quid iuvat hos templis nostros inmittere mores 
Et bona dis ex hac scelerata ducere pulpa ? 
Haec sibi corrupto casiam dissolvit olivo, 
Haec Calabrum coxit vitiato murice vellus, 65 



SATURA II. 1 1 

Haec bacam conchae rasisse et etringere venae 

Ferventis massae crudo de pulvere iussit. 

Peccat et haec, peocat: vitio tamen atitur. At vos 

Dicite, pontifices, in sancto quid facit aurum ? 

Nempe hoc quod Veneri donatae a virgine pupae. 70 

Quin damns id superis, de magna quod dare lance 

Non possit magni Messallae lip[>a propago: 

Conpositura ius fasque animo sanctosque reoessus 

Mentis et mcoctuin generoso pectus honesto. 

Haec cedo ut admoveam tempi is et farre litabo. 75 



1 2 PERSII 



SATURA III. 

' Nempe hoc adsidue : iam clarum mane fenestras 

Intrat et angnstas extendit lnmine rimas : 

Stertimus indomitum quod despumare Falernum 

Suinciat, qninta dum linea tangitur umbra. 

En quid agis ? siccas insana Canicula messes 5 

Jam dudum coquit et patula pecus omne sub ulmo est. ? 

Unus ait comitum : 

" Verumne ? itane ? ocius adsit 
Hue aliquis ! nemon ?" 

Turgescit vitrea bilis — 
" Findor " — ut Arcadiae pecuaria rudere dicas. 

Jam liber et positis bicolor membrana eapillis 10 

Inque manus chartae nodosaque venit harundo. 
Tunc querimur, crassus calamo quod pendeat urn or, 
Nigra quod infusa vanescat sepia lympha ; 
Dilutas querimur geminet quod fistula guttas. 

O miser inque dies ultra miser, hucine rerum 15 

Venimus ? at cur non potius teneroque columbo 
Et similis regum pueris pappare minutum 
Poscis et iratus mammae lallare recusas ? 

"An tali studeam calamo ?" 

Cui verba? quid istas 
Succinis ambages ? tibi luditur. Effluis aniens, 20 

Contemnere : sonat vitium percussa, maligne 
Respondet viridi non cocta fidelia limo. 
Udum et molle lutuni es, nunc nunc properandus et acri 
Fingendus sine fine rota. Sed rure paterno 
Est tibi far modicum, purum et sine labe salinum — 25 

Quid metuas ? — cultrixque foci secura patella. 
Hoc satis ? an deceat pulmonem rumpere ventis, 



SATtfRA III. 13 

Stemmate quod Tusco raniuin millesime ducis, 

Censoremve tuum vel quod trabeate salutas? 

Ad populura phaleras! ego te intus et in cute novi. •*)<> 

Non pudet ad moreni discincti vivere Nattae? 

Sed stupet hie vitio et fibris increvit opimum 

Pingue, caret culpa, uescit quid perdat, et alto 

Demersus surama rursuru non bullit in inula. 

Magne pater divum, saevos punire tyrannos 35 

Haud alia ratione velis, cum dira libido 
Moverit ingenium ferventi tincta veneno : 
Virtutem videant intabescantque relicta. 
Anne magis Siculi gemuerunt aera iuvenci, 
Et magis auratis pendens laquearibus ensis 40 

Purpureas subter cervices terruit, ' Imus, 
Imus praecipites' quam si sibi dicat et intus 
Palleat infelix, quod proxima nesciat uxor? 

Saepe oculos, memini, tangebam parvus olivo, 
Grandia si nollem morituri verba Catonis 45 

Discere, non sano multum laudanda magistro, 
Quae pater adductis sudans audiret amicis. 
Jure; etenim id summum, quid dexter senio ferret, 
Scire erat in voto ; damuosa canicula quantum 
Raderet ; angustae collo non fallier orcae; 50 

Neu quis callidior buxum torquere flagello. 

Hand tibi inexpertum curvos deprendere mores, 
Quaeque docel sapiens braeatis inlita Media 
Porticus, insomnis quibus et detonsa iuventus 
Invigilat, siliquis et grand i pasta polenta : 55 

Et tibi quae Samios diduxit littera ramos, 
Surgentem dextro monstravit limite callem. 
Stertis adhuc, laxumque caput conpage soluta 
Oseitat liesternum, dissutis uudique inalis! 
Esl aliquid quo tendis, «t in quod dirigia arcum ? 60 

An passim sequeria corvoa fcestaque I u toque, 
Securus quo pes ferat, atque ex tempore vivis? 



14 PEESII 

Helleborum frustra, cum iam cutis aegra tumebit, 
Poscentis videas : venienti occurite morbo ! 
Et quid opus Cratero magnos proniittere montis ? 65 

Discite, O miseri, et causas cognoscite rerum : 
Quid sumus, et quidnam victuri gignimur ; ordo 
Quis datus, aut metae qua mollis flexus et unde ; 
Quis modus argento, quid fas optare, quid asper 
Utile nummus habet ; patriae carisque propinquis 70 

Quantum elargiri deceat ; quern te deus esse 
Iussit, et humana qua parte locatus es in re. 
Disce, nee in videas, quod multa fidelia putet 
In locuplete penu, defensis pinguibus Umbris, 
Et piper et pernae, Marsi monumenta clientis, 75 

Menaque quod prima nondum defecerit orca. 

Hie aliquis de gente hircosa centurionum 
Dicat ' Quod sapio satis est mihi. Non ego euro 
Esse quod Arcesilas aerumnosique Solones, 
Obstipo capite et figentes lumine terram, 80 

Murmura cum secum et rabiosa silentia rodunt 
Atque exporrecto trutinantur verba labello, 
Aegroti veteris meditantes sornnia, gigni 
De nihilo nihilum, in nihilum nil posse reverti. 
Hoc est, quod palles ? cur quis non prandeat, hoc est V 85 
His populus ridet, multumque torosa iuventus 
Ingeminat tremulos naso crispante cachinnos. 

1 Inspice ; nescio quid trepidat mihi pectus et aegris 
Faucibus exsuperat gravis alitus ; inspice, sodes !' 
Qui dicit medico, iussus requiescere, postquam 90 

Tertia conpositas vidit nox currere venas, 
De maiore domo modice sitiente lagoena 
Lenia loturo sibi Surrentina rogabit. 

i Heus, bone, tu palles V 

« Nihil est/' 

1 Videas tamen istuc, 
Quidquid id est : surgit tacite tibi lutea pellis/ 95 



SATT7BA III. 15 

"At tu deterius palles- ne sis mihi tutor; 
lam pridem hunc sepeli : tu restas." 

' Perge, fcaoebo.' 
Turgidus hie epulis atque albo ventre lavatur, 
Gutture sulpureas lente exalante mefites; 
Sed tremor inter vina subit calidumque triental KM) 

Exeutit e mauibus, dentes crepuere retecti, 
Uncta cadunt laxis tune pulmentaria labris. 
Hinc tuba, candelae, tandemqiie beatulus alto 
Coupositus lecto crassisque lutatus amomis 
Iu portam rigidas calces extendit: at ilium 105 

Hesterni capite induto subierc Qui rites. 

'Tange, miser, venas et pone in pectore dextram. 
Nil calet hie. Sum mosque pedes attinge manusque. 
Non frigent.' 

Visa est si forte pecunia, sive 
Candida vieini subrisit molle puella, 110 

Cor tibi rite salit? Positum est algente eatino 
Durum holus et populi cribro decussa farina : 
Temptemus fauces. Tenero latet ulcus in ore 
Putre, quod hand deceat plebeia radere beta. 
Alges, cum excussit membris timor albus aristas ; 1 15 

Nunc face supposita ferveseit sanguis et ira 
Scintillanl oeuli, dicisque facisque, quod ipse 
Non sani esse hominis non sanus iuret Orestes. 



16 perso 



SATURA IV. 

' Rem populi tractas V (barbatnm haec crede magistrum 
Dicere, sorbitio toll it quern dira cicutae) 
' Quo fretus? die hoc, magni pnpille Pericli. 
Scilicet ingenium et rerum prudentia velox 
Ante pilos venit, dicenda tacendaque calles. 5 

Ergo ubi commota fervet plebecula bile. 
Fert animus calidae fecisse silentia turbae 
Maiestate manus. Quid deinde loquere? " Qui rites, 
Hoc puta non iustum est, illud male, rectius illud." 
Scis etenim iustum gemina suspendere lance 10 

Ancipitis librae, rectum discernis, ubi inter 
Curva subit, vel cum fallit pede regula varo, 
Et potis es nigrum vitio praefigere theta. 
Quin tu igitur, summa nequiquam pelle decorus, 
Ante diem blando caudam iactare popello 15 

Desinis, Anticyras melior sorbere meracas ! 
Quae tibi summa boni est ? Uncta vixisse patella 
Semper et adsiduo curata cuticula sole ? 
Exspecta, haud aliud respondeat haec anus. I nunc 
"Dinomaches ego sum/' sufla "sum candidus." Esto; 20 
Dum ne deterius sapiat pannucia Baucis, 
Cum bene discincto cantaverit ocima vernae. , 
Ut nemo in sese temptat descendere, nemo, 
Sed praecedenti spectatur mantica tergo ! 
Quaesieris l Nostin Vettidt praedia ?' 

"Cuius?" 25 

* Dives arat Curibus quantum non miluus oberret.' 
" Hunc ais, hunc dis iratis genioque sinistro, 
Qui, quandoque iugum pertusa ad compita figit, 
Seriolae veterem metuens deradere limum 



SA'ITRA TV. 1 i 

Ingemit: Hoc bene sit ! tunicatum cum sale mordens 30 

Caepe et farratara pueris plaudentibus ollam 
Pannosam faecem morientis sorbet aceti ?" 

At si unctus cesses et figas in cute solem, 
Est prope te ignotus, cubito qui tangat et acre 
Despuat 'Hi mores! penemque arcanaque lumbi 35 

Runcantem populo marceutis pandere vulvas ! 
Tu cum maxillis balanatum gausape pectas, 
Inguinibus quare detonsus gurgulio extat ? 
Quinque palaestritae licet haec plantaria vellant 
Elixasque nates labefacteut forcipe adunca, -10 

Non tamen ista filix ullo mansuescit aratro.' 

Caedimus inque vicem praebemus crura sagittis. 
Vivitur hoc pacto ; sic uovimus. Ilia subter 
Caecum vulnus babes; sed lato balteus auro 
Praetegit. l T t mavis, da verba et decipe nervos, 40 

Si potes. 

' Egregium cum me vicinia dicat, 
Non credam V 

Viso si pallcs, inprobe, nummo, 
Si facis iu penem quidquid tibi venit amorum : 
Si puteal multa cautus vibice flagellas: 

Nequiquam populo bibulas donaveris aures. 50 

Respue, quod non es ; tollat sua munera Cerdo; 
Tecum habita; noris, cjuam sit tibi curta supellex. 



18 PERSII 



SATURA V. 

Vatibus hie mos est, centum sibi poscere voces, 
Centum ora et linguas optare in carmina centum, 
Fabula seu maesto ponatur hianda tragoedo, 
Vulnera seu Parthi ducentis ab inguine ferrum. 

" Quorsum haec ? aut quantas robusti carminis offas 5 

Ingeris, ut par sit centeno gutture niti ? 
Grande locuturi nebulas Helicone legunto, 
Si quibus aut Prognes, aut si quibus olla Thyestae 
Fervebit, saepe insulso cenanda Glyconi ; 
Tu neque anhelanti, coquitur dum massa camino, 10 

Folle premis ventos, nee clause- murmure raucus 
Nescio quid tecum grave cornicaris inepte, 
Nee stloppo tumidas intendis rumpere buccas. 
Verba togae sequeris iunctura callidus acri, 
Ore teres modico, pallentis radere mores 15 

Doctus et ingenuo culpam defigere ludo. 
Hinc trahe quae dicis, mensasque relinque Mycenis 
Cum capite et pedibus, plebeiaque prandia noris." 

Non equidem hoc studeo, bullatis ut mihi nugis 
Pagina turgescat, dare pondus idonea fumo. 20 

Secreti loquimur ; tibi nunc, hortante Camena, 
Excutienda damus praecordia, quantaque nostrae 
Pars tua sit, Cornute, animae, tibi, dulcis amice, 
Ostendisse iuvat. Pulsa, dinoscere cautus, 
Quid solidum crepet et pictae tectoria linguae. 25 

His ego centenas ausim deposcere voces, 
Ut, quantum mihi te sinuoso in pectore fixi, 
Voce traham pura, totumque hoc verba resigneht, 
Quod latet arcana non enarrabile fibra. 

Cum primum pavido custos mihi purpura cessit 30 



-All KA V. 19 

Bullaque succinct is Laribus donata pependit; 
Cum blandi comites totaque inpune Subura 
Permisit sparsisse oculos iam candidua umbo; 

Cumque iter ambiguum est et vitae nescius error 

Ded licit trepidas ramosa in compita mentes, 35 

Me tibi supposui : teneros tu suscipis annos 

Socratico, Cornute, sinu ; turn fallere sollers 

Adposita intortos extendit regula mores, 

Et premitur ratione animus vincique laborat 

Artificemque tuo ducit sub pollice vultuni. 40 

Tecum etenim longos niemini consumere soles, 

Et tecum primas epulis decerpere noctes : 

Unum opus et requiem pariter disponimus ambo, 

Atque verecunda laxamus seria mensa. 

Non equidem hoc dubites, amborum foedere certo 45 

Consentire dies et ab uno sidere duci 

Nostra vel aequali suspendit tempora Libra 

Parca tenax veri, seu nata fidelibus bora 

Dividit in Geminos concordia fata duorum, 

Saturnumque gravem nostro love frangimus una : 50 

Nescio quid, certe est, quod me tibi temperat, astrum. 

Mille hominum species et rerum discolor usufi ; 
Velle suum caique est, nee voto vivitur uno. 
Mercibus hie Italis mutat sub sole recent i 
Rugosum piper et pallentis grana cumini ; 55 

Hie satur inriguo mavult turgescere Bomno ; 
Hie campo indulget ; hone alea deooquit ; ille 
In Venerem putris ; sed cum lapidosa cheragra 
Fregerit articulos, veteris ramalia fagi, 

Tunc crassos transisse dies lucemque palustrem 60 

Et sibi iam seri vitam ingemuere relictam. 

At te nocturnis iuvat inpallescere chartia ; 
Cultor enim iuvenum purgatas inscris aures 
Fmge Cleanthea. Petite bine puerique seneeque 
Pinem animo certufm miserisque viatica canis I 65 



JH 



20 PERSII 

i Cras hoc net.' 

Idem cras net. 

1 Quid ? quasi magnum 
Nempe diem donas V 

Sed cum lux altera venit, 
lam cras hesternum consumpsimus : ecce aliud cras 
Egerit hos annos et semper paulum erit ultra. 
Nam quamvis prope te, quamvis temone sub uno 70 

Vertentem sese frustra sectabere can turn, 
Cum rota posterior curras et in axe secundo. 

Libertate opus est. Non hac, ut quisque Velina 
Publius emeruit, scabiosum tesserula far 
Possidet. Hen steriles veri, qui bus una Quiritem 75 

Vertigo facit ! hie Daraa est non tressis agaso, 
Vaj>pa lippus et in tenui farragine mendax : 
Verterit hunc dominus, momento turbinis exit 
Marcus Dama. Papae ! Marco spondente recusas 
Credere tu nummos? Marco sub iudice palles? 80 

Marcus dixit : ita est; adsigna, Marce, tabellas. 
Haec mera libertas ! hoc nobis pi Ilea donant ! 

^An quisquam est alius liber, nisi ducere vitam 
Cui licet, ut voluit? licet ut volo vivere : non sum 
Liberior Bruto?' 

" Mendose colligis," inquit 85 

Stoicus hie aurem mordaci lotus aceto 
" Haec reliqua accipio ; licet illud et ut volo tolle." 

' Vindicta postquam meus a praetore recessi, 
Cur mihi non liceat, iussit quodcumque voluntas, 
Excepto si quid Masuri rubrica vetavit?' 90 

Disce, sed ira cadat naso rugosaque sanna, 
Dura veteres avias tibi de pulmone revello. 
Non praetoris erat stultis dare tenuia rerum 
Officia atque usum rapidae permittere vitae : 
Sambucam citius caloni aptaveris alto. 95 

Stat contra ratio et secretam garrit in aurem, 



SATURA V. 21 

Ne liceat facere id quod quis vitiabii agendo. 
Publica lex hominum naturaque continet hoc fas, 

Ut teneat vetitos inscitia debilis actus. 

Diluis helleborum, certo conpescere puncto 100 

Nescius examen ? vetat hoc oatura medendi. 

Navem si poscat si hi peronatus arator, 

Luciferi rudis, exelarnet Melicerta perisse 

Frontem de rebus. Tibi recto vivcrc talo 

A re dedit, et veri speciem diuoscere calles, 1 1 15 

Xe qua subaerato meudosuiu tiuuiat auro ? 

Quaeque sequenda forent, quaeque evitanda vicissira, 

Ilia prius creta, mox haec carbone notasti ? 

Es modicus voti ? presso hire? dulcis amicis? 

lam nunc astringas, iam nunc granaria laxes, 110 

Inque luto fixuni possis transcendere minimum, 

Nee glutto sorbere salivam Mercurialern ? 

' Haec mea sunt, teneo ' cum vere dixeris, esto 
Liberque ac sapiens praetoribus ac love dextro, 
Sin tu, cum fueris nostrae paulo ante farinae, 115 

Pelliculam veterem retines et f'ronte politus 
Astutam vapido servas sub pectore vulpem, 
Quae dederam supra relego funemque reduco: 
Nil tibi concessit ratio; digitum exsere, peocas, 
Ef quid tarn parvum est? 8ed nullo ture Litabis, 120 

Haereat in stultis brevis ut semuncia recti. 
I lace miscere nefas ; nee, cum sis cetera fossor, 
Tris tantum ad numeros satyruin moveare Bathylli. 
1 Liber ego.' 

Unde datum hoe scut is, tot subdite rebus? 
An dominum ignoras, nisi quem vindicta relaxat? 125 

'I puer, et strigiles Crispini ad balnea deter!' 
Si increpuit, 'cessas nugator?' servitium acre 
Te nihil inpellit, nee quicquam extrinsecus intrat, 
Quod nervos agitel ; sed si intus e< in iecore aegro 
Xasenntur domini, qui tu inpunitior exis 130 



22 PERSII 

Atque hie, quern ad strigiles scutica et met us egit erilis? 
Mane piger stertis. 

' Surge !' inquit Avaritia ' heia 
Surge !' 

Negas; instat. 

' Surge V inquit. 

" Non queo." 

< Surge V 
<l Et quid agam ?" 

' Rogitas ? en saperdam advehe Ponto, 
Castoreum, stuppas, hebenum, tus, lubrica Coa; 135 

Tolle recens primus piper ex sitiente camelo ; 
Verte aliquid ; iura. 7 

" Sed Iuppiter audiet." 

< Eheu ! 
Baro, regustatura digito terebrare salinum 
Contentus perages, si vivere cum love tendis !' 

Jam pueris pellem succinctus et oenophorum aptas 140 
' Ocius ad navem !' Nihil obstat, quin trabe vasta 
Aegaeum rapias, nisi sollers Luxuria ante 
Seductum moneat 

i Quo deinde, insane, ruis ? quo ? 
Quid tibi vis ? calido sub pectore mascula bilis 
Intumuit, quod non extinxerit urna cicutae? 145 

Tu mare transilias ? tibi torta cannabe fulto 
Cena sit in transtro, Veientanumque rubellum 
Exalet vapida laesum pice sessilis obba ? 
Quid petis ? ut nummos, quos hie quincunce modesto 
Nutrieras, peragant avido sudore deunces? 150 

Indulge genio, carpamus dulcia ! nostrum est 
Quod vivis ; cinis et manes et fabula fies. 
Vive memor leti ! fugit hora ; hoc quod loquor inde est/ 

En quid agis ? duplici in diversum scinderis hamo. 
Huncine, an hunc sequeris ? Subeas alternus oportet 155 
Ancipiti obsequio dominos, alternus oberres. 



SATURA V. 23 

Nec tu, cum obstiteris seruel instantique negaris 

Parere imperio, i Rupi iaru vineula' dicas; 

Nam et luctata canis nodum abripit ; et tamen illi, 

Cum fugit, a collo trahitur pars longa catenae. 160 

' Dave, cito, hoc credas iubeo, finire dolores 
Praeteritos meditor ' (crudum Chaerestratus anguem 
Abrodens ait haee). 'An siccis dedecus obstem 
Cognatis ? An rem patriam rumore sinistro 
Limen ad obscenum frangani, dum Chrvsidis udas 165 

Ebrius ante fores exstincta cum face canto'?' 

"Euge, puer, sapias, dis depellentibus agnam 
Percute." 

' Sed censen plorabit, Dave, relicta V 

" Xugaris ; solea, puer, obiurgabere rubra. 
Ne trepidare velis atque artos rodere casses ! 170 

Nunc ferus et violens ; at si vocet, haud mora dicas : 
Quidnam igihvr faeiam f nec nunc, cam aroessat d vitro 
Supplied, accedam f Si torus et integer illinc 
Exieras, nec nunc." 

Hie hie, quod quaerimus, hie est, 
Non in festuca, lictor quam iactat ineptus. 17o 

Ius habet ille sui palpo, quern ducit hiantem 
( Aetata Ambitio ? ' Vigila et cicer ingere large 
Kixanti populo, nostra ut Floralia possint 
Aprici meminisse senes.' 

Quid pulcrius? At cum 
Herodis venere dies, unctaque fenestra ISO 

Dispositae pinguem nebulam vomuere luoernae 
Portantes violas, rubrumque amplexa catinum 
Cauda natat thynni, tiunet alba fidelia vino: 
Labra moves taeitus recutitaque sabbata palles. 
Turn nigri lemures ovoque pericula rupto, 185 

Turn grandee galli et cum Bistro lusca sacerdos 
Ineussere deos intimitis corpora, si non 
Praedictum ter mane caput gustaverifl alii. 






24 PERSII 

Dixeris haec inter varicosos centuriones, 
Continue- crassum ridet Pulfennius ingens, 190 

Et centum Graecos curto centusse licetur. 



SATUBA VI. 25 



SATURA VI. 

Admovit iam bruma fooo te, Basse, Sabino? 

Iamne lyra et tetrico vivunt tibi pectine chordae? 

Mire opifex numeris veterum primordia vocum 

Atque niareni strepitum tidis intendisse Latinae, 

Mox iuvenes agitare iocos et pollice honesto 5 

Egregius lusisse senes. Mihi nunc Ligus ora 

Intepet hibernatque mcum mare, qua latus ingens 

Dant scopuli et raulta litus se valle receptat. 

Lunai portum, est operae, eognoscite, rives! 

Cor iubet hoc Enni, postquara destertuit esse 10 

Maeonides Quintus pavone ex Pythagoreo. 

Hie ego securus vulgi et quid praeparet auster 

Iufelix pecori, securus et angulus ille 

Vicini nostro quia pinguior, etsi adeo omnes 

Ditescant orti peioribus, usque recusem 1 5 

Curvus oh id niinui senio aut cenare sine uncto, 

Et signum in vapida naso tetigisse lagoena. 

Discrepet his alius! geminos, horoscope, varo 

Producis genio. Solis natalibus est qui 

Tingat holus siccuin niuria vafer in calice empta, 20 

Ipse sacrum inrorans patinae piper; hie bona dente 

Grandia magnanimus peragit puer. Utar ego, utar, 

Nee rhombos ideo libcrtis ponere lautus, 

Nee tenuis sollers turdarum nosse salivas. 

Messe tenus propria vive et granaria, fas est, 25 

P^mole ; quid metuis? occa, et seges altera in herba est. 

'Ast vocat officium: trabe rupta, Bruttia saxa 
Prendil amicus Inops, remque omnen surdaque vota 
Condidit Ionio; iacet ipse in litore et una 
Ingentcs dc puppe dei, iamque obvia mergis 30 



26 PERSII 

Costa ratis lacerae/ 

Nunc et de cespite vivo 
Frange aliquid, largire inopi, ne pictus oberret 
Caerulea in tabula. Sed cenarn funeris heres 
Negleget, iratus quod rem curtaveris; urnae 
Ossa inodora dabit, seu spirent cinnama surdum, 35 

Seu ceraso peccent casiae, nescire paratus. 
Tune bona incolumis minuas ? Et Bestius urguet 
Doctores Graios : ' Ita fit, postquam sapere urbi 
Cum pipere et palmis venit nostrum hoc maris expers ; 
Fenisecae crasso vitiarunt unguine pultes/ 40 

Haec cinere ulterior metuas ? At tu, meus heres, 
Quisquis eris, paulum a turba seductior audi. 
O bone, num ignoras ? missa est a Caesare laurus 
Insignem ob cladem Germanae pubis, et aris 
Frigidus excutitur cinis, ac iam postibus arma, 45 

lam chlamydes regum, iam lutea gausapa captis 
Essedaque, ingentesque locat Caesonia Rhenos. 
Dis igitur genioque ducis centum paria ob res 
Egregie gestas induco ; quis vetat ? aude. 
Vae, nisi connives ! Oleum artocreasque popello 50 

Largior ; an prohibes ? die clare ! i Non adeo/ inquis ? 
Exossatus ager iuxta est. Age, si mihi nulla 
Iam reliqua ex amitis, patruelis nulla, proneptis 
Nulla manet patrui, sterilis matertera vixit, 
Deque avia nihilum superest, accedo Bovillas 55 

Clivumque ad Yirbi, praesto est mihi Manius heres. 

' Progenies terrae V Quaere ex me, quis mihi quartus 
Sit pater : haud prompte, dicam tamen ; adde etiam unum, 
Unum etiam : terrae est iam filius, et mihi ritu 
Manius hie generis prope maior avunculus exit. 60 

Qui prior es, cur me in decursu lampada poscis ? 
Sum tibi Mercurius ; venio deus hue ego ut ille 
Pingitur ; an renuis ? vin tu gaudere relictis ? 
' Dest aliquid summae.' Minui mihi ; sed tibi totum est, 



SATT'KA VI. 27 

Quidquid id est. Ubi sit, fuge quaerere, quod mihi quondam 

Legarat Tadius, neu dicta repone paterna : G6 

Faenori* acceded merees; hmc escime wmptus. 

Quid reliquum est f Reliquum? nunc, nunc impensius ungue, 

Ungue, puer, caules ! Mihi festa luce coquetur 

Urtica et fissa funiosum sinciput aure, 70 

Ut tuns iste nepos olim satur anseris extis, 

Cum morosa vago singultiet inguine vena, 

Patriciae inmeiat vulvae? Mihi trama figurae 

Sit reliqua, ast ill I tremat omento popa venter ? 

Vende animam lucro, mercare atque excute sollers 75 

Omne latus mundi, nee sit praestantior alter 
Cappadocas rigida pinguis plausisse catasta : 
Rem duplica. 

i Feci ; iam triplex, iam mihi quarto, 
lam deciens redit in rugam : depunge, ubi sistam.' 

Inventus, Chrysippe, tui finitor acervi. 80 



NOTES. 



REFERENCES IN THE NOTES. 



A. Allen and Greenough's Latin Grammar. 

G. Gildersleeve's Latin Grammar. 

H. Harkness' Latin Grammar. 

M. Madvig's Latin Grammar. 

Z. Zumpt's Latin Grammar. 



NOTES, 



PROLOGUE. 

This prologue is held by some to be intended as a remnant of the dramatic ele- 
ment of the Satura, which was written in a variety of metres. It may be a close 
imitation of Petronius' Satyricon, c. 5., where the same metre is closely followed 
by the Hexameter. On the other hand the Prologue is a mark of a late period of 
composition, and is found in reflective poetry. To prologueize implies conscious- 
ness — the poet reflecting on his work — so early poets do not prologueize at all — as 
Homer: afterwards the exordium becomes personal, and contains a prologue, as 
would be the case in the Aeneid, if the verses File eyo were genuine : then the pro- 
logue becomes a separate poem as here. Lastly we have a prose introduction as in 
Statius, Claudian, Ausonius. and modern writers — a more natural method, and in 
some respects more graceful, as separating off matter which may be extraneous t" 
the poem itself, but leading, on the other hand, to interminable and indeterminate 
writing, to the substitution of criticism for poetry, precept for practice. 

This prologue is the author's introduction to all the Satires, and not, as some 
have thought, to the first only. It seems to have very little connection with any- 
thing which follows. It is fragmentary in form, and it is possible that it was left 
unfinished. Persius says that he is no poet, not without sarcasm, and would seem 
to imply that poverty compelled him to write. If this he his meaning, it is .-aid in 
jest and in ridicule of many of the writers of his time. ADAPTBD. 



The metre is the ncazon or oholiambus. A. :!ti.">. e; <■'<. 7:V> ■ II. 622. I. 



ARGUMENT. — My antecedents. I believe, were not poetical. I never 
drank those long draughts of llippocrcne of which others boast, nor dreamed on 

Parnassus a- Bnnius did. so that all at once I Bhould come I. ctorc the world a> a 
poet. The maids of Helicon and the waters of Pircne I leave to mv masters the 

great men, acknowledged classics, whose ivy crowned busts adorn our public libra- 
ries, yet I. a poor la y-hrot her, may appear on siitleranee at the t'ea-t of the DOetC 
(1-7). 

After all, one can sing without inspiration; at least parrots and magpies do. 
They never dreamed on Parnassus either, but thej have a teacher thegreal master 
Belly, and want of bread and lo\ e of money i-^ the source of their inspiration (8-14). 



32 NOTES ON PROLOGUE. 

i. fonte, in the spring. A. 254; G. 387; H. 425, I; 425, 2, N. 3. 

labra prolui. Proluere, to dip the lips, is properly applied to cattle. 
Cf. Verg. Aen. I. 743. The action implies a deep draught, here taken by 
stooping down to the spring. This the poetasters of our author's day pre- 
tended to have done at the inspiring fount. The figure is Litotes. A. 209, c ; 
G. 448, R. 2; H. 637, VIII. Cf. primoribus labris attingere the opposite 
expression. caballino, fons caballinus, hack's spring, is a sarcastic transla- 
tion of Hippocrene = lirirov Kprjvrj, which sprang up from the stroke of the 
hoof of Pegasus when he lighted on Mt. Helicon. Near it was the fountain 
of Aganippe, and these two springs supplied the rivers Olmius and Permissus, 
the favorite haunts of the Muses, hence those who drank of them were 
fabled to become poets forthwith. Vid. Ovid Fast, III. 456. Hesiod Theog. 
2-6. Mosch. Id. III. 77. 

2. bicipiti, two-forked. Biceps = dilotyoc, a perpetual epithet of Par- 
nassus. The mountain has not really two tops, but as the Castalian spring 

rises from between two ridges, it is said to have them. somniasse, sc. 

me. The allusion in the two verses is to the dream which Ennius, as we 
may infer from Prop. III. 2. [4], claimed to have had on Parnassus, when 
he saw Homer, and learned that the spirit of Homer was animating him. 
Cic Acad. pr. II. 16, 51. A. 288, b ; G. 277, E; H. 537. It was a common 
belief that those who slept in a consecrated spot would receive some aid 
from the presiding divinity. 

3. memini (= quod meminerim) is a sneer at Ennius' own words memini 
me fieri paimm (Tert. de An. 24 seq.) and implies that he must have had a 

good memory. utprodirem. A. 332 ; G. 554; H. 500, II. prodirem, 

come forth, i. e., " make my appearance* before the world, as a ready-made 

poet, by the immediate agency of the gods." sic, just so, i. e., without 

any preparation, as the result of this preparatory process. 

4. Heliconidas, the Muses, daughters of Helicon (A. 164, b ; H. 322), so- 
called from a mountain of Boeotia on the confines of Phocis. pallidam, 

i. e., causing paleness. The cause for the effect. An epithet often applied 

to men of studious habits, especially poets. Pirenen. The fountain of 

Pirene, situated in the middle of the forum at Corinth, is mentioned here 
from its connection with Pegasus, who is said to have broken in there. It 
received its name from the nymph Pirene, who is said to have dissolved 
into tears at the death of her daughter Cenchrea, accidently killed by Diana. 
The poetic virtue of its waters was not discovered until late, and then only 
by the Latin poets. 

5. illis, to those poets, i. e., Hesiod, Ennius, and the ancient poets. 

remitto, for the more common relinquo. imagines, busts, which were set 

up in libraries, especially the one in the temple of the Palatine Apollo. 
Under the Emperors, those of eminent literary men were crowned with bay 

or ivy. lambunt, caress, properly said of a dog's tongue, then of flames. 

Vid. Verg. Aen. II. 684. 



N<)Ti> o.V l'II(»l.i«,n.. 33 

6. hederae. Poets were crowned with wy as well as 6ay (Hor.Od. I. l 

the Muses being the companions of Bacchus as well as of Apollo. Ovid 

Ar. Am. III. 411 ; Mart. Ep. VIII. 82. sequaces, climbing. No Bneer 

Beems to be intended in lambunt or sequaees, which are Bimply poetical. 

semipaganus, half-brother of the guild. This Beems to refer to the Paga- 
nalia. a festival celebrated by members of the same pagus, and as Persius 
has not been initiated into the " yewaiuv dpyea ilLovaijv" he is only a lay- 
brother. This has more spirit than the ordinary interpretation half-or 
rustic, and agrees with the image in the next line. 

7. ad sacra vatum, to the festival of the bards. Contemptuous. 

nostrum = meum. 

8. expedivit, made easy, i. e., it succeeds perfectly in its talk. Persius, 
to preserve his incognito, here represents himself as driven by poverty, 

although unprepared, to write for Ins bread. suum, his <</'7<, i. e., the cry 

he is now so ready with. chaere = Xaipe, " Good morning" A common 

word taught to parrots. 

9. nostra verba. Note the opposition between these words and chaere, 
as if the magpie were intended to talk Latin as distinguished from Greek. 

10. magister, teacher. So the Greek proverb, .\iu<>< 6i woXkvv yiyverai 
didaoKdkoq- Vid. Plant. Stich. 1. ::, 2:;. .Manil. 1. 26. Theocr. Id. XXI. 1. 
Cf. Ben Jonson, 1'oetaster, last scene: 

"And, between whiles, spit out a better poem 
Than e'er the master of art, or giver of nil. 
Their Belly, made." 
largitov, free (/itrr. Note the force of -que. A. loll, a; ('•. \1S\ H. 554, 
I. 2. 

11. venter. Cf. Horn. Od. XVII. 286. yaorfpa it<<rr,.„- fotiv airoicpl 

ue/mviav. negatas, i. e., by nature. artifex sequi, skilled in attaining. 

A. 27.">, d; (J. 424, K. -1, 2); II. 553, II. 3. sequi assequi or consequi. 

voces, " words" 

12. dolosi, alluring, a common epithet <»!' money, but especially appli- 
cable here, as "beguiling them to the effort. It might be almost -aid to 
refer to apes as well as to nummi." — — refulserit, shall have flashed <>n ili> 

tight. Note the force of re-. nummi is best translated a- a coin. ('(. 

'The Mighty Dollar; 

13. corvos poetas et poetridas picas. " Raven poets <ni</ poetess pies, 
the substantive standing for an epithet, like popa venter, VI. 74." 

14. Pegaseium. This epithet makes the figure forced unless we sup- 
pose the nectar to be the waters of Hippocrene, which idea is supported by 
a poem in Brunck's Analccta, Vol. 2. pa. 289, Ep. •">, veKTapeai >/ f<ide< 
n.qydoi6og Kpf/vr/g. — nectar nectareura carmen. \. " I ; II. 
371, II. This i< to he preferred to ///./,.. which i found in man} maim 
scripts, but i- faulty in quantity. 



34 NOTES ON SATIRE I. 



SATIRE FIRST. 

This Satire is an attack on the literature of the day, as symptomatic of corruption 
in morals, and was intended as an introduction to the Satires as would seem from 
the latter part. He is disgusted with the taste of the times, and would have his 
reader's mind formed on the old models. The form is that of a dialogue, more or 
less regularly sustained, between Persius and a critical friend, who lectures him 
much as Trebatius does Horace. Nothing can be decided about the time of its 
composition from its subject. The mention of Pedius, if it proves anything, only 
proves that it was written late. The connection between intellectual and moral 
vigor would naturally be suggested by the Stoic doctrine (Sat. 5), that virtue con- 
sists in correct knowledge. 

With the whole Satire compare Seneca's famous 114th Epistle, which is one of 
the best commentaries on the poem. 



ARGUMENT. — Persius. — " Vanity of vanities ; all is vanity !" 

Friend. — You will get no readers if you write like that. 

P. — I want none — every one at Rome, prince and people, is — may I say what? 

F. — Certainly not. 

P. — But I must have my laugh somehow (1-12). 

The attack begins. 

P. — A composition is produced with much labor — nasty stuff enough ! It is then 
recited in public by the author in full dress, with the most effeminate intonation ; 
and the descendants of Romulus are tickled, and feel their passions excited. 
Shame that an old man like that should so disgrace himself. After all you are sure 
to be tired before they are satisfied (13-23). 

F. — -What is the good of study, unless a man brings out what he has in him 
(24-25)? 

P. — ' Hear the student!' as if knowledge did no good to the possessor unless he 
were known to possess it (26-27). 

F. — But the reputation ! You may be pointed out as a lion, or " canonized as a 
classic " by the aristocracy. 

P. — Oh, yes ! what worthless fame you seek ! they talk poetry after dinner : an 
exquisite gets up and drawls out a shockingly bad poem : the illustrious audience 
applauds ; that is fame ! the poet's ashes will rest in peace, and violets will grow on 
his grave. 

F. — Snarl as you will, there is something in writing a poem that the world will 
not let die (28-43). 

P. — I quite admit the value of honest praise well deserved. I should not be 
human if I did not feel it : but I protest against measuring excellence by this 
fashionable standard of yours — a standard which accommodates itself to trash like 
Labeo's, and all the mawkish stuff that great folks write when they ought to be 
digesting their dinners. Anybodj r can get praise if he only furnishes good dinners. 



NOTES ON SATIRE I. 35 

It i.- nut disinterested it is simply payment for patronage received. It I 
honest criticism, I should tell my patron thai be is ;< stupid, bald bead< 
bellied fool. Oh, if you only had the eyes of Janus so you could see t'» discrimi- 
nate between w Imi is said to j our face and w hat is said behind your back | 1 1 62 . 
•What is the opinion of the public?' asks the patron. " Oh," they say, " we have 
got a ]M»ct at last, able to write smoothly and equal t<> any kind of composition" 
(63-68). 

Persius now drops hi* irony and talk* in his own person. 

Every kind of composition! Yes, we now gee heroics written by men who can 

not compose a simple rural piece without introducing some heterogem - jumble. 

Then there i- the mania tor archaisms— the affectation of studying the old 
poets — as if anything but corrupt taste and relaxed morality would l>e the result. 
This miserable affectation of fine writing besets even our criminal courts even 
trials for life and death. The defendant thinks more of the rhetorical than of the 
judicial sentence, and lays traps for applause- which he gets, as if thai were the 
verdict. We shall have starving beggars turning rhetoricians next (69 '.'I I. 

F. — Well, they have at any rate succeeded in giving polish to our poetry, as for 
instance . . . 

P.— Shades of Virgil! What frothy fungous trash! Oblige me by another 
specimen of the tenderer sort. 

F. — Given a specimen of fashionable poetry. 

P. — And this is manly poetry— mere driveling, poured out voluntarily from an 
idiot's lips not wrung with toil from an artist's brain (92 106). 

F. — Even if this be truth, why tell it? You will only offend those whom it i- 
your interest not to offend. 

P. — Oh! that's it. is it? I see! everything then is bright and good! Put up a 
board "Commit do nuisance here," and I will leave you. But it was different. 
Luoilius lashed the city, and Horace made sport of it. Is there DO place where I 
can bury my secret ? 

/•.—No. 

P.— Well, then I will confide it to my little book; listen : 'All the world are 
asses.' There that is worth all your Iliad-. Let my readers he the lew that can 

relish the old comedy of Greece, not the idle loungers and senseless buffoons of the 

day — they may kill time in a more congenial manner i L07 134 I. A mum D, 



i. O curas hominum ! the vanity of human cares. Hbto greai a 
vacuum, (human) nature admits! These are the opening verees of bis Satire, 
which Pereiufi is reading aloud, when he is interrupted by hi- friend. M< 
Beems to have discovered the emptiness of all earthly things and like Solo- 
mon cries out " Vanity of vanities, all is vanity ;" a Buitable Stoic text. ( If. 
Juv. I. 86, 

" Quidquid agunt homines, return, timor, bra, voluptas, 
Gaudia, discursus; aostri est farrago libelli." 

2. Quis leget haec ? This ifl Baked by the friend. Vid. I lot. Sat 1. 
1, 22. The Scholiasl says this verse is taken from the first book of Lucilius. 



36 NOTES ON SATIRE I. 

min = mihi ne. Persius says this apparently expressing surprise, and 

answers 'Nemo hercule !' Nemo ? By the friend. 

3. Vel duo, vel nemo, i. e., one or two at most, which is as good as none. 
A stronger expression than nemo. Cf. the Greek phrases rj bXiyoc rj ovdeic 

and 7] rtg r) ovdeic. Turpe et miserabile, An ignominious and pitiable 

catastrophe. 

4. ne . . . praetulerint. Ne connects the sentence with some verb 

implied in Quare, why should I be afaid, lest Polydamus, etc. 

Polydamus et Troiades. The reference is to a passage in Horn. II. 
XXII. 100-105, well worn by Aristotle (Eth. III. 8) and Cicero (Att. II. 
5, I ; VII. 1, 4; VIII. 16, 2) before it came to Persius. The expression 
here is particularly pointed. ' Polydamas and the Trojan ladies,' of course, 
stand for the influential classes of Rome : the Romans were proud of their 
Trojan origin (Vid. Juv. I. 100; VIII. 181 ; XI. 95), but are so effeminate 
that there are no men in Rome : and lastly there is an allusion to Attius 
LabeOj as the author of a translation of the Iliad, who stuck closely to the 
letter, of which the Scholiast has preserved one line, 'iijudv (3e(368oic Ilpia/xov 
Upi&fioio re iraldag (II. IV. 35) which is thus rendered Crudum manduces 

Priamum Priamique pisinnos. Labeonem is an Horatian synonym for 

madman. Sat. I. 3, 82. 

5. nugae. The accusative is much more common. A. 240, d ; G. 340 

and R; PI. 381, N. 3, 2). non . . . nee are for the ne and neve of 

Augustan prose. A. 149, e ; G. 266, R. 1 ; H. 483, 3. turbida, muddle 

headed. A metaphor from thick, troubled waters. 

6. elevet, make light of. A figure taken from weighing. examen, 

the index on the balance, said to be improbum, unfair, not telling the truth, 
because it does not move freely on its pivot. 

7. trutina, a balance or pair of scales. Construe ' Non accedas castigesque 
improbum examen in ilia trutina, nee quaesiveris extra te,' Nor ask any 
opinion but your own. This alludes to the Stoic doctrine of avrapKela : 
" Each man's own taste and judgment is to him the best test of right and 
wrong." 

8. Nam Romae quis non — ? Aposiopesis, A. p. 299 ; G. 691 ; H. 637, 
XI, 3. As the satire is now printed, the sentence is completed in v. 121, 
where see Note. Romae. A. 258, c ; G. 412 ; H. 425, II. 

9. Note that the poet here assumes the character of a man advanced in 

years ; probably to mislead inquirers as to the real author of the poems. 

cum = postquam. A. 325, N ; G. 567 ; H. 521, I. canitiem. Old age 
is severely lashed throughout this satire, as unhonored, produced by luxury 
and debauchery ; by useless habits and by corrupting the taste of youth. 
Cf. vs. 22, 26, 56, 79. Cf. the proverb, rroMa %povov ur/vvaic ov (ppovr/oecje. 

" Hoary hairs are the evidence of time, not of wisdom." nostrum 

istud vivere triste, this our dreary mode of life, i. e., the austerity of 
affected morality. " That the writings of Persius were popular and soon 



NOTE- <>N -ATIRE I. 37 

considered as standard works is evident from the fact of Quintilian's quoting 
this passage as an example of partium m&tatio: ut in satira nostrum istnd 
vivere triste, cum infinitivo verbo -it usus pro appellatione, nostram enim 
ritdin vult intelligi." Persius i- fond of using the infinitive as a regular 
substantive. Cf. scire tuum, v. 27 ; riden mettm, v. 122; pappareminutum. III. 

V. 17; mamma lollore, III. v. 18 J EN ■//»■ snnm, V. V. -VI: MUMD imstrnm. VI. 
v. 38. A. 112, (1; <i. 422; II. 200, I. 

io. aspexi ad : archaic Pound in Pacuvius and Plautus. nucibus 

relictis. Equivalent to our "toys." Vid. Catull. LXI. 127-129; Ho 
Epis. II. 2, 141 : Mart. Kp. V. 84; Phaed. Fab. XIV. 2; Suet. lug. v.. 

ii. cum rotors to nucibus relictis. sapimus, "wetakethi /<>»< of." 

patruos, for constr. A. 237, c; <i. 329, R. 1; II. 371, III. The harsh- 
ness of tlir paternal uncle is proverbial, due undoubtedly to bis often being 
the guardian at law. Yid. Hor. Od., III. 12,3; Sat. II. 3, 88.- Nolo. 
No, / won't; said by the friend. 

i2. quid faciam ? A.. 268; Gr.258, R. 1; H. 486, II. sed implies an 

ellipsis (your wish is that I do nothing) hut. splene. The ancient 

physiologists held the spleen to he the seat of laughter. Vid. Pliny XL 80; 

Serenus Samonicua 430. cachinno, a great laughter, is a noun, according 

to the Scholiast, found nowhere else. 

13. The attack begins. All writers care for nothing hut applause. I >e- 
SCription of a popular recitation. Scribimus inclusi. For the form <>f 
the verse, <■(. Hor. Epis. II. 1, 117, 'Scribimus indocti. 1 inclusi points the 
satire,/'* shut ourselves up in our studies for days and days and write. Now 

see the beggarly result. numeros, verse; pede liber = pede lil>< r<>, /»■<>.«, 

opposed to numeros. The great stress, however, throughout the Satin tie 

laid on poetical recitations. grande aliquid, in apposition to 'numeros' 

and to the notion contained in ' pede liber,' " something grandiose," Grandus 

seems to have been a cant term al Koine in Persius 3 time. praelargus — 

capacissimus. A very rare word. Largus animae is found in Statins Theb. 
III. 603 for prodigal of life. A. 218, a; <;. :\r2. R. 6 : II. 399, 111. L. 
anhelet, may pant out. Gr. 62T, R; II. 486, III. something so grand thatthi 
must capacious lung may gasp for breath in ihe utterance of it. 

15. scilicet, Oyesl Ironical. haec : emphatic. This labored and 

forced composition is to be delivered with pompous accompanimento and 

with effeminate articulation. populo, to tin public, i. e., at a public 

recitation. pexus, Combed does not give the idea intended, which is 

rather that of dressed with "ii or shampooed, toga recenti, with a new toga, 

or one freshly scoured. 

16. natalicia sardonyche, with your birthday ring on. The reader 
appears with a ring reserved for birthdays, ihe gayest holiday- kept by the 
Romans. The brilliancy of the sirdonyx is often mentioned by the Poets. 

tandem,*// last, Bhows impatience; when the "expectata dies" has come. 

albus = albatus, all in white, obviously on account of the loan rCC* 



38 NOTES ON SATIRE I. 

17. sede celsa = ex cathedra. The Romans always stood while 

pleading and sat down while reciting. liquido : the cause for the effect. 

plasmate. Plasma is a gargle for softening the throat. 

18. mobile: predicative. "Gargled to flexibility." patranti, which 

occurs nowhere else, probably means wanton. fractus = effeminatus, 

languidly leering. The poet's indignation is aroused because the reader 
assumes all these ornaments and this show simply for the purpose of recit- 
ing his own verses. 

19. He now describes the effect of the lascivious verses upon the wanton 

ears. hie, hereupon neque more . . . nee voce serena. Litotes. 

probo. Probus = pudicus, with which it was constantly coupled. It 

here has reference to their lewd gestures. serena, = composita, refers to 

the loud applause given the most exciting parts. 

20. Ingentis Titos seems to be an imitation of Horace's ' celsi Eamnes,' 
only that ingens refers to the physical size of these sons of old Rome, to 
show the effeminacy to which they are surrendering themselves. The 
Ramnenses, Titienses and Luceres Avere the three centuries of Equites 
formed by Romulus, and as Horace uses the first, so Persius uses the second 
for the nobility in general, whom he represents as listening to this filthy 
stuff. From them, descendents of the old Sabine nobility, much aristo- 
cratic virtue might have been expected. trepidare, quiver ; so that they 

cannot keep quiet. 

21. tremulo versu, by the ripple of the measure. It seems to have 

reference to the movement of the line. scalpuntur intima, the marrow 

within is tickled. 

22. He now addresses the author of the foul poetry, tun = tune.- — 
vetule, "you old reprobate;" old in vice if not in years. The word is 
always used in a bad sense. 

23. et is to be taken with cute perditus, which is variously explained, 
as "emaciated with midnight study" — "pale with old age" — "dropsical" 
— " unblushing " — " case-hardened." Conington asks " May it mean * You 
will cry Hold even when bursting yourself ?" The idea is that you are 
sure to be tired before they are satisfied. 

24. quo didicisse. A. 274, 240, d ; G. 534, 340 ; H. 539, 381. This is 

the supposed answer of the friend. fermentum, anything which ferments 

within, here refers to the poet's thoughts. 

25. iecore here seems to mean little more than the breast. Lust was 

supposed to have its seat in the liver. caprificus. Vid. Juv. X. 145; 

Mart. X. 2, 9. There is here a harsh mixture of metaphors, but it is 
probably Persius' own, and not an attempt to ridicule the style he 
condemns. 

26. en pallor seniumque. The idea is: Then you have studied to be 

flattered by such people as these. pallor, of study. senium, moroseness. 

= O mores ! seems to have been a common exclamation after Cicero's 



NOTES OX SATIRE I. 

famous " O tempora, O mores !" < Sat I. 1. Vi<l. Marl Ep. VI. 2, •'•. 

usque adeone, >o absolutely. Vid. Verg. Aen. XII. 646; Juv. ill. 84. 

27. This verse i- imitated from Lucilius. On scire tuum, see note 

OH verse 9. 

28. This is the defence. at, adversative. A. 156,b; G.490; II. 554, 

HI. 2. dicier; archaic A. 128, e, 4; G. 191,2; H. 240,6. hie est, 

there he goes, refers to the stor} of Demosthenes' elation at hearing :i poor 
woman say Ovroc kicelvoq.. Cic Tusc. Quaes. \ . 36. 

2g. cirratorum, eur/j/ ht ads, seems to ]><'int i<> boj - of the better classes. 
dictata arc passages from the poets read out by the master (for want 

of books) and repeated by the hoy-. Translate a lesson book. 

30. ecce introduces a narrative in the heroic Btyle. The reply is 
indirect and sarcastic, and gives a -ketch of the "classic poet- ' at work. 

inter pocula, over their cups. Vid. 111. 100; Juv. VIII. 218. This 

custom might serve well tor the sake of entertainment, but certainly was of 
little use as far as any intellectual improvement was concerned. 

31. Romulidae, the degenerate descendents oj Romulus. Cf. Titi, v. 'Jo. 

quid dia poemata narrent, what hi* <licin> verses are <<l»"it. referring 

probably to the subject-matter of the poems. dia = 0eio, an affectation. 

32. hie, hereupon. hyacinthia. Gay colored garments wen- worn 

by the dandies of the day. laena. The use of the laena for the toga was 

a mark of luxury. Cf. Juv. III. 283; Verg. Aen. IV. 262. 

33. rancidulum, mawkish stuff, is applied to anything which is con- 
temptuous from affectation. The diminutive, of course, heightens the con- 
tempt. balba de nare = balbum </>■ nare, lisping through his rum , i. c, 

lisping and muffing. locutus. A. •_>«><>. I.; <.. 278, II: II. 550, N. 1. 

34. Phyllidas Hypsipylas, i. c. sentimental subjects from mythology, 
such as those celebrated by (Kid in his Heroides, 2 and 6. The plural is 
indicative of contempt. 

35. eliquat, strain.-- or filters. A natural extension "f the metaphor. 

which calls a voice /i<jni<l. tenero palato, <i</aiii.<t tin roof of his deHcaU 

mouth. supplantat, trips h/i hi.-- words, i.e.. minces them; a metaphor 

from wrestling or running, translated from the Greek vnoane/ufa. 

36. adsensere viri is in the heroic strain. Vid. Verg. \en. II. L02; 
Ovid Met. IX. -Jolt; Juv.VTI.lr5. non . . . felix ? A.210,b; <,. 155; 

II. 351, •'!. FOT the (fleet of praise alter death on the holies of the 

deceased, vid. Verg. Eel. X. 33. 

37. cippus, a pillar, 011 which was frequently engraved the formula 
S-T-T-L(wf tihi terra U 

38. laudant convivae, the humbler guests (distinguished from viri. the 
great men who -it with the giverof the feast) applaud, i. e., thej are less 
measured in their approbation. We mnst supposes large entertainment, 

at which there i- a recitation, not of the patron's verses, but "f th< 

some deceased poet whom he admire-. — manibua cineribus, remains. 



40 NOTES ON SATIRE I. 

39. nunc . . . violae. Cf. Shaks. Hamlet, Act V. Sc. 1, 

" Lay her i' the earth 
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh 
May violets spring /" 

40. The friend interrupts, telling Persius that this is mere buffoonery, 

which leaves the reason of the case untouched. ' Rides ' ait. Vid. Hor. 

Epis. I. 19, 23. For the arrangement. A. 345, c ; G. 199, R. 3 ; H. 569, V. 
nimis goes with indulges. 

41. an. A. 211, b; G. 459; H. 353, N. 4. recuset : in the sense 

of neget. 

42. os populi, a place in the mouths of men. cedro, cedar oil, which 

was used for preserving manuscripts on account of its antiseptic properties. 

43. scombros, mackerel. Poetry which was worth keeping was not 
likely to fall into the hands of the grocers, who are said to have used the 
manuscripts of inferior writers to wrap up their goods. 

44. The poet now speaks in his own person, and speaks against the 

general spirit of -the age, without reference to any definite antagonist. 

modo, just now, referring especially to v. 40, and generally to the whole 
preceding part. 

45. non ego, Iclonot, (though I am a Stoic). A. 345, d; G. 447; H. 569, 

IV. si forte quid aptius exit, if I chance to turn off anything rather fine. 

exit may refer to a vessel turned off by the potter (Hor. A. P. 22), or 

to a bird hatched from an egg. Conington seems to prefer the latter on 
account of rara avis. 

46. quando used as since is found only in poetry and late prose. It here 
explains si forte. tamen is resumptive. Translate, ' yet if, as I was say- 
ing, I do.' 

47. cornea, of horn. Pliny applies this epithet to the bodies of fisher- 
men, but this metaphorical use is Persius' own. The Stoics, although hold- 
ing that virtue is its own reward, did not altogether exclude fame from 
consideration, but differed among themselves as to whether it was desirable 

for its own sake or for any advantage which it might bring. fibra, heart. 

Vid. V. 29. 

48. finem extremumque, the standard and limit. recuso with an 

object clause is not common. 

49. euge . . . belle. The exclamations of those praising the recita- 
tions. excute. A metaphor from shaking out the folds of a suspected 

person's robe, to see whether he has anything secreted in them. 

50. quid non intus habet ? What does it not contain? i. e., what is 
there not room for in it? non = nonne. Atti. Vid. Note on v. 4. 

51. ebria veratro, intoxicated with hellebore, i. e., written under the 
influence of drugs, and not an effusion of true genius. Veratrum was 
the Latin name for hellebore, used not only to cure madness, but to clear 
the heads of students. Unfortunately, here, the dose has been strong and 



NOTES OK SATIRE I. 41 

the head of the versifier weak. He has not tasted the inspiring streams of 
Hippocrene, nor reached the heights of Helicon; hut. on his way thither, 
has chewed so freely of the hellebore, which grows on that mountain in 

profusion, that his brain is quite muddled. elegidia : a contemptuous 

Greek diminutive. crudi, " niih their dimmers undigested," and therefore 

in no condition to write. 

52. dictarunt. They did not read their pieces hut recited extempore. 

lectis. [t was the custom among the ancients to read and write 

in a recumbent position. Cf. Juv. III. 241. Suet. Aug. 78. Prop. 111. 
4,14. 

53. citreis. Citron wood was the most expensive of all wood-. (T. 

Cic. Wit. IV. 'M . scis, you know how. ponere, to serve up, the usual 

word. sumen. This was considered a dainty dish by Greek and Roman 

epicures. 

54. comitem, companion of your train, dependent. horridulum : the 

diminutive denotes inferiority. For tie- custom of entertaining client- thai 
they might applaud their lord's poetry, vid. I lor. Ep. 1. 19, 37. 

55. verum amo. Cf. Plant. Most. I. 3, 24, where a girl asks her 
waiting-maid about her beauty, saying, ' Ego verum amo, verum voto diet 
mihi, mendaeem odiJ Mart. VIII. 7(5, l Dic verum mdhi, Mdrce, die amabo.' 
Vid. Hor. A. P. 424. 

56. qui pote, BC.sunt verum dieere. pote is an archaic form for potis, 

which is of itself of all genders and both numbers. H. 290, II. N. I. vis 

dicam. A.331, f, R; ( J. 546, R.3; H.499,2. Without waiting for the replj he 
proceeds nugaris, you area twaddler, nugari is used elsewhere for graceful 
trifling in art and literature; here it has the form of the bitterest contempt 

— You are a wretched dilettante. calve. Vid. note on v. \K The proverb 

says, "Then- is no fool like an old fool. 

57. aqualiculus, according to the Scholiast, is properly a pig's stomach, 
•paunch. 

58. lane. .Janus, who sees both ways, cannot be laughed at behind 

his hack, as these nohle poets can he and are. pinsit. The exact notion 

is not known, hut it may refer to some such motion as stretching the fingers 

before the nose in the form of a stork's hill, and pretending to peck at a 

man, much the same as hoys do now. 

59. manus, sc irrisit, from pinsit. auriculas. This refer- to 

putting the hands to the sides of the head in imitation of :m a--') car-. 
imitari mobilis. Vid. Note on oriijcx sequi. Prol. 11. albas dis- 
tinguishes the ears (the insides of which are white) as belonging to an ass. 
Vid. Ovid Met. XI. 174. 

60. linguae. Thrusting the tongue out of the mouth, or into the side 

of the cheek, in derision is still common. sitiat. A prose writer would 

have said siMens protendat. -Apula. Apulia was notoriously dry. Vid, 
I lor. Epodes 3, 16. 
4 



42 NOTES ON SATIRE I. 

61. vos, o patricius sanguis. Cf. Hor. A. P. 291, Vos, o Pompilius 
sanguis. A. 241, a; G. 194, R. 3 ; H. 369, 2. fas est, "it is ordained: 1 

62. posticae. Posticus is generally used of a building : back stairs. 

occurrite, turn round and face. sannae, grimaces or distortions of the 

mouth, gibes. The idea is: As Providence has placed you beyond the 
necessity of writing for profit, avoid the ridicule you are unconsciously 
exciting by refraining from writing your paltry trash. 

63. The patron now addresses his dependents, and resumes the narrative 

broken off by the digression about Janus. quis = qui. A. 104, a; G. 

105 ; H. 188, II. 1. quis enim, why, what should, it be? 

64. nunc demum, now at last, the coming poet has come. severos, 

critical. 

65. iunctura, the skill/id joining. "A metaphor from statuaries or 
furniture-makers, who passed the nail over the marble or polished wood 
to detect any flaw or unevenness." Persius means that the verses are turned 
out so smooth, that there is no break or sense of transition from one foot to 

another. tendere versum refers to the length and completeness of the 

verse, to lay off a verse. 

66. oculo uno. Masons and carpenters shut one eye when they wish 

to draw a straight line. rubricam. The ruddled cord was stretched along 

the wood or stone, sighted, jerked in the middle, and let go. derigat. 

A. 312, R; G. 604; H. 513, II. The poet is supposed to be flattered by 
these words, which are intended as a sarcasm on the public taste. 

67. in mores, in luxum, in prandia regum, against public morals, 
against luxury, against the banquets of the great. To describe the rich poet as 
a satirist himself gives the finishing touch to the picture. 

68. dicere. A. 243, e, R; G. 390, R; H. 414, IV. N. 4, 2). res 

grandis = grandia, the grand style. 

69. modo refers to time just past, and hence nearly equals nunc. 

heroas is here used as an adjective. " The idea is that those, who have 
heretofore confined themselves to trifling effusions in Greek, now aspire 

to the dignity of tragic poets." sensus, sentiments. adferre. A. 272 

and 292, e ; G. 527 and R, 1 ; H. 535, I. 1 and 4. 

70. nugari Graece, to dabble in Greek. ponere artifices. Cf. 

artifex sequi, Prol. 11. ponere, to describe. lucum is one of the 

common-places of poets singing in praise of a country life. 

71. saturum, fertile. laudare, to eulogize. corbes, baskets for 

gathering fruits — part of the farm furniture. 

72. fumosa Palilia faeno. The festival called Palilia, in honor of 
Pales, was the shepherds' holiday, and was celebrated on the 21st of April, 
which was said to be the day of the founding of Rome. The feasters made 
fires of hay and jumped through them, doubtless, ' to appease the evil spirit 
by a pretended sacrifice.' 

73. Persius here wanders off into praise of a country life. Remus 



NOTES o.N SATIRE I. 13 

came from the country, and the great dictator was ploughing when sum- 
moned by the senate. Representing a lictor as a farm servant, and hurry- 
ing over particulars to increase the impression of incongruity he applauds 

himself for his Hue verses, with the euge which the poet expected, and 

returns to his subject. unde, whence came. " Remus frequently takes 

the place of his brother Romulus in poetry, as the oblique cases of the 

latter word do not tit well into dactylic verse." terens, wearing bright. 

dentalia. Dentate is properly the beam of the plough. Quinti. 

CiiieiniuUas. For the story; vid. Liv. III. 26. 

74. trepida, in hot haste. dictatorem : appos. with te understood Bfi 

object of induit. 

75. " aratra : poetic plural." euge poeta ! The self applause. 

76. In imitation of Horace he now proceeds to attack the older writers. 

Brisaei. Accius is here called Brisaeus, an epithet of Bacchus, 

because he wrote a tragedy on the same subject as the Bacchae of Euripides, 
or, perhaps with reference to the Dionysiac beginnings of tragedy, 30 thai 
the notion intended would be antiquated, and also perhaps to remind lis of 

Horace's theory that all the old poets were wine drinkers. "venosus 

is properly applied to the hard, knotted veins that stand out on the faces 
and brows of old men. The allusion, therefore, is to the taste of the Romans 
of Persius' day for the rugged, uncouth, and antiquated writings of their 

earlier poets." liber, play. Vid. Quint. 1. 10, 18. Acci is also written 

Atti. L. Accius was a tragic poet, who lived about 170-94, B. C. He wrote 
about forty tragedies and several praetextac. Cicero, Horace, and others give 
him high rank as gravis, ingeniosus, mmmus, a/Ins poeta. 

77. Pacuvius was born at Brundusium about 220 B. ( '., and was 
brought to Rome by his uncle Ennius. lie was a painter as well as an 
author. He was the author of twelve tragedies and one praetexta entitled 
Paid us (probably referring to Aemilius Paulus). lie died at Tarentum 

about 132 B.C. verrucosa is opposed to a smooth clear skin, and hence, 

rugged, warty. It marks the extreme of Ugliness. 

78. Antiopa : imitated from a lost play of Euripides. The remainder 

of the verse is cither a specimen or a parody of it. aerumnis is for the 

most part anteclassical. luctificabile is anot her archaism. 

79. hos monitus, i. e., when these are taken as model- of Btyle. 

lippos may refer to physical blindness brought on by excess, or to mental 
blindness; probably the latter here. 

80. sartago, hubble-bubble: lit., a frying pom ; tailed so from the hissing 

Of its contents. 

81. dedecus conveys the notion of a scandal both to taste and morals. 
The disgrace here is the corrupting the purity and simplicity of the Latin, 

by this intermixture of obsolete words and thoughts. 

82. trossulus was a name, originally given to the old Roman knights 
as a title of honor. It was afterwards used as a term of reproach and 



44 NOTES ON SATIEE I. 

applied to effeminate and dissolute persons. exsultat expresses the 

rapturous applause of the listeners. Cf. trepidare, v. 20. per subsellia. 

This refers to the benches occupied during the recitation. levis = levi- 

gatus : opposed to the hispida membra of the old Romans. 

83. He now attacks those who, even when pleading for the life of a 
friend, aim at the applause won by nicely balanced sentences and polished 

antitheses. nilne is more emphatic than nonne. H. 457, 3. capiti : 

abl. after pellere. 

84. tepidum, lukewarm, nearly = frigidum, as decenter is a much 

weaker expression of approbation than euge, belle, pulchre or bene. optes. 

A. 319, d; G. 551; H. 504. 

85. fur es is put as plainly as possible to contrast with the elabora- 
tion of the reply. ait, sc. the prosecutor. Pedio. This is supposed 

to refer to Pedius Bassus, who, being accused of sacrilege and peculation by 
the Cyrenians, undertook his own defence and, having been found guilty, 
was expelled from the Senate. rasis = teretribus. 

86. posuisse = quod posuerit, because he introduced. A. 333, b ; G. 
533 ; H. 534, N. I. 

87. hoc bellum is the indignant repetition of the words of applause by 

Persius. an, "what? can it be that?" Romule : like Till, Romulidae, 

Trossulus. ceves : like trepidare, exsultat; but with a further notion of 

moral debasement. Translate Dost thou wag thy tail? Cf. Shaks. King 
Henry VIII. Act. V. sc. 2, 

" To me, you can not reach, you play the spaniel, 
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me." 

88. men moveat, sc. naufragus. Cf. 'men moveat cimex Pantilius?' 

Hor. Sat. I. 10, 78. quippe, forsooth. cantet si naufragus. Vid. 

Hor. A. P. 20. Juv. XIV. 302. Per. Sat. VI. 32. From this we may 
infer that the custom of beggars singing ballads was not unknown at Rome. 
The shipwrecked appealed to charity by carrying about pictures of the 
disaster. 

89. in fracta trabe. This may mean floating on a bit of the wreck, or 
painted on a broken plank of the ship in order to excite greater sympathy. 

90. verum, paratum. A. 240, a; G. 331, 2; H. 371, II. (2). 

91. plorabit. A. 264, c ; G. 235 ; H. 470, 1. incurvasse = flectere. 

Cf. Sen. Ep. 71 'hoc, ut opinor, succidere mentem, et incurvari, et succum- 
bere.' Hor. Od. III. 10, 16, ' Nee tinctus viola pallor amantium .... 
Curvat. The sentiment here is the same as in Hor. A. P. 102, ' Si vis me 
flere, dolendum est Primum ipsi tibi.' 

g2-io6. The distribution of these lines is difficult, and numerous 
arrangements have been suggested for the passage. For the train of 

thought, as we interpret it, see the Argument. decor, grace. iunc- 

tura. Vid. Note on v. 65. crudis, our (heretofore) unpolished. 



NOTES OX SATIRE I. \'> 

93. cludere versum, to round a vene, i. v., not merely to oondudt a 

verse, hut to compost it, or to express it in metrical compass, didicit. It 

seems preferable to take the specimen verses as t 1 1 * - subject of this verb. 

Attis. Vid. Cat. LXIII. 

g4. Nerea : god of the sea, here, water. 

95. It is very difficult to tell what is meant by these verses or in what 
particular respect they are faulty. At any rate their bombastic affectation 
and the rhyming of the terminations seem to have struck Persius -nlli- 
ciently to have caused him to deride them, which is sufficient for 11- t«» 
know. Conington says: In verse 93, "The point of ridicule appears to be 
the rythm, which the poet doubtless thought excellent, a Ion- sweeping 
word like Berecyntius heing a great point gained. In verse 94, perhaps the 
expression is meant to he ridiculed as well as the rythm, as the image of the 
dolphin cleaving Nereus is nearly as grotesque as Furius' of Jupiter spitting 
snow on the Alps ( I I<»r. Sat. II. 5, 41i. In verse 95, both expression and 
rythm seem to he ridiculed. The rythmical trick evidently is tin- spondaic 
ending with the jingle in the middle. The sense too is extremely obscure. 
We can seethe absurdity of the image of 'fetching off a rib from tin 1 
Appenine,' as if by the process of carving, hnt it is not easy to understand 
what was the original reference of the line." 

96-98. It seems to give more spirit to the dialogue to assign these verses 

to Persins and in so doing we follow some of the best commentators. 

arma virum : an ejaculation, or invocation to the shades of Virgil. It 
was customary to use the opening words of a poem to indicate the poem 

itself. hoc refers to these specimen verses.— —spumosum et cortice 

pingui, frothy and fluffy, i. e., like a thick skinned old bough with the sap 
oozing out of it. 

97. vegrandi subere, stunted cork-tree. coctum, i. e., thoroughly 

dried. Jahn refers to Theophr. Hist. Plant. IV. 18; 111. L6; Pliny XVII. 

2 1. .'!7, to show that the swelling of the hark wither- the bough. 

g8. igitur is common in interrogation-, a- we use then. 'If these are 
your specimens of finished versification give us something peculiarly lan- 
guishing.' laxa cervice : alluding to the affected position of the head, 

on one side, of those who recited these elleniinate strains. 

99-102. These verses, quoted by the friend, are commonly supposed to 
he Nero's, taken from a poem called Bacchae. Its affected and turgid Style 
is very evident from this fragment The epithet- are far-fetched and the 

images preposterous. torva : transferred from aspeel to sound. Vid. 

Verg. Aen. VII. 392. Mimalloneis: from Mimas, a mountain in Ionia, 

on the coast opposite Chios. implerunt, i. e., the Bacchanals. 

100. vitulo superbo is from Knrip. Bacch. 743: rmtpot 9 bfiptBTOA mo- 

K&pcu /'/ 1/0, ut 101 70 -fioati: r k. r. >. The Bacchanals overcame powerful bulls 

and tore them to pieces. ablatura is here used att ril>nti\ el\ . and almost 

like an adj., the future being probably intended to express habit. 



46 NOTES ON SATIRE I. 

101. Bassaris. Bassareus was an epithet of Bacchus, from the fox's 

skin in which he was represented. lyncem. The lynx was sacred to 

Bacchus as the conqueror of India. Maenas is represented as guiding 

the car of Bacchus (to which spotted lynxes are attached) not with reins, 
but with clusters of ivy. 

102. euhion. Greek eviov, ace, sing, of ebtoc, which is an epithet of 

Bacchus. " reparabilis, actively, reawakening.'" Vid. Hor. dissociabilis, 

Od. I. 3, 22. adsonat, chimes in. 

103-106. Persius claims that these verses prove that the men of his 
time have lost their fathers' manliness. The verses are nerveless, and float 
on the tongue on the top of the spittle, i. e., they do not come from the 
mind. The man who writes them never thumps his writing chair nor bites 

his nails in perplexity. si testiculi vena ulla paterni, if one spark of our 

fathers' manhood. 

104. delumbe, nerveless, marrowless. Delumbis is a very rare word. 

105. et in udo est Maenas et Attis, and in drivel rests this Maenas and 
Attis. Cf. sv vpyti egtiv i] yAwrra. Theoph. ch. 8, of a talkative man. 

106. pluteum. The Scholiast says that Pluteus, Avhich is commonly 
rendered desk, is the backboard of the studying-sofa or lecticula lucubratoria. 
The man lies on his couch after his meal, listlessly driveling out his verses 

without any physical exertion or even movement of impatience. caedit : 

rhetorical for caedere facit. demorsos, bitten down to the quick. 

107. The friend, admitting that all this is true, thinks it unnecessary to 
tell the truth at all times. 

108. The e in vide is shortened like cave in Hor. Ep. 1. 13, 19. A. 348, 

5 and except,; G. 704, 2, exc. 2 ; H. 581, IV. 3. sis = si vis. maiorum : 

imitated from Hor. Sat. II. 1, 60. 

109. limina frigescant. The coldness of the master is transferred to 

the threshold because the door shut leaves the applicant in the cold. 

canina littera, i. e., R. The snarl is that of the great man. Cf. Shaks. 
Bom. and Jul. Act II. Sc. 4 fin.: • 

" Methinks they're touched already, and I hear 
The doggish letter R sound in my ear." 
Cf. ira cadat naso V. 91, but the image here suggested is that of the dog at 
the door. ' Cave canem.' 

no. per me, "for all I care? Cf. Per me vel stertas licet. Cic. Acad. 

II. 29. Per me habeat licet. Plaut, Mercat. V. 4, 29. equidem is here 

as in several other places, equivalent to quidem. protinus, /rom this day 

forward. alba, white. Cf. Hor. Sat. II. 3, 245. 

in. nil moror = per me nulla mora est, I don't object, not I don't care. 

Cf. Ter. Eun. III. 2, 7. mirae res, marvels of creation. Cf. Hor. Sat. I. 

9, 4 : dulcissime rerum. 

112. hoc iuvat : interrogative. Cf. Hor. Sat. 1. 1, 78. hie veto quis- 

quam faxit oletum, I forbid anyone's committing a nuisance. Observe the 



NOTES OX SATIRE I. 17 

legal tone of the expression. quisquam is used <>n account of the nega- 
tive idea. A. 105, h ; Gk 304 ; H. 457. faxit, sc. ne. Vi.l. A. L28, e, 3 ; 

269, a ; G. 191, 5 ; 548, R. 2 ; H. 499, 2 ; 240, 4. 

113. pinge duos anguis, as the genii of the place, since every place 
had i t> genius, generally represented undo- the figure of a snake. Cf. Verg. 
Aen. V. 95. There are some remains of a similar painting and the follow- 
ing inscription on a wall at Koine, which was part of Nero's golden house : 

"DUODECI DEOS KT D1ANAM KT loVK.M OPTIMUM MAXIMUM 
HABEAT IRATOS QTJISQUIS HIC MIXEK1T All CACAWT." 
Similar inscriptions were placed on tombs. Cf. Juv. Sat. 1.131. 

114. discedo implies that Persius takes the warning to himself. 

secuit is applied to any kind of wound. ( f. Hor. Sat. I. 10, 4; Juv. 1. 105 

Lucilius. Note the humor, manifested by making the poet linger as 

he retires and turn hack to justify his right to remain by tin- examples of 
Lucilius and Horace-. 

115. Lupe. Lupus and Mueius were enemies of Scipio, Lucilius' 
patron. These were Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Lupus, consul A. Q.C. 597, 

and Publiua Mucins Scaevola, consul A. V. C. 021. genuinum fregit 

probably refers to the story of the viper and the file, alluded to by Hor. Sal. 
II. 1, 77, though the image here is meant to he to the honor of Lucilius. 

who fastened on his enemies without caring for the consequences. in 

illis is for in vobis: an example of anacoluthon. 

116. omne vitium . . . naso is a good description of Horace's style 

of Satire, which was generally good-natured and free from bitterness. 

vafer, rogue. Horace is so called because lie takes his friends in. amico 

is opposed to populum v. 118. Horace takes his friends playfully to task 
for their weaknesses, hut is more contemptuous in speaking of men in gen- 
eral, and mentions ohnoxious individuals even with bitterness. 

117. admissus, i. e., into the bosom. praecordia, "heartstrings," is 

emphatic — he plays, hut it is with the innermost and most sensitive feelings. 

118. callidus . . . suspendere. ( T. Prol. 11. excusso ( tur- 

siuii iactato) naso is a curious expression evidently borrowed from Horace's 
(Sat. II. 8, 04) 'suspendens omnia naso.' 

119. muttire. Colloquial, used by Plautus and Terence. It signifies 

to mutter or speak wnder the breath. — — clam is opposed to palam. nee . . . 

nee divide the negation in nefas. A. 209, b; (i. Ill, Et; II. 553, 2. 

cum scrobe : because the hole in the ground is the supposed partner of the 

secret; alluding to the story of Midas. Yid. < )v. Met XI. L80 Beq. 

nusquam anticipates the critic'-, answer (av0O7C(xf>opa), 

120. hie, i. e., in his poem. vidi was the form of giving evidence. 

Juv. Sat. VII. Li; XVI. 10. 

121. quis non habet was changed by Casaubon into ' Mida ic\ habet,' 
on the authority of the Life of Persius, which sayfl that lYrsiu-. left 'Mida 

rex habet, 1 hut Cornutus in revising the work for posthumous publication 



48 NOTES ON SATIRE I. 

thought it better to suppress so obvious a reflection on Nero, and altered it 
into ' Quis non.' ' Quis non,' however, is clearly required by the satire as 
we now have it, the fact that everybody has asses' ears being the secret with 
Avhich Persius has been laboring ever since v. 8 ; and the whole tone of the 
preceding part of the poem makes it much more likely that the sarcasm, as 

intended, should be universal than particular. opertum, dead and buried 

secret. 

122. hoc ridere meum. Cf. v. 9. vendo, I am going to sell. A. 

276, c ; G. 219 ; H. 467, III. 5. 

123. Iliade : such as that of Labeo, mentioned above. He now 

describes those he would wish to have for his readers, and answers Quis 

leget haec in verse 2. audaci, bold spoken. This clearly indicates the Old 

Attic Comedy. adflate. Voc. for nom. Cf. Verg. Aen. II. 282. A. 

241, b ; G. 324, K. 1 ; H. 369, 3. Cratino. He was the oldest of the 

three famous comic poets of Greece. He carried his boldness so far that 
it was found necessary to restrain his personalities by a special edict. Cf. 
Hor. Sat. I. 4, 1. Persius mentions the three in chronological order. 

124. iratum Eupolidem. The fragments of his writings justify the 
epithet. His satire was directed against the pestilent demagogues who were 

the curse of his country. A. 237, c; G. 329, K; H. 371, III. N. 1. 

praegrandi sene, i. e., Aristophanes, so-called from the greatness of his 

genius, and his antiquity. He is called the prince of the old comedy. 

palles. The paleness which Persius attacks (v. 26) is that of debauchery 
and dilettante study ; but he is ready to sympathize with the paleness of 
the genuine student. Cf. III. 85 ; V. 62. 

125. decoctius. A metaphor from the boiling down of fruits, wine, 
etc., and by diminishing the quantity thus increasing the strength. It is 
opposed to spumosus, v. 96. audis, have an ear for. 

126. inde, i. e., from these writers. vaporata, steamed, cleansed. 

Ears were cleansed by steaming as well as by washing with vinegar. It 

may be intended as a continuation of the metaphor. mihi : dat. after 

ferveat, which is opposed to tepidus, v. 84. 

127. hie is more contemptuous than is would be. in crepidas . . . 

ludere : a very rare construction, the simple accusative being the regular 

one. crepidas. A part of the Greek National dress, of which the 

Romans had become jealous. Orepida, being the Greek shoe (upr/iuc) the 

Romans called their comedies with Greek plots crepidatae. Graiorum : 

a rare form for Graecorum, " used perhaps by way of rebuke to this 
would-be wag." 

128. sordidus, low creature as he is. Jahn makes the opposition 
between the refinement of the elegant Greek and the vulgarity of the low 

Roman — the eternal feud between good clothes and bad. possit after 

gestit in the midst of a number of indicatives. Cf. III. 71. The force here 
is ' Who would be able on occasion,' i. e., his power of satire can extend no 






XoTF.s o.\ SATIRE II. !•• 

farther than to call a man, whom he knows to have but one ej e, " I Hd ( tae- 
cyc." "Bodily defects are objects of pity rather than ridicule." Plato 
Protag. 

129. aliquem : an expression common in Greek and Latin. Cf. Theoc, 

XI. 79; Acts. V. 36; Juv. I. 74. A. -2(r2: <;. 301 : II. 465. Italo. pro- 
vincial, opposed not to Greek, but t<> Roman metropolitan magistracies. 

supinus = 8uperbu8, only more graphic, head in <u'r. ( T. Juv. 1. 190 ; -Mart. 
V. 8, 10. 

130. fregerit. A. 321, a; (J. 841; II. 516, II. The same duty 

devolved npon the aediles at Koine. heminas : half a sextarius, both 

dry and liquid measure. Cf. fifiuao. Arreti : a town in Ktrnria, between 

the Tiber and the Arnus, now Arezzo. iniquas. Iniquus was the common 

word for a false measure. 

131. 'Nor the man who laughs at philosophy simply because he can 

not understand it.' abaco. The abacus was a Blab of marble or some 

other material used by mathematicians, and covered with sand for the pur- 
pose of drawing figures and making calculations (Jahn). Others however 
separate the abacus from the pvlvis, making the former 'a frame with 
moveable counters' for the purpose of calculation — the latter 'tin- sand on 
which the figures were described.' metas, cones, figures. 

132. scit risisse, has [just) sense enough t<> laugh, as if it were ;i great 
thing. " vafer : ironical." 

133. cynico. There is perhaps an allusion to the story of Lais and 

Diogenes. barbam. The heard was the badge of a philosopher. 

nonaria for meretrix does not occur elsewhere. It is said to he derived from 
nanus; because women of this class were not allowed to appear in public 

before the ninth hour, tin- time of dining. vellat. A.341,b; G. 666; 

II. 529, II. 

134. edictum, play-bill. Cf. Sen. Epist. 117,30. prandia = cena. 

Calliroen : probably a poem of the Phyllis and Hypsipylc stamp (v.34) 

which wonld he recited after dinner. Others suppose some 'nonaria' is 
meant, lint the context seems to require some literary trash, as :i set oil 

against IVrsius' own productions. do. Cf. Hor. Bpist. I. L9, 8: Forum 

putealque l/ibonis rnandabis sin-is. 



SATIRE SECOND. 

The subject of this satire is the wickedness of some men'f prayen and the fool 
ishnese of those "i others. 

It was written as ;■ birthday poem to lii- friend Maorinus, and, u irell :■- ili< 
tenth Satire of Juvenal, ie based upon the Seoond Uoibiadet ascribed bo Plato, 
which it oloselj resembles in arrangement m- well ai sentiment. 
5 



50 NOTES ON SATIRE II. 

The text is " The true philosopher is the only man that knows how to pray aright, 
and the Stoic is your only true philosopher." 



ARGUMENT. — Enjoy your birthday freely, my friend, and propitiate the 
power that governs your happiness. Your prayers are sure to be acceptable, unlike 
those of most of our great men, who dare not express their wishes openly. They 
pray selfishly for money, and for the death of those who stand between them and 
their enjoyment — aye, and think they shall be heard, as they have gone through 
all the ritual forms (1-16). 

Let them only try the experiment of taking the least divine of their acquain- 
tance and saying to him what they say to Jupiter, he would at once cry shame on 
them. The gods indeed do not take vengeance immediately, but that is no proof 
that such prayers are forgiven, unless we are to suppose that the sacrifice — what a 
sacrifice ! — makes the difference, and acts as a bribe (17-30). 

No better are the silly prayers of old women for new-born children — that the 
darlings may be rich and marry princesses. They know not what they ask (31-40). 

One man prays for health and long life — a blessing doubtless — but one which he 
cannot have, being a glutton. Another actually ruins himself by the costliness of 
his sacrifices, while all the time his object is to obtain an increase to his possessions 
and goes on spending and hoping to the last (41-51). 

To receive a present of gold or silver is the summit of human pleasure. Thence 
men conclude that the gods must value it too, and accordingly gild the statues of 
those whom they find most propitious — so that now gold supersedes everything 
else in our temples. Miserable blindness of earthly grovellers ! as if pampered 
flesh were a measure of the desires of heaven ! Luxury may be excused for her 
refinements, though they are so many sins against nature : at any rate she has the 
enjoyment of them : but will any priest tell me that the gods can care for such 
things ? No, give me that which no wealth can buy — an honest, pure and generous 
heart, and the cheapest oblation will suffice (52-75). 



i. Hunc diem. The birthday was always a gala day in Eome, and 
gifts were at that time presented. Authors were accustomed to send their 

works as presents. Macrine. The Scholiast says Plotius Macrinus was a 

learned man and who had a fatherly regard for Persius, having studied in 
the house of the same praeceptor, Servilius. He had sold some property to 
Persius at a reduced rate. meliore lapillo (sc. solito), is commonly ex- 
plained by a story of Pliny's (H. N. VII. 40, 41) that the Thracians used 
to lay aside a white or a black stone for every day of their lives, accordingly 
as it was lucky or unlucky, and when life was over the stones were counted. 
It is thought that a proverb based on this custom, if not the custom itself, 
had been adopted by the Romans. 

2. labentis, as they glide away unobserved. Cf. Hor. Od. II. 14, 1. 

apponit : a technical word in calculating, containing the notion of gain. 



NOTES on SATIRE II. 51 

< T. I lor. ()d. I. ( J, 15. candidus, with auepieiotu omen. ( f. Oatull. 

VIII. 3. 

3. genio. The Genius was the deification of the happier <»r Impulsive 
part of a man, so that an offering to it implied that the day was to be -pent 
in real enjoyment. Some hold it to he the deity, who presides over each 
man from his birth, being coeval with the man himself. emaci, bargain- 
ing, mercenary, higgling. 

4. seductis. Cf. VI. 42, paulum a turha aeduetior andL Casaubon 
refers to Sen. Ep. 41 for the statement that worshippers used to get the 
temple-keeper to allow them access to the ears of the statues, that they 
might he able to he heard hetter. 

5. at bona pars, a good many. Cf. At bona pars homwum, Hor. Sat. 

I. 1, 61. libabit is used to do, and therefore will do, will be found to do. 

acerra, a box of frankincense, a censer. 

6. haud cuivis. Cf. Hor. Ep. I. 17, 3(i, Son cuivis homini eontingit ; 
also the Greek ov t£i roxovri. This and the verses following t<> 52 are in 
continuation of the idea in verse 4; that suggested in emaci is resumed in 
verse 52. humilis, low, lit., that keep near the ground. A rare epithet 

7. aperto voto, i. e.. a prayer which you would nol fear to divulge. 
Cf. the maxim of Pythagoras uera fuvifc efc^eo ; also Seneca. "Sic vive cum 
hominilms tanquam deue videat ; sic loquere cum deo tanquam homines 
audiant ;" also Martial, " Si quis erit recti custos, mirator honesti el nihil 
arcanoqui rogetoredeos." vivere refers to daily prayers for daily blessings. 

8. mens bona etc. Imitated from Hor. Ep. I. 16, 57 seq. Cf. Juv. 
Sat. X. 356, "Orandum est ut sit mens soma in corpore sum." Possibly 
Mens hona, Fama, Fides are not things prayed for, as they are commonly 
supposed to be, but persons prayed to. Ci\ Prop. IV. 24, 19, 'Mens Bona, 

si qua Dea es, tua me in Bacraria dono.' fama, reputation. fides, credit. 

hospes, a stranger, i. e., so that any one may hear. 

9. ilia refers to that which follows. A. 102, b; G. 292, 3; II. 150, 3. 

sub lingua, under his breath. Cf. the Greek bit bdovra. O si : For 

this form of the wish see A. 267, b; G. 254, B. 1 ; II. 483, 1. 

10. ebulliat (pronounced ebuUjat. II. o(»S, III. X. 2) is a dang expres- 
sion nearly equal to our " kick the bucket." The full expression is EbuUire 

(= efflare) animam. praeclarum funus is meant to hear the double 

sense a welcome death and a splendid funeral. Much ingenuity is manifested 
in the framing of these impious requests. Note thai the supplicant medi- 
tates UO injury t<> any one. The death of the ancle Lfi concealed under the 
wish that he may see his magnificent funeral ! which, BS the p. .or man mu-t 
one day die, is a prayer becoming the pious nephew, who was to inherit his 

fortune. 

11. sub rastro, etc. Cf. Hor. Sat. [1.6, L0. " < I si nrnam argenti fan 
quae mini monstret . . . dives amico Hercule," seria, a jar of earthen- 
ware. 



52 NOTES ON SATIRE II. 

12. Hercule. Casaubon makes a distinction between Hermes, as the 
bestower of windfalls found on the way, and Hercules, as the patron of trea- 
sures that are sought for. There was a custom at Rome to consecrate a 
tenth part of gains to Hercules as TrlovTodorr/g. This petition is quite inno- 
cent : if people will foolishly bury their gold, and overlook or forget it, 

there is no more harm in his finding it than another. pupillumve 

utinam. The man here does not compass his ward's death, but only prays 
for it.- — proximus heres. The Twelve Tables provided that where no 
guardian was appointed by the will, the next of kin would be guardian, 
and he would, of course, be heir. 

13. inpello, equivalent to urgeo, insto, premo, whose heels / tread upon. 

expungam : a metaphor from the military roll-calls. He wishes that 

he may have the pleasure of striking the name from the tablets of the will, 

as that of a person deceased. namque . . . tumet is said in justification 

of his prayer and implies that death would be a blessing to him as he is 
suffering from disease. " It is not much to grant, a great part has been 
done already ; the gods in fact seem to have contemplated his death, and it 
would be such a release !" 

14. tumet. Cf. turgescit vitrea bilis, III. 8 ; mascula bilis Intumuit, 

V. 145. Nerio is the usurer mentioned in Hor. Sat. II. 3, 69. A. 235, b ; 

G. 352, R. 1 ; H. 388, 3. tertia ducitur uxor contains a broad hint. By 

marrying three times he would, of course, receive three dowries, while our 
friend has had but one chance. Note that not a word is said of his own 
wife : if the gods are pleased to take a hint and remove her, that is their 
concern ; he never asked it. Cf. Sir John Loverule in " The Devil to Pay :" 

" Ye gods, you gave to me a wife, 

Out of your grace and favor, 
To be the comfort of my life ; 

And glad was I to have her : 
But, if your providence divine 

For better fate design her, 
T' obey your will at any time 

I'm ready to resign her." 

15. He now exposes the absurd folly of those who imagine that sanctity 
consists in a due observance of the external forms and rites of religion ; 
while they shamefully neglect the purification of the heart, of which the 
other is but typical and ought to remind them, haec (emphatic) sancte, 

" that you may ask for this with pure lips." Tiberino. It seems to have 

been a common penance to plunge one's self in the Tiber. Cf. Hor. Sat. II. 
3, 390 ; Juv. VI. 523. gurgite. A. 250, a ; G. 384, R. 1 ; H. 425, I. 

16. mane. Cf. Tibul. III. 4, 9 ; Propert. IV. 10, 13 ; Verg. Aen. VIII. 

69 ; Leviticus, cap. XV. bis terque, over and over. noctem. " The 

ancients believed that night itself, independently of any extraneous pollu- 



NOTES ON SATIRE II. 53 

tion, occasioned a certain amount of defilement, which most be washed away 
in pure water at day-break." Vid. n. on mane above. 

17. With a sudden turn, Peraius now addressee one of the men who 
otter such prayers as those he has just recited by an ironical question con- 
cerning his ideas of the divine character. minimum: [ronical. A. 

II. 93, b; 444, 1. scire laboro. (4. Hor. Ep. [. 3, 2; Sat II. 8, L9. 

18. estne ut . . . cures. A. 332, a; G. 558; B. 498, II. N. 2. Cf. 
Hor. Od. III. 1, '.», Est ut viro vir latins ordinet Arhusta sulcis. 

19. cuinam ? cuinam ? "The former is the question of the other 
man," and is said with bitterness. "The man of prayer will not venture to 
decide, until he bears the name of the individual, whose virtues, as guardian 
and judge, are to he weighed against those of Jupiter: even then he hesitates, 
until he is incidentally reminded that the person thus selected had 
defrauded his ward in one instance, and condemned the innocent in another; 
this overcomes his delicate scruples and he tacitly admits the god to he the 

better of the two." "The latter is the echo of Persius." Staio. Stains 

can not he identified, and it is immaterial who he was: we Learn what he was 

from the next verse. an scilicet haeres ? Do yon main to say thai you 

have any hesitation f 

20. quis = uter. 

81. inpellere = incutere, to influence. 

22. agedum. Cf. Lucr. [11.962; Ter. Eun. IV. 1. 27; Hor. Sat. II. 

3, 155. die . . . clamet = si dices, elamabit. A. 310, b; <i. 594, I; 

II. 507, 1. 

23. clamet Iuppiter ipse, sc. fo rem, to make the point clearer. Cf. 
Hebrews V I. i:>. "Because he could swear by no greater, he sware by 
himself." 

24. The details intended to he presented appear to he these. The 

guilty worshipper is in a sacred grove during a thunderstorm; the Lightning 
strikes not him, but one of the sacred trees; and be congratulates bimself 

on his escape, — without reason, as LVrsius tells him. The circumstances 
are precisely those used by Lucretius to enforce his sceptical arguments, 
VI. 390 and 41b. 

25. sulpure sacro, soared holt. ('(. Lucan VII. 1 60, A.etherisque 

nocens fumavit sulpure ferrum. domus. The family of the criminal 

share his i'ate. ( 'f. Juv. XIII. 206, '"//' prole domoqut . 

26. fibris : the extremities of the liver. ovium. "When any 

person was struck deail by lighting, the priest was immediately called in to 
bury the body: everything that had been scorched by it was collected and 
buried with it. A two-year-old sheep was then sacrificed, and an altar 

erected over the place and the ground slightly enclosed round." 

Ergenna : an Etruscan name like Porsenna. The Etruscans were cele- 
brated as haruspices. iubente. A. L87, a; G. 286; II. 139. 

27. lucis. A. U5S, f; (i. :$S4, '2; 11.425, 1. bidental. A place 



54 NOTES ON SATIEE II. 

struck by lightning was called bidental, from the offering of a bidens, with 
which it was purified. Here the word is transferred to the corpse lying 
dead in such a place. 

28. vellere barbam. Cf. the story of the Gaul and Papirius. The 
images of the gods had beards. There may also be an allusion to the mode 
of supplication by taking hold of the beard. 

29. aut: (A. 211 : G. 460: H. 554, II. N.) introducing another case, 

like aut ego fallor = nisi fallor. quidnam est, qua mercede (= quid- 

nam est ea merces, qua) seems a double question by a sort of zeugma. It is 
an unusual expression. 

30. emere auriculas is explained by Jahn on the analogy of praebere, 

pulmone is here used contemptuously to denote the larger intestine in 

giving the details of the sacrifice. lactibus (yaAanTideg) are the small 

ones. 

31. Persius now leaving wicked prayers passes to prayers for silly and 

undesirable things. ecce marks a transition. avia aut matertera. 

" The doting fondness of grandmothers and aunts is proverbial." 

metuens divum, a translation of 6ei(n6aluo)v. A. 218, b ; G. 374 ; H. 399, 
II. " matertera est matris soror." cunis. A. 229 ; H. 385, 2. 

32. uda, driveling. 

33. infami = medio. The middle finger being used in indecent 
gesture was called infamis, and hence is chosen as having more power 

against fascination on that very account. lustralibus. The eighth day, 

if the child were a girl ; the ninth, if a boy, was called dies lustralis or lustricus : 

the infant was then purified and named. salivis. Among all nations 

spittle has been believed to have very wonderful virtues. 

34. urentis : lit., withering, blasting. oculos. The belief in the 

effects of the " evil eye " is still prevalent in Southern Europe. They were 
supposed to extend even to cattle. Cf. Verg. Eel. III. 103 ; Hor. Ep. I. 14, 
37. inhibere perita. A. 273, d ; G. 424, K. 4 ; H. 553, II. 3. 

35. manibus quatit. Casaubon compares Horn. II. VI. 474. avjap by 
bv (piAov vibv enel kvos TcrjAe re xepoiv, Wirtey enev^ajxevoc Ad r' aXkoiciv re Oeoioc. 
spem macram, skinny hopeful. 

36. Licini. Licinus was originally the slave and steward of Julius 
Caesar. After being set free, he was made procurator of Gaul, where he 

amassed great wealth by extortion. Cf. Juv. I. 109. Crassi. Marcus 

Crassus, whose wealth was enormous, was killed by the Parthians. Cf. Juv. 
X. 108. His riches were almost as proverbial as those of Croesus. 

38. hunc rapiant seems to imply that the tables are to be turned, and 

that instead of running off with them, they are to run off with hini. 

quidquid. Casaubon compares Claud. Seren. I. 89 ; Quocunque per herbam 
Reptares, fluxere rosae. 

39. nutrici. Cf. Hor. Ep. I. 4, 6 seq., Quid voveat dulci nutricula 
maius alumno. Seneca (Ep. 60, quoted by Casaubon), however, agrees with 



NOTES ON SATIRE It. 55 

Persius, Etiamnum optas quod tibioptavil nutrix, aiit pedagogue am mater? 
Nondum intellegis quantum mali optaverint? 

40. albata, dressed in white, as those always were who presided over or 
attended at sacrifices. 

41. Persius now passes from silly to insane prayers, the fulfilment of 

which men render impossible by their own folly. nervis, smews. 

senectae is lust taken with fidele. 

42. esto, " so far, 80 good." grandes patinae. Cf. Hor. Sat. 11.2. 

95; Qrandea rhombi poftinoeque, Grande ferunl una cum damno dedecus. 

tucceta crassa, thick gravies. The Scholiast makes tuccetutn, a (laulish 

word, of the same origin with the proper name Tucea, and describes it as 
beef steeped in a thick gravy, which enables it to keep a year. 

43. his, sc. rods. vetuere implies that the restraining cause had 

anticipated the prayer and prevented its taking effect. 

44. rem struere, " to heap up riches." caeso bove. "An expensive 

sacrifice." " Killing one's cattle is a strange way of augmenting one's stock." 

45. arcessis is stronger than vocas, and expresses the confidence of the 

worshipper. da fortunare = ui fortwnent. Penatis is the subject, and 

me may he supplied as object. fortunare is used absolutely, and is in- 

variahly used of the gods. 

46. quo, pessime, pacto. Cf. Hot. Sat. II. 7, -'2, Quo pacto, pessime. 

47. iunicum = imencarum: iunix = iuvenix = iuvencus. 

48. vincere . . . intendit, he. strain* every nerve l" "/". increasing his 
sacrifices as his means increase. Note the change in person. ferto. 

Fertum was a kind of cake made of Hour, wine, honey, etc., frequently 

offered in sacrifice. The Scholiast says "A ferendo." 

50. deceptus et exspes, disappointed and despairing. He represents 
the last coin (nummus = sestertius) as having been cheated into parting 

with its brethren by the promise thai it should see them again and many 
more besides, and now sighing to find itself left quite alone without any 
more hope. Casaubon compares Ilesiod Sethi) 6* kv\ -iHu:r: ■ 

51. nequiquam suspiret, sighs unavailingig. A. 328 ; < >. 574 : II. 519, 
TI.2. 

52. Persius now passes from satirizing the foolishness of trying to secure 

the favor of the gods by extravagant sacrifices to speak of a similar fault, 

viz., that of those men who imagine the gods are like themselves and value 

gold as highly as they do, and can he won by the same means. Hence Un- 
costly nature of the offerings made and the vessels employed in the service 

of the temple. crateras is from rratera. incusa is a translation of 

iu-a/oru; k[tiraioTiK$ n \ vij being the art of embossing silver or some other 
material with golden ornaments. Hence crateras argenti incusaque dona 
is probably a hendiadys. pingui : opposed to Ian or tenui. 

53. pectore laevo refer- simply to the position of the heart. 

54. guttas, sweat, heart-drops. laetari is taken with praetrepidum, 

over host;/ to rejoice, 



56 NOTES ON SATIRE II. 

55. illud quod : otherwise expressed by the impersonal with an infini- 
tive. subiit. The final syllable is lengthened by the arsis. sacras. 

Sacer is used of the gods themselves, not merely of things consecrated to 

them. ovato. The epithet may mark the unjust acquisition of the gold 

offered to heaven. It was the custom for generals at a triumph to offer a 
certain portion of the spoils to Jupiter and the other deities. 

56. nam introduces an illustration, for instance. fratres aenos is 

best taken as those gods which had bronze statues. 

57. pituita purgatissima, most free from gross humors, i. e., which are most 
likely to be true, pituita is here a trisyllable. 

58. aurea barba. Cic. N. D. III. 34, tells of Dionysius 'Aesculapii 
Epidaurii barbam auream demi iussit, neque enim convenire barbatum esse 
filium, cum in omnibus fanis pater imberbis esset.' Ivory, marble or bronze 
statues were often decorated with locks, which were literally ' golden,'' and 
with a beard of the same material. 

59. vasa Numae. Numa ordered all sacred vessels to be made of 
wood or pottery-ware. They were called capedines and simpuvia. Cf. Juv. 

VI. 343. Saturnia aera, Saturnian brass. The explanation is far from 

certain. The Scholiast explains it, however, of the use of brass coin which 
was supposed to be connected with the early reign of Saturn in Italy ; Janus, 
the first coiner, according to the legend, having stamped one side of the 
coin with his own head, the other with a ship, to commemorate the landing 

of Saturn. Others refer it to the Aerarium in the temple of Saturn. 

inpulit, has pushed out. 

60. Vestalis urnas. The Vestals always used urns of pottery. 

Tuscum fictile, Etruscan because they were brought into Rome from Etruria, 
and because the Romans borrowed many religious rites from their ritual. 

61. "This apostrophe and the remainder of the Satire contain senti- 
ments worthy of a Christian." in terris. Note the effect of the ablative 

as marking rest in a place. caelestium. A. 218, c; G. 373, R. 6 ; H. 

399, III. 1. 

62. hos nostros mores, these our views. inmittere, " turn loose upon." 

63. bona dis = ea quae dis bona videntur. ducere, deduce, infer. 

pulpa is a remarkable word, coinciding as it does with the Christian 

language about the flesh, especially when coupled with the epithet scelerata. 
Vid. Romans VIII. 6, 7. 

64. haec, sc. pulpa. sibi, to gratify itself — pointing the contrast with 

bona Bis. corrupto is proleptic. Vid. Verg. Georg. II. 465. 

65. Calabrum. The finest wool came from Tarentum in Calabria. 

vitiato, spoiled; because changed from its proper use. murice. The 

murex was found in the greatest perfection off the coast of Tyre. 

66. bacam : a common word for a pearl, lit., berry of the shell. 

rasisse implies violence, such as was necessary to separate the pearl. 

67. massae, ore. crudo pulvere, native earth. 



NOTES ON SATIRE III. 57 

68. vitio utitur, profits by its SOT*, i. e., it #ets gome good OUl of it ; it 
has some excuse, hut what do the gods want of Li « » 1<1 . Nothing. 

69. quid facit, what business hast 

70. pupae. So the sailor (Hor. Od. I. 5, 16) hangs up the clothes, 
and the lover (Od. III. 2f>, .'5 seq.) the harp, etc., with which he has now 
done. Prateus says that marriageable <jirls did this, that Venus might in 
return hless their nuptial coueh with real babies. 

71. quin damus is equivalent to a command. With the ironical 

repetition magna— magni cf. Hor. Sat. 1. (i, 72 Magni <^uo pueri, magnis e 
centurionibufi orti. Porreetuni magno magnum spectare catino Vellem. 
Hor. Sat. 11. 2, 39. lance, charger. 

72. Messallae. L. Aurelius Cotta Messalinus was the son of M. 
Valerius Messala Corvinus and was adopted by his maternal uncle L. 
Aurelius Cotta. He is mentioned more than once by Tacitus, who calls 
him (Ann. VI. 7) nohilis quidem, Bed egens oh luxum, per tlagitia infamis, 
and is enumerated by Pliny X. 22, 27 among famous epicures, so that Per- 
sius doubtless <;ives him the epithet lippus in order to note his excesses. 

73. conpositum, well blended, so that each takes its proper place in 

the mind. ius fasque : divine and human law, duty to God and man. 

sanctos : apparently a predicate, unstained, holy, without pollution. 

74. incoctum : a metaphor from a fleece doubly-dyed, hence, " thoroughly 

imbued. 1 ' generoso honesto, with the honor of a gentleman. Honzstum is 

Cicero's translation of ro* Kalbv. 

75. cedo. Cedo ut bibam, Plant. Most. 11. 1, 2(5; Cedo ut inspiciam, 

id. Cure. V. 2, 54. ut introduces an object clause. A. 331, h; (i. 546 ; 

H. 498, I. admovere is a sacrificial word. farre litabo. Of. Hor. 

Od. III. 23, 19, Mollivit aversos Penates Farre pio el saliente mica, litare 
is to obtain that for which the sacrifice is offered. 

That the deity regarded the purity of the heart of (he Bacrificer rather 
than the value of the offering, is a sentiment found in many of the heathen 
authors. 



SATIRE THIRD. 

This satire, perhaps more than any other, Bete forth Peroius' predilection for the 
doctrine of the Stoic-, [ts purpose is \>> teach the duty of Belf discipline. 

The firel pari presents us with the bed chamber of :i luxurious and lazy young 
nobleman, accompanied bj some youths of inferior station, snoring off the effects 
ut' yesterday's debauch. 
G 



58 NOTES ON SATIRE III. 

The second part is more general in its form, and points out with great force the 
proper pursuits of well-regulated minds. 

The whole satire and its moral, as Gilford says, may be fitly summed up in the 
solemn injunction of a wiser man than the schools ever produced : ""Wisdom is the 
principal thing : therefore get wisdom." 

It is said by the Scholiast to be imitated from the fourth book of Lucilius. 



ARGUMENT. — 'Eleven o'clock, and still sleeping off last night's debauch, 
while everything is broiling out of doors!' 'Is it so late?' I'll get up — here, 
somebody !' He gets into a passion because no one comes (1-9). He affects to set 
to work, but finds the ink won't mark. Wretched creature ! better be a baby again 
at once ! (10-18.) ' My pen won't write.' Nonsense — don't bring your excuses to 
me. You are going all wrong — just at the age, too, when you are most impressible. 
You have a nice property of your own — but that is not enough — no, nor your 
family either. Your life is virtually like Natta's except that you can feel your 
state while he cannot (19-34.) 

No torture that can be inflicted on the sinner can be worse than that in the 
moment of temptation he should see virtue as she is, and gnash his teeth that he 
can not follow her. The bull of Phalaris, the sword of Damocles, are as nothing 
compared with the daily " sense of running darkly to ruin " from the effect of con- 
cealed sin (35-13). 

I remember my school days, which were unprofitable enough. I used to cut 
recitations, because all my ambition was to excel in games of chance or skill — but 
you have had an insight into what wisdom is, and have learned something of the 
excellence of virtue. Dropping off again — nodding and yawning? Have you 
really no object in life? (44-62). 

There is such a thing as trying to mend when it is too late. Be wise in time — 
learn your duty — where to bound your wishes — on what objects to spend money — 
what is your mission in life. Such knowledge will stand a lawyer in better stead 
than all the wealth his fees may be bringing him (63-76). 

" Bah," says a soldier, " I know what's what well enough. I don't want to be 
one of your philosophers, standing dumbfounded and puzzling how the world was 
made — a pretty reason for losing one's color and going without one's dinner." A 
truly popular sentiment ! (77-S7). 

A man feels ill — consults his phj^sician, who recommends quiet and abstinence — 
obeys for three days — then, finding himself better, procures wine to drink after 
bathing. A friend cautions him on his way to the bath, but the advice is scorned 
— he bathes upon a full stomach — drinks — is seized with shivering — rejects his food 
— and in course of time makes the usual end, and is buried (88-106). 

You tell me you have no disease — no fever — no chill. But does not the hope of 
gain or pleasure cpuicken your pulse ? Is not your throat too tender to relish a coarse 
meal? You are subject to shivering fits of fear and the high fever of rage, which 
makes you rave like any madman (107-118). 



NOTES ON SATIRE III. 59 

i. Nempe implies a preceding statement, and bence introduces as at 
once into the dialogue. mane: nominative, :■ substantive, more com- 
monly used adverbially. fenestras is here the window-shutter*. 

2. extendit, make* larger. The li^ht transmitted through the narrow 
chinks in the shutters diverges into broader rays. rimas, //// chinks be- 
tween the shutters which are enlarged to the eye by the light coming 
through them, 

3. stertimus : the speaker including himself, when be really is only 

meaning others. indomitum, unmanageable. The Falernian was a very 

strong and heady wine, called ardens, Hor. < >d. [1.2, 19; severum, < >d. 1. 27, 

19; forte, Sat. II. 4, 24; vndormtum also by Lucan. X. 163. quod, bc. id, 

cognate accusative after stertimus, as the antecedent. despumare — 

coquere, to digest, work off. 

4. sufficiat, ought to suffice quinta is made to agree with umbra, 

though it properly belongs to linea. II. 636, IV. 2. duta, while. 

linea : of the sun-dial. The fifth hour (about II o'clock) was the time of 
prandium. .Sun-dials (solaria) were brought to Koine in the time of the 
second Punic war. 

5. quid agis. Cf. Verg. Aen. IV. 534. En, quid ago? A. 276, c; 

( r. 219 ; H. 467, 5. siccas with eoquii. II. 440, 2. insana Canicula, 

with an allusion, of course, to the madness of the animal, the madrdorft star. 
Vid. Hor. <)d. III. 29, 18; Ep. I. 10, 16. 

6. coquit, is ripening. 

7. comitum. Comes is a wide terra, including tutors, as well a^ asso- 
ciates of the same age: they seem, however, in both cases to have been 
selected by the youth's relatives, and to have been themselves of inferior 
rank. 

8. aliquis, i.e., of the servants. vitrea bilis : a translation of vaXhdiK 

]<>'/',. the expression in Greek medical writers. Cf. Hor. Sat. [1.3, 111, 
splendid hi lis. 

9. findor. Finditwr, the common reading, is found only in a few of the 

later MSS. ut . . . dicas, sc. et clamat, Arcadiae. Arcadia was 

famous for its hroods of asses. pecuaria, herds. Verg. Georg. [11.64. 

rudere : long only here, and in the imitation of this passage by Ausonius 

Epigr. 7'!, 3, used particularly of the braying of asses. dicas. Some 

have credos. 

10. He now pretends to go to work, but gives up shortly in disgust. 

liber is probably the author out of which the lesson is to be transcribed. 

bicolor : variously explained; by the early commentators, Casaubon 

and I Icinr.. of the two sides of the -kin, one yellow, though cleared of hair, 

the other white: by Jahn, of the custom of coloring the parchment artifi- 
cially. membrana, parchment, on which to make a careful transcript 

from the chartae, papyrus, <»n which the rough notes are taken. capillis 

= pilii ; a rare use of the word. 



60 NOTES ON SATIRE III. 

12. crassus, grown thick. calamo = harundo of the last verse. 

13. nigra is emphatic. sepia. Jahn believes that the juice of the 

cuttle-fish was actually used for ink at Rome. 

14. The ink when diluted runs from the pen in drops. fistula, like 

calamus, is a synonym for harundo. 

15. Persius now upbraids the young man, and ironically advises him 
to act in all respects as a pet-dove, or a rich man's baby ; to call for pap and 

refuse to listen to a lullaby. ultra miser = miserior, hence followed by 

quam. hucine and words connected with it, seemingly archaic, are after- 
wards used colloquially. rerum. A. 216, 4; G. 371, R 4; H. 397, 4. 

16. columbo is explained by Konig and Jahn, after the Scholiast, as 
an epithet of endearment for children ; but it seems better to explain it 
with Casaubon of a pet-dove, such as was commonly brought up in houses. 

17. regum pueris, babies of quality. The wealthy nobility were called 
reges by their flatterers and dependents. Cf. Hor. Od. II. 18, 34, where it is 
contrasted with the sordidi nati of the poor man. pappare, like mam- 
mae and lallare in the next verse, is a nursery word. The infinitives are 
here used as nouns in the accusative. minutum, chewed fine by the nurse. 

18. iratus, pettishly. mammae is a child's name for any one per- 
forming a mother's offices ; used for nurse. Inscr. ap. Vise. Mus. Pio. Clem, 
t. 2. p. 82. It depends on lallare, lullaby. Cf. Shaks. Mids. N. Dr. II. 3 : 

" Philomel, with melody, 
Sing in our sweet lullaby ! 
Lulla, lulla, lullaby ! 
Lulla, lulla, lullaby!" 

19. an ... calamo ? The youth's defense. studeam, used abso- 
lutely, in our sense of study is Post-Augustan. A. 268 ; G. 258 ; H. 486, II. 
cui verba (sc. das) : the reply of the poet. 

20. succinis, sing second ; hence to sing smcdl. ambages is any eva- 
sive excuse which avoids the point. tibi luditur = tua res agitur, the 

game is yours (and no one's else). effluis amens, you, idiot as you are, 

are dribbling away. Effluere is used not only of the liquor but of the jar 
which lets it escape. Note the change of figure. 

21. contemnere, the scorn of which is in itself sufficiently effective, is 

added, without intending to continue the metaphor of effluis. vitium. 

A. 238, a ; G. 331 ; H. 371, II. N. maligne, grudgingly, opposed to be- 

nigne. 

22. viridi = crudo, badly prepared. non cocta, ill-baked. 

23. Persius steps back, as it were, while pursuing the metaphor: In 
fact, you are really clay at this moment in the potter's hands. This is Coning- 
ton's interpretation, while "common critics would say that Persius had 

bungled the figure" badly. udum et molle lutum. Vid. Hor. Ep. II, 

2,8. properandus et , . . fingendus = propere fingendus. 



NOTES (»N 8A1 [RE III. til 

24. sed rure paterno. Persiufi lake- the words onl of the routh's 
mouth, as the half-slighting words modicum and patella show. 

25. far, quantity of corn. purum, et sine labe are to be taken both 

"literally and metaphorically." The salinum was usually of silver. 

The salinum and the patella are mentioned as the two simplest articles of 
plate, to which every respectable family aspired. When the necessities of 
the state obliged the senate to call lor a general sacrifice of the gold and 
silver of the people, the Bait-cellar and the paten were expressly exempted 
from the contribution. The reverence for salt is derived from the earliest 
times. On account of its antiseptic properties, it has always been associated 
with notions of moral purity, and, from forming a part of all sacrifices, 
acquired a certain degree of sanctity ; so that the mere placing >alt on the 
table was supposed, in a certain degree, to consecrate what was set on it. 
Hence the salt-cellar became an heir-loom and descended from Gather to 
son. 

26. quid metuas expresses the feeling of the youth as anticipated by 
Persius. The object of fear is poverty, which it would require strenuous 

exertion to avoid. cultrix, possibly in a double Bense, inhabitant and 

worshipper, as the patella was used for offerings to the household gods. 

secura, free from fear of want. 

27. The poet replies sarcastically in bis own person, and now attacks 

him as to hi> family. pulmonem rumpere ventis = inflatum >■■■■ 

yourself up. 

28. The imagines themselves, together with the linecu which connect 
them, constitute the gtemma <>r pedigree, stemma is properly the garland 

hung «)u the imagine*. Tusco. The Romans were exceedingly proud 

of a Tuscan descent. ramum = lineam, millesime ; voc. for imm. 

A. 241, a; (i. 194, 3; II. 369, 3. 

29. The allusion is to the annual tramsvectio of the equities before the 
censor, who used to review them (reeognoscere) as they defiled before him 
on horsehack. This ceremony had more of military pomp than of Bervice 
in it, as they appeared in grand costume and were crowned with olive 

wreaths. ve . . . vel is apparently an unexampled tautology. tuum, 

your own kinsman. trabeate : because the equities appeared in the trabea 

on these occasions. 

30. ad populum phaleras, la the mob with your trappings. — phalerae: 
applied contemptuously to an eques i as the word is used of a horse's trap- 
pings. intus et in cute, "inside and out." 

31. non pudet. A. 210, l': <i. 166; II. 361, :>. ad morem: more 

commonly in morem, ex more, or more. Natta i- another character from 

Horace (Sat. I. »>, 124). where he appears nol as a reprobate, bul a- a man 
of filthy habits. 

32. sed: apparently used to -how thai the parallel does not now hold 
good, being rather in Natta'- favor.— — stupet vitio, pawtdyted la/ i-i>; , i. ... 



62 NOTES ON SATIRE III. 

he is past feeling on account of his vicious indulgences. fibris increvit, 

has overgrown his heart. Cf. Ps. 119, 70, "Their heart is as fat as brawn ;" 
S. Matth. 13, 15, kwaxvvdr] yap ?} KapSia rov "kaov tovtov; S. John 12, 40, 

■rreiropuKEv avrav rrjv napdtav.- opimum is a synonym of pingue, which is 

here used as a noun. 

33. caret culpa implies that his deadness has deprived him of all 

responsibility. nescit quid perdat : because he does not know what 

virtue is. 

34. demersus, sunk in the depth of vice. rursum non bullit means 

that he does not even send a bubble to the surface. 

35. A very striking description of the terrors of remorse now follows 

naturally. tyrannos : as inventors of tortures for others, and therefore 

deserving the worst tortures themselves, probably with reference to the 
historical allusions which follow. 

36. haud alia would be regularly followed by quam ut. 

37. moverit. A. 342; G. 666; H. 529, II. N. I. tincta is said to 

be a " reminiscence of the shirt of Nessus and the bridal gift of Medea to 
Glance." 

38. videant. Vid. Plato's Phaedrus and compare the language about 

<pp6vrjoi$. intabescant seems to be taken from Ovid's description of Envy 

(Met., II. 780), ' intabescitque videndo Successus hominum.' relicta, sc. 

virtute : abl. abs. This passage is beautifully paraphrased by Wyat (Ep. to 
Poynes). 

" None other payne pray I for them to be, 

But, when the rage doth lead them from the right, 
That, looking backewarde, Vertue they may see 

E'en as she is, so goodly faire and bright ! 
And while they claspe their lustes in arms acrosse, 

Graunt them, good Lord, as thou maist of thy might, 
To freat inwarde for losing such a losse." 
In allusion to this passage St. Augustine says, u mox ut eos ' libido ' per- 
pulerit l ferventi,' ut ait Persius, tincta veneno, magis intuentur, quid Jupiter 
magnus pater divum fecerit, quam. quid docuerit Plato vel censuerit Cato." 
Civ. D. 5. 

39. Siculi alludes to the brazen bull of Phalaris, made for him by 

Perillus. gemuerunt : because the groans of the victims passed for the 

bellowings of the bull. aera is poetic plural. 

40. laquearibus. Laquear was a ceiling, divided into square sunk 

panels adorned with carving, gilding, and paintings. ensis refers to the 

sword of Damocles. Cf. Hor. Od. I. 17, Destrietus ensis cui super impia Cer- 
vice pendet, non Siculae dapes Dulcem elaborabunt saporem. 

41. purpureas suggests not merely the notion of splendor, but of the 
splendor of a tyrant, so as to be virtually equivalent to Horace's ' ; 
cervice.' cervices is usual for cervix. 



NOTES ON SATIRE III. 63 

42. The idea is that it isfar "better to have a sword hanging over 
your neck by a single hair than to be yourself banging over an abyss of 
misery." The words indicate combined remorse and despair. — — dicat, sc 
quisque as subject. intus palleat, not a very intelligible expression at 

first sight, appears to include the notions of de/i/lt and secrecy. To illustrate 
this thought, the Delphin edition and Jahn refer to the celebrated opening 
of Tiberius' letter to the Senate (Tac. An. VI. »'. ; Suet. Tib. 67 I: Quid scribam 
vobis, 1\ ('., mi/ ijim, undo scribam, <mt quid omrrino mm scribam /<<><■ tempore, di 
me deaeque perns perdant quam perire me ootidie Bentio, m sdo: but tiny 
omit Tacitus' comment which is at least as much to tin- point : .\"/"< frustra 
praestantissimus sapiential '.firmare solitus est, si recludantwr tyrannorum mentes, 
posse aspici laniat us et ictus; qwmdo m corpora verberibus, ita saeviHa, libidine, 
malts eonsvIMs animus dUaceretur. 

43. palleat. Cf. Shakspeare, Macbeth, II. 2: 

My hands are of your color, hut I shame 
To wear a heart so white. 

The antecedent of quod is the object of palleat. proxima uxor, 

the wife of his bosom. Cf. the use of propinquus. 

44. The poet now confesses that when he was a small hoy he did not 
like to study and that he used to rub his eyes with oil SO that In- might look 

sick and get excused from learning a declamation. parvus, when a child. 

olivo. CI'. I lor. Sat. I. 3, 25, Cum tua pervideas oeulis mala lippus 

inline/is; Ep. I. 1, 2!), Xon tamem idcirco contemnas lippus inungL 

45. grandia : a dying Speech made for CatO, like the oration to Sulla, 
Juv. I. 10. nollem. Tin; imperfect denotes repetitions of the action. 

46. non sano expresses IVrsius' scorn for the whole system df educa- 
tion — the choice of such subjects for hoys, and the praise given to contemp- 
tible eflbrts — perhaps on account of the father's presence. laudanda = 

ijitnc lavdaret (H. 544, N. 2); a use belonging to later Latin. 

47. sudans : with anxiety. audiret. The recitation w;is weekly, 

hut the father docs not seem to have attended so often. Cf. Juv. VII. 165, •'». 

48. iure forms a sentence by itself. " etenim — teat ;<//j." dexter, 

lucky. senio, the size, stands, as Jahn and Heinr. think, for three sizes, 

tjui :;. the highest throw with the tessarae ('Venus,' or 'iactus Venerens'). 
The highest throw with the tali, which were lour in Dumber, was when all 

four turned up differently. quid . . . ferret quern fructum ferret. 

Boys played games of chance as well ;is games of a more harmless sort. 

49. erat in voto. Esse in voto or votis means to l» included in n person's 

prayers. damnosa canicula. The cants was the worst throw, i. e., in 

the game with tali, when all four fell alike; in the game with tessera* . which 

is here meant, when all three were aces, rpelt; m >'"/. 

50. raderet : opposed io ferret. Persius thus wished to know the value 

of each throw. orcae refers to a game played b) I! 01 nan boys, which con 

sisted in throwing nui- into a narrow Decked jar. 



64 NOTES ON SATIRE III. 

51. neu quis = et ne quis. The construction is : Et (erat in voto) ne 

quis callidior (esset). H. 497, II. N. buxum, the top, as in Verg. Aen. 

VII. 382, which is probably imitated, as no other instance is quoted where 
the word is so applied. 

52. The idea is that all this was good enough for a child, but you are 
too old for such folly, and have had practice in deciding between right and 
wrong. curvos = pravos. Vid. Hor. Ep. II. 2, 44. 

53. quae depends by zeugma on some verb like cognoscere or tenere in- 
volved in deprendere. A. p. 298 ; G.690; H. 636. ILL sapiens porti- 

cus. The ttoiklaij orod, where Zeno and his followers used to resort, was 
adorned with paintings by Polygnotus, one of them representing the battle 
of Marathon, hence bracatis Medis. inlita probably expresses some con- 
tempt. 

54. quibus is neuter. quibus et = et quibus. Hyperbaton, A. p. 

299 ; G. 693 ; H. 636, V. 1. detonsa. The Stoics let their beard grow, 

but cut their hair close. 

55. invigilat : rather tautological after insomnis. siliquis, pulse. 

grandi polenta, fattening porridge, with further reference to the abun- 
dance of the meal. This was a Greek, not a Roman, dish. 

56. Samios. Samos is said to have been the birth-place of Pythagoras. 

littera, i. e., T or Y which Pythagoras took as the symbol of human 

life, the stem standing for the unconscious life of infancy and childhood ; 
the diverging branches for the alternative offered to the youth, virtue or 
vice. 

57. surgentem dextro limite callem. The right hand branch repre- 
sents the " steep and thorny path " of virtue. The left hand branch is the 
broad and easy road of vice. The general meaning is ' you have arrived at 
the turning point of life, and have been told which is the right way.' 

58. stertis adhuc is best taken as an exclamation, and yet you more on. 
laxum : on account of its weight. 

59. oscitat hesternum, sleeps off yesterday, i. e., yesterday's debauch. 
undique : an intentional exaggeration for utraque parte. 

60. quo = in quod. tendis. A. 309, c ; G. 634, E. 1 ; H. 503, 1. N. 3. 

61. passim denotes that the chase is a random one. corvos, that 

the object is worthless. The phrase sequi corvos is the same as our " wild 

goose chase." testaque lutoque show that the missiles are those which 

first come to hand and are opposed to arcus. Translate sequeris, will you at- 
tempt to reach. Verg. Aen. XII. 775, ' teloque sequi, quern prendere cursu 
Non poterat.' 

62. For securus followed by a relative clause, vid. Hor. Od. I. 26, 6 ; 
Sat. II. 4, 50 ; Ep. II. 1, 176. ex tempore, off hand, by the ride of the mo- 
ment, 'without one thought for the morrow? 

63. The speech now becomes general. helleborum. Black hellebore 

was given in dropsy. Vid. I. 51. frustra. It is said that, in a confirmed 



NOTES ON SATIRE III. 00 

dropsy, remedies come too late. cutis aegra tumebit. Yid. vv. 95, 98. 

Note Persius' frequent reference to the dropsy, when he wishes to choose 
an instance of disease, I. li.'!, 57; III. 63, 98 seq.; apparently because it is 
directly traceable to indulgence. 

64. poscentis videas. A. 292, e; G. 527, II. 1 ; 11. 535, I. I. 

65. quid opus. A. 240, a; G. 390, K; II. 414, [V. N. I. 2). Cra- 

tero. Craterus was a famous physician in Cicero's time. Yi<l. I lor. Sat. 
II. 3, 161. magnos promittere montis : a proverbial phrase. 

66. causas cognoscite rerum is doubtless from Virg. Greorg. II. 490; 
but Virgil means the physical causes of nature; Persius the final cause of 
human life. 

67. sumus, etc. The questions, though really dependent, ;u-c put in 
an independent form, except deceal v. 71. A. .'!.'54, d; G. 469, R. l ; H.529, 

7. quidnam = quam vitcm. victuri expresses purpose. A. 293, I>; 

G. 673, 3; H. 549, 3. ordo is used with reference to what follows, of the 

position for starting in the chariot race. The idea- arc summed up in the 
Greek yvadu oeavr&v. " In one of the Church yards at Reading, England, 
i> the following epitaph : ' Quis sum, qua lis cram, quid ero, tu mitte rogare: 
nil mea vita refert; ducere disce tuam.'" 

68. quis = qui. A. 104, a ; (I. 105 ; H. 188, 1. metae. The nicest 

judgment was required to turn the goal. mollis = facUis. The turn 

must not be too sharp or abrupt. unde : whence to begin the turn. 

69. quis modus argento is treated of in the sixth satire. quid fas 

optare is the subject of the second satire. asper . . . nummus, coin 

fresh from the mint, rough from the die. 

71. elargiri : a very rare word. 

72. humana re: like res Romana. locatus, posted; implies the 

notion of a Station which a man is hound not to desert. 

73. The pbet now singles OUt one of his audience whom he wishes tO 

instruct, and bids him not to despise philosophy because his Larder is full. 
putet shows that he lias more than he can eat while it is I'roh. 

74. penu : penus comprehends all the contents of the larder. defen- 

sis Umbris. Lawyers were accustomed to receive presents from their 

clients. Of. Juv. VII. 119; Mart. VII. 53. pinguibus : another touch 

of sarcasm. Men who bave to borrow your wits, and give you in return the 
sort of produce in which they mosl abound. 

75. piper does not -nil putet and we mii-i understand some verb, by 

zeugma. Marsi. For the simplicity of the Marsians, Jahn compares 

Juv. III. L69; XIV. 180. 

76. mena : a common sort of sea fish. orca. Cf. Hor. Sat. II. L^ 66, 

(piam qua Byzantia putuit orca, from which Persius probably L;ot putet, 

77. The soldier is introduced after the lawyer, Cf. Hor. Sat. I. I. I. 
seq., where they are classed together. Persius bates the military cordially 
(Vid. V. 189 I'M ) as the mo-! perfect specimens of developed animalism. 



66 NOTES ON SATIRE III. 

and consequently most antipathetic to a philosopher. Juvenal has an entire 
satire on them (XVI), in which he complains of their growing power and 

exclusive privileges, but without any personal jealousy. de gente, of the 

clan: used contemptuously, to imply that the soldiers form a class by them- 
selves. A. 216, c; G. 371, K. 5; H. 397, N. 3. hircosa : "rammish." 

The Stoic simplicity is meant to be contrasted with the coarseness of the 
soldiery on the one hand as with the effeminacy of the young aristocracy 
on the other — two different modes of pampering the body at the expense 
of the mind. 

78. sapio mihi quod satis est = sapio mihi satis. quod satis est : 

an object clause. mihi : emphatic. euro, want, need. 

79. Arcesilas, the founder of the Middle Academy, was a native of 
Pitane, in JEolis. He studied at Sardis under Autolycus, the mathemati- 
cian, and, after removing to Athens, became a disciple of Theophrastus, and 
afterwards of Crantor. He maintained in opposition to Zeno that all things 
were to be doubted, and that nothing could be known. Hence he is called 

ignorantiae magister. aerumnosi : like nanodaiucov, (God forsaken), Aris- 

toph., Clouds 105. Solones : pi. contemptuously. 

80. obstipo capite : bent forward. figentes lumine terram : a 

stronger, and consequently more scornful, expression than the more usual 
figentes lumina terra. 

81. rabiosa : because mad dogs do not bark. silentia: poetic plural. 

Silent muttering and a fixed look were indications of insanity. rodunt, 

biting the lips and grinding the teeth. Whether murmura and silentia are 
ace. of the object or cognates is not clear. 

82. exporrecto labello. They thrust out their lips as if weighing 

their words upon them. trutinantur verba is copied five times by 

Jerome, who, however, mistakes the sense, as if Persius were speaking of 
inflated talk, not of slow balanced utterance. 

83. aegroti veteris is best taken as combining the dotings of age with 

the wanderings of disease. gigni, etc. Nullum rem e nilo gigni divinitus 

unquam is the first principle of the Epicurean philosophy, according to Lu- 
cret. I. 150. 

85. The soldier is surprised that people should study until they pale 
with thought, and even if they do so why that is any reason why they should 

go without their prandium. hoc est quod palles. A. 238; G. 331, K. 

2 ; H. 371, II. (2). prandeat. The prandium was peculiarly a military 

meal, so it is mentioned here feelingly. 

86. his : ablative. multum is best taken with torosa, which is an 

epithet of the necks of cattle, Ovid Met.,VII. 429. torosa iuventus con- 
trasts with insomnis et detonsa iuventus v. 54, as being naturally the approv- 
ing audience of the soldier's speech. 

87. The description is not in the best taste, as the minuteness is not in 
itself pleasing, at the same time that it does not contribute to the contempt 






NOTES OH SATIRE III. <i7 

which the picture is mean! to excite. tremulos seems intended I 

press die appearance of the Bneering laugh as it runs down the nose, as well 
as its sound. The verse suggests the notion of affected and effeminate 
laughter, Buch as might be expected from a company like that mentioned 
in I. 19, not the erassum ridet i V. 190) of a military auditory. 

88-106. These verses give an example to enforce what was said in 
verses 63 65. It is the same old story of a man who does not follow the 

advice of Ji is physician, because he does not believe what he says. in- 

spice : a medical term. nescio quid : cognate ace after trepidat. A. 33 I, 

e; G. 469, R, 2; H. 191, X. aegris, diseased. 

89. faucibus, from the throat. exsuperat : neuter. gravis, foul. 

sodes = si audes. 

go. requiescere, to keep quiet. Cf. Celsus III. -, omnium optima sunt 
quies et abstmentia. postquam vidit. A.. 326, N; Gr. 567; EL 518. 

91. tertia nox : a critical time in attacks of fever, though the danger is 

not over then, as the (ever might he a quartan, conpositas : predicate, 

taken with currere. 

92. de maiore domo. Maiorea, of the aristocracy, 1. 108, N. The 
rich used occasionally to make presents of small quantities of expensive 
wine to sick friends. Cf. Juv. V. 32, Oordiaco nwmquam oyathvm mdssurus 
ainico. modice sitiente, moderately thirsty, i. e., smell. Note the person- 
ification of the jar. 

93. lenia, smooth, i. e., mellowed by age. loturo. For the custom of 

drinking after bathing, Jahn compares Sen. Ep., 122, <> 'Atqui Erequens hoc 
adulescentium vitium est, qui vires excolunt, ut in ipso paenebalinei Limine 
inter mudos bibant, imo potent.' Surrentina. Surrentum, on the coasl 

of Campania, was famous for it- wine-. Pliny assigns it the third place ill 

wines, ranking it immediately after the Setine and Falernian. It was a 

thin light wine recommended for invalids when recovering. 

94. A dialogue between the invalid and a friend, perhaps the doctor, 

who accidentally meets him on hi- way to the bath, and who tries to per- 
suade him to turn hack. The petulance and ill-humor with which this 
kindness i- received are highly characteristic and satirical. 

95. surgit (is becoming bloated), and lutea are emphatic, also pellis 
(hide), which is used instead of cutis as in Ilor. Epod., 17. '2'1 ; Juv. 10, 192, 
to express the abnormal condition of the -kin, which look- a- if it did not 
belong to tin' man. The symptoms are of dropsy. 

96. deterius, i. e., than I am. ne sis mihi tutor: imitated from 

Ilor. Sat. I I. .'5, 88 ' ue sis pat runs mihi.' 

97. hunc sepeli. Another imitation. 1 1< u . Sat., 1. 9,28, "< Mimes 

coinposiii." Felices! nunc ego resto. Confice." For sepeli sepelii 

sepelivi, see II. -'.'>■>. restas superstes 68. 

98. albo ventre : not coupled with epulis, hut answering to tUTgidus. 
lavatur, goes to his bath: middle. A. 136, e; Q. 209; II. 165, 



68 NOTES ON SATIRE III. 

99. sulpureas is the proper epithet of mefites, which is properly the 
vapor arising from sulphur water. 

100. inter vina, over the wine, which he does not live to finish. 

calidum. The wine was heated, being drunk to promote perspiration. 

triental. Triens is a liquid measure, one-third of a sextarius ; triental is 
the vessel containing it. The word is not found elsewhere. 

101. crepuere : because of the tremor. retecti : because of the laxa 

labra. 

102. uncta, rich with oil of which large quantities were used in cook- 
ing. " cadunt = vomuntur"— pulmentaria properly bi>ov — anything 

eaten with bread as a relish, hence dainties. 

103. hinc, hereupon. Persius hastens the catastrophe, giving the funeral 

first, and then the death. tuba. Trumpets were sounded at the death 

and at the funeral of a person. The number of trumpeters was prescribed 

by The Twelve Tables. candelae, wax lights. Some have supposed that 

fnnalia were used at ordinary funerals : cerei or candelae when the death was 

an untimely one, and Jahn seems to agree ; but Casaubon does not. 

tandem, i. e., after all the preliminary performances. beatulus. The 

diminutive denotes contempt. The dear departed. alto : opp. to humili, to 

show his consequence. 

104. crassis lutatus amomis. Each word is contemptuous: Orassis, 
Cf. Crassum unguentum. Hor. A. P. 375. Amomis, Cf. Amomo quantum vix 
reddent duofunera. Juv. IV. 108 seq. 

105. in portam. A custom as old as Homer (II. 19, 212) Ktlrai ava 
jrpodvpov Ttrpa/n/Liivoc. This is said to be the only place where ianua is 
equivalent to fores. 

106. hesterni . . . Quirites, i. e., slaves just manumitted by the 
deceased's will. The sneer at the easy acquisition of citizenship is repeated 

and dwelt on in V. 75. capite induto. Slaves when manumitted 

shaved their heads, to show that they had escaped the storms of slavery, 
and then received a pilleus (V. 82) in the temple of Feronia. Cf. Plant. 
Amp. I. 1, 307, 'Faxit Jupiter ut ego hie hodie, raso capite, calvus capiam 
pilleumJ 

107. The man addressed, some person not specified, retorts that he has 
no ailment, so that the moral against excess does not touch him, when he 
finds that the story is typical and intended to have a wider application. 

tange venas, feel my pulse. Cf. Sen. Ep. 22, 1, non potest medicus per 

epistulas cibi aut balnei tempus eligere : vena tagenda est. 

108. nil calet hie. There is no undue heat there. 

109. visa begins the poet's retort. 

no. vicini. Persius may have been thinking of Hor. Od. III. 19, 24: 
vicina seni non habilis Lyco, so that puella is probably equivalent to arnica, 
like mea puella in Catullus. 

in. rite = solito more. Erasistratus, the physician, discovered the 



NOTES ON SATIRE IV. 69 

passion of Antiochus, who was sick for love of Stratonice his stepmother, 
by feeling his pulse when she wn- entering the chamber. V.il. Max. v. 7. 
positum est, served up. 

112. durum, tough — perhaps from insufficient l>oilin!_ r . populi : 

here = plebU. The coarse sieve of the people would let through much of 
the bran. The Romans were very particular about the quality of their 
bread. 

113. Let me see how your palate is. Ah ! your mouth is tender from 

a concealed inflammation. tenero : emphatic, a sort of predicate, 

latet shows that he has said nothing about it. 

114. plebeia shows that the beet was considered a vulgar vegetable. 

beta keeps up the irony as beets are proverbially tender. Martial 

calls them fatuae, from their insipid flavor without some condiment Ep. 
13, 13. 

115. excussit : of raising suddenly. aristas : proleptically ; ex- 

eus-it pihs ita ut aristis similes essent. 

116. face supposita. The metaphor is from a boiling caldron, with 
" the heart as the caldron and passion as the fire-brand." 

118. non sanus = vnsamua. Orestes: the hero of madmen. Cf. 

I Io,-. Sat II. 3, 137 seq. 



SATIRE FOURTH. 

Tlii- Satire was written to point oul the need of self-command and self-know ledge 
in public men, lack of which is the fault that is attacked, Tin- general notion 
and a tew of the expressions are taken from the First Aloibiades, in whioh Socrates 
is represented ae remonstrating with the young statesman. Aloibiades is not 
as some commentators have maintained, l»ut one of the young nobility, Buch as 
those described in Rat. [II — only placed in circumstances which belong not to 
I tonic I mt to Athen-. The general conception is weak ; the working out, however, 
Ini- all Persius' peculiar force. 

"To read this Satire, may be useful to the young. It may help to correct petn 
lam-e: it may serve to warn inexperience. It maj teach the youthful statesman, 
that, even in remote times, and in small states, government was considered a most 
difficult science. It may show the high-born libertine, that, in proportion a- the 
sphere in whioh he moves is wide and brilliant, so are his conduct and oha 
conspicuous, and his lollies ridiculous." 



ARGUMENT.— Aloibiades would be a statesman, would he? What are bis 
qualifications? Ready wit and intuitive tact, impressive action, a powei ol 
statement, and a certain amount of philosophic training. But what la he in him 
self? he hae ao end beyond his own enjoyment. Why, the meanest old orone 
know- as much ( l 22 . 



70 NOTES ON SATIRE IV. 

None of us knows himself — every one thinks only of his neighbor. Inquire 
about some rich man, and you will hear how he pinches himself: even on state 
occasions hardly bringing himself to open a bottle of wine, (which has been kept 
till it has turned to vinegar), to drink with his onions. But you with your luxury 
and effeminacy are laying yourself open to remarks of the same kind on your per- 
sonal habits (23-41). 

This is the way : we lash our neighbors, and are lashed in turn. Avail yourself 
of your prestige if you like, but remember that what men say of you is worthless, 
if you are really a libertine or usurer. Better be true to yourself and learn your 
own weakness (42-52). 



i. Rem populi = rem publicam. tractas is spoken by Socrates to 

Alcibiades. Socrates was considered the father of philosophy, and the 

prince of philosophers. For the form of the question, see A. 210, b; G. 

455; H. 351, 3. barbatum . . . magistrum is copied by Juv. 14,12. 

Cf. Hor. Sat. II. 3, 16, 35, where the beard is the especial mark of the 
Stoics. " It is an anachronism in the case of Socrates, who lived before 
shaving was the rule and the beard a badge. However, the custom was 
old in Persius' day, and the slip is slight." crede, imagine. 

2. sorbitio, dose. tollit = sustulit. A. 276, d ; G. 220 ; H. 467, III. 1. 

cicutae. Cf. Juv. 7, 206. 

3. quo fretus, from Plato, Ale. I. p. 123 E: ri ovv ttot' Igtlv otu tuotevei 

to ueipamov. magni pupille Pericli : as Alcibiades, having been left an 

orphan at the age of five years, together with his brother Clinias, was 
placed under the guardianship of Pericles and his brother Ariphon, who 
were both relatives of the boy's mother. For the genitive, see A. 43, a ; G. 
72 ; H. 68. 

4. scilicet is here ironical. The speaker does not mean to deny that 
Alcibiades has this ready wit and intuitive tact, but he affects to make more 

of it than it is worth. rerum prudentia, knowledge of the world. 

velox is to be taken predicatively with venit, has come quickly. 

5. ante pilos, before your beard, a contrast with barbatum magistrum. 

venit. For the number, see A. 205, b ; G. 281, Exc. 2 ; H. 463, 3. 

dicenda tacendaque, what should be said and what kept back, i. e., all sorts of 
things. Cf. Hor. Ep. I. 7, 72, dicenda tacenda locutus. Nero (whom many 
suppose to be alluded to under the character of Alcibiades) was emperor 
before he was seventeen. 

6. commota fervet bile. Cf. Hor. Od. 1. 13, 4,fervens difficile bile. 

plebecula. Cf. Hor. Ep. II. 1, 186 ; Verg. Aen. I. 149, saevitque animis 
ignobile vulgus. 

7. fert animus. Cf. Ov. Met. I. 1. 'You have a mind to try the 

effect of your oratory on an excited mob.' fecisse. For the tense, see 

A. 288, d, R; G. 275, 2; H. 537, Note, 2). 



NOTES ON SATIRE IV. 71 

8. maiestate manus, by the majesty of your hand, i. e., by its majestic 

sweep. quid deinde loquere shows thai the orator had not thought 

beforehand of what he would say. Quirites is either used carelessly, or 

the poet may intend to begin the moral of the story here. 

9. puta, say. For the short ultimate, see A. 348, 1. Exc; <>.7<>| : II. 
581, III. 3. 

10. etenim, and } you have a right to say this, /'or. ' You have studied 
philosophy.'— — iustum is what is put into each scale of the balance. * You 

can weigh the justice of one course against that of another.' gemina 

lance = geminis la/ncibus. 

11. ancipitis, wavering. rectum, right, virtue. The idea i- ' You 

cmi distinguish right from the wrong on either side of //' — as there may be two 
opposite deviations from the perpendicular — a doctrine not unlike the Aris- 
totelian theory of virtue as a mean, 'where if (the right line) comes in 
In in, en tin curves? 

12. vel, even. fallit shows that the rule itself is warped. pede is 

used to suggest the notion of a loot measure. regula is here the norma, 

which was a ,«jnare made of two regulae joined at right angles. 

13. potis. Vid. I. 56, note. theta. 0. the initial of Qavarog was 

the mark of condemnation, apparently introduced from Greece in place of 
the older C (condemno), which the judges used in Cicero's time, and was 
hence used by critics to obelize passages they condemned: the contrary being 
marked with X. tor Xpnarw. 9 was also employed in epitaphs and by the 
quaestors in striking off dead soldier's names from the rolls. The Scholiast 
quotes a verse from an unknown writer, " O multum ante alias infelix littera 
Theta." 

14. Socrates then proeeeds as if the youth had disclaimed all that he 
has ironically attributed to him : ' Will you then he so good a- to have done 

with that.' igitur: as if it were the natural and expected consequence 

for all the admissions in his favor that have been made. summa . . . 

pelle decorus. The personal beauty of Aldbiades is proverbial. <'\'. Hor. 
Ep. I. 1<>, 45, Introrsus turpem, specioswm peUe decora. nequiquam : be- 
cause you cannot impose upon me. 

15. ante diem, before the time. ' You may he led into it some day. bill 

at any rate do not anticipate things.' caudam iactare, to be tin people's 

jut. Persius is thinking of some pel animal that wags its tail. The action 

described i- that of a dog who fawns on those who caress him, hut the poel 

probably meant to allude to the well-known comparison of Alcibiades to a 
lion's whelp, given in Aristoph. Kan., 1 l.'Jl seq. — ■ — popello: contemptu- 
ously used for populo. 

16. Anticyras. The plural is used because there were two towns of 
the name, both producing hellebore, one in Phocis, the other on the Maliac 
gulf — of course with an accompanying notion of exaggeration. This is 
further brought <>ut by using the town as synonymous with its contents. 



72 NOTES ON SATIRE IV. 

meracas, undiluted. Cf. Hor. Ep. II. 2, 137, ' Expulit helleboro morbum 
bilumque meracoJ' 

17. summa boni = summum bonum. uncta . . . patella, on rich 

dishes. vixisse is here used as a noun and hence coupled with cuticula. 

18. adsiduo . . . sole : with reference to the custom of basking (in- 

solatio or apricatio) after being anointed. cuticula : contemptuous. The 

philosopher answers his own question. 

ig. expecta, novi listen. The hearer waiting for the words of the 

speaker. i nunc, ironically, 'now then, go on and blow as you have 

done.' 

20. Dinomaches. So Socrates in talking to Alcibiades calls him 
6 Aeivo/mxqe vioc. The mother is mentioned in preference to the father, 
Cleinias, because it was through her that he was connected with the Alcmae- 
onidae. For the genitive, see A. 214, b; G. 360, R. 3 ; H. 398. 1. This 

use is rare in the predicate. sufla : slang. candidus = pulcher. 

esto : " an ironical concession," just so. 

21. ' Only do not set up to be wiser than the old iady there.' dum 

ne is elliptical. But you must admit that still etc. A. 314 ; Gr. 575 ; H. 

513, I. pannucia : properly ragged, hence shrivelled, which is evidently 

its meaning here, to point the contrast with candidus. Baucis : a name 

chosen from the well-known story in Ovid Met. VIII. 640. seq., the point 
of which lies in the contrast between the grandeur of the gods and the 
meanness of the peasants who were deemed fit to entertain them — a person 
not more below you than Baucis was below Jupiter. 

22. bene is to be taken with discincto ocima : properly the herb 

"Basil," ocimum Basilicum. It appears to have been a stimulant. The 
sense then will be that the old woman in trying to sell doubtful herbs to 
low customers is acting on the same principle which Alcibiades has aroused ; 
she would like to be idle and live well, and her labors are directed to that 
end — she pleases her public and you yours. 

23. The satire now becomes more general, and the poet begins to lay 
down general principles of which the preceding verses are an illustration. 

ut, how. in sese descendere, to explore the depth of his own bosom; 

an extension of the metaphor which attributes depth to the secrets of the 
mind. 

24. spectatur, i. e., by every one. mantica. Persius improves on 

the image given in Phaedrus, IV. 10, 

" Peras imposuit Iupiter nobis duas : 
Propriis repletam vitiis post tergum dedit ; 
Alienis ante pectus suspendit gravem," 

by giving every one a single wallet to hang behind him, and making him 
look exclusively at that which hangs on the back of his neighbor walking 
before him. 



\"l 1> ON SATIRE IV. 

25. quaesieris.-x, \ . .;;. 9.486, L Cuius. 

He does n<>t know who is meant, until a description of the man is given. 

26. arat -how- that the land was arable. Curibus : to remind us of 

the old Sabines ami their simple life, which the miserly owner of the laii- 

fitndium caricatun - _ ssly. quantum non miluus oberret. The 

Scholiast says quantum mihi volant was a proverbial e xpr ession for distance. 

27. dis iratis genioque sinistro, I and tik e n emy 
qfhisgeniu8. A rare construction without a common noon. Ma<l\ _ 

: A. 251 : G. 402; II. 419, II. ising the enjoy- 

ments which nature claim-. 

28. quandoque = qvandocumque. pertusa = trita, beaten. com- 

pita arc places where three or more roads meet, at which altars, or little 
chapels, were erected with as many sides as there were ways meeting. Al 
these chapel- it was the custom for the rustics to suspend figit the worn out 
(arm implements. This was done especially at the OompitaUa, or feast held 
in honor of the Lares compitales on or about the 2d of January, at which time 
a feast was given to the household. < ato, K. EL 57, bids the farmer give each 
slave at the 'Oompitalia 1 a congins of wine more than the usual allowance. 

29. veterem limum : the dirt which would naturally adhere to it 
after so long keeping. 

30. hoc bene sit is here a sort of grace, may it >•■ est, uttered 
with a groan by the miser, who fears he is doing wrong in drawing the wine. 

bene sit was a common formula in drinking health-. tunicatum 

caepe, onion, skin and all so that there may be no waste. 

31. farratam . . . ollam, t dish qf'pulsf a pottage made of -pelt, the 
national dish of the Roman husbandmen. Tin* plaudit- of the slaves 
(pueris plaudentibus), common on these occasions of license, are lure be- 
Btowed on a meal which other laborers get every day. 

32. pannosam. mothery. morientis aceti. Horace -ay- of 1 miser 

acre potet acetum, i. e., wine which has become men- vinegar: but IVr-iu- 
strengthens every word — not aeetum merely, but pannosam 

lis, the very vinegar-flavor being about to disappear. 

33. unctus cesses, well perfumed, you loungx away your time. Cf, rfor. 
Ep. II. '2. 1<'>. figas in cute solem : a strong n for apruxm*. 

34. 'You may he- sure that some one i- making reflections on you 

which you little dream of.' cubito . . . tangat : a common familiarity. 

• Be is as surely reflecting on yon as if be were to jog you and make his 

: k- in your ear.' acre despuat, bc in tt . an _n. ace 

with which acre agrees, and with which hi mores . . . mansuescit 
aratro is in apposition. 

35. mores, modi of life. Spitting was a sign of aversion and detestation. 
Nof that the most malicious construction is put by this slanderer upon the 
effeminate anxiety of the young nobility to render their persons smooth and 
-leek, and i" laj bare what nature intended to conceal. 

8 



74 NOTES ON SATIRE IV. 

37. maxillis. Mart. VIII. 47. balanatum, The balanus or "Ara- 
bian Balsam " was considered one of the most expensive perfumes. Cf. Hor. 

Od. III. 29, 4, Pressa tuis balanus capillis jamdudum apud me est. gausape, 

shag, VI. 46. It is here used for a very thick bushy beard. 

38. gurgulio is properly what anatomists call the uvula, which hangs 
from the back part of the palate. 

39. The palaestritae were probably the servants who trained the 
young gentlemen in the private schools of exercise. 

40. elixas, sodden, refers to the constant use of the hot bath. 

41. filix. On the stubborn nature of fern, vid. Verg. Georg. II. 239. 

42. caedimus : a metaphor from gladiators. praebemus, expose. 

Cf. Prateus : " Sic fit ; aliena flagitia reprehendimus, hincque praebemus 
ansam aliis nostra vellicandi. Quod si aliis parceremus, nobis non item ; 
melius multo rebus nostris consuleremus." 

43. vivitur hoc pacto, Haec est condicio vivendi, Hor. Sat. II. 8, 65. 

sic novimus = sic didicimus, such is our experience. ilia subter. A. 345, 

a; G. 414, 3; H. 569, ILL 

44. A continuation of the metaphor. The archer receives a wound in 
the groin, and endeavors to conceal it with his belt, which is adorned with 
gold, indicative of wealth and rank. The idea is, ' You are touched, though 
you hide it, and fall back on your rank and popularity.' caecum, secret. 

45. ut mavis, ironical, is from Hor. Sat. I. 4, 21. da verba. Vid. 

III. 19. decipe nervos, cheat your physical powers by fighting on, as if 

you were not wounded. 

46. Cf. Hor. Sat. II, 5, 106, Egregium factum laudet vicinia for the 
words ; Ep. I. 16, 19 seq., Sed vereor ne cui de te plus quam tibi credas 
. . . neu si te populus sanum recteque valentem diclitet, occultam febrem 
sub tempus edendi dissimules for the matter. 

47. non credam. A. 210, b; G. 455; H. 351, 3. 

49. The traditional explanation of this verse interprets it of exorbitant 
usury as the mention of the puteal naturally suggests. The question is a 
difficult one : but if we make fiagellas metaphorical, there seems to be no 
reason why we should not so understand it. A usurer would naturally be 

called the scourge of the exchange. puteal is put by synecdoche for the 

forum itself. multa vibice is an ornamental extension of the metaphor. 

50. bibulas, thirsty, from the common expression aure bibere. don- 

averis. A variety for aures dare or praebere, with an additional notion of 
absolute resignation. 

51. sua munera, i. e., of flattery. Cerdo. KepScov seems to have 

been a proper name given to slaves and common people, so that it stands 
for one of the rabble. 

52. tecum habita, i. e., examine yourself thoroughly. noris = si 

habites, noris. quam sit . . . supellex, i. e., how scantily your soul is 

stocked. 



NOTES <>\ SATIRE V. i ■> 



SATIRE FIFTH 



On this Satire dedicated to Cornutus, the poet's old tutor, Persius musl real his 
claims to be considered a Philosopher and a Poet. 

He descants on the Stoic doctrine of moral freedom, and proves thai Done but 
the Philosopher is truly a free man. 

It may be compared with advantage with the Third Satire of the Becond book <d' 
Horace. It has the form of a dialogue; but Cornutus -peak- but once and he is 
not directly addressed after the fifty-first verse. 



ARGUMENT. — Persius. — Poets are allowed to wish for a hundred tongues 
when they have any great effort to make, either tragic or epic (I I . 

Cornutus. — What do you want with an hundred mouths? You are not going to 
write foolish tragedies, puffing like a pair of bellows, or croaking like a raven. 
Fours is the more pro-aie walk of every day satire (5-18). 

Persius. — No ! I have no thoughts of swelling and vaporing. .My Bong i- meant 
to show my heart to you, that you may see how true it is. how devoted to you. If 
I want a hundred tongue-, it i- that I may tell you how dear you are t I 

When first freed from boyish restraints, and exposed to the temptations of youth, 
I placed myself under your care. You became my guide, philosopher, and 
friend. Happily our days flowed on together— the morning -pent in work, the 
evening in social pleasure. The same star must have presided over the birth of 
both : it were sin to doubt it (30-51). 

The mention of their unanimity leads Peraius to think of ili< variety of pursuits 
in tin world SO he proceed-: Men"- pursuits are innumerable — each has his own 
one i- a merchant — one a bon-vivant — one an athlete — one a gambler -one a de- 
bauchee — hut disease and decay hring remorse with them (52 61). 

Your end is nobler: you ;_ r i\e your nights to philosophy, that you may train 
youth. That is <he true stay when old age comes. Yei men go on putting off the 
work of studying virtue to a morrow that never arrives (C)2-72). 

.Men want freedom— not civil freedom, a thing that in these blinded times is con- 
ferred on any one, no matter on whom. Take a miserable debased slave, enfran- 
chise him, and he becomes a Roman at onoe, enjoy- all the privileges, and is 

honored with all the compliment-. Well, he will reply, and am I not tree free to 

do as I please? No, you are not, How so? surely my enfranchisement gav< 

righl that the law allow- (7:: '.10 1. 

I will -how you. if you will submit to he di-ahu-cd patiently. The praetor can 

not confer ri^ht of action on a fool. Reason, witnessed bj nature and embodied in 
the unwritten law of humanity, treat- ignoranoe a- disability. It it jo in all oases 

a man who U ignorant of medicine may not practice B man who know- nothing 

of naval matters maj not command a -hip. Can you distinguish truth from false 
hood? right from you contented and cheerful ? sparing or generous, as 



76 NOTES ON SATIRE V. 

occasion requires ? free from covetousness ? Satisfy rue on these points, and I will 
call you free. Pail to substantiate your professions, and I retract the admission, 
and tell you that you have no right of action whatever — no power to take a single 
step without a blunder (91-123). 

" No matter," he replies, " I am free." As if a man had no other masters than 
those from whom the praetor's enfranchisement delivers him ! True, you can refuse 
to perform your old duties : but if you are under the command of your passions, 
you are as much a slave as ever (124-131). 

One morning as you are sleeping you are roused by Avarice, who at last makes 
you get up and prepare for a voyage, where you are to traffic in all kinds of articles 
and struggle hard to make your fortunes. Just as you are bustling away, Luxury 
takes you aside, rallies you on your mad hurry, reminds you of the discomforts 
you are about to undergo on shipboard, merely that you may swell your property 
a little, and ends by bidding you be wise and enjoy life while you can. Which of 
the two will you follow ? You are pulled both ways, and a single act of resistance 
to either does not make you free. Even if you break your chain, you may still 
drag it along with you (132-160). 

Take the case of the lover in the play : he talks about giving up his passion, as 
discreditable to a man with respectable connections. The slave applauds his reso- 
lution, but finding him hark back immediately, tells him that all this is mere 
trifling, playing fast and loose, and that nothing will do but a determination not to 
re-enter the place which one has once left heart-whole. Here we have real freedom 
at last, far better than that which the praetor confers (161-175). 

Is freedom compatible with the vanity of the political aspirant, who courts the 
mob and desires to be remembered for the splendor of his official shows ? Or take 
the superstitious man, who observes Jewish ceremonies and seeks to propitiate the 
wrath of Isis — his bondage speaks for itself (176-188). 

Talk in this way to the soldiers, and they will set you down as a fool (189-191). 



1. Vatibus is sarcastic. hie mos est. Cf. Hor. Sat. I. 2, 86, Regi- 

bus hie mos est. centum voces. Homer was content with ten, OvS' el /xoi 

Sena fiev -yAuaGcu, Sena Se crouaf elev. II. II. 484. Vergil (Georg. II. 43) 
squares the number, " Non mihi si linguae centum sint, oraque centum, Ferrea 
vox." Ovid, in Met. VIII. 532, says " Non mihi Maeoniae redeat si gloria 
linguae, Centenasqne pater det Phoebus fundere voces, Tot caedes proferre 
queam," and in Fasti II. 119, "Non mihi si centum Deus or a sonantia Unguis. 
Hostius, a contemporary of Caesar, author of a poem on the wars of Istria, 
wished for 100, "Non si mihi linguae Centum atque ora sient totidem voces- 
que liquatae." 

2. in carmina. " That their style and language may be amplified and 
extended adequately to the greatness and variety of their subjects." 

3. fabula seu . . . ponatur, whether the subject proposed be. maesto. 

Cf. Hor, A. P, 96, " Tristia maestum vultum verba decent," — —ponatur = 



NOTES o.\ SATIRE V. - - 

proponatur. For the mood see A. 341 ; G. 666; H. 529, II. N. I. I). 

hianda, to be mouthed, alludes to the wide mouths of the tragic mask. This 
verse refersto Tragedy. In these days much bad taste prevailed on th< 

4. vulnera Parthi : i. e., wounds received by the Parthian. ducen- 

tis . . . ferrum, drawing the arrow from his groin, i. e., drawing from bis 
wounded groin the arrow that had pierced him,— a picture likely enough 
to appear in an Epic poem, and sufficiently flattering to Roman vanity. 
This seems preferable to making vulnera Parthi mean wounds given by tin 
Parthian, and ducentis, etc., either drawing tin bow from the groin, instead ot 
from the shoulder, or taking an arrow from tin quiver, which the Eastern 
nations carried near the groin. 

5. Quorsum haec. A.206,c; B. 368, 3. aut. A. 211: G. 160; 

II. 353, X. 6, 1 ). quantas = qua* t<t„t<is. robusti, sturdy, solid, a- it 

of food. offas, lumps, whether of meal or of flesh. 

6. ingeris, areyov cramming. centeno gutture centum gutturibuM. 

niti, to press, as in a difficult swallow. The Image is burlesqued bj sup- 
posing the mouth to be wanted for eating, not for speaking, and thus we 
are prepared tor the olla Thyestcu and the •pUbeUx prandia. 

7. grande. Yid. X. on I. 14. locuturi. Vid. N. on ahlatura, I. 

100. nebulas. To colhd mists it would he necessary, of course, to ascend 

,l u . mountain. Helicone, as in Prol. 1. Beq. The idea i- that those who 

set up to be great poets may avail themselves of i><»tirn[ privileges, which are 
generally mere- moonshine. 

8. g. Prognes . . . Thyestae. Tin stories of Tereus and Thyestefl 

were common subjects of tragedy in Rome as well a- at Athens. olla 

fervebit. The " pot of Progne orThyestes" i- -aid to boU for those who 
compose tragedies on the subjects of the unnatural banquets prepared by 

Progne for Tereus, and by Atreue lor Thycstes. cenanda implies that 

these atrocities were to be actually represented on the stage. Glycom. 

Glyco, a tragic actor, according to the Scholiast, was a -lav.', the joint 
property of Vergilius, also a tragic actor, and some other person manu- 
mitted, on account of his greal popularity, by Nero, who gave 300,000 
sesterces to Vegilius tor his share in him— tall and -lark, with a hanging 
lower lip. and ill-looking when not dressed up -called insulaus from his 
inability to understand a joke. Persius doubtless means 1- ridicule the 
people through their favorite actor, who woe probably too tragic, and * 

a- if he had really 'supped full of horrors,' in Bpite of the frequent repeti- 
tion of the process. 

10. anhelanti . . . dum, puffing while it ia being done, 

11. folle : ahl. of means. clause- murmure, with pent-up murmur, 

answers to prems ventos and to the process going on within thetamtaVa I 

12. grave, ponderous, liere perhaps used technically of a deep ba und, 

opposed to acutus. cornicaris, croak lih a raven 

suggested by raucus, perhaps found onl) in an imitation b) Jerome, 1 



78 NOTES ON SATIRE V. 

13. stloppo, with a plop, is an onomatopoetic word, invented by Persius 
to express the sound made by forcibly compressing the cheeks after they 
have been puffed out with air to their utmost extent. 

14. verba togae : i. e., the talk of common life at Rome, as opposed 
to the praetexta, the symbol of tragedy, and the pallium which belonged to 

Greek subjects. iunctura refers to the combination of words in a happy 

phrase or expression. acri is a well chosen epithet, expressing the nicety 

of the material process, as we use sharp, at the same time that it denotes 
keenness of mind. 

15. ore. The mouth stands for the style. pallentis, pale, with 

disease and vice, guilty. 

16. ingenuo, high-bred, i. e., which will do for gentlemen. No 

precisely similar use of defigere has been adduced, but it is apparently the 
same as that of figere in such phrases as figere aliquem maledictis, with the 
additional notion of driving down. 

17. hinc : i. e., from common life. Mycenis as a Dative, according 

to H. 385, 4, 4), is more forcible than the Locative. 

18. cum capite et pedibus : which were put aside to show Thyestes 
what he had been eating. plebeia prandia. The full opposition is be- 
tween banquets of an unnatural sort in the heroic ages at Mycenae, known 
in these days as stage horrors, with no lesson for life, "raw head and bloody 
bones," as Dryden renders it, and every day meals (prandia not cenae) of 
the simplest kind, in common society at Rome, which show ordinary men 
as they are. 

19. Here Persius begins his defense, and gives the explanation of his 

words. studeo is rarely followed by ut, as here. A. 331, b and R; G. 

546 and R. 3 ; H. 498, II., 499, 2. bullatis, air-blown. The word ordi- 
narily means furnished with btdlae, but it may mean formed like a bubble, 
swelling, just as falcatus means both furnished with a scythe, an epithet of 
currus, and formed like a scythe, crooked, an epithet of ensis. 

20. pagina., the page, is put for its contents. dare pondus . . . fumo : 

i. e., to make mere vapors look solid. Cf. Hor. Ep. I. 19, 42, nugis addere 
pondus. dare . . . idonea. A. 273, d; G. 424, R. 4, 4); H. 533, I, 3. 

21. secreti, in private opposed to ad populum. hortante Camena 

seems to imply, ' I am inspired as truly as any poet — as Homer himself 
when he sang of the ships and asked for a hundred tongues — and the spirit 
within me bids me open my heart to you, and tell of our friendship.' 

22. excutienda. Cf. Non excute, I. 49. A. 294, d ; G. 431 ; H. 544, 

N. 2. quantaque nostrae . . . ostendisse iuvat. This sentiment is 

first found in Pythagoras, who said a friend was " another self." The same 
idea is constantly occurring both in heathen and in Christian writers. Cf. 
Hor. Od., II. 17, 5, Te meae partem animae ; id. Od. I. 3, 8, animae dimidium 

meae. J). Chrys. Or. III. 56 ; S. Hier. Ep. I. 15 ; Acts IV. 32. dulcis 

amice. Vid. Hor. Ep. I. 7, 12. 



NOTES ON SATIRE V. 79 

23. ostendisse. Note the force of the perfect. \. 288, e; <;. 275, 1. 
dinoscere cautus, like cautum adsumere, Hor. Sat. 1. 6, 51. 

25. solidum crepet, rings sound. A. 240, a; ( r. .".:;i . K. - J : EL 371, II. 
(2). Solidum is opposed to tectoria, plaster or stucco for walls, so thai the meta- 
phor is from striking a wall to Bee whether it i- solid stone or n<>t. 

pictae tectoria linguae, "plaster of a varnished tongue. The expression i- 
apparently to be resolved into quod tegitpictam linguamy as :i thing covered 
with tectoriwm might be called pictus, though we should rather bave expected 
the thing varnished to he the mind, and the tongue the varnisher. 

26. his, for this. Some read hie. centenas = centum. A. 95, d; 

G. 310, K; H. 174. 2, 4). ausim. A. 311, b; G. 250; B. 486, I. 

deposcere. A. 271, X; G. 424; II. 533. LI. 

26. sinuoso in pectore. The breasl is Bupposed to contain many sinus 
or recesses. The metaphor is from a gown. Cf. Shaks. Ham. 111. 2 : 

" I rive me that man 
That is not passion's -lave, and I will wear him 
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, 
A- 1 do thee." 

fixi expresses depth and permanence. We should have expected 

fixerim, but the independent and the dependent questions are confused. 

28. voce : negligently repeated alter voces. traham : i. e., from the 

folds. pura : opposed to pictae linguae. resignent suggests a different 

metaphor ; from the tablets of the mind. 

29. non enarrabile : i. e., by a common human voice. fibra. Yid. 

1.47. 

30. pavido: i. e., trembling under those who watched over me; not 
"timid on entering life" (Lubin), nor "fearful, and therefore requiring 

protection" (Casaubon, Jahn). custos. The toga praetexta, alluded to 

in purpura was intended, as the robes of the priests, to Berve as a protection 
to the youths who wore it. It was laid aside by hoys at the age of seven- 
teen, and by girls when they married. mihi. A. 229, c; G. 344; II. 

385, 2. 

31. bullaque, and my bosSj which was laid aside by boys at the same 

time as the praetexta. succinctis. The Lares were always represented 

as dressed in the cinctus Oabinus, "the same homely garb which the) wore 
before Rome became a city. A kind of affectionate home-bred superstition 

forbade all attempts al innovation in their costume. Laribus. The 

Lares, being the original household deities, were regarded with greal affec- 
tion by the Etonians. pependit. Cf. N. EI. 70. 

32. blandi, bc, fuerunt. comites aequales, — totaque Subura, 

A. 258, f; G, 386; II. 125, 2. The Subura was the worst street in Etome 
and the focus of all business. 

33. permisit may be illustrated by the epithet libera given to th<' toga. 
Prop. [V. 1, 131 Beq. sparsisse. A. 331,c; G.532, R. 1 ; H.685, l\ . 



80 NOTES ON SATIRE V. 

iam candidus expresses the same as 'Cum primum,' v. 30. The toga 

was yet new and clean, and the sense of freedom still fresh. umbo. 

The toga was so arranged as to be gathered into many plaits on the left 
shoulder ; the centre, where all these folds met was called the umbo or " boss." 

34. iter ambiguum has reference to the old story referred to in III. 

56. vitae nescius error, error from ignorance of the world. EiTor is here 

the act of wandering. 

35. deducit has its ordinary meaning of leading from one place to 
another, viz.: from the straight path to the point where the roads begin to 
diverge. Emphasis is thus thrown on vitae nescius error, the guidance to 
which they have to trust is that of ignorance and inexperience, so that they 

do not know which way to turn. trepidas, bewildered as to their choice 

of a path. 

36. me tibi supposui, I made myself your adopted child. Supponere 
is used of suppositious children, and of eggs placed under a hen, the com- 
mon notion being that of introducing a person or thing into a place ready 
for it, but not belonging to it. As Persius' own father had died when he 
was quite young the expression becomes very tender and excites sympathy. 

suscipis, correlative of supposui, is the technical term for taking up 

and rearing a child. annos with teneros is not equivalent to me tenera 

aetate, as the words are not used literally of actual infancy, but metaphori- 
cally of the infancy of judgment which belongs to youth. 

37. Socratico involves the notion not only of wisdom, but of the 
tender affection with which Socrates watched over youth. " The Stoics 
traced their philosophy from Socrates by the following line of succession : 
(1) Socrates, (2) Antisthenes, (3) Diogenes, (4) Crates, (5) Zeno, (6) 

Cleanthes, (7) Chrysippus." fallere sollers, skillful to deceive, refers to 

the elpojveta which surprises error into a confession that it is opposed to 
truth by placing the two suddenly in juxtaposition. For the constr. A. 
273, d ; G. 424, R. 4 ; H. 533, II. 3, N. 2. The sense is " You showed so 
much skill and address in your endeavors to restore me to the right path, 
that I was, as it were, gradually and insensibly cheated into a reformation 
of my life." 

39. premitur = fingitur premendo, so that the word prepares us for the 

figure of moulding in the next verse. vinci laborat: where a prose 

writer would have said vinci cogitur, though laborat is doubtless meant to 
show that the pupil's mind co-operated with the teacher. 

40. artificem : passive, artistic. A metaphor from wax or clay. 

pollice. "The thumb is largely used in moulding." 

41. etenim. Vid. III. 48. longos . . . soles. Cf. Verg. Eel. 

IX. 51, ' saepe ego longos Cantando puerum memini me condere soles. 

42. primas noctes, the early hours of night, with a reference to decerpere 

primitias. epulis, for feasting; dative. decerpere, to pluck off, stronger 

than carpere, and in contrast with consumere. 



NOTES on SATIRE V. s 1 

43. requiem, sc. unam from imum opw. disponimus. ■ 

44. "Note the peculiar beauty in Persius 1 talking all along in the 
present tense; hie recollected with bo much pleasure those days which were 

past, that lie seemed to live them over again." verecunda — modioa, 

laxamus seria. Cf. laxabant curas. Verg. ^.en. IX. 223. 

45. equidem : I would not have you doubt. Vid. N. on I. 110. 

foedere certo = lege certa. Cf. Verg. Aen. 1. 62. 

46. consentire. G. 551, R. I : II. 505, I, 4. ab uno sidere duci 

apparently = cepisse originem <il> umo mdere. Both Horace, from whom this 
passage is imitated and Persius arc talking at random as is evident Prom 
the fact that neither professes to know his own horoscope. Lstrologj wa- 
in great vogue in Persius' time, an impulse having been given t<> the study 
by Ti her ins. 

47. Libra. The balance is a symbol of equality. When the sun enters 
this sign (which is about the 2<)tii of September), the autumnal equinox 
commences. 

48. tenax veri :" because the decrees pronounced by Destiny a1 each 
man's birth have their inevitable issue." Of. Hor. Od., II. L6, 

non mendax. nata fidelibus, ordained for faithful friends. The hour of 

birth is said to he horn itself, as in Aesch.. Ig. L07, ifififOTOi au&V' t Soph., 
Oed. R. 1082, ov) ; 1 velg [irjvec. 

49. concordia. This owaarpia, as the Greeks called the being born 
iimlcr one Horoscope, was considered to be one "i" the causes of the most 
familiar and intimate friendships. Still.it was believed thai t his unanimity 

did not subsist between such as were born under every sign: "/ quibus in 
lucem Pisces, etc.; Manil. 11. 

50. Saturnum gravem. Saturn was believed to exert a malign influ- 
ence as numerous examples show. nostro : including the notion of 

favorable. 

51. nescio quid. Persius says, ' Whether it be Libra, or Gemini, or 

Jove, at any rate I know (certe) that there is 80IIK star. me tibi tern- 

perat. (i. 634, R. 1:11. 503, 1. N. 3. Temperan Beems here to follow the 
analogy of miscere, which i> used with a dative when the minglii 

persons is spoken of. It means not only t<> mix, but to mix in due propor- 
tion ; which blends me to thee. 

52. The poet now proceeds to show the diversity of tastes and opinions 
to be found among men in contrast t<> the onion between himself an. I 

his friend. rerum discolor usus, the experiences <•/ ih< WOrtd ttrt 

various. 

53. velle. ('{'. I. 9. nee voto vivitur uno. ( 1 \ 1 I II 

truliii sua qui mque voluptas. 

54. mercibus mutat piper: a variety for the more common 
mutxUpipere. The word mutat properly belonged i" a period when trade 
consisted i'i barter. sub sole recenti, in tl" ■ 

9 



82 NOTES ON SATIRE V. 

terras inrorat Eous, Verg. Georg., I. 288, of the sunrise. The invention of 
commerce is attributed to the Phoenicians. 

55. rugosum piper is well expressed, the shrivelling being the effect 

of the sun, which distinguishes it from Italian pepper. pallentis cumini, 

■pale, because producing paleness, like pallidam Pirenen, Prol. 4. Cumin, 
which is a mere dwarf in our gardens, grows to the height of eight or nine 
feet in hot countries. It is much cultivated by the Maltese. It was a 
favorite condiment at Kome, used as a cheap substitute for pepper, which 
was very expensive. 

56. satur is emphatic, as both the pleasure and the fatness would arise 
as much from the full meal as from the siesta. inriguo, dewy, with refer- 
ence to the poetical notion of its falling like dew upon the weary body. 
Cf. Somnus per membra quietem Inriget, Lucr. IV. 907 ; Fessos sopor 
inrigat artus, Verg. Aen., III. 511. 

57. campo: i. e., the exercises of the campus Martius. Vid. Hor. Od., 

I. 8, 4 ; Sat., I. 6, 131 ; Ep., I. 7, 59 ; A. P., 162, 379 seq. decoquit, 

makes bankrupt. 

58. putris, sc. est, melts away. lapidosa cheragra combined with 

fregerit . . . ramalia suggests that the metaphor may be taken from a 
hail-storm. The allusion is to the chalk-stones of gout. 

59. ramalia is in apposition with articulos. fagi. The dead 

branches of the beech very soon decay. 

60. The conception here is of life passed in Boeotian atmosphere, of 
thick fogs and pestilential vapors, which the sun never pierces — probably 
with special reference to the pleasures of sense, of which Persius has just 
been speaking. 

61. sibi : with ingemuere. seri. A. 191 ; G. 324, K. 6 ; H. 443. 

vitam relictam, past life. 

62. The life of Cornutus is now contrasted with those just described. 

63. cultor introduces the metaphor which is carried on in purgatas, 

inserts, and fruge. purgatas, cleared of weeds, a common word in re rustica. 

" One of the remedies of deafness was to hold the ear over the vapor of 
heated vinegar. The metapfior was very applicable to the Stoics, who were 
famous for their acuteness in detecting fallacies, and their keenness in de- 
bating." inseris aures fruge : a variety for inserts auribus fruges. 

64. Cleanthea. Cleanthes, a most devoted disciple of Zeno, the 
founder of the Stoics, is selected here on account of his strict life and vir- 
tuous poverty. He was born at Assos, and came to Athens with only four 
drachmae, and became a pupil of Zeno. He worked at night at drawing 
water in the gardens, in order to raise money to attend Zeno's lectures by 
day. He succeeded Zeno in the school and himself was followed by Chry- 
sippus. hinc, from this source. 

65. finem certum, definite aim. miseris : as it is for the miseries of 

old age that the provision of philosophy is required, just as it is in decay 



NoTI> «»\ BAi ii:k v. 

that the evil <>!' a had life is felt, v. ; - v seq. — —viatica i- provision of all 
sorts for a journey. Bias used to saj that 'virtue was the best provision 
for life's journey.' 

66. eras hoc fiet is a reply from one of those addressed. idem 

eras fiet is Persius' answer. quid . . . donas, Whatt do yon mocm t<> 

say (nempe) that yon call a day a great presentf nempe implies ' [a tliis 
what you mean when you say I<l< m eras fiet t Do you mean t«» higgle about 
a daj ?' 

67. cum . . . venit expresses time coincident with, it' not subsequent 
to, that of the principal clause — the sense being, 'The eery coming of the 
to-morrow you -peak of now, involves the loss of the to-morrow you spoke 
of yesterday, i. e., of to-day.' 

68. hesternum in reference to the present time of speaking, not tothe 
time (It-noted by conswnpsimus. aliud eras, afresh to-morrow, ever su 

ing. 

69. egerit is from egero used variously of emptying out earth, carrying 
out goods, bailing out water, eta, from which it is easily transferred to the 

(■•instant consumption of time, carte off, is bailing ouL hos annos : which 

you have before you and count on in advance. paulum erit ultra 

changes the metaphor. 

70. quamvis prope te : like our proverb, 'a miss i- ;( ^ lt« >• >*1 as a mile.' 
temone, the pole, here put for the carriage itself. 

71. cantum, the ///■< or rim of a wheel, instead of rotam, as it would be 
the outside which a person behind would naturally hope to touch. 

72. cum is used instead of 81, as it gives more rhetorical force, and 

more completely identifies the person with the thing to which he i- com- 
pared. rota posterior curras, you run in the character of the hind wheel, 

and your axle is not the first but the second. 

73. non hac begins an independent sentence; it is not by (to freedom, 

etc. Velina : one of the country tribes in the Sabine district) so called 

from lake Velinus. It was the last tribe added, with the Quirina, \. D, ('. 
512. The name of the tribe is always added in the ablative case. It here 
defines the service, as if it were the Legion in which the soldier had served. 

' He has only to cuter the service of the tribe in order to entitle himself U) 
the allowance.' 

74. Publius. Only freemen were entitled to the praenomen. 

emeruit is a military term tor ;i soldier who /<".-■ served hi- lime. tesse- 

rula : a contemptuous diminutive of tessera, the ticket which entitled the 

holder to his share in the distribution Of the public corn, which took place 

on the nones <,f each month. The ticket wasof wood or lead, and was trans- 
ferable. 

75. steriles is rare with the genitive. Quiritem, rare in the singu- 
lar, is found thus only in the poets and in some Legal formulae. 

76. vertigo. There were three ways of making a slave tree: 1. per 






84 NOTES ON SATIRE V. 

Censum ; II. per Vindictam ; III. per Testamentum. The second is alluded 
to here. The master took the slave before the praetor or consul and said, 
" Hunc hominem librum esse volo iure Quiritium." Then the lictor touched 
him with the vindicta, the master turning him round and giving him a 
blow on the cheek, and let him go, with the words, " Liber esto atque ito 

quo voles." facit : where we should have expected faciat, as the sentence, 

though expressed in an independent form, is really meant to give the reason 
of the address, l Heu steriles veri." A. N. before 321 ; G. 627, E ; H. 517, 2. 

Dama : the common name of a slave in Horace. agaso (qui agit 

asinos), a groom, is also used contemptuously for any drudge. 

77. vappa lippus, blear-eyed from drinking. in tenui farragine 

mendax, one who would lie in the matter of a small feed of corn. 

78. verterit — exit = si verier it — exit. A. 266, c; G. 257 ; H. 484, III. 
momento turbinis, by virtue of the whirl. 

79. Marcus Dama. While the freedman took his master's praenomen 
and gentile name, he retained his own name instead of taking the cognomen 
of his late owner. M • FVFIVS -ML- DAMA actually occurs in an in- 
scription in Buonarotti (vetri p. 136). papae, ye gods! ironical admira- 
tion at the change. After this can anybody think of his antecedents — 
hesitate about lending money on his security — feel qualms when he is on 
the bench ? Impossible — he is a Koman— his word is good for anything — 
so is his signature.' 

81. dixit: ita est: a contrast to mendax. adsigna, put your hand 

and seal to, as a witness. 

82. mera, pure; ironical, i. e., in the bare, outward, literal sense of 
the word. pillea. Vid. n. on III. 106. 

83. The humor is increased by making the ex-stable-boy argue in a 
formal syllogism, and advance as his major premise the genuine definition 

of liberty as given by the Stoics themselves. quisquam is used because 

of the negative answer expected. A. 305, h ; G. 304 ; H. 457. 

84. voluit : perf. because the wish precedes the action. licet ut 

volo vivere is the minor premise, which the Stoic denies. 

85. liberior Bruto. To be more free than the hero of freedom himself 

is to have attained the perfection of freedom. mendose colligis, your 

syllogism is faulty. Colligere is the technical term for logical inference, 
Gv'/.'/.oyiZ,eadaL. 

86. stoicus hie (our Stoic friend) seems to be Persius' way of describ- 
ing himself, like the common expression hie homo. aurem . . . lotus : 

v. 63 note. aceto. Konig refers to Cels. VI. 7, 2, 3, to show that 

vinegar was used in cases of deafness. Vid. note on v. 63. 

87. haec reliqua. Persius admits the major, but denies the minor 
premise. He objects to licet and volo as the two obnoxious words, denying 
both that the man has a ivill and that he is free to follow it. 

88. vindicta : instrumental ablative. meus, my own property. 






NOTES <»\ SATIRE V. 

90. The exception proves that the man has no notion of anj bul 

freedom. Masuri. Masurius Sabinus, a famous lawyer in the reign ol 

Tiberius and Nero, was admitted by the- former into tin- Equestrian order. 
He was very clever, very honest and very poor. He wrote three books on 
Civil Law: five on Edictnm Praetoris Urbani ; besides several other works, 
quoted in the Digests. In his old age he was supported by the liberality of 

his former pupils. rubrica : because the titles were commonly written 

in red. vetavit, for vetuit, is found nowhere else except in a n« «t«- of 

Servius on Verg. Aen. II. 201. 

91. The poet here begins a Long reply and preaches a Stoic sermon. 

naso. The nose shows anger by snarling. rugosa : as wrinkling 

up the nostrils. Cf. Hor. Ep. 1. 5, 23, Oorruget nares. sanna. \'id. [.62. 

92. veteres avias, old grandmothers, i. e., "old wives' fables." pul- 

mone is here the seat of pride. revello. A. 276, e; G. 220, EL, 572; 

11. 467,4. 

93. non erat. Note the force of the imperfect, U was not, as you 

thought. A. 277, d; G. 224, K. 3; II. 169. tenuia (a trisyllable) 

officia : not as distinguishing them from other broader duties, bul express- 
ing the nature of right doing, which is an an made up of innumerable 
details, and requiring exact study. rerum = 

g4. usum rapidae vitae, the entry of flu- rapid race-course of life. The 
metaphor is from a race-course, the notion being thai there is no power of 
stopping in the career of lite, which consequently is no place for a man who 
cannot conduct himself. 

95. sambucam. The sambuca, commonly rendered <ii>i<-im> ,\ from the 
Chaldaic Babbeca, was a sort of triangular harp with four Btrings, and ac- 
cording to the Greeks, was so named from one Sambuces, \\ ho first used it. 

citius = potms. caloni. Calories militum servi dicti, qui ligneas 

clavas gerehant. Persius would naturally choose a soldier's slave a- the 

lowest specimen of degraded humanity. alto (emphatic) i- Bald to refer 

to the old Greek proverb, ivdpog 6 uaicpdt . ' . <-. ry /"// man is afooU 

96. stat contra, confronts you. secretam, privately. A. l'.M 

324, K. (J ; II. 443. 

97. liceat, with reference to licet in v. 84. ne . . . agendo. King 

Ptolemy, when he was giving hi- opinion eery freelj on the art of playing 
the lyre, was told by Stratonicus, tlu' musician, that -//>.- 1 and 1 

were not exactly synonymous. < 1. Plin. X X XV. 10; V. lis k. VIII. 1 '_'. fin.; 
Ammianus XXVIII. 1. 

98. publica lex hominum : opp. to Masuri rubrica. natura seems 

to he mentioned a- the source of the law, which is consequently accepted 
and acknowledged everywhere. The doctrine of a supreme la?) of Nature, 
the actual source and ideal standard of all particular laws, vrai eh:, 

istic "i the Stoics, and lay at the bottom of the Roman juristical notion "t 
a ratio naturalis or i/us gentium. 






86 NOTES ON SATIRE V. 

gg. teneat vetitos actus, should hold in abeyance forbidden actions. 

vetitos : forbidden to attempt by the unwritten law of nature. inscitia 

debilis, feeble ignorance. 

ioo. This and the following example are from Hor. Ep. II. 1, 114 seq. 

diluis helleborum. Hellebore seems to have been taken pure, and 

sometimes mixed. certo. The metaphor here is from a steel-yard 

(statera). conpescere, to check, here means to bring to the perpendicular 

so that the index (examen) may show that there is an equipoise. puncto. 

Punctum is one of the points on the graduated arm, along which the weight 
is moved. The idea is, ' Do you attempt to compound medecines who do 
not understand the use of the steel-yard ? 

ioi. natura medendi, the conditions of the healing art. 

102. navem . . . poscat : i. e., should ask for the command of a ship, 

showing his presumption. peronatus, rough-shod. The pero was a thick 

boot of rawhide, contrasted with the light shoes that sailors wear on deck. 

103. luciferi rudis, not knowing even the morning star. Lucifer is men- 
tioned as the chief of the stars. In that case the countryman would be 
ignorant even of his own trade, as he is bound to have some knowledge of 

the stars. Verg. Georg. I. 204 seq. Melicerta : as one of the patrons of 

sailors, vid. Verg. Georg., I. 437. He was the son of Ino, who leaped with 
him into the sea to save him from her husband Athamas. At the request 
of Venus, Neptune changed them into sea-deities, giving to Ino the name 
Leucothea and to Palaemon (which was his real name) that of Melicerta. 
Vid. Ov. Met. IV. 523 seq. 

104. frontem : the seat of modesty, put for modesty itself, as in our 

word frontless. de rebus, from the world, as in Rerum pulcherrima Koma, 

etc. recto talo, correctly, uprightly. Cf. cadat an recto stet fabulatafo: 

Hor. Ep. II. 1, 176. 

105. ars, philosophy, is emphatic here, as Persius means to deny that 
virtue comes except by training and study. speciem, semblance. 

106. ne qua, sc. species. subaerato auro, gold coppered underneath. 

mendosum tinniat. Vid. N. on solidum crepet, v. 25. 

107. sequenda forent. A. 287, a; G. 511, E. 2 ; H. 495, I. 

vicissim, on the other hand. 

108. creta . . . carbone. Cf. Hor. Sat. II. 3, 246, ' Greta an carbone 
notandi,' of different classes of men. 

iog. voti. A. 218, c; G. 374, E. 2 ; H. 399, III. 1. presso lare ? 

Your house within your means? Pressus, opposed to diffusus, denotes the 
avoiding of ostentatious or reckless expenditure, applied to lar probably be- 
cause one mode of extravagance is overbuilding. dulcis, indulgent. 

no. granaria : implying large stores. Possibly the allusion is to the 
public granaries at Eome, which were periodically opened for the relief of 
the poorer citizens, as well as in times of death and scarcity. 

in. inque luto fixum. It was a common trick of the boys at Eome 






N"OTE8 ON SATIRE V. 

t<> fasten a piece of money to a stone in the street, thai they might laugh at 

anyone who stooped to pick it up. transcendere, !•> step Persinfl 

licit- seems to contemplate a man who. knowing it \v<.ul<l be qo use to stoop, 
yet covete the money. 

112. glutto : glutton, from gJutus, like cachirmo (I. 12) from cachinmta. 

salivam : here called Mercurialem, applied to traders, a- arising from 

avarice. The sense of the passage is this: "Noone shoald profess to he 
what hi' is not. Yon say you are a tree man. hut have yon learned your 
duty? Can you distinguish truth when VOD see it. set right mark- on 

and had — moderate your de-ire- — live within your means -be kind t<> your 
friend- — he liberal with prudence — and he indifferent to money? 

113. haec mea sunt: the Legal form of asserting ownership. cum 

. . . dixeris. A. 304, X: Gr. 584; II. 507, •'!. esto again suggests :i 

legal form. 

114. praetoribus (sc. entctoribus) ac love dextro, by ih> >/r<ir, ,,/ il„ 
praetors <ui<l love. 

115. sin, but if. cum, although. nostrae farinae, of //,,■ same 

meal as we, a metaphor from the bakery. The sense of thi in- to 

be c after enrolling yourself just now among the philosophers as you seemed 
to by your pretensions to liberty.' 

116. pelliculam veterem is apparently an allusion to the fable of the 

ass in the lion's skin. fronte politus doe- not -eein to belong to the 

metaphor. 

117. astutam vulpem is the fox dressed up ;i- a lion. vapido is 

used of wine that has lost it- spirit. 

118. relego, I take bade. funemque reduco: apparently of pulling 

in a beast that has had rope allowed him. So Shakespeare, Romeo ami 

Juliet, Act II., Scene 1 : 

" I would have thee -one. 
And yet no farther than :i wanton'- bird, 
Who lets it hop a little from her hand, 

Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, 
And with a -ilk thread pluck- it back again." 

119. nil . . . ratio: i.e., has given you power over nothing. — digi- 
itum exsere, peccas. It was :i doctrine of the Stoics that none but a 
philosopher could perform even the most trivial ad correctly; there being 
no middle poim between absolute wisdom ;ui.l absolute folly i consequently 
not even the gods could bestov upon a fool the power of acting rightly. 

120. litabis, taken in connection with the next verse ha- here the 
force of impetrabis. 

121. brevis : as we talk of short measure. 

122. haec miscere nefas. Folly and wisdom are incompatible. 
cetera: ace. of specif. fossor, clodhopper. 



88 NOTES ON SATIRE V. 

123. tris tantum ad numeros moveare, can you dance three steps in 

time. moveare = moveri potes. satyrum : cognate accusative. 

Bathylli. Bathyllus was a comic dancer in the time of Augustus, so that 
the mention of him here is another instance of Persius' habit of looking 
rather to books than to life. 

124. liber ego. Note that Dama still maintains his conclusion, not- 
withstanding the overthrow of his premises. Persius meets this reasser- 

tion of freedom on the part of Dama with a new answer. Before he had 
contended that fools had no rights: now he shows that they have no inde- 
pendent power. subdite : vocative ; equivalent to cum subditus sis. The 

passage is imitated from Hor. Sat. II. 7, 75, Tune mihi dominus rerum imperiis 
hominumque Tot tantisque minor. 

125. an, or. A. 211, b; G. 459; H. 353, 2, N. 4. relaxat : in a 

general sense. 

126. i puer, etc.: a specimen of a command. The strigiles (Juv. 

III. 263) would be carried to the bath, that the master might use them 
after bathing. It was the custom at Rome for those who went to the baths, 

to take their own scrapers and soap. Crispini : seemingly the name of 

the bath-keeper. 

127. The man does not move, so the master addresses him sharply 

' cessas nugator.' servitium acre : apparently a metaphor from a goad, 

which would agree with inpellit. 

128. ' You are not a puppet, whose strings are pulled externally. ,' The 
figure of the puppet was a very common one, especially among the Stoics, 
occurring many times in Marcus Antonius. extrinsecus : i. e., his mas- 
ters are within. 

129. iecore . . . nascuntur. Cf. Note on I. 25. 

130. qui, how f exis = evadis, come off, escape. 

131. " atque = guam." A. 156, a; G. 311, R. 6 ; H. 459. 2. ad 

strigiles. Perhaps with reference to expressions like servi ad remum, ad 

lecticam. scutica. Vid. Juv. VI. 480. " metus erilis = metus eri." 

A. 214, a ; G. 360, R. 1 and 363, R ; H. 395, N. 2. 

132-191. The rest of the satire describes the ruling passions: Avar- 
ice (132-142), Luxury (143-160), Love (161-175), Ambition (176-179) 

and Superstition (180-189). For a fine description of the power of 

Sloth when indulged see Proverbs V. 9 seq; XXII, 13; XXVI, 13 seq. 

133. negas is said by the poet, like instat. 

134. et quid agam, Well, and what am I to do t if I do get up. 

saperdam : a fish for salting, seemingly of the herring sort. The best 
were found in the Pontus Maeotis, the Greek name being aairepSfjc or 
KopaKlvoc Ponto. A. 258 ; G. 388 ; H. 412, 2. 

135. castoreum. Cf. Juv. XII. 34. stuppas : the coarse part of 

flax, tow, oakum. hebenum . . . tus. Sola India nigrum fert ebenum; 

solis est turea virga Sabaeis, Verg. Georg., II, 116 seq., so that the voyage 



NOTES "\ SATIRl r. 

is meant to extend over the East generally. lubrica Coa may either be 

oil-like Coon wines (Hor. Sat. II. 1. 29), or soft Chan garments {Hot. Od. IV. 
13, 13). 

136. lie the firel to bargain for the pepper which the camel-driver has 

brought to Alexandria. recens, just in; primus. Both point the 

Bameway; before others have time to bid. piper: from India, v. 55. 

sitiente, thirsty from its journey over the desert, before ill" driver baa 

had time to attend to its wants. The camel's powers of enduring thirst are 

well -know 11. 

137. verte aliquid ; iura, borrow money to pay your debts and 8too 
never had ii. Verten here is equivalent t<> versuram facere, and iura has 
reference to a perjured denial of the fact. eheu, whew J 

138. baro, a lout, " is a < rallic word, and denotes a soldier's -law." 

terebrare salinum, aXiav rpwrav^ as in A.poll. Tyan. EJp. 7. _ ra >.>nni foiv 
rbv .■ urn if tn r hit'/ (,>f aeiev kfioi <V zit\ Hjv aXxav rpvrrav ev Qiuidot ot/c<^, tu scrape 
and scrap* until you drill a hole in your salt-cellar. salinum: the accom- 
paniment <>t' a frugal meal, as in III. 25, note. 

i3g. contentus: with terebrare. perages, sc, ovum, aetatem <>r 

vUam, which is generally expressed. So Siayeiv. vivere cum love, /«< 

live on (/noil terms with Jove. 

140. The speech of Avarice ends at tendis. The man is then supposed 
to he in a hurry to obey Iter behests and get himself and his Blaves read} 

for the journey. pellem. This was probably a substitute for the modern 

valise. succinctus, equipped for traveling, shows the man'- haste, further 

shown by Ins words: ' Ocius ad navem ! ' oenophorum, //// wine /,-//</»•/•- 

or liquor <■><*■, was carried on journeys. I lor. Sat. I. 6, I 11 '.'. 

141. vasta : apparently to give the notion of successfully contending 

with the elements ; perhaps to indicate the man'- greed. 

142. rapias. Cf. rapere campum, Stat. Theb., V. 3; corripert campum, 
spatia, etc., Verg. A.en. V. Ml seq., 316; Georg. III. 103. — sollers, art- 
ful, wily, watching her opportunity and knowing your weak side. 

143. seductum. Yid. 11. I: VI. 42. quo deinde ruis ? \ 

Aen. V. 741. This begins the speech of Luxury, winch end- at inde est in 
verse 153. — —deinde seems to have the force of now or next. 

144. quid tibi vis, what do you wantf Cf. Hor. Sat. II. 6, 26, Q 

insane, et quas resagisf " calido i- proleptic." mascula, of superior 

-t rength, violent. 

145. extinxerit. A. 311, b; <;. _•"><»: H. 486, III.- The urna con 

tained half an amphora, or nearly three callous. cicutae, hemlock, used 

as a cure on accounl of its coldness 1 'calido sub pe< i"i 

146. transilias. A. 268; G. 251 ; II. 186,11. torta cannabe, •-/".• 

i. e., a coil 1.1' rope. fulto : with tibi. Sea voyages were not remarkably 

popular with the ancients, as we Bee from this. There is an <>ld 1 
adage: Ba"kdoat], h<u vcvp, nat .in, kokq rpla. 

In 



90 NOTES ON SATIKE V. 

147. Veientanum. The wines grown at Veii were held cheap, and 
here the quality is supposed to be still worse by the bad pitching of the 
amphora. rubellum : a diminutive epithet, given to wines, reddish. 

148. exhalet : as the liquor would offend the smell before the taste. 

vapida, damaged, belongs in sense to Veientanum. H. 636, IV. 2. 

laesum, spoiled. pice. Casks and jars were pitched in order to preserve 

the wine. sessilis is often used by Pliny of things with broad bottoms. 

obba : an obsolete word for a drinking cup. 

149. 'What is your object? to get a greedy eleven per cent, profit on 

your money, after having realized a moderate five per cent, here.' 

quincunce, five per cent, as an as a month was twelve per cent. • 

150. nutrieras. The capital is considered as the mother of the inter- 
est. peragant, proceed, not in the sense of continuing, but of doing a 

thing as the next step. sudore : expressing the labor necessary to pro- 
duce the increased profit. deunces : cogn. ace, like sudabunt roscida 

mella. Verg. Eel. IV. 30. 

151. genio. Vid. Note on II. 3. nostrum est quod vivis = 

nostra est tua vita, your real life is mine; i. e., only that part of life which 
you devote to me can be called life, ftloc fliov deouevoc ovic egt! j3l.oc is a Greek 
proverb. 

152. cinis et manes et fabula. Three stages are intended. 'You 
will become first ashes, the*h a shade, then a name.' Cf. Ps. XC. 9 : " We 
spend our years as a tale that is told." 

153. vive memor leti. Vid. Hor. Sat. 11/6, 97. hoc quod loquor 

inde est. This very speech I am now making is so much taken off from it. Cf. 
Dum loquimur fugerit invida Aetas, Hor. Od. 1. 11, 7. The whole of the argu- 
ment of Luxury is summed up in Corinthians I. 15, 32, " Let us eat and 
drink for to-morrow we die." 

154. en quid agis. Vid. III. 5. duplici hamo, by a couple of hooks. 

He likens the man to a fish with two hooks in his mouth. Cf. Hor. Ep. I. 

7, 74, 'Occultum visus decurrere piscis ad, hamum. 1 scinderis. Cf. Verg. 

Aen. II. 39, 'Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus. 

155. subeas oportet. A. 331, f, K ; G. 535, E. 1 ; 559, R ; H. 501, I. 
1 ; 502, 1. alternus : for alternos. 

156. ancipiti obsequio means an obedience rendered first to one and 
then to the other. oberres, go at large (as a fugitive slave), has no gram- 
matical connection with dominos though alternus refers to it in sense. 

157. nee = neu. cum, although. semel. One or two actions do 

not constitute a habit. Arist. Eth. instanti, threatening. 

159. et, also. luctata, by his struggles. 

160. a collo . . . catenae. The dog is impeded by the chain which 
it drags along with it, and can be recaptured with less difficulty. 

161-175. This episode, being another illustration of the nature of true 
freedom, is taken from a scene in the Eunuchus of Menander, from which 



NOTES <>\ - \i [BE V. 91 

Terence adapted bis play, substituting the names Phaedria :m< I Parmeno 
for Xacpiarparoi and Adoc. Supposing Terence's t<> be ;i close translation, 
IVr-ius' imitation i> sufficiently free. Horace, on the other band (Sat 1 1. 3, 
259 seq.), follows Terence exactly, though omitting Beveral Lines. 

161. credas iubeo. A. 311, a, and t. B; c. 546, B. 3: II. 198, I 
499,2. finire dolores . . . meditor is from II<>r. Bat. II 

potius ntediter finire labores. 1 

162. crudum properly means bleeding (cruor, cruidus). \\> re then it 
is to be connected with abrodens, gnmovng away. 

163. siccis : opp. to ebrius. obstem seems to be used in Its primary 

sense of standing before. 

164. rumore sinistro : like amiatri sermonw. Tac. \nn. 1.7 1. 

165. limen ad obscenum, "at a bawdy house." limen : because the 
lover was shut »>nt. Hor. Od. I. 25, etc. Persius may have been 
thinking of 1 1 « n-. Epod. 11, 22. l Li/mina dura quibus Lumbos et infregx 

Latus.' frangam, smash up. The Language is taken from common 

life. Chrysidis. Ohrysis is the Thai- of Terence. udas i> variously 

explained: wet, with ointment {postes superbos Unguit amwacino, Lmr. IV. 
1179); with wine (uda . . . Lyaeo tempora, Hot. Od. 1.7, 22)\ with l 

sit nt lacrimis iarma facta meis, < >v. Am.. I. •',. 18); with rain | Non hoe semper 
1 fit liminis aut aquae Caelestis pattern, lotus, Hor. Od. 111. 1<>, 19. 

166. ebrius. Cf. Hor. S;it. 1. l. :.l, l Ebrius, et, magnum quod dedecuc, 

ambulet ante Noctem cumfacibusJ exstincta : probably from bis drunken 

carelessness, if not from the rain; perhaps, to prevent h i~- 1 ^i nu recognized 

by those passing by. canto: referring [<> the irapanAavoldvpov of which 

we have examples in Hor. Od. [.25; id. Ill, 10; Plaut.; Propert.; A.ria- 
tophanes and Theocritus. 

167. euge, etc. Davus encourages his master — hence puer in-trad of 

Terence's here. sapias : optative. dis depellentibus, to //<< gods taho 

ward off evil. The more common word is on rruncuB, In Greek, o7ror/wwr<Moc, 

.'//.or, <)]• a'/ ; ;ih(/h'ir. 

168. percute : like/ewe; a sacrificial term. sed censen, etc. He 

besitates from fear of hurting her feelings. 

169. nugaris, nonsense/ dallying when action is required. solea 

refers to the story of Hercules and Omphale (Luc. I>. I>., XIII. 2), also 
alluded to in Ter. lam.. V. ~. 3, I. "The solea was the dipper worn by 
Ladies, and sometimes, by effeminate nun. h was used by fair tyrants for 
the chastisement of their humble admirers." The Greeks have a verb for 

the process, <><"-<«<. obiurgabere : a word used for correction. 

rubra : for dramatic effect. 

170. ne trepidare velis noli trtpidare. Trepidare i- used of beasts 
which will not submit. rodere casses. Compare the fable of th< 

and the mouse. The \ erse musl be taken Lit close connection with the next 
as Davus does not tell hi- master not to struggle, but not i" struggle at one 

time and give Way at another. 






92 NOTES ON SATIKE V. 

171. haud mora must bejoined closely with dicas, instantly you would say. 

173. totus et integer, heart-whole and fancy-free. 

174. nee nunc, sc. accedas. hie is an adverb, not a pronoun, as in 

festuca shows. 

175. festuca is generally explained as a synonym of vindicta. inep- 

tus : because the ceremony does not convey real freedom. 

176-179. The poet now takes up a slave of Ambition. sui. A 

man who was sui iuris was not in the legal power of another. palpo = 

ambitor. ducit hiantem. Cf. Hor. Sat. I. 2, 88, emptorem inducat 

hiantem. 

177. cretata = candidata, the gown being rubbed with chalk to make 

it whiter. Ambitio, the goddess of canvassing, not to be rendered ambition, 

though elsewhere the Latin word is nearly equivalent to the English. 

vigila, be on the move early and late, the requirements of a canvass being ap- 
parently as exacting as those of dependence on the great and wealthy. 
These verses from vigila to senes in 179 seem to us to be the instructions of 
the goddess to her slave and are given here by the poet to show that the 
ambitious man has no real freedom. cicer : a plebeian article of food. 

178. rixanti, squabbling. Tickets for shows, money, etc., used to be 

scrambled for. nostra ironically identifies the poet with the man of 

whom he is speaking. Floralia. At the Floralia, celebrated by the 

Aediles in honor of Flora from the 28th of April to the 2d of May inclusive, 
candidates for popularity were wont to throw among the people tesserulae, 
which entitled the bearer to a largess of corn, pulse, etc., for which, of course 
there would be a great scramble. 

179. aprici = apricantes. quid pulcrius : ironical comment of 

Persius. 

180. The poet now passes to another kind of servitude, that of super- 
stition, and selects Herod as the best known Jewish personage to indicate 

Jewish superstition. at abruptly introduces the transition. Herodis 

. . . dies seems to be Herod's birthday, which would naturally be celebrated 

by the Herodians. uncta : from the lamps. fenestra. Lights were 

set up on doors and windows on festivals. 

182. violas : another mark of rejoicing. Cf. Juv. XII. 90, omnes violae 

iactabo colores. amplexa catinum, coiled round the dish, indicating the 

size of the tunny's tail. 

183. cauda thynni. The tunny was frequently used in sacrifices, be- 
ing eaten at the temple. The tail of the tunny is large. Persius probably 

refers to the whole fish, not to the tail merely. natat refers to the nature 

of the fish in its native element, so that there is a contrast between amplexa 

and natat. tumet probably refers to the bulging shape of the jar, which 

seemed to expand with the wine. The expressions in this and the pre- 
ceding verses appear to be intentionally contemptuous ; but Persius is apt 
to paint rather coarsely, even where he does not mean to ridicule. 



NOTES OH SATIRE V. 93 

184-. labra moves tacitus. The man at a Jewish festival adopts their 

habit of praying in silence. recutita sabbata = recutitorum aabbata. 

Persius seems to mix u]> leasts and fasts rather strangely, apparently with 
the notion that all the Jewish observances were gloomy. 

185. Saving begun to speak of superstition, Persius proceeds to enumerate 

other kinds. turn, next, as if the same person indulged in each kind in 

order. — — nigri i> not strictly equivalent t<> nocturni, though the association 
of night with images of terror doubtless gives occasion to the conception. 

lemures, hobgoblins. "Somnia, terrores, magicos, miracula, sagas, 

Nocturnes lemures, portentaque Thessala rides." Hor. K|>. II. 'Jus. 

lemures and pericula are apparently constructed with incussere, though in 

that case we must Buppose a zeugma, ovo pericula rupto. The Scholiast 

says priests used to put eggs on the fire and observe whether the moisture 
came out from the side or the top, the bursting of the egg being considered 
a very dangerous sign. 

186. Two kinds of superstition — the old oneofCybele and the later 

one ot' [si — imported from Egypt. grandes galli : like .Juvenal's ingens 

Semivir. sistro. The oeunpov was peculiar to the service of Nis. 

lusca. The epithet is applied to the priestess as having herself felt the 
wrath of the goddess, blindness being considered a special visitation from 
[sis. The old Scholiast, however, says " Women who have no chance of 
being married make a virtue of necessity, and consecrate themselves t" ;i 
life of devotion."' 

187. incussere deos. A strengthened expression from incutere metum, 
terrorem, formidinem, religionem. Cf. Verg. Aen. VI. 78, "magnum si 

pectore possil Ezcussisae deum." inflantis, "who have a way of swelling." 

Dicers and tumors are very common in Egypt. 

188. praedictum, prescribed. caput gustaveris alii. This cus- 
tom appears to be mentioned nowhere else. According to Pliny, Garlic 
was worshipped as a deity in Egypt. 'A head of garlic eaten fasting' was 
considered ;i specific against magical fascination. Lubin. 

189. dixeris — ridet = .<i dixeris — ridet. inter . . . centuriones. 

Vid. Note on III. 77. varicosos : from being always on the move. 

190. crassum ridet: like subrisit matte, III. 110. Pulfennius. 

The name is variously written. ingens: like torosa inventus, 111. 89. 

191. Graecos : like doctores Chrados VI. 38; contemptuously, philos- 
ophy being hated not only tor its own Bake but as a foreign importation. 
curto. He will not even bid a whole centussis, but only a clipped coin. 

centusse is abl. of juice. The centussu was the highest multiple of the eu 
used a- the name of a sum of money. licetur. lAceri i- to bid at an 

auction. 



94 NOTES ON SATIRE VI. 



SATIRE SIXTH. 

This Satire, the most obscure and unsatisfactory of the poems of Persius, sup- 
posed by some to be a fragment, is addressed to Caesius Bassus, mentioned in 
Persius' life as one of his intimate friends. 

The subject is " The Proper Use of the Goods of this Life" and is a vindication 
of the poet's right to spend his income in moderate enjoyment, rather than live 
avariciously. 



ARGUMENT. — Are you wintering in your Sabine retreat and writing 
verses there ? I am living in my retirement on the Ligurian coast, at Ennius' 
favorite port of Luna (1-11). 

Here I live, undisturbed by thoughts of public opinion, a bad season, or the suc- 
cess of my neighbors. Let who will grow rich, why should I stint myself? Men 
have different passions, one for spending, one for sparing : I will enjoy myself 
without running into either extreme (12-24). 

Live up to your means. You want to be able to help your friends ? Very well, 
then sell something — the emergency will justify you. Your heir will resent this, 
and visit it on you by giving you a mean funeral, and morose censors will say it 
all comes of foreign philosophy. Will this trouble you in your grave (25-40) ? 

I would address my heir in this way — Here is an occasion of national rejoicing 
— I mean to celebrate it by an act of patriotic bounty. Do you mean to question 
my right ? I am not obliged to leave you what I have ? If you despise it, I can 
easily get another heir — -some beggar, who is what my own ancestors were, and 
therefore is my kinsman even in law (41-60). 

Why wish to succeed before your time ? Inheritance is fortune — take it for what 
it is worth. All I leave will be yours, but mark — it is what I leave, not what I have 
or have had. Your selfishness only makes me resolved on being selfish too. You 
would have me save — -not only for you, but for your descendants, who are as likely 
as not to be spendthrifts and profligates (61-74). 

Well, since you are not content with what little I can leave you, go on heaping 
up more wealth — more, more, more. Are you never to stop ? Never. Chrysippus' 
problem has been solved (75-80). 



I. " It appears from this verse that the wealthy Romans changed their 
residence with the seasons : and that they not only resorted to their villas 
in the spring, but at other times, when they were disposed, for study and 
retirement. Literary characters, like our poet, were glad of any pretence 
to escape from the riotous excesses and the anarchy of the Saturnalia." 

Stocker. iam, actually, implying uncertainty. bruma = brevuma = 

brevissima, sc. ? dies; with us 'St. Thomas' day.' foco. Note the con- 



NnTI> ON SATIRE VI. 

trast between the fireside of Bassus and the open air warmth of Persius in 

Liguria. Basse. Bassos, an eminent lyric poet of whose irritinga we 

have but a few verses, i- said t<> have approached most nearly i" li 
He was destroyed, together with hi- country bouse, according to the Scholi- 
ast, in the famous eruption of Vesuvius, in which tin- elder Pliny is said 

to have perished. Sabino suggests the notion of primitive life, which 

would be in keeping with what follows about Bassus' tastes. 

2. tetrico, austere. Cf. I. ivy [.18, Tetrica ae tristis disciplina Sabinorum. 
vivunt = kvepyelv, to be in actm operation. 

3. mire may be either an adverb or an adjective. < >n opifex . . . 

intendisse sec Prol. 11. veterum primordia vocum, ihr printitm anti- 
quities of our language, implies that Bassus affected tin- archaic style. In 
Lucretius IV. 531, it signifies the beginnings of articulate sound. Here it 
i- explained apparently by tetrico pectine and marem strepitum of tin- 
simple and manly verses of antiquity. As vocum may denote archaism in 
language as well as metre, some have Bupposed th:tt Bassus actually wrote a 
poem on the subject of language, but there is n<>t the slightest reason ap- 
parent for so doing. 

4. marem strepitum: like mares aminos in Hot. A. P. 402. fidis 

Latinae. The stress is laid on Latinae, and means that Bassus kept np 
the ancient national character oi Roman poetry, as opposed i<> later refine- 
ments. intendisse. Verg. Am. IX. 776, speaks of stringing the num- 
bers on the chords; and Persius goes further, and talks of stringing sounds 
on the numbers. 

5. mox introduces another Bide <»t' Bassus' poetry, viz., the satirical. 

iuvenes,//e young, opp. to senes, the old. agitare. to ratty. iocos, 

amatory and playful themes. pollice is used with reference to fidis, which 

was played chiefly with the thumb. honesto, high-bred, Is emphatic, the 

torn- of Bassus' lyrics suiting not only the lightness of youtb but the gravity 
of old age. 

6. lusisse, to fling at. mihi. The Scholiast says that Persius' 

mother married a second time in Liguria. so he would naturally reside 
there. Ligus is here a feminine adjective. 

7. intepet. The warmth of this coast made it a favorite resort for 
invalids. Cf. Hor. Ep. I. Hi, 15,'Est ubi pin- tepeami Hemes,-' < >d. II.''-. 
17. 'Tepidas brumas;' Propert., \'. 1. 124, ' la lacus aestivia intepet Umber 
aquis.' — — hibernat, is wintry, like Horace'- hiemat (Sat, II. 2, 17), where 

however sharp wintry weather i- meant. meum i> not merely my 

residence, but suiting me, kind to me. 

8. latus dant, present " rust barrier, s& in Verg. A.en. I. 105 <il>ii<-iniit 
lotus, the sea being sheltered by the rocks forming the port. valle 
slim, as if the scene were inland. \h\. of manner. aereceptat: ;i- in 
Verg. Geo. [.386; the frequentative here perhaps marking the numerous 
bends. 



96 NOTES ON SATIRE VI. 

9. A line from Ennius, who must have known 'the port of Luna' well. 
It was there that the Romans usually took shipping for Corsica and Sar- 
dinia ; the latter of which islands the poet often visited, in company with 

the elder Cato. Lunai : the archaic form of the genitive. est operae, 

sc. pretium. cives, " good people all,'" marks the simple gravity of the old 

man. 

10. cor Enni : i. e., Ennius in his senses. The heart was often spoken 

of as the seat of the understanding. destertuit. Ennius seems to have 

been a great dreamer. He held the Pythagorean doctrine of Metempsy- 
chosis, and says in the beginning of his Annals that Homer appeared to 
him in a dream, and told him that he had once been a peacock, and that 
his soul was transferred to him. 

11. (esse) Maeonides = se esse Maeoniden. H. 536, 2. Quintus, 

plain Quintus. It is explained by the. Scholiast as if it were a numeral — 
the stages being a peacock, Euphorbus, Homer, Pythagoras, Ennius. Per- 
sius might very well have intended a pun ; but then we should have had a 
rather than ex, even if this gradation of transformations were established. 

12. securus, not eating for. Note the double construction with it. 

auster, the south wind, was peculiarly unwholesome to cattle. 

13. infelix : with dat., Verg. Georg. II. 239. securus is put before 

et for the sake of emphasis. angulus. Cf. Hor. Sat. II. 6, 8, 'O si angu- 

lus ille Proximus accedat ;' Od. II. 6, 13, ' Hie terrarum mihi praeter omnes 
Angulus ridet.' 

14. adeo omnes. adeo is emphatic. ' Though not only one man of 
inferior extraction but absolutely all should grow rich. 

16. curvus, bowed down. minui, to lose flesh. s enio, premature old 

age, brought on by pining at another's welfare. uncto, a dainty. 

17. signum. " Only good wines were sealed." naso tetigisse. 

" It was the custom of the Romans to pour melted pitch over the mouth of 
their wine vessels, on which, when sufficiently cooled for the purpose, they 
impressed their signets. Suspicious of his slaves, the miser is ludicrously 
represented as bending over the jar, and prying so narrowly into the state 
of the seal as to touch it with his nose ; the wine too, for which all this 
solicitude is manifested, is not unworthy of the rest of the picture, it is good 
for nothing." The idea is ' I will not become such a miser as to seal up 
vapid wine and then scrutinize the state of the seal so closely that I can 
touch it with my nose and so learn by the smell that it is good for nothing. 

18-24. Another man may differ from these tastes of mine if he likes — 
indeed twin brothers do not always think alike, although born under exactly 
the same horoscope. 

18. his. A. 229, c; G. 388, R. 1 ; H. 385, 2. geminos. The sen- 
timent is from Hor. Ep. II. 2, 183 seq. horoscope, good horoscope. 

It is properly " the star that is in the ascendant at the moment of a person's 
birth, from which his nativity is calculated." As he has been ridiculing 



SATIRE VI. 

the Pyl _ now laughs at the A- _ varo genio 

m. " It r two pen more 

unlike than Commodus and Antonius. the twin sons of the emjK •: 
who, according to the - _ itobe alike in all rae 

19. prod u cis is here used of birth. solis: unlike 

he keepe no other k 

20. tingat. moiak - is in c ont rast with 

ungue, puer. caules — siccum : L e, not dressed with oil. 

muria was a kind of fish saoce made of the liquor of the tunny. vafer : 

of the low cunni tony. in calice : i » to prevent 

empta : with muria. It was bought in a cup for the < I kept 

in ajar in the store room, although it - heap. 

21. ipse emphatii . 'th his o\m hands. sacrum: i.e.. i: 

inrorans. aprmk is a picture. He buys la- 
in a em\ I of pouring it over hi- salad, he in it, and 
then scarcely moistens it : he will not tru>: 

himself: but only sprinkles the pepper like dao, not in a i. r «M.d sfa 
and as sparingly as if it were -oine holy thing 

22. peragit. gets through. a 1 

the tongue in dactyl-, and is dispatched aim is patrimony 

UZe vtt a month. utar ego, utar ea 1 mina- 

tion to hold to a golden mean. 

23. rhombos. Vid. Juv. 4. passim. ponere lautus .11. 

24. tenuis salivas, ddieaU I v - r; effect 

turdarum i< fern, for the sake of variety. ..r perhaps, as the Scholiast 

ecause epicures could _ . 

their breeding by the taste. The?*// . licacy 

by the Greek- and Etonians. 

25. Hi- advice to even* one who hears him i- to live up to his in 
and not hoard his § sitiseac _ get another crop. messe, 

tenus, vdlij imp to. propria: opp, to aiteao. 

to your 

26. emole. Emolere gramari n = have all your 
.round up for use. in herba eat, 

jection — if I spend my income, how shall 1 be r 

friend in an em< s — officiurr. duty. trabe 

rupta. < i. \\ on I 3 

28. prendit, iBckmgi* I . surda, rhich the - 

are «:• 

29. condidit vota : - . Ionio. -«•. .*inn. ipse: 

seL una, hi, him. 

30. ingentes implies the size of the ship. de puppe. The tut- 

pods •' II as the prow of the ship. dei. 

rhe word f 
11 



98 NOTES ON SATIRE VI. 

times more than one. mergis. Cf. Hor. Epod. X. 21, Opima quod si 

praeda curvo litore Porrecta mergos iuveris. 

31. costa : of a ship.— — lacerae. Cf. Ov. Her. II. 45, at laceras etiam 

puppes furiosa refeci. " nunc, etc. Aware that the miser's excuse is a 

mere pretext for indulging his avaricious propensities, Persius sharply an- 
swers ( In that case, sell a little of your land.' " et, even. cespite vivo. 

Here used for the mass of landed property, from which something is to be 
sacrificed, in contrast with the income (messis). 

32. pictus. Vid. n. on I. 89. 

33. caerulea : as it would be a sea-piece, doubtless with a daub of green 

all over. in tabula: with pictus. sed. He now ridicules the folly 

of those who deny themselves all the luxuries and even the necessaries of 

life, in order to leave behind them a splendid fortune to their heirs. 

cenam funeris, the funeral banquet, given to the friends of the deceased, and 
sometimes to the public : distinguished from the scanty meal left on the 
tomb for the dead, feralis cena, or novemdialis. 

34. iratus: with quod. curtaveris. A. 333. b; G. 542 ; H. 516. 

35. inodora. Spices were thrown into the funeral fire. dabit, 

commit. surdum is here used of that which has lost its smell. 

36. ceraso. Adulteration of cassia with cherry bark is mentioned 110- 
Avhere else. nescire paratus here expresses deliberation. Cf. I. 132. 

37. The heirs reply to the complaint. incolumis = impune. 

Bestius. Introduced here from Hor. Ep. I. 15, 37, and awkwardly enough, 
as the charge against philosophy has no relation to the context, and the 
poet might, with better effect, put all that he has to say on the subject into 
the mouth of his opponent. 

38. doctores Graios. Cf. V. 191. ita fit, this is the history of it. 

Bestius seems to censure everybody : the rich man for spending money and 
also for wanting an expensive funeral, and the heir for grumbling at having 
no more to spend. sapere nostrum. Cf. I. 9. 

39. Everything is jumbled in the condemnation: foreign pepper, 

foreign palms, and foreign notions. palmis, dates. nostrum : of the 

age. maris expers = insulsum, insipid: lit., void of manliness. 

40. fenisecae. Fenisex is the more common form. vitiarunt, 

spoiled their good honest meal by mixing it. 

41. Would you be afraid of this when you are yourself removed beyond 
those ashes which are to suffer by the supposed neglect ? He then turns to 
his own heir, and addresses him, dismissing Bestius without even noticing 
his impertinent interruption and after hastily concluding the speech which 
had been broken off by his appearance. 

42. quisquis eris shows the lack of real personality in the Satire. 

paulum : with seductior. 

43. For Caligula's German expedition see Suet. Cal. 43 seq. He 
ordered a triumph which was to be unprecedently splendid, and cheap in 



\<>ti- <>\ - \i mm: vm. 5Mi 

proportion, as he had a righl to the property of his Bubjecti — changed bis 
mind, forbade any proposal on the subject under capital penalties, abused 
the senate for doing nothing and finally entered the city in ovation, <»n his 
birthday. This happened when Persius was seven years old, bo that he 
may have been struck with it. Perhaps he intended a suppressed sneer at 

( !aligula to glance off on Nero. num ignoras. Surely you have heard the 

news, and will not wonder at my enthusiasm. laurus = laureatae litterae; 

tlic Letter bound with bay, in which the general announced hi> victory i<> 
the senate, and demanded a triumph. It' the senate approved, they decreed 
a thanksgiving (supplicatio) to the gods. 

45. frigidus sarcastically alludes to the rarity of such rejoicings. 

" excutitur denotes haste." postibus, for the temple gates. 

46. Caligula chose the captive- who were to appear in the procession. 

Suet. Cal. 47. lutea gausapa, yellow wools of which to make yellow wigs 

for the mock ( S-erman captives. 

47. locat may point to the intended cheapness of the display, a- of 
course it doe- to the fraud, as it* the materials, were always kept on hand. 

Caesonia was the mistress of Caligula, and. after the birth of a 

daughter, his wife. Rhenos = Rhenanos. 

48. Caligula punished those that did not swear by his genius. Suet. 
Cal. 27.— — Juvenal calls Domitian dux with like sarcasm, perhaps refer- 
ring to a similar exploit of his, a -ham triumph with manufactured cap- 
live-. Tac. Agr. 39. centum paria. The dumber is absurd for any 

private person, as on a scale like this it would require a princely fortune 

4g. induco : present for future. aude, as we Bhould say, / dare 

you. 

50. conniveo nearly = amcedo. Persius threaten- togo further, if his 
heir blames him. oleum. Caesar gave the people two pound- of oil 

per man, on the occasion of his triumphs, niter all his wars were Over. 

Suet. Caes. 38. Nero gave oil to the senate and equites when he dedicated 

warm baths and gymnasia. Suet. Nero, 12. artocreas [aprog-icpe'ag,) bread 

<in<i meat. The word is not found elsewhere. popello. Cf. IV. 15,51, 

52. an prohibes ? die clare ! do you forbid it f apeak out plainly. These 

are the words of t lie master. ' Non adeo,' inquis ? Do you say, I won't 

accept f The master says this in anticipation of the heir's declining the 
inheritance, and goes on exossatus ager iuxta est, / haw " vjgH-deared field 
dose by. The distributions and interpretations of this passage are various, 
hut the one here given (that of Conington) i- reasonable and i- in harmony 
with the context. The idea i- thai the heir decline- to have anything lo 
do with tin- property as it amounts to nothing, whereupon the master says 
'Well I have a good Held here and I can easily find some one who will be 

glad to have it.' adeo i- best taken :i- a verb. Cf. advre hereditatem, (<> 

enter <>n mi inheritance; adire nomen, i" assume <> name !>>i will. exossatus 

is explained by the Scholiast as lapidibua plenui ; by Casaubon and others as 



100 NOTES ON SATIRE VI. 

boneless, cleared of bones; by others, which is the best rendering, cleared of 
stones. iuxta : being ' near town ' it would be the last field parted with. 

53. amita is the aunt by the father's side. patruelis : female first 

cousin on father's side. proneptis patrui : female cousin twice removed. 

Observe that all the supposed relatives are females. He actually left his 
property to his mother and sisters, as appears from his life. 

54. sterilis vixit, has died, without issue; lit., has lived barren. 

55. nihilum, no representative. -Bo villas. Bovillae, a poor village, 

lay between Eome and Aricia (Hor. Sat. I. 5, 1), and was the first stage on 
the Appian road. 

56. clivum Virbi. The clivus Virbi was the clivus Aricinus, on the 
same road about four miles from Bovillae and sixteen from Eome. It was 
a well-known station for beggars. Virbius was the Italian Hippolytus and 
hero of Aricia. Manius is synonymous with a beggar. 

57. progenies terrae is the heir's comment. 'You step at once from 
your relatives to the son of nobody knows who.' Terrae filius is more 
common. 

58. pater is generally used of ancestry, so Persius calls the great- 
great-grandfather (abavus) quartus pater. adde etiam unum, go back 

one step more, = atavum. 

59. unum etiam = fritawm. terrae . . . filius. At last he is a son 

of earth. Empedocles and some other philosophers held that all men 
originally sprung from earth : from this notion perhaps arose the nominal 
definition, homo — qui ex humo. Cic. ad Att. ritu, with generis, by regular 



60. maior avunculus : great-grandmother's brother. exit, turns 

out to be. 

61. Persius now reproves his heir for his greediness, and bids him re- 
member that whatever may be left him is a gift, not payment of debt. 

For the laiiiradrjfyopia see Diet. Ant. prior, before me, and whose turn is 

not yet come. decursu. Decursus is the word for a Roman custom of 

running in armor at funeral games. poscis : ' without waiting until I 

give it up.' 

63. pingitur : i. e., with a money bag. vin tu : the simple interro- 
gation. gaudere is equivalent to our ' to take and be thankful. relictis : 

i. e., by will. 

64. dest aliquid summae is an anticipated objection. mihi is em- 
phatic. The idea is : Whatever I subtract is taken from my estate, not 
from yours : the property which I leave will be yours and of this you may 
have the whole. 

65. fuge quaerere = noli quaerere. 

66. neu dicta repone paterna = neu sis pater mihi (Cf. III. 96), do not 
give me- my father' s language over again. 

67. faenoris . . . reliquum est is said by Persius as a specimen of 



NOTES on 8ATIKE \'l. K»l 

the paternal tone which the heir adopts. faenoris merces. Horace 

uses merces alone in tin- same sense A. I'. 327 -r»|). accedat = apponar 

tiir. hinc may refer either to the interest or the whole sum after the 

addition of the- interest, of which the former gives the better advice. 

68. quid reliquum est ? i. e., see whether you have managed t<> live 
on the Lnteresl of your money or not. Persiue repeats reliquum indig- 
nantly, like cuinam, II. 19; hang the remainder/ 

69. ungue . . . caules. Vid. X. on tingat, v. 20. < I. Bor. Sat. 11. 

8, 125. puer, this slave, a- in Y. 126. festa luce. ('!'. Hor. Sat. II. 

2, (11 ; 3, 14:5. 

70. urtica plainly means a vegetable, imitating Hor. Sat. [1.2, L16. 

sinciput, pig's cheek. Smoked pork was a common rustic dish. 

aure. The fissa aure is simply a poetic detail. 

71. nepos is in the double sense, spendthrift grandatm. The folly of saving 
is more apparent, the more distant the descendant who will Bquander the 

money. anseris extis. Exta, like n-'/u] \a y is used of tin- larger organs 

of the body; here, of the liver. The Romans fattened the liver- of geese, 
by feeding the birds on figs, to make the well-known dainty pdtis >l< j'"i<-< 
gras. 

73. patriciae is chosen purposely as implying great expense. trama 

is properly the woof. The figure is from a cloak, where the nap is worn away 

and only the threads remain. figurae, the shape, trama figurae, a 

thread, of my shape; i. e., only the frame of my body. 

74. reliqua may contain a sneering reference to reliquwn, v. 68. 

tremat, wag before him, like jelly. omento,/^/, the adipose membrane, 

1 1. 17. popa : snbst. used adjectively. The popa was thfi priest's assist- 
ant, and with him shared, as perquisites, the parts of the sacrifices which 
were not burned. 

75. Persiue here advises his heir to go into business to double bis 
wealth. lie replies that lie has already done so and that it goeson increas- 
ing. vende animam lucro. Casaubon quotes a Greek proverb, dav&rov 

uviov ru nipSog, and Longin. Subl. 44, !), to en rm- wavrbg h>i>A<nr: n- uvovfieSa 
r/'/r 'I'l'x/'/r. excute, ransack. C\'. I. 19. 

76. latus mundi. Cf. Hor. Od. I. 22. 19. nee = neu. 

77. Cappadocas. Many slaves were brought to Rome from ( 'appadocia. 

They were, as a ndc, fine specimens of men, but extremely undesirable. 

rigida, fixed upright. plausisse. The buyer dap- the slaves to test 

their condition, hence pinguis. catasta (from Kardoraffu 1, </ wooden pint- 
form, on which slaves were exposed I'm' sale, in order that purchasers might 
have a full opportunity of inspecting ami examining them. 'Let no one 

heal \i.u a- a judge of -lave lle-h." 

78. Imitated from Ilor. Ep. [.6,34 seq.: Mille talents rotundentur, 

totidem altera,- -porro Tertia succedant, el quae parsquadrel acervum. 

quarto: as if ter had preceded. 



102 NOTES OK SATIRE VI. 

79. redit, returns; the regular word for revenue. rugam : the fold 

of a garment, purse. depunge ubi sistam, prick a hole where I am to 

stop. 

80. inventus: ironical. Chrysippe. This refers to the copet-iK?/ 

cntopia of the'Stoics, of which Chrysippus is said to have been the inventor. 
The sorites was a fallacy of definition in which a person was asked, just how 
many grains of corn would make a heap ; so that were but one grain taken 
away, the remainder would be no heap : for instance, ' Does one grain make 
a heap ?' ' Do two grains make a heap ?' and so on. Chrysippus' own 
solution was to halt arbitrarily at a certain point, and decline answering. 
The idea of the verse is that if a man were found who could put a bound 
to greed, you could find a man to solve the sorites of Chrysippus. 



PEESIUS. 



103 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Accius, I. 76. 
Aegaeus, V. 1 12. 
Antiopa, I. 78. 
Anticyra, I V. 16. 
Apenninus, I. 95. 
Apulus, I. 60. 
Arcadia, II. 9. 
Aroesilas, [II. 7'.'. 
Arreting 1. L30. 
Attis, I. 93, L05. 
Attius, 1. 50. 
Auster, VI. 12. 

Ban.. V. 138. 
Bassaris, I. 101. 
15i.ss.is. VI. 1. 
Bathyllus, V. 12:;. 
Baucis, IV. 21. 
Bestius, VI. 37. 
Bovillae, VI. 55. 
Brisaeiis, I. 7'i. 
Bruttius, VI. 27. 
Brutus. V. 85. 

Caesar. VI. 43. 
Caesonia, VI. 17. 
Calaber, I I. 65. 
Calliroe, I. 134. 
Camena, V. 21. 
Campus (Martins), A'. 57. 
Canioula, II. •">. 
Cappadoces, VI. 77. 
Cat.,, rn. I,. 
Cerdo,IV.51. 
Chaerestratus, V. 162. 
Chrysippus, VI. 80. 
Chrysis, \'. L65. 
Cleautheus, V. 6 I. 
Cornutus, V. 23, 37. 
Co. is. V. L35. 
Crassus, 1 1. :;6. 
Craterus. III. 65. 
Cratiiius. I. 12.;. 
Crispinus, V. 126. 
Cures. [V. 26. 

Dama, V. 76, 79. 
Davus, V. L61, His. 
Dij aches, IV. 20. 

Eoho, I. Mi2. 
Ennius, VI. I(». 

Ergei 1 1. 26. 

Eupolis, I. 121. 



Falernus, III. 3. 
Flaccus, I. 1 I'',. 
Floralia, V. L78. 

Galli, V. L86. 
Gemini, \". 19. 
Germanus, VI. II. 
Graeci, V. 191. 
Graii, I. 129; VI. 38. 
Glycon, V. '.i. 

Helicon, V. 7. 
Heliconiadae, Prol. I. 
Berodes, V. L80. 
Hypsipyle, [.34. 

[anus, I. 58. 

I lias I. 50, 12:;. 
1 Ionius, VI. 29. 
[talus, I. 129; V. 54. 
[uppiter, II. 18,21, 22.2.;. 
29, in. i:: : V. 50, III, 
137, L39. 

Labeo, I. I. 
Latinus, VI. I. 
Libra, V. 17. 
Lioinius, 1 1 . 36. 
Ligus, VI. 6. 
1 Lucifer, V. L03. 
Lucilius, I. Ml. 

Luna. VI. 9. 

Lupus, I. 1 1"). 

Macrinus, 1 1. I. 
Maenas, I. L01, 105. 
Maeonides, VI. II. 
Manius, VI. 56, (in. 
Marcus, V. 79, 80, 81. 
Marsus, III. 75. 
Masurus. V. 90. 
Me.li. III. 53. 
Melioerta, V. L03. 
MercUrius, 11.11: VI. 62. 

Mr-all;,. II. 72. 

Mucins, I. 1 1 •'). 
Musa, I. 68. 
M; enae, \'. 1 7. 

Natta. [II. 31. 
Nereus, l. 94. 
Nerius, II. M. 

Xi.ina. I I. .,'.'. 

Orestes, III. lis. 



Pacuvius, I. 77. 
Palilia. I. 72. 
Parnasus, Prol. 2. 
Parthus, V. I. 
Pedius, I. 85. 
Pegaseius, Prol. Hi. 
Penates, II. [5. 
Pericles, IV. :;. 
Phyllis, I. 34. 
Pirene, Prol. I. 
Polydamas, I. I. 
Pontic. V. 134. 
Progne, V. B. 
Publius, V. 7 1. 
Pulfennius, V. 190. 
Puteal, IV. I'.i. 
Pythagoreus, VI. I I. 

Quintius, I. 73. 
Quintus, VI. II. 
liuiris. \ . 75. 
Quirites, III. 106; IV. 8. 

Remus, I 73. 
Rheni, VI. 47. 
Roma, I. •">. 6. 
Romulidae, I. •">! . 
Romulus, I. s 7. 

Sabinus, IV. I. 
Samius, HI. •">•'> 
Saturnius, II. "''.i. 
Baturnus, V. 59. 
Siculus, III. 39. 
Sooraticus, V. :;7. 
Solon, III. 79. 
Staius, II. I'.'. 22. 
Stoious, V. 86. 
Si.l, ma. V. 32. 
Surrentinus, III. 93. 

Tadius, VI. 66. 
Thyestes, V. 8. 
Tiberinus, II. 15, 
Titus, 1. 2u. 
Troiades, I. I. 
Tuscub, II. 60; III. 28. 

In.l.ri. III. 71. 

Vestalis, 1 1. 60. 
Vettidius, H 
Veientanus, \ . I 17. 
Velina, \'. 7.".. 
Venus, II. 7n : \ 
Virbius, VI. 56. 



THE COMENIUS PRESS, 
BETHLEHEM, PA.