Navigio montem ascendit, sortesque poposcit, Major avaritiæ patuit sinus? alea quando Hos animos? neque enim loculis comitantibus itur Armigero! simplexne furor sestertia centum 74. Sortes] Responsa oraculi. R. 75 80 85 78. Discursus] Busy endeavours. V.-Labores ad opes aut dignitates parandas. P. 80. Avaritiæ sinus] The gulf of avarice. Thus Dusaulx translates it: "Quand le gouffre de l'avarice fut-il plus profond ?"-Alea quando Hos animos] Quando alea excitavit tantos animi motus ?→→ Animus, in the plural, generally signifies passions. 83. Dispensatore armigero] The steward acting as armourbearer; i. e. supplying his master with money from the chest. 84. Sestertia centum] Equal to 800l. sterling. The scholar should bear in mind the difference between the Sestertius and the Sestertium. The Sestertius, Sesterce, (sometimes called simply Nummus,) was equal to about twopence of our money. The Sestertium contained a thousand Sesterti, (hence frequently expressed by the simple word mille,) and was equal to eight pounds sterling, and upwards. 86. Quis fercula septem] The old Romans had usually but two dishes. Suetonius tells us that three only were the standing table of the Emperor Augustus. 0. 87. Sportula] The dole. Literally, sportula means a basket made of the sportum or broom, in which the dole was carried away. The old Romans used to invite the clients, who attended them from the forum, to supper. Under the Emperors, this laudable custom was done away, and a little basket of meat given to each of them to carry home; or sometimes, at the option of the patron, a small sum of money was distributed instead of meat. The sum was a hundred quadrantes, about fifteen pence of our money. G.-Primo limine] The clients, formerly admitted as guests, were now kept without the threshold. 90 Limine parva sedet, turbæ rapienda togatæ. 66 Arguerint, licèt ipse negem: sed quinque tabernæ "Quadringenta parant. Quid confert purpura major "Optandum, si Laurenti custodit in agro "Conductas Corvinus oves? Ego possideo plus "Pallante et Licinis. Expectent ergo Tribuni." 100. 88. Sedet] Apponitur. R.-Turba togata] The crowd of clients, who were always obliged to appear in their toga, when attending on the patron. 89. Ille] The steward, or upper servant, who distributes the dole. 92. Ipsos Trojugenas] The noblest Roman families valued themselves upon a Trojan extraction. 0. The dole was originally intended for the poor clients; but, in process of time, some of the degenerate nobles themselves, either by way of a fashionable lounge, or, perhaps, even from a mean spirit of rapacity, besieged the thresholds of the rich, as candidates for a pittance of meat or money. 93. Nobiscum] Together with us poor clients. 96. Fenestra] The holes or borings in his ears. The Asiaticks are still distinguished by their ear-rings, which, to us, as to the Romans, make them appear effeminate, molles. 97. Arguerint] Probarent, indicarent. R.-Taberna] Shops; either let to tradesmen, or kept by himself. 98. Quadringenta] sc. Sestertia: a knight's estate equal to 3,2001. sterling.-Purpura major] The Laticlave, or broad purple border of the senatorial robe. Quid optandum? What advantage? 100. Corvinus] One of the noble family of the Corvini, but so reduced, that he was obliged to keep sheep, as an hired shepherd. M.-Conductas oves] Let the scholar observe, and bear in mind, that conduco, in all its forms, is invariably used by Juvenal in one sense, viz. that of hiring, or doing something for money. 101. Pallante et Licinis] Pallas was a freedman of Claudius, who had amassed immense riches. The Licini were a proverbially wealthy family, one of whom is mentioned again, Sat. xiv. Vincant divitiæ: sacro nec cedat honori, 105 110 Sed cùm summus honor finito computer anno, Sportula quid referat, quantum rationibus addat; Quid facient comites, quibus hinc toga, calceus hinc est, Et panis, fumusque domi? Densissima centum Quadrantes lectica petit, sequiturque maritum Languida, vel prægnans, et circumducitur uxor. Hic petit absenti, notâ jam callidus arte, Ostendens vacuam et clausani pro conjuge sellam. "Galla mea est, inquit; citiùs dimitte: moraris ?" 115 102. Vincant divitia] Having described the squabble for the dole, between the august magistrates of Rome, (whose dignity was accounted sacred, sacro honori,) and the upstart freedman; the poet, with indignant sarcasm, now pronounces in favour of the latter. 103. Pedibus albis] It was the custom, when foreign slaves were exposed to sale, to whiten over their naked feet with chalk. M. 108. Concordia nido] Amidst the various interpretations of this obscure line, it is best perhaps to understand it as a reflection upon the impiety of the age. O.-The temple of Concord, deserted by her worshippers, and suffered to fall into ruins, (as we may suppose,) had now become a mere nest for storks and daws and other birds, who made a chattering noise; especially when disturbed by any one visiting the temple, salutato nido. 109. Summus honor] The great men. 110. Rationibus] Opibus, annuo reditui. P. 111. Comites] The poor clients, who, by these doles, are, or ought to be, supplied with clothes, meat, and fire. What will these do, when the means of their support is thus taken from them by great people? M. 112. Densissima lectica] A crowd of litters. Those who rode in them must have been comparatively affluent. 113. Centum quadrantes] The sum of money given instead of the meat-dole. See the note on line 87. 114. Languida] Egrota. 115. Absenti] sc. Uxori. 117. Inquit] Says the husband. "Profer, Galla, caput."-" Noli vexare, quiescit." 120 125 118. Profer, Galla, caput] The words of the steward or dispenser of the dole, who suspects the cheat.—Noli, &c.] The reply of the husband, to escape detection. 119. Ipse dies, &c.] Juvenal here describes the manner in which the poor clients were compelled to dance attendance throughout the day: they first came to their patron's house early in the morning, to receive a scanty dole, or breakfast; they then had to follow him to the forum, or other parts of Rome, whither business might call him; and at length to reconduct him home. 120. Jurisque peritus Apollo] Apollo is humorously called learned in the law, because his statue stood in the court of justice, and heard all causes. 121. Triumphales] The triumphal statues, with which the forum was adorned. 122. Titulos] The inscription on the pedestal of the statue.Arabarches] From Apay and apx", some Arabian Præfect or Taxgatherer, who, by peculation or other infamous arts, had risen to affluence and rank. 123. Vestibulis abeunt, &c.] The poor clients, after all the wearisome attendance of the day, are dismissed at length from their patron's door without supper. 124. Vota deponunt] Lay aside their expectations of a meal.Longissima cana Spes homini] The hope of a meal is, of all others, most reluctantly abandoned, and clings longest to a man. 127. Rex horum] Their patron; whose selfish gluttony is aggravated by the contrast of his meanness to his poor supperless clients. 128. Tot pulchris orbibus] The orbis was the circular board of the table, which was separate from the legs or supporters. So that, at the feasts of the wealthier Romans, when a course was removed, the whole orbis was carried away; and then another orbis was brought in, with the dishes of the next course all ready laid npon it. Antiquis, unâ comedunt patrimonia mensâ. Poena tamen præsens, cùm tu deponis amictus IV. Nil erit ulterius, quod nostris moribus addat 129. Uná mensá] At a single meal. 130 135 140 130. Parasitus] A parasite, properly, is one who flatters another for the sake of a dinner.-quasi Tapa orov dictus, eò quòd mensas divitum opiparas sectetur. P.-Nullus jam, &c.] So selfish was the glutton, that he not only excluded his clients, but did not even admit a single parasite. 131. Luxuria sordes?] Luxury is generally regarded as, at least, a liberal vice; but when coupled with meanness and selfishness, (as is often the case,) it becomes monstrous and detestable. 132. Propter convivia] For social feasts. 134. Turgidus]." Gorged with food." Gifford. It would seem that the glutton, oppressed by the load of his stomach, sought relief in the hot-bath, which proved fatal. 136. Fabula] The story of the glutton's death. 137. Iratis plaudendum amicis] His friends, although enraged at the loss of their expected legacies, cannot help rejoicing that so odious a wretch is cut off. 138. Moribus] Pravis ac perditis moribus. P. 140. In præcipiti] In summo quasi gradu ac fastigio, ultra quod ascendere nequeat. R.-Utere velis] An invocation to the Genius of Satire.. Vice has attain'd its zenith:-then, set sail, Spread all thy canvass, Satire, to the gale. Gifford. 141. Dicas, &c.] Some friend is here introduced, dissuading the poet from his work, as both difficult and dangerous. 142. Priorum] Veterum poëtarum; de quibus Hor. Sat. i. 4. 1. |