~~ -g
Ex Libns
I C. K. OGDEN <
H OS LIBROS
E Bl BLIOTH EGA
IOANNIS SPENCEEI MEADE
OLIM HARROVIENSIS
D. D.
UXOR EJUS VIDUATA.
NEW AND LITERAL
r~
TRANSLATION
OF
WITH
COPIOUS EXPLANATORY NOTES,
THESE DIFFICULT SATIRISTS ARE RENDERED EASY
AND FAMILIAR TO THE READER.
I
IN TWO VOLUMES.
BY THE itEVTM. MADAN.
Ardet....Instat....Aperte jugular.
SCAL. in JUT.
VOL. I.
DUBLIN :
PRINTED BY BRETT SMITH, 46, MARY-STREET.
1813.
StacX
Annex
PREFACE
JUVENAL.
DECIMUS JUNIUS JUVENAL was born
at Aquinum, a town of the Volsci> a people of
Latium ; hence, from the place of his birth, he
was called Aquinas. It is not certain whether
he was the son, or foster-child of a rich freed-
man. He had a learned education, and, in
the time of Claudius Nero, pleaded causes with
great reputation. About his middle age he ap-
plied himself to the study of Poetry ; and, as he
saw a dailv increase of vice and folly, he addict-
ed himself to writing Satire : but, having said
something (sat. vii. 1. 88 92.) which was
deemed a reflection on Paris the actor, a minion
of Domitian's, he was banished into jEgypt, at
* eighty years of age, under pretence of sending
him as captain of a company of soldiers. This
was looked upon as a sort of humorous punish-
ment for what he had said, in making Paris the
bestower of posts in the army.
However, Domitian dying soon after, Juve-
nal returned to Rome, and is said to have lived
there to the -f- times of Nerva and Trajan. At
last, worn out with old age, he expired in a fit of
coughing.
* Quanquam Octogenarius. MARSHALL, in Vit. Juv.
T Ibique ad Nervaj et Trajani tempera supervixisse dicitur MAR-
SHALL, Ib.
i, PREFACE.
He was a man of excellent morals, of an ele-
gant taste and judgment, a fast friend to Virtue,
and an irreconcileable enemy to Vice in every
shape.
As a writer, his style is unrivalled, in point of
elegance and beauty, by any Satirist that we are
acquainted -with, Horace not excepted. The
plainness of his expressions are derived from the
honesty and integrity of his own mind : his great
aim was " to hold, as it were, the mirror up
" to nature ; to shew Virtue her own feature,
" Scorn her own image, and the very age and
" body of the time his form and pressure *."-
He meant not, therefore, to corrupt the mind,
by openly describing the lewd practices ot his
countrymen, but to remove every veil, even of
language itself) which could soften the features,
or hide the full deformity of vice from the ob-
servation of his readers, and thus to strike the
mind with due abhorrence of what he censures.
All this is done in so masterly a way, as to ren-
der him well worthy Scaliger's encomium, when
he styles him Omnium Satyricorum facile Prin-
ceps. He was much loved and respected by -f-
Martial. Quintilian speaks of him, lust. Or at.
lib. x. as the chief of Satirists. \ Ammianus
Marcellinus says, that some who did detest learn-
ing, did, notwithstanding, in their most profound
retiredness, diligently employ themselves in his
works.
The attentive reader of Juvenal may see, as in
a glass, a true portraiture of the Roman man-
ners in his time : here he may see, drawn to the
life, a people sunk in sloth, luxury, and debau-
* Hamlet, act iii. scene 2. A Sea MART. lib. vii. epig. 24.
Hist. lib. xrviii.
PREFACE. r
chery, and exhibiting to us the sad condition of
human nature, when untaught by divine truth,
and uninfluenced hy a divine principle. How-
ever polite and refined this people was, with res-
pect to the cultivationof letters, arts, and sciences,
beyond the most barbarous nations ; yet, as to
the true knowledge of God, they were upon a
footing with the most uninformed of their co-
temporaries, and consequently were, equally
with them, sunk into all manner of wickedness
and abomination. The description of the Gen-
tiles in general, by St. Paul, Rom. i. 19 32.
is fully verified as to the Romans in paritcular.
Juvenal may be looked upon as one of those
rare meteors, which shone forth even in the dark-
ness of Heathenism. The mind and conscience
of this great man were, though from * whence
he knew not, so far enlightened, as to perceive
the ugliness of vice, and so influenced with a de-
sire to reform it, as to make him, according to
the light he had, a severe and able reprover, a
powerful and diligent witness against the vices
and follies of the people among which he lived ;
and, indeed, against all, wl)o, like them, give
a loose to their depraved appetites, as if there
were no other liberty to be sought after, but the
most unrestrained indulgence of vicious plea-
sures and gratifications.
How far Rome-Christian, possessed of divine
revelation, is better than Heathen Rome with-
out it, is not 'for me to determine : but I fear,
that the perusal of Juvenal will furnish us with
too serious a reason to observe, that, not only
modern Rome, but every metropolis in the
Christian world, as to the generality of its mau-
* Rein. ii. 15. Comp. Is. xiv. 5. See sat. x. I. 363, and note.
Ti PREFACE.
ners and pursuits, bears a most unhappy resem-
blance to the objects of the following Satires.
They are, therefore, too applicable to the times
in which we live, and, in that view, if rightly
understood, may, perhaps, be serviceable to
many, who will not come within the reach of
/
higher instruction.
Bishop Burnet observes, that the " satirical
" poets, Horace, Juvenal, and Persius, may
" contribute wonderfully to give a man a detes-
" tation of vice, and a contempt of the common
'.' methods of mankind ; which they have set
'* out in such true colours, that they must give
" a very generous sense to those who delight in
" reading them often.." Past. Care, c. vii.
This translation was begun some years ago, at
hours of leisure, for the Editor's own amuse-
ment : when, on adding the notes as he went
along, he found it useful to himself) he began to
think that it might be so to others, if pursued to
the end on the same plan. The work was car-
ried on, till it increased to a considerable bulk.
The addition of Persius enlarged it to its present
size, in which it appears in print, with a design
to add its assistance in explaining these difficult
authors, not only to school-boys and young be-
ginners, but to numbers in a more advanced age,
who, by having been thrown into various scenes
of life, remote from classical improvement, have
so far forgotten their Latin, as to render these
elegant and instructive remains of antiquity al-
most inaccessible to their comprehension, howe-
ver desirous they may be to renew their acquaint-
ance with them.
As to the old objection, that translations of
the Classics tend to make boys idle, this can ne-
ver happen, but through the fault of the master,
. PREFACE. vii
in not properly watching over the method of
their studies. A master should never suffer a
boy to construe his lesson in the school, but from
the Latin by itself, nor without making the boy
parse, and give an account of every necessary
word ; this will drive him to his grammar and
dictionary, near as much as if he had no trans-
lation at all : but in private, when the boy is
preparing his lesson, a literal translation, and
explanatory notes, so facilitate the right compre-
hension, and understanding, of the author's lan-
guage, meaning, and design, as to imprint them
with ease on the learner's mind, to form his taste,
and to enable him, not 6nly to construe and ex-
plain, but to get those portions of the author by
heart, which he is, at certain periods, to repeat
at school, and which, if judiciously selected, he
may find useful, as well as ornamental to him,
all his life.
To this end, I have considered, that there
are three purposes to be answered. First, that
the reader should know what the author says ;
this can only be attained by * literal translation :
as for poetical versions, which are so often mis-
called translations, paraphrases, and the like,
they are but ill calculated for this fundamental
and necessary purpose.
They remind one of a performer on a musical
instrument, who shews his skill, by playing over
a piece of music, with so many variations, as to
disguise, almost entirely, the original simple
melody, insomuch that the hearers depart as ig-
* I trust that I shall not be reckoned guilty of inconsistency, if, in
?ovne few passages, I have made use of paraphrase, which I have so
studiously avoided through the rest of the work, because the literal
sense of these is better obscured than explained, especially to young
minds.
via PREFACE.
norant of the merit of the composer, as they
came.
All translators should transfer to themselves
the directions, which our Shakespeare gives to
actors, at least, if they mean to assist the stu-
dent, by helping him to the construction, that
he may understand the language of the author.
As the actor is not " to o'erstep the modesty
" of nature" so a translator is not to o'erstep
the simplicity of the text. -As an actor is " not
" to speak more than is set down for him" so
a translator is not to exercise his own fancy, and
let it loose into phrases and expressions, which
are totally foreign from those of the author. He
should therefore sacrifice vanity to usefulness,
and forego the praise of elegant writing, for the
utility of faithful translation.
The next thing to he considered, after know-
ing what the author says, is how he says it ; this
can only be learnt from the original itself, to
which I refer the reader, by printing the Latin,
line for line, opposite to the English, and, as the
lines are numbered, the eye will readily pass
from the one to the other. The information
which has been received from the translatiob, will
readily assist in the grammatical construction.
The third particular, without which the reader
would fall very short of understanding the au-
thor, is, to know what he means ; to explain this
is the intention of the notes, for many of which,
I gratefully acknowledge myself chiefly indebted
to various learned commentators, but who, hav-
ing written in Latin, are almost out of the reach
of those for whom this work is principally intend-
ed. Here and there, I have selected some notes
irom English writers : this indeed the student
PREFACE. is
might have done for himself; but I hope he will
not take it amiss, that I have brought so many
different commentators into one view, and saved
much trouble to him, at the expense of my own
labour. The rest of the notes, and those no in-
considerable number, perhaps the most, are my
own, by which, if I have been happy enough
to supply any deficiencies of others, I shall be
glad.
Upon the whole, I am, from long observa-
tion, most perfectly convinced, that the early
disgust, which, in too many instances, yo'uth is
apt to conceive against classical learning, (so
that the school-time is passed in a state of * la-
bour and sorrow,) arises mostly from the crabbed
and difficult methods of instruction, which are
too often imposed upon them ; and that, there-
fore, all attempts to reduce the number of the
difficulties, which, like so many thorns, are laid
in their way, and to -f- render the paths of in-
struction pleasant and easy, will encourage and
invite their attention, even to the study of the
most difficult authors, among the foremost of
which we may rank Juvenal and Persius. Should
the present publication be found to answer this
end, not only to school-boys, but to those also
who would be glad to recover such a competent
knowledge of the Latin tongue, as to encourage
the renewal of their acquaintance with the Clas-
* '* The books that we learn at school are generally laid aside, with
" this prejudice, that they were the labours as well as the sorrows of
** our childhood and education ; but they are among the best of books
" the Greek and Roman authors have a spirit in them, a force both
' " of thought and expression, that later ages have not been able to imi-
" tate." Bp. BURNET, Past. Care, cap. vii.
+ Quod enim munus reipublicae afime majus, meliusve possumus,
tjuam si docemus atcjue .erudiiaus juventutem ? Cic. de Divio, lib.
ii. 2.
VOL. /, B
x PREFACE.
sics, (whose writings so richly contribute to oi>
nament the higher and more polished walks in
life, and which none but the ignorant and taste-
less can undervalue,) it will afford the Editor an
additional satisfaction. Still more, if it prove
useful to foreigners ; such I mean as are ac-
quainted with the Latin, and wish to be helped
in their study of the English language, which is
now so much cultivated in many parts of Eu-
rope.
The religious reader will observe, that God,
who " in times past suffered * all the nations
" (-awry, rat, &0vq, i. c. all the heathen) to walk
" in their own ways, nevertheless left not him-
*' self without witness," not only by the out-
ward manifestations of his power and goodness,
in the works of -(- creation and providence, but
by men also, who in their several generations,
have so far shewn the work of \ the law written
in their hearts, as to bear testimony against the
unrighteousness of the world in which they lived.
Hence we find the great apostle of the Gentiles,
Acts xvii. 28. quoting a passage from his coun-
tryman, Aratus of Cilicia, against idolatry, or
imagining there be gods made with hands. We
find the same apostle reproving the vices of
lying and gluttony in the Cretans, by 3, quota-
tion from the Cretan poet Epimenides, whom
he calls " a prophet of their own," for they ac-
counted their poets writers of divine oracles.
Let this teach us to distinguish between the use
and abuse of classical knowledge when it tends
to inform the judgment, to refine the manners,
* See WHITBY on Acts xiv. 16.
t Comp. Rom. i. 19, 20, with Acts xiv. 17.
See Rom. ii. ly.' Tit. i. '12,
PREFACE. xi
and to embellish the conversation ; when it keeps
a due subordination to that which is divine,
makes us truly thankful of the superior light of
God's infallible word, and teaches us how little
can be truly known * by the wisest of men,
without a divine revelation then it has its use
still more, if it awakens in us a jealousy over
ourselves, that we duly improve the superior
light with which we are blessed, lest the very
heathen rise in judgment -j- against us. If, on
the contrary, it tends to make us proud, vain,
and conceited, to rest in its attainments as the
summit of wisdom and knowledge ; if it contri-
butes to harden the mind against superior infor-
mation, or fills it with that sour pedantry which
leads to the contempt of others then I will rea-
dily allow, that all our learning is but " splen-
" did ignorance and pompous folly."
* 1 Cor. i. 20, 21. t Luke xii. 47, 48.
DECIMI
AQU1NATIS
S A T I R m.
THE
SATIRES
OF
JUVENAL,
:
DECIMI
JUNII JUVENALIS
AQUINATI&
SATIRyE.
SATIRA I.
AR&UMENT.
begins this satire with giving some humourous reasons for
his writing : suck us hearing, so often, many ill poets rehearse
their works, and intending to repay them in kind. N~exthe in-
forms us, why he addicts himself to satire, rather than to other
poetry, and gives a summary and general view ef the reigning.
OEMPER ego auditor tan turn ? nunquamne reponam r
Vexatus toties rauci These'ide Codri '?
Impune ergo mihi recitaverit ille togatas, *
Satires."] Or satyrs concerning this word see CHAMBERS^ Dic-
tionary.
Line 1. Only an hearer. ~\ Juvenal complains of the irksome re-
citals, which the scribbling poets wore continually making of tlu?ir
vile compositions, and of which he was a hearer, at the public a^-.-ni-
blies where they read them over. It is to be observed that, some-
times, the Romans made private recitals of their poetry, among their
particular friends. They also had public recitals, either in the
temple of Apollo, or in spacious houses, which were either hired,
or lent, for the purpose, by some rich and great man, who was
highly honoured for this, and who got his clients and dependents to-
gether, on the occasion, in order to increase the audience, and to
encourage the poet by their applauses. See sat. vii. 1. 40 4. Per-
siuB, prolog. 1. 7. and note. Hon. lib. I. sat. iv. 1. 73, 4.
Repay.] Reponam, here, is used metaphorically ; it al-
THE
SATIRES
JUVENAL.
SATIRE L
siicee &tid follies of his time. He laments the restraints which
the satirists then lay under from a fear of punishment, and pro-
fesses to treat of the dead, personating, under their names, certain.
living vicious characters. His great aim, in this, and in all his
other satires, is to expose and reprove vice itself, however sancti-
Jied by custom, or dignified by the examples of the great.
*
OHALL I always be only a hearer ? shall I never repay,
Who am teiz'd so often with the Theseis of hoarse Codrus ?
Shall one (poet) recite his comedies to me with impunity,
hides to tin? borrowing and repayment of money. When a man repaid
money which he had borrowed, he was said to replace it reponere.
So our poet, looking upon himself as indebted to the reciters of their
compositions, for the trouble which they had given him, speaks,
as it he' intended to repay them in kind, by writing and reciting his
verses as they had done theirs. Sat. vii. 1. 40. 4. PERSIUS, prolog.
i. 7. HOR. lib. I. sat. iv. 1. 73, 4.
2. Theseis.'] A poem of which Theseus was the subject.
- Hoarse CWrws.] A very mean poet : so poor, that he gave
rise to the proverb : " Codro pauperior. He is here supposed to
have made himself hoarse, with frequent and loud reading his poem.
3. Comedies^ Togatas ?o called from the low and common peo-
ple, who were the subjects of them. These wore gowns, by which
they were distinguished from persons of rank.
There were three different sorts of comedy, each denominated from
the dress of the persons which UK-V represt-nted,
JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. i.
< . .
I!ir f;l(??OF ? impurie diem consu . ^en-*
Telephus ? aut sumini plena jam margine libri 5
Scriptus et in tergo necdum finitua Orestes?
Nota magis nulli domus et sna quam mihi lucus
Martis, et ^Eoliis vicinum rupibus antrum
Vulcani. Quid agant venti : quas torqueat umbras
unde alius furtivae devehat aurum 10
First: The TogV.a--which exhibited 'the actions of the lower sort ;
and was a species of what we call low comedy.
Secondly : The Praetextatu so called from the praetexta, a white
robe ornamented with purple, and worn by magistrates and nobles.
Hence the comedies, which treated of the actions of such, were called
praetextatae. In our time, we should say genteel comedy.
Thirdly : The Palliata from pallium, a sort of upper garment worn
by the Greeks, and in which the actors were, habited, when the man-
ners and actions of the Greeks were represented. This was also a
species of the higher sort of comedy.
It is most probable that Terence's plays, which he took from
Menander, were reckoned among the palliatas, and represented in
the pallium, or Grecian dress: more especially too, as the scene of
every play lies at Athens.
4. Elegies.] These were little poems on mournful subject?, and
gemsistecl of hexameter and pentameter verses alternately. We must
- uf knowing the first elesfuic poet, since Horace says Art,
Pc-et. 1. 77, 8.
.
s tamen cnguos elegos emtsent auctor,
immatici certant, et adhuc sub judice lis est.
By -whom invented critics yet contend,
And of their vain disputing find no end. FRANCIS.
Elegies were at first mournful, yet, afterwards, they were com-
posed on cheerful subjects. Hou. ib. 1. 75, 6.
Versibus impariter junctis querimonia prinium.
Post etiam inclusa est voti sententia compos.
Unequal measures first were tun'd to flow,
Sadly expressive of the lover's woe:
: But now to gayer subjects form'd they move,
In sounds of pleasure, and the joys of love. FRANC:S.
M
Bulky Telephus.^ Some prolix and tedious play, 'written on
tl><- Mibj.vt of Tdrplm,-., king of' My.-ia, who was mortally wounded
In -the ^.earof Achilles, but afterwards healed by the fust of 'the
same spe/ir. OVID. Trist. v. 2. In.
. lluslc a dny.~\ In hearing it read over, which took up a
'\hole day.
o. Or Orestes.] Another play on the story of Orestes, the son
of Agamemnon anQjd)yteinnestra. He slew his own rnpther, and
/Egysthus, her adulterer, who had murdered his father. This too,
SAT. t. JUVENAL'S SATIRES,
Another his elegies? shall bulky Tolephus waste a day
With impunity? or Orestes the margin of the whole book already
full, 5
And written on the back too, nor as yet finished? 1
No man's house is better known to him, than to me
The grove of Mars, and the den of Vulcan near
The /Eolian rocks : what the wind.- can do : what ghosts
/Eacus may be tormenting : from whence another could convey the
gold 10
by the description of it in this line, and the next, must have been a
very long and tedious performance. It was usual to leave a margin,
but this was all filled from top to bottom it was unusual to write
on the outside, or back, of the parchment; but this author had filled
the whole outside, as well as the inside.
5. Of the n'hole book.~] Or of the whole of the book. Litar
primarily signifies the inward barker rind of a tree; hence a book
or work written, at tirst made of barks of trees, afterwards of paper
and parchment. Summus is derived from supremus, hence sum-
mum-i, the top, the whole, the sum.
8. The grove of Mars.] The history of Romulus and Remus,
whom Ilia, otherwise called Rhea Sylvia, brought forth in a grove
sacred to Mars at Alba: hence Romulus was called Sylvius also,
the son of Mars. This, and the other subjects mentioned, were so
dinned perpetually into his ears, that the places described were as
familiar to him as his own house.
The den of Vulcan.'] The history of the Cyclops and Vulcan,
the scene of which was laid in Vulcan's den. See VIRG. /En. viii. 1.
41G 22.
9. The JEolian rocks.] On the North of Sicily are seven rocky
islands, which were called ^Eolian, or Vulcanian ; one of which w;u
called Hiera, or sacred, a:; dedicated to Vulcan. From the frequent
breaking forth of fire and sulphur out of the earth of these islands,
particularly in Hiera, \ ulcan was supposed to keep his shop and
forgo there.
Here also ^Eoius was supposed to confine, and preside over the
winds. Hence these islands are called /Eolian. See VIRQ. /En. i. L
5567.
I \ hat the winds can </o.] This probably alludes to some ter
dious poetical treatises, on the nature and operations of the winds.
Or, perhaps, to some play, or poem, on the amours of Boreas and
Orithya, the daughter of Erectheus, king of Athens.
10. /Eacus may be tormenting.^ /Eacus was one of the fabled
judges of hell, who with his two assessors, Minos and Rhadaman-
thus, were supposed to torture the ghosts into a confession of their
crimes. See VIRG. /En. vi. 1. 566 69.
From u-hence another, 6fc.] Alluding to the story of Jason,
tvho stole the golden fleece from Colchis.
JUVENALIS SATIILE.
SAT. i:
Pelliculae: quantasjaculelur Monychus ornos;
Frontonis plaiani, convulsaque inarmora clamant
Semper, et a,ssiduo ruptae lectore columnae.
Expectes eatiem a summo, minimoque poetiL
Et nos ergo inanum ferulae subduximus : et nos 15
Concilium dcdimus Syllae, privatus ut altum
Dormiret. JStuita est dementia, cum tot ubique
Vatibus occurras, periturae parcere chartae.
Cur tamen hoc libeat potius decurrere campo,
Per quern magnus equos Auruncae flexit alumnus : 20
Si vacat, et j)lacidi rationem admittitis, edam.
Cum tener uxorem ducat spado ; Maevia Tuscura
11. Monychus.^ This alludes to some play, or poem, which had
been written on the battle of the Centaurs and Lapithae.
The word Monychus is derived from the Greek ftntf, solus, and
, ungula, and is expressive of an horse's hoof, which is whole
and entire, not cleft or divided.
The Centaurs were fabled to be half men, and half horses ; so
that by Monychus we are to understand one of the Centaurs, of
such prodigious strength, as to make use of large trees for weapons,
which he threw, or darted at his enemies.
12. The plane-trees of Fronto] Julius Fronto, a noble and
learned man, at whose house the poets recited their works, before
they were read, or performed in public. His house was planted
round with plane-trees, for the sake of their shade.
- The consuls' d marbles.'] This may refer to the marble statues
which were in Fronto's hall, and were almost shaken off their pe-
destals by the din and noise that were made or to the marble with
which the walls were built, or inlaid; or to the marble pavement;
all which appeared, as if likely to be shaken out of their places, by
the incessant noise of the^e bawling reciters of their works.
13. The cohnnns broken.'] The marble pillars too were in the
same situation of danger, from the incessant noise of these people.
The poet mrans to express the wearisomeness of the continual re-
petition of the same things over and over again, and to censure the
manner, as well as the matter, of these irksome repetitions ; which
were attended with such loud and vehement vociferation, that even
the trees about Fronto's house, as well as the marble within it, had
reason to apprehend demolition. This hyperbole is humourous, and
well applied to the subject.
14. You may expect the same things, &fc.~] i. e. The same sub
treated by the worst poets, as by the best. Here he satirizes th<-
impudenro and presumption of these scribblers, who, without genius
or abilities, had ventured to write, and expose their verses to the
public ear: and this, on subjects \vhichhad been treated by men of
a superior cast.
15. Therefore.'] i.e. In order to qualify myself a? a writer and
3AT . i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 7
Of the stolen fleece : how great wild-ash trees Monychus could
throw :
The plane-trees of Fronto, and the convuls'd marbles complain
Always, and the columns broken with the continual reader :
You may expect the same things from the highest and from the
least poet.
And I therefore have withdrawn my hand from the ferule; and I 15
Have given counsel to Sylla, that, a private man, soundly
He should sleep. It is a foolish clemency, when every where so
many
Poets you may meet, to spare paper, that will perish.
But why it should please me rather to run along in the very field,
Through which the great pupil of Aurunca drave his horses, 2O
I will tell you, if you have leisure, and kindly hearken to my reason.
When a delicate eunuch can marry a wife : Majvia can stick
declaimer. His meaning seems to be, that as all, whether good or
bad, wrote poems, why should not he, who had had an education in
learning, write as well as they ?
15. Have withdrawn my hand, $)"c.~\ The ferule was an instru-
ment of punishment, as at this day, with which schoolmasters cor-
rected their scholars, by striking them with it over the palm of the
hand: the boy watched the stroke, and, if possible, withdrew his
hand from it.
Juvenal means to say, that he had been at school, to learn the arts
of poetry and oratory, and had made declamations, of one of which
the subject was : " Whether Sylla should take the dictatorship, or
*' live in ease and quiet as a private man ?" He maintained the latter
proposition.
18. Paper that will perish, <^'cj i. e. That will be destroyed by
others, who will write upon it if I do not ; therefore there is uo rea-
son why I should forbear to make use of it.
19. In tJic very Jield.^ A metaphor, taken from the chariot-races
in the Campus Martius.
20. The great pupil of Aurunca, 5fc.] Lucilius, the first and
most famous Roman satirist, bom at Aurunca, an ancient city of
Latium, in Italy.
He means Perhaps you will ask, " how it is that I can think of
" taking the same ground as that great satirist Lucilius and why I
" should rather choose this way of writing, when he so excelled in.
" it, as to be before all others, not only in point of time, but of
** ability in that kind of writing ?"
21. Hearken to my reason.^ Literally, the verb adtnitto signifies
to admit : but it is sometimes used with auribas, understood, and
then it denotes attending, or hearkening, to something : this 1 sup-
pose to be the sense of it in this place, as it follows the si vacat.
22. M<ema.~\ The name of some woman, who had the impudence
to fight in the Circus with a Tuscan boar.
The Tuscan boars were reckoned, the fiercest.
8 JUVENALIS SATIR.E. ?-. i.
Figat apruin, et nuda teneat venabula mamma :
Patricios ornnes opibus cum provocet unus,
Quo tondente gravis juveni mihi barba sonabat : . |
Cum pars Niliacae plebis, cuj.ii verna Canopi
Crispinus, Tyrias humero revocante lacornas,
Ventilet sestivum digitis sudantibus aurum,
Nee sufferre queat majoris ponderu gemma? :
Difficile est Satiram non scribere. Nam quis iniquae 3D
Tarn patiens urbis, tarn ferreus, ut teneat se ?
Causidici nova cum veniat lectica Mathonis
Plena ipso : et post hunc magni delator aaiici,
Et cito rapturus de nobilitatc comesa
23. With a naked breast.~\ In imitation .of an Amazon. 1
the name of Marvia, the poet probably means to reprove all the la-
dies at Rome, who exposed themselves in the pursuit of masculine
exercises, which were so shamefully contrary to all female delicacy.
24. The Patricians.'] The nobles of Rome. They were the de-
scendants of such as were created senators in the time of Romulus,
Of these there were originally, only one hundred afterwards, more
were added to them.
25. Who dipping, 6fc.~] The person here meant, is supposed to
be Licinius the freedman and barber of Augustus, or perhaps Cinna-
nms. See sat. x. 1. 225, 6.
Sounded^] Alluding to the sound of clipping the beard with
scissars. Q. D. who with his scissars clipped my beard, when 1
was a young man, and first came under the barber's hands.
26. Part of the commonalty of the Nile.'] One of the lowest of
the ^Egytians who had come as slaves to Rome.
Canopus.~\ A city of ^Egypt, addicted to all manner of effe-
minacy and debauchery famous for a temple of Serapis, a god of
the ./Egyptians. This city was built by Menelaus, iu memory of his
pilot, Canopus, who died there, and was alter wards canonized. See
sat xv. 1. 46.
27. Crispinus."] He, from a slave, had been made master of the
horse to Nero.
His shoulder recalling.^ Revocante The Romans used to
fasten their cloaks round the neck with a loop, but in hot weather,
perhaps, usually went with them loose. As Juvenal is now speak-
ing of the summer season, (as appears by the next line,) he describes
the shoulder as recalling, or endeavouring to- hoist up. and replace
the cloak, which, from not being fastened by a loop to the neck, was
often slipping away, and sliding^lownwards from the shoulders.
Tyrian cloaks.'] ?'. e. Dyed with Tyrian purple, which wa?
very expensive. By this he marks \he extravagance and luxury of
these upstarts.
28. Ventilate the summer-gold, fc.~\ The Romans were arrived
at such a height of luxury, thai they had rings for the winter, and
iAT. r. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. t
A Tuscan boar, and hold hunting-spears with a naked breast:
When one can vie with all the patricians in riches,
Who clipping, rny beard troublesome to me a youth sounded: 25
Wlien a part of the commonalty of the Nile, whch a slave of
Canopus
Crispinus, his shoulder recalling the Tyrian Cloaks,
Can ventilate the summer-gold on his sweating fingers,
Nor can he bear the weight of a larger gem ;
ft is difficult not to write satire. For who can so endure 30
The wicked city who is so insensible, as to containlrimself I
When the new litter of lawyer Matho comes
Full of himself : and after him the secret accuser of a great friend,
And who is soon about to seize from the devoured nobility
for the summer, which they wore according to the season.
Ventilo signifies to wave any thing to and fro in the air.
Crigpinus is decribed as wearing a summer-ring, and cooling it
by, perhaps, taking it off, and by waving it to and fro in the air
with his hand which motion might likewise contribute to the slip-
ping back of the cloak.
31. So insensible.~\ Ferreus literally signifies any thing made
of iron, and is therefore used here, figuratively, to denote hardness
or insensibility.
32. The new litter.'] Thelectica was a sort of sedan, with abed
or couch in it, wherei-n the grandees were carried by their servants :
probably something like the palanquins in the East. This was a
piece of luxury which the rich indulged in.
- Lawyer Matho.'] He had been an advocate but had amassed
a large fortune by turning informer. The emperor Domitian gave
so much encouragement to such people, that many made their for-
tunes by secret informations ; insomuch that nobody was safe, how-
ever innocent ; even one informer was afraid of another. See below,
i. 35, 6, and notes.
33. FtiU of himself.'] Now grown bulky and fiat. By this ex-
pression, }be poet may pint at the sell-importance of this upstart fel-
low.
- The secret accuser of a great friend.^ This was probably
Marcus Uegulus, (mentioned by Pliny in his Epistles,) a most infa-
mous informer, who occasioned, by his secret informations, the deaths
of many of the nobility in the time of Domitian.
Some think that the great friend here mentioned was some great
man, an intimate of Domitian's ; for this emperor spared not even
his greatest and most intimate friends, on receiving secret informa-
tions against them.
T&ut, by the poet's manner of expression, it should rather seem,
that the person meant was some great man, who had been a friend
to Hegulus, and whom Regujus had basely betrayed.
34. From the devoured nobility. ~\ i. e. Destroyed through secret
accusations, or pillaged by informers for hush-money.
VOL. i. D
10 JUVENALIS SATIO/E. SAT, i.
Quod superest : quern Massa timrt : qnem muncre palpal 35
Cams; et a trepido Thymele gummiaaa Latino :
Cum te summoveant qui testaniputa mereiitur
Noctibus, inccelum quos ewhit optima suumn
N unc via processes, vetulze vesica beat*.
Unciolam Proculeius habet, sed Gillo deuncem : 40
Partes quisque suas, ad mensuram inguinis haeres ;
Accipiat sane mercedem sanguinis, et sic
Palleat, ut nudis pressit qui calcibus auguem,
Aut Lugdunensem rhetor dicturus ad aram.
Quid referam ? quanta siccum jecur ardeat ira, 45
Cum populum gregibxis comitum premat hie spoliator
Pupilli prostantis? et hinc damnatus Anaui
Judicio (quid enim salvis infaraia nummis ?,)
35. Whom Massa fears."] Babius Massa, an eminent informer ;
but so mueh more eminent was M. Regulus, above mentioned, in
this way, that he was dreaded even by Massa, lest he should inform
against him.
36. Cants soothe*.~\ This was another of the same infamous pro-
fession, who bribed Kegulus to avoid some secret accusation.
i TAymefe.] The wife of Latinus the famous mimic ; she was
wnt privately by her hiuband and prostituted to Regulus, in order
to avoid some information which Latiuus dreaded, mid trembled un-
der the apprehension of.
37. Can remove you.~\ i. <, Set you a3ide, supplant you in the
good graces of testators.
Who earn last irtf/s, #c.] Who procure wills to be made in
their favour. The poet here satirizes t,he lewd and indecent practices,
dt certain rich old women at Home, who kept men for their criminal
pleasures, and then at their death, left them their heirs, in preference
to all others.
39. The best way, <5fc.] By this the poet means to expose and,
condemn these monstrous indecencies.
. \nto heaven. ~\ i. e. Into the highest state of affluence.
40. Proculeius Gi7/o.] Two noted paramours of these old la-
dies.
A small pittance a large share.'] Unciola, literally signifies
a little ounce, one part in twelve. Deunx a pound lacking an
ounce eleven ounces eleven parts of any other thing divided intft
twelve.
42. Of his bl.oorf.'] i. e. Of the ruin of his health and constitu-
tion, by these abominable practices.
43. Pressed a snake.^ By treading on it. See ViRG, ^En. ii. I,
379, 80.
44. The altar of Lj/ons,J The emperor Caligula instituted, at this
phce, games, wherein orators and rhetoricians were to contend for
a prize. Those, whose performances were not approved, were to
v.ipe them out with a spunge, or to lick them out with their.
SAT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 11
What remains : whom Massa fears : whom with a gift 35
Carus sooths, and Thymele sent privately from trembling Latinus.
When they can remove you, who earn last wills
By night, and whom the lust of some rich old woman
(The best way of the highest success now-a-days) lifts up into
heaven.
Proculeius has a small pittance, Gillo has a large share : 40
Every one takes his portion, as heir, according to the favour he pro-
cures :
Well let him receive the reward of his blood, and become as
Pale, as one who hath pressed with his naked heels a snake,
Or as a rhetorician, who is about to declaim at the altar of Lyons.
What shall I say ? With how great anger my dry liver burns, 45
When here a spoilur of his pupil exposed to hire presses on the
people
With flocks of attendants ? and here condemned by a frivolous
Judgment, (for what is infamy when money is safe I)
tongue: or else to be punished with ferules, or thrown into the
sea. fc&~ "' St*J^(~f\
45. What shall I say ?] Q. D. How shall I find words to express
the indignation which I feel i
My dry live? burns.] The ancients considered the liver R3
the seat of the irascible and concupiscible affections. So HOB. lib.
I. od. xiii. 1. 4. says :
Difficili bile tumet jecur to express his resentment and jealousy,
at hearing his mistress commend a rival.
Again, lib IV. od. i. 1. 12. Si torrere jecur quacris idoneum by
which he means kindling the passion of love within the breast.
Our poet here means to express the workings of anger and resent-
ment within him, at seeing so many examples of vice and folly
around him, and, particularly, in those instances which he is now
going to mention.
46. A spoiler o/ hi* pupil, 6fc.] The tutelage of young men, who
had lost their parents, was committed to guardians, who were to take
care of their estates and education. Here one is represented as spo-
liator a spoiler i. e. a plunderer or pillager of his ward as to his
affairs, and then making money of his person, by hiring him out for
the vilest purposes. Hence, he says Prostantis pupilli.
Presses on the people] Grown rich by the spoils of his ward^
he is supposed to be carried, in a lilter, along the streets, with such
a crowd of attendants, as to incommode other passengers.
47 8. By a frivolous judgment.] Inamjudicio because, though
inflicted on Marius, it was of no service to th injured province: for,
instead of restoring to it the treasures of which it had been plundered,
part of these, to a vast amount, were put into the public treasury.
As for Marius himself, he lived in as much festivity as if jiolhiiig had
happened, as the next two verse.- inform UP.
12 JUVENALIS SATIRIC. SAT. i.
Exul ab octav& Marius bibit, et freituF Drs
Iratis : at tu victrix provincia ploras ! 50
HSBC ego noo credam Venusina digna lucerna ?
Haec ego non agitem ? sed quid magis Heracleas,
Aut Diomedeas, aut mugitum labyrinthi,
Et mare percussum puero, fabrumque volantem ?
Cum leno accipiat mcechi bona, si capiendi 55
Jus nullum uxori, doctus spectare lacunar,
Doctus et ad calicem vigilanti stertere naso ;
49. The exiled Marius.~\ Marius Priscus, proconsul of Africa,
who, for pillaging the province of vast sums of money, was con-
demned to be banished.
From the eighth /zowr.J Began-his carousals frora two o'clock
in the afternoon, which was reckoned an instahce of dissoluteness
and luxury, it being an hour sooner than it was customary to sit down
to meals. See note on sat. xi. 1. 204, and on Persius, sat. iii. 1. 4.
49 50. He enjoys the angry gods.] Though Marius had incurred
the anger of the gods by his crimes, yet, regardless of this, lie en-
joyed himself in a state of the highest jollity and festivity.
Vanquishing province, <Sfc.] Victrix was used as a forensic
term, to denote one who had got the better in a law-suit. The pro-
vince of Africa had sued Marius, and had carried the cause against
him, but had still reason to deplore her losses : for though Marius
vras sentenced to pay an immense fine, which came out of what he
had pillaged, yet this was put into the pnblie treasury, and no part
of it given to the Africans : and, besides this, Marius had reserved
sufficient to maintain himself in a luxurious manner. See above, not*
on L 47, 8.
51. Worthy the Venminian lamp ?] i. e. The pen of Horace him-
self ? This cnarming writer was born at Venusium, a city of Apu*
lia. When the poets wrote by night they made use of a lamp.
52. Shall I not agitate, Sfc.j Agitem implies pursuing, as hunters
do wild beasts hunting chasing. So inveighing against by tutire,
driving such vices as he mentions out of their lurking places, and
hunting them dftwn, as it were, in order to destroy them.
But why rather Heracleans.] Juvenal here anticipates the
supposed objections of some, who might, perhaps, advise him to
mploy his talents on some fabulous, and more poetical subjects
such as the labours of Hercules, &c. " Why should I prefer these
** (as if he had said) when so many subjects in real life occur, to
" exercise my pen in a more useful way f '
53. Or Diomedeans.] i. e. Verses on the exploits of Diomed, a
king of Thrace, who fed his horses with man's flesh. Hercules slew
him, and threw him to be devoured by his own horses.
The lowing of the labyrinth.] The story of the Minotaur,
the monster kept in the labyrinth of Crete, who was half a bull, and
slain by Theseus. See AINSW. Minotaurus.
SAT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 13
The exile Marius drinks from the eighth hour, and enjoys the
Angry gods ? but thou, vanquishing province, lamented ! 50
Shall I not believe these things worthy the Venusinian lamp?
Shall I not agitate these (subjects ?) but why rather Heracleans,
Or Diomedeans, or the lowing of the labyrinth,
And the sea stricken by a boy, and the flying artificer ?
When the bawd can take the goods of the adulterer, (if of taking 55
There is no right to the wife,) taught to look upon the ceiling,
Taught also at a cup to snore with a vigilant nose.
54. The sea stricken by a ioy.] The story of Icarus, who flying
too near the sun, melted the wax by which his wings were fastened
together, and fell into the sea; from him called Icarian. See Hon.
lib. IV. od. ii. 1. 24.
The flying artificer^] Daedalus who invented and made
wings for himself and his son Icarus, with which they iled from
Crete. See AINSW. Daedalus.
55. The bawd^] The husband who turns bawd by prostituting
his wife for gain, and thus receives the goods of the adulterer, as the
price of her chastity.
56. There is no right to the. wife.'] Domitian made a law to for-
bid the use of litters (see note, 1. 32.) to adulterous wives, and to
deprive them of taking legacies or inheritances by will. This was
evaded, by making their husbands panders to their lewdness, and so
causing the legacies to be given to them.
Taught to look upon the ceiling.'] As inobservant of his
wife's infamy then transacting before him this he was well skilled
in. See HOR. lib. III. od. vi. 1. 2532.
57. At a cup, $c.] Another device was to set a large cup on the
table, which the husband was to be supposed to have emptied of the
liquor which it had contained, and to be nodding over it, as if in a
drunken sleep.
To snore with a vigilant nose.] Snoring is an evidence that a,
man is fast asleep, therefore, the husband knew well how to exhibit
this proof, by snoring aloud, which is a peculiar symptom of a
drunken sleep. The poet uses the epithet vigilanti, here, very hu-
mourously, to denote, that though the man seemed to be fast asleep
by his snoring, yet his nose seemed to be awake by the noise it
made. So PLA.UT. in Milite.
An dormit Sceledrus intus? Non naso quidem,
Nam eo magno magnum clamat.
Is Sceledrus asleep within ?
"Why, truly, not with his nose ; for with that large instrument he
makes noise enough.
Our Farquhar, in ' the description which he makes Mrs. Sullen
give of her drunken husband, represents her as mentioning a like
particular :
" My whole night'* comfort is the tunable serenade of that wake-
" ful nightingale hie nose."
14 JUVENALIS SATIILE, SAT. i.
Cum fas essc putet curam sperare cohortis,
Qui bona donavit praesepibus, et caret omni
Majorum censu, dum pervokt axe citato 60
Flaminiam : puer Automcdon nam lora tenebat,
Ipse lacernatae cum se jactaret amicae.
Nonne libet medio ceras implere capaces
Quadrivio cum jam sexta cervice feratur
(Hinc atque inde patens, ac nuda pene cathedra, 65
Et multum referens de Maecenate supino)
Signator falso, qui se lautum, atque beatum
58. A cohort.'] A company of foot in a regiment, or legion,
which consisted of ten cohorts.
59. Hath given his estate to stables.'] i. e. Has squandered away
all his patrimony in breeding and keeping horses. Praesepe some-
times means a cell, stews, or brothel. Perhaps, this may be the
sense here, and the poet may mean, that this spendthrift had la-
rished his fortune on the stews, in lewdness and debauchery.
59 60. Lacks all the income, $c.~\ Has spent the family estate.
60. JVhile he flies, &>c.~\ The person here meant is far from
certain. Commentators difter much in their conjecture on the sub-
ject. Britannicus gives the matter up. " This passage," says he, " is
" one of those, concerning which we are yet to seek."
But whether Cornelius Fuscus be meant, who when a boy wafe
charioteer to Nero, as Automedon was to Achilles, and who, after
wasting his substance in riotous living, was made commander of a
regiment Or Tigillinus, an infamous favourite of Nero'^, be hero
designed, whose character is supposed to have answered to the de-
scription here given, is not certain one or other seems to be mean*.
The poet is mentioning various subjects, as highly proper for sa-
tire; and, among others, some favourite at court, who, alter spend-
ing all his paternal estate in riot, extravagance, and debauchery, was
made a commander in the army, and exhibited his chariot, driving
full speed over the Flaminian way, which led to the emperor's villa ;
and all this, because, when a boy, he had been Nero's charioteer, or,
as the poet humourously calls him, his Automedon, and used to drise
out Nero and his minion Sporus, whom Nero castrated, to make
him, as much as he could, resemble a woman, and whom he used as
a mistress, and afterwards took as a wife, and appeared publicly in
his chariot with him, openly caressing, and making love, as he passed
along.
The poet humourously speaks of Sporus in the feminine gender.
As the lacerna was principally a man's garment, by lacernatai
amicae, the poet may be understood, as if he had called Sporu?,
Nero's male-rnistress being habited like a man, and caressed as a
woman.
The above appears to me a probable explanation of this obscure
and difficult passage. Holiday gives it a different turn, as may be
seen by his annotation on this place. I do not presume to be posi-
SAT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 15
When he Can think it right to hope for the charge of a cohort,
Who hath given his estate to stables, and lacks all
The income of his ancestors, while he flies, with swift axle, over 60
The Flaminian way ; for the boy Automedon was holding the reins,
When he boasted himself to his cloaked mistress.
Doth it not like one to fill capacious waxen tablets in the middle
of a
Cross-way when now can be carried on a sixth neck
(Here and there exposed, and in almost a naked chair, 65
And much resembling the supine Maecenas)
A signer to what is false ; who himself splendid and happy
live, but will say with Britannicus : " Sed quum in ambiguo sit, de
" quo poeta potissimum intelligat, unusquisque, si neutrum horum
" probabile visum fuerit, quod ad loci explanationem faciat, exco-
" gitet"
61. The Flaminian way.~] A road made by Caius Flaminius, col-
league of Lepidus, from Home to Ariminum.
62. When he boasted himself.~\ Jactare se alicui signifies to re-
gommend, to insinuate one's self into the favour, or good graces of
another as when a man is courting his mistress. By ipse, accord-
ing to the above interpretation of this passage, we must understand
the emperor Nero.
63. Capacious waxen tablets.^ These are here called ceras, some-
times they are called ceratee tabellde because they were thin pieces of
wood, covered over with wax, on which the ancients wrote with the
rint of a sharp instrument, called stylus, (see Hon. lib. I. sat. x.
72) : it had a blunt end to rub out with. They made up pocket-
books with these.
64. Cross-way.^ Juvenal means, that a man might please himself
by filling a large book with the objects of satire which he meets in
passing along the street. Quadrivium properly means a place where
four ways meet, and where there are usually most people passing a
proper stand for observation.
On a sU'th neck.~\ i. e. In a litter carried by six slaves, who
bare the poles on the shoulder, and leaning against the side of the
neck. 1 liese were called hexaphori, from Gr. 24, six, and $ rp*, to
bear or carry. See sat. vii. 1. 141, n.
65. Exposed, <Sfc.] Carried openly to and fro, here and there,
through the public streets, having no shame for what he had done to
enrich himself.
66. The supine MaceruisJ] By this it appears, that Maecenas was
given to laziness and effeminacy. See sat. xii. 1. 39.
Horace calls him Malthinus from ^A&txa?, which denotes soft-
ness and effeminacy. See HOR. lib. i. sat. ii. 1. 25.
67. A signer, 6fc.~] Signator signifies a sealer or signer of con-
tracts or wills. Here it means a species of cheat, who imposed false
wills and testaments on the heirs of the deceased, supposed to bt.
made in their own favour, or in favour of others with whom they
16 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. i.
Exiguis tabulis, et gem mi fecerat udi ?
Occurrit matrona potens, quae molle Calemura
Porrectura viro miscet sitiente rubetam, 70
Instituitque rudes melior Locusta propinquas,
Per famam et populum, nigros efferre maritos.
Aude aliquid brevibus Gyaris, et careers dignura,
Si vis esse aliquis : PROBITAS LAUDATUR, ET ALGBT
Criminibus debent hortos, praetoria, mensas, 75
Argentum vetus, et stantem extra pocula capruin.
Quern patitur dormire nurus corruptor avarae ?
Quern sponsae turpes, et praetextatus adulter ?
shared the spoil. See sat, x. 1. 336. and note. Some suppose this
to be particularly meant of Tigellmus, a favourite of Nero's, who
poisoned three uncles, and by forging their wills, made himself heir
to all they had.
68. By small tabks.] Short testaments, contained in a few words.
Comp. note on 1. 63.
A loet ge m.] i. e. A seal, which was cut on some precious
stone, worn in a ring on the finger, and occasionally made use of to
seal deeds or wills this they wetted to prevent the wax sticking to it.
This was formerly known among our forefathers, by the name of a
seal-ring.
69. A potent matron occurs.] Another subject of satire the poet
here adverts to, namely women who poison their husbands, and
this with impunity. The particular person here alluded to, under the
description of matrona potent, was, probably, Agrippina, the wife
of Claudius, who poisoned her husband, that she might make her so
Nero emperor.
Occurs.] Meets you in the public s'reet, and thus occurs to
the observation of the satirist. Comp. 1. 63, 4.
69. Cu'enian wine.'] Calenum was a city in the kingdom of Na-
ples, famous for a soft kind of wine.
70. About to reach forth.] Porrectura the husband is supposed
to be so thirsty, as not to examine the contents of the draught ; of
this she avails herself, by reaching to him some Calenian wine, with
poison in it which was extracted from a toad.
71. A better Locusta.] This Locusta was a vile woman, skilful in
preparing poisons. She helped Nero to poison Britannicus, the ,->or,
of Claudius and Messaiina ; and Agrippina to dispatch Claudius.
The woman alluded to by Juvenal, 1. 69. he here styles melior Lo-
custa a better Locusta i. e. more skilled in poisoning than eveo,
Locusta herself.
Her rude neighbours] i. e. Unacquainted and unskilled
before, iu this diabolical art.
72. Through fame and the people] Setting all reputation and
public report at defiance : not caring what people should say.
To bring forth] For burial which efferre peculiarly means.
See TER. And. act, I. K. i.
S.YT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 17
Has made, with small tables, and with a wet gem ?
A potent matron occurs, who soft Calenian wine
About to reach forth, her husband thirsting, mixes a toad, 7O
And, a better Locusta, instructs her rude neighbours,
Through fame and the people, to bring forth their black husbands.
Dare something worthy the narrow Gyane, or a prison,
If you would be somebody. PWOBITY is PRAISED AND STARVES WITH
COLD.
To crimes they owo gardens, palaces, table.*, 75
Old silver, and a goat standing on the outside of cups.
Whom does the corrupter of a covetous daughter-in-law suffer to
sleep?
Whom base spouses, and the noble young adulterer ?
72. Black husbands] Their corpses turned putrid and black, with
the effects of the poison.
73. Dare] i. c. Attempt presume be not afraid to commit.
Something.] Some atrocious crime, worthy of exile, or im-
prisonment.
The narrow Gyara] Gyaras was an island in the jEgeaii sea,
small, barren, and desolate to which criminals were banished. ^
74. If you would be somebody.] i. e. If you would make yourself
taken notice of, as a perspn of consequence, at Rome. A severe re-
flection on certain favourites of the emperor, who, by being informers,
and by other scandalous actions, had enriched themselves.
Probity is praised, Sfc.~\ This seems a proverbial saying
and applies to what goes before, as well as to what follows, wherein,
the poet is shewing, that vice was, in those days, the only way to
riches and honours. Honesty and inmvence will be commended, but
those who possess them, be left to starve.
75. G&rttau.] i. e. Pleasant and beautiful retreats, where they
had gardens of great taste and expense.
Palaces.] The word prastoria denotes noblemen's seats in the
country, as well as the palaces of great men in the city.
Tables.] Made of ivory, marble, and other expensive mate-
rials.
76. Old silver.] Ancient plate very valuable on account of the
workmanship.
A goat standing, Sfc.] The figure of a goat in curious bass-
relief which animal, as sacred to Bacchus, was very usually express-
ed on drinking cups.
77. Whom.] i. e. Which of the poets, or writers of satire, can be
at rest from wruing," or withhold his satiric rage i
Tkz corrupter] i. e. The father who takes advantage of the
love of money in his son's wife, to debauch her.
78. Ba.se spouses.^ Le\vd and adulterous wives.
Tlit noble young adulterer] PraHextatus, i. e. the youth, not
having laid u.side the pnctextata, or gown worn by boys, sons of the
nobility, till seventeen years of age yet, ia thi-i early period of life,
initiated into the practice of adultery.
VOL. I. JB
18 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. i,
Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum,
Qualemcunque potest : quales ego, vet Cluvienus, 8Q
Ex quo DeucaJion, nimbis tolleniibus aequor,
Navigio montem ascendit, sortesque poposcit,
Paulatimque anima caluerunt mollia sasa,
Et maribus nudas ostendit Pyrrha puellas :
Quicquid agunt homines, votum, timor, ira, voluptas,. 85
Gaudia, discursus, nostri est farrago libelli.
Et quando uberior vitiorum eopia? quando
Major nvaritiaB partnit sinus? alea quando
Hos ammo?-? neque enim loculis comitantibus itur
Ad casum tabulae, posita sed luditur area. 90
79. Indignation makes verse.~] Forces one to write, however na-
turally without talents for it.
80. Such as I, or Cluvienus.'] i. e. Make or write. The poet
names himself with Cluvienus, (some bad poet of his time,) that he
might the more freely satirize him, which he at the same time does,
the more severely, by the comparison.
81. From th-e time that DeueaUon.~\ This and" the three following
lines relate to the history of the deluge, as described by Ovid. See
Met. lift i.L 264 315.
$1. Ascended the maintain, $'c.] Alluding to Ovid:
MODS ibi verticibus peth ardwus astra dnobus,
Nomine Parnassus
Hie ubi Deucalion (nam cartera texerat aequor).
Cum consorte tori parva rate vectus adhsit.
Asked for /o^s.] Sortes here means the oracles, or billeta r on
which the answers of the gods were written. Ovid, (ubi supra,)
1. 367. 8. represents Deucalion, and his wife Pyrrha, resolving to go to.
the temple of the goddess Themis, to inquire in what manner mankind
should be restored.
placuit csleste precari
Numen, et auxilium per sacras quserere sorte*
And 1. 381. Mota Dea est, sortemque dcdit.
Again, 1. 389. Verba datae sortis.
To this Juvenal alludes hi th5s line; wherein sortes may be render-
ed- oracular answers.
83. The soft Ktones, $c.~] When Deucalion and Pyrrha, having
consulted the oracle how mankind might be repaired, were answered,
that this would be done by their casting the bones of their great mother
behind their backs, they picked stones from oft' the earth, and cast
them behind their backs, and they became men and women.
Jussos lapides sua post vestigia mittunt :
Saia
Ponere duritiem cspere, suumque rigorem,
Mclliricuje mora, raollitaque ducere foraiam, &c. Ib. 1, 399402.
SAT. Y. JUVEN.\L'S SATIRES. If
If nature denies, indignation makes verse,
Such as it can: such as I, or Cluvienus. 80
'From the time that Deucalian (the showers lifting up the sea)
Ascended the mountain with his bark, and asked for lots,
And the soft stones by little and little grew warm with lift;,
And Pyrrha shewed to males naked damsels,
Whatever men do desire, fear, anger, pleasure, 8 a
Joys, discourse is the composition of my little book.
And when was there a more fruitful plenty of vices? when
Has a greater bosom of avarice lain open ? when the die
These spirits ? They do not go, with purses accompanying
To the chance of the table, but a chest being put down is played
for. 90
t
Hence Juvenal says mollia saxa.
It is most likely that the whole account of the deluge, given by Ovid,
is a corruption of the Mosaical history of that event. -Plutarch men-
tions the dove sent out of the ark.
86. The composition, <5j'e.] Farrago signifies a mixture, an hodge-
podge as we say, of various things mixed together. The poet
means, that the various pursuits, inclinations, actions, and passions of
men, and all those human follies and vices, which have existed, and
have been increasing, ever since the flood, are the subjects of his
satires.
88. Bosom of Avarice] A metaphorical allusion to the sail of a ship
when expanded to the wind die centre whereof is called sinus the
bosom. The larger the sail, and the more open and spread it is, the
greater the capacity of the bosom for receiving the wind, and the more
powerfully is the ship driven on through the sea.
Thus avarice spreads itself far and wide: it catches the inclinations
of men, as the sail the wind, and thus it drives them on in a full course
%v lien more than at present says the poet.
- Tht di?.~] A phief instrument of gaming put here for gaming
itself. METON.
-S9. These spirits.'] Animus signifies spirit or courage; and in thia
sense we are to understand it here. As if the poet said, when was
gaming so encouraged ? or when had games of hazard, which were for-
bidden by the law, (except only during the Saturnalia,) the courage
to appear so open and frequently as they do now ? The sentence is ellip-
tical, and nwst be supplied with habuit, or some other verb of the kind,
to govern hos animos.
They do nal go with piirses, <S'.c.] Gaming has now gotten to
such an extravagant height, that gamesters are not content to play for
what can he carried in their purses, but stake a whole chest of money at a
time this seems to be implied by the word posita. Pono sometimes
signifies laying a wager putting down as a stake. b"e^ an example
of this sense, from Plautus, AINSW. pono, No. 5.
20 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. i.
Praclia quanta illic dispensatore videbis
Armigero! simplexne furor sestertia centum
Perdere, et horreati tunicam non reddere servo ?
Quis totidem erexit villas? quis fercula septem
Secreto cocnavit avus ? mine sport nla pnino 95
Limine parva sedet, turbae rapienda togatae.
I lie tamen faciem prius inspicit, et trepidat ne
Suppoaitua venias, ac falso nomine poscas:
Agnitus accipies. Jubet a praecone vocari
Ipsos Trojugenas: nam vexant limen et ipsi 100
91. How many battles, Sfc.l i. e. How many attacks on one an-
other at play.
The steward.^ Dispensator signifies a dispenser, a steward, one
that lays out money, a manager.
92. slr>nour-bearer.~] The armigeri were servants who followed
their masters with their shields, and other arms, when they went to fight.
The poet still carries on the metaphor of praelia in the preceding line.
There gaining is compared to fighting ; here he humourously calls the
steward. the armour-bearer, as supplying his master with money, a ne-
vy weapon at a gaming-table, to stake at play, instead of keeping
and dispensing it, or laying it out for the usual and honest expenses of
the family.
Simple ?naJr?fs,s, $c.~] All this is a species of madness, but not
without mixture of injury and mischief ; and therefore may be reckoned
f-omething more than mere madness, where such immense sums are
thrown away at a gaming-table, as that the servants of the family can't
be ail'orded common decent necessaries. The Romans had their cester-
tius and sestertium. The latter is here meant, and contains 1000 of the
iormer, which was worth about l-|rf. See 1. 106, n.
f.'3. And not give a coat, $c.~] The poet here puts one instance, for
many, of the ruinous consequences of gaining.
Juvenal, by thi^, severely censures the gamesters, who had rather lose
a. large sum at the dice, than lay it out for the comfort, happiness, and de-
cent maintenance of their families.
(-4. Somany triUa&J] Houses of pleasure for the summer-season.
These were usually built and furnished at a vast expense. The poet
having inveighed against their squandering at the gaming-table, now
attack* their luxury, and prodigality in other respects : and then, the
excessive meanness into which they were sunk.
1/5. Supped in stcrtt, <J't-.] The ancient Roman nobility, in order to
shew their munificence and hospitality, used, at certain times, to make
jui handsome' and splendid entei'taininent, to which they invited their
clients and dependents. Now they shut out these, and provided a sump-
tuous entertainment lor themselves only, which they sat down to in
j rivatc. Which of our ancestors, says the poet, did this ( .
Noic u I'dlit basket) <Jyc.] Sport ulu a little basket or pan*
SAT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 21
How many battles will you see there, the steward
Armour bearer ! is it simple madness an hundred sestertia
To lose, and not give a coat to a ragged servant t
Who has erected so many villas? What ancestor on seven dishes
Has supped in secret ? Now a little basket at the first 95
Threshold is set, to.be snatched by the gowned crowd.
But he first inspects the face, and trembles, lest
Put in the place of another you come, and ask in a false name.
Acknowledged you will receive. He commands to be called by the
crier
The very descendents of the Trojans : for even they molest the
threshold 100
nier, made of a kind of broom called sportum. KEXNET, Antiq. p.
375. In this were put victuals, and some small sums of money, to be
distributed to the poor clients; and dependents at the outward door of
the house, who were no longer invited, as formerly, to the entertain-
ment within.
96. To be snatched, Sfc.~\ i. e. Eagerly received by the hungry poor
clients, who crowded about the door. *
- The gauged crowd.'] The common sort of people were called Uijn
turba togata, fromThc-gcovjistliey wore, by which they were
( guished from the higher sort/~~See note before on 1. 3,
97. Bitthe.~\ i. e. The person who distributes the dole.
- First inspects the Face.} That he may be certain of the person
Le gives to.
- And trembles^] At ; the apprehension of being severely re-
proved by his master, the great man, if he should make a mistake, by
giving people who assume a false name, and pretend themselves to
be clients when they are not.
99. Acknowledged, 4' c -] Agnitus owned acknowledged, as one
for whom the dole is provided.
Perhaps, in better days, when the clients and dependents of great
men were invited to partake of an entertainment within doors, there
was a sportula, or dole-basket, which was distributed, at large, to the
poor, at the doors of great men's houses. Now times were altered ;
no invitation of clients to feast within doors, and no distribution of
doles, to the poor at large, without none now got any thing here, but
the excluded clients, and what they got was distributed with the utmost
caution, L 97, 8.
- He commands to be called.'] i. e. Summoned called together.
The poet is now about to inveigh against the meanness of many of the
nobles, and magistrates of Rome, who could suffer themselves to be
summoned, by the common crier, in order to share in the distribution
of the dole-baskets.
100. The very dependents of the Trojans."] Ipsos Trojugenas
from Troja or Trojanus and gi?no. The very people, says he,
who boast of their descent from ^Eneas, and the ancient Trojans,
who first came to settle in Italy; even these are so degenerate, as to
52 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. u
Nobiscum : da Praetori, da deinde Tribuno.
Sed libertinus prior est : prior, inquit, ego adsum :
Cur timeam, dubitemte, locum defendere ? quamvia
Natus ad Euphratem, molles quod in aure fenestrae
Arguerint, licet ipse negem : sed quinque tabernae 105
Quadringenta parant : quid confert purpura majus
Optandum, si Laurenti custodit in agro
Conductas Corvinus oves ? Ego possideo plus
Pallante, et Licinis : expectent ergo Tribuni.
come and scramble, as it were, among the poor, for a part of the spor-
tula. The word ipsos makes the sarcasm the stronger.
100. Molest the threshold J] Crowd about it, and are very trouble-
some. So HOR. lib. i. sat. viii. 1. 18. huncvexare locum.
101. JVith us.] Avec nous autres as the French say.
Give to the Prator.] In Juvenal's time this was a title of a
chief magistrate, something like the lord-mayor of London He wan
called Praetor Urbanus, and had power to judge matters of law be-
tween citizen and citizen. This seems to be the officer here meant
but for a further account of the Praetor, see AINSW. Praetor.
101. The Tribune.'] A chief officer in Rome. The tribunes, at
their first institution, were two, afterwards came to be ten they were
keepers of the liberties of the people, against the encroachments of the
senate. They were called tribunes, because at first set over the three
' tribes of the people. See AINSW. Tribunus and Tribus.
Juvenal satirically represents some of the chief magistrates and
officers of the city, as bawling out to be first served out of the
sportula.
102. The libertine.] An enfranchised slave. There were many of
these in Rome, who were very rich, and very insolent ; of one of
these we have an example here.
Is first, $c.~] " Hold," says this upstart, " a freedman, rich as
" I am, is before the praetor ; besides 1 came first, aud I'll be first
" served."
103. Why should I fear, tS'o.] i. e. I'm neither af aid nor ashamed
lo challenge the first place. I'll not give it up to any body.
103 1. Allho born at (fie Euphrates.'] He owns that he was born
of servile condition, aud came from a part of the world from whence
many were sold as slaves. The river Euphrates took its rise in Ar-
menia, and ran through the city of Babylon, which it divided in the
midst.
104. The soft holes, <5yc.] The ears of all slaves in the E;ivSt were
bored, as a mark of their servitude. They wore bits of gold by way
of ear-ring.s : which . custom is still in the East Indies, and in other
parts, even for whole nations ; who bore prodigious holes in their ears,
and wear vast weights at them. DRYDEN. PUN. lib. xi. c 37.
The epithet molles may, perhaps, intimate, that this custom w;ia
looked upon at Rome (as among us) as a mark of effeminacy. Uf
SAT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 35
Together with us : " Give to the Praetor then give to the Tribune."
But the libertine is first : I the first, says he, am here present
Why should I fear, or doubt to defend my place ? alt ho'
Born at the Euphrates, which the soft holes in my ear
Prove, though I should deny it : but five houses 105
Procure 400 (sestertia), what does the purple confer more
To be wished for, if, in the field of Laurentum, Corvinus
Keeps hired sheep ? I possess more
Than Pallas and the Li'cini : let the Tribunes, therefore, wait.
the poet, by Hypallage, says Molles in aure fenestrae for feaestrae
in molli aure.
105. Five houses.'] Tabernae here may be understood to mean shops
or warehouses, which were in the forum, or market place, and which,
by reason of their situation, were let to merchants and traders at a great
rent.
106. Procure 400.] In reckoning by sesterces, the Romans had an
art which may be understood by these three rules :
First : If a numeral noun agree in number, case, and gender, with
sestertius, then it denotes so many sestertii as decem sestertii.
Secondly : If a numeral noun of another ca.*e be joined with the
genitive plural of sestertius it denotes so many thousand, as decem ses
tertiiim signifies 10,000 sestertii.
Thirdly : If the adverb numeral be joined, it denotes so many
100,000: as decies sestertium signifies ten hundred thousand sestertii.
Or if the numeral adverb be put by itself, the signification is the same :
decies or vigesies stand for so many 100,000 sestertii, or, as they say,
so many hundred sestertia.
The sestertium contained a thousand sestertii, and amounted to about
17?. 16s. 3d. of our money. KENNETT, Ant. 374, 5.
After 400 quadringenta sestertia must be understood, accord-
ing to the third rule above.
The freedman brags, that the rents of his houses brought him in
400 sestertia, which was a knight's estate.
IVhat iloes the purple, <Sfc.] The robes of the nobility and
magistrates were decorated with purple. He means, that, though lie
can't deny that he was born a slave, and came to Rome as such, (and
if he were to deny it, the holes in his ears would prove it,) yet, he
was now a free citizen of Rome, possessed of a larger private fortuna
than the praetor or the tribune. What can even a patrician wish for
more? Indeed, "when I see a nobleman reduced to keep sheep for
" his livelihood, I can't perceive any great advantage he derives from
" his nobility ; what can it, at best, confer, beyond what I possess ?"
107. Gorvtmu.] One of the noble family of the Corvini, but so
reduced, that he was obliged to keep sheep, as an hired shepherd,
near Laurentum, in his own native country. Laureatum is a city
of Italy, now called Santo Lorenzo.
109. PulUis.~[ A freedman of Claudius.
44 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. r.
Vincant divitioe ; sacro nee cedat honori 110
Nuper in hanc urbem pedibus qui venerat albis :
Quandoquidem inter nos sanctissima divitiarum
Majestas : etsi, funesta Pecunia, templo
Nondum habitas, nullas nummorum ercximus aras,
Ut colitur Pax, atque Fides, Victoria, Virtus, 115
Quaeque salutato crepitat Concordia nido.
Sed cum summus honor fmito computet anno,
Sportula quid referat, quantum rationibus addat :
Quid facient comites, quibus hinc toga, calceus hinc est,
Et panis, fumusque domi ? densissima centum 120
Quadrantes lectica petit, sequiturque maritum
Languida, vel praegnans, et circumducitur uxor.
Hie petit absenti, nota jam callidus arte,
Ostendens vacuam, et clausam pro conjuge sellam :
Gallameaest, inquit; citius dimitte : moraris? 125
Profer, Galla, caput. Noli vexare, quiescit.
109. The Licini.~\ The name of several rich men, particularly of
a freedman of Augustus ; and of Lieinius Crassus, who was surnain-
ed Dives.
110. Let riches prevail.^ Vincant overcome defeat all other
pretensions.
Sacred honour.'] Meaning the tribunes, whose office was held
so sacred, that if any one hurt a tribune, his life was devoted to
Jupiter, and his family was to be sold at the temple of Ceres.
111. Wilh white feet.^ It was the custom, when foreign slaves
were exposed to sale, to whiten over their naked feet with chalk. Tins
was the token by which they were known.
112. The majesty of riches.'] Intimating their great and universal
sway among men, particularly at Rome, in its corrupt state, where
every thing was venal, which made them reverenced, and almost
adored. This intimates too, the command and dominion which the
rich assumed over others, and the self-importance which they assumed
to themselves a notable instance of which appears in this impudent
freedman.
113. Baleful money.~\ i. e. Destructive the occasion of many
cruel, and ruinous deeds.
114. Altars of money. ~\ i. e. No temple dedicated, no altars called
arae nummorum, as having sacrifices offered on them to riches, as
there were to peace, faith, concord, &c.
116. Which chatters, #c.] Crepito here signifies to chatter like
a bird. The temple of Concord, at Rome, was erected by Tiberius,
at the request of his mother Livia. About this, birds, such as
choughs, storks, and the like, used to build their nests. What the
poet says, alludes to the chattering noise made by these birds, parti-
cularly when the old ones revisited their nests, after having been out to
seek food for their young. See AINSW. Salutatus, No. 2.
117. The highest honour, #c.] i. e. People of the first rank and
dignity.
SAT. t. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 25
Let riches prevail : nor let him yield to the sacred honour, 110
Who lately came into this city with white feet :
Since among us the majesty of riches is
Most sacred : altho', O baleful money ! in a temple
As yet thou dost not dwell, we have erected no altars of money,
As Peace is worshipp'd, and Faith, Victory, Virtue, 115
And Concord, which chatters with a yisited nest.
But when the highest honour can compute, the year being finish-
ed,
What the sportula brings in, how much it adds to its accounts,
What will the attendants do, to whom from hence is a gown, from hence
a shoe,
And bread and smoke of the house ? A thick crowd of litters 120
An hundred farthings seek ; and the wife follows the husband,
And, sick or pregnant, is led about.
This asks for the absent, conning in a known art,
Shewing ihe empty and shut-up sedan instead of the wife. 125
11 It is my Galla," says he, " dismiss her quickly: do you delay ?"
" Galla put out your head,, dout vex her she is asleep."
117. Can compute, 'c.' : i.e. Caube so sunk into the most sordid
and meanest avarice, as to be reckoning, at the year's end, what Aey
have gained out of these doles which were provided for the poor.
119. The attendants, &c.] The poor clients and follower^ who,
by these doles, are. or ought to be, supplied with clothes, meat, and tire.
What will these do, when the means of their support is thus taken froiri
them by great people ?
From hencc.~\ i. e. By what they receive from the dole-basket
A s/ioe.] Shoes to their feet as we say.
120. Smoke of the houseJ] Wood, or other fuel for firing or firing
as we say. The effect, smoke for the cause, fire. M ETON*.
Croicd of litters.'] The word densissima here denotes a very
great number, a thick crowd of people carried in litters.
121. An hundred farthings.] The quadrans was a Roman *coin,
the fourth part of an as, in value not quite an halfpenny of our money.
An hundred of these were put into the sportula, or dole-basket: and for
a shave in this paltry sum, did the people of fashion (tor such were carried
in litters) seek in so eager a manner, us that they crowded the very door
up, to get at the sportula.
122. Is led uboutJ] The husband lugs about his sick or breeding
wile in a Utter, and claims her dole.
123. This asks for the absent.'] Another brings an empty litter, pre-
tending his wife is in it.
dinning in a known art.~] i. e. He had often practised this trick
with success.
125. It is my Galla.~\ The supposed name of his wife.
126. Put uid your hcad.'\ i. e. Out o!' the iiit--r, tha 1 I may see you
are there, -~=ays the dispenser of thedole.
VOL. i. F
2ft JUVENALI& SATIRE. MT. i.
Ipse die? pulchro distinguitur ordine rerum ;
Sportula, deinde forum, jurisque peritus Apollo,
Atque triumphales, inter quas ausus habere
Nescio quis titulos ^Egyptius, atque Arabarches ; 130
Cujus ad effigiem non tantum- mejere fas est.
Vestibulis abeunt veteres, lassique clientes,
Votaque deponunt, quanquam longissima coeiiae
126. Don't vex ker.~\ " Don't disturb her," replies the husband ;
" don't disquiet her, she is not very well, and is taking a nap." By
these methods he imposes on the dispenser, and gets a dole for his absent
wife ; though, usually, none was given but to those who came in person
and hi order to this, the greatest caution was commonly used. See 1.
07, 8.
The violent hurry which this impostor appears to be in (1. 125.)
was, no doubt, occasioned by his fear of a discovery, if h staid too
long.
Thus doth our poet satirize, not only the meanness of the rich in
coming to the sportula, but the tricks and shifts which they made use of
to get at the contents of it,
127. The day itself, <$'e.] The poet having satirized the mean ava-
rice of the higher sort, now proceeds to ridicule their idle manner of
spending time.
128. The sportala.~\ See before, L 95. The day began with attend-
ing on this.
The forum.~\ The common place where courts of justice were
kept, Ad matters of judgment pleaded. Hither they next reported to
entertain themselves, with hearing the causes which were there debated.
Apollo learned in the laic.] Augustus built and dedicated a tem-
ple and library to Apollo, in his palace on mount Palatine; in which
were large collections of law- books, us well as the works of all the
famous authors in Rome.
HOR. lib. i. epist. iii. L 16, 17. mentions this
Et tangere vitat
Script* Palatinus quxcunque recepit Apx>llo.
But I should rather think, that the poet means here the foram which
Augustus built,, where it is said, there was an ivory statue of Apollo,
which Juvenal represents as learned in the law, from the constant
pleadings of the lawyers in that place. Here idle people used to
lounge away their time
129. The triutnphals.'] The statues of heroes, and kings, and
other great men who had triumphed over the enemies of the state.
These were placed in great numbers in die forum of Augustus, and in
other public parts of the city.
An ^Egyptian, fyc.~\ Some obscure low wretch, who for no
desert, but only on account of his wealth, had his statue placed
there.
130, An Arabian prafect.~] Arubarchee So Pompey is called by
9 *T. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 27
The day itself is distin-guisedby a beautiful order of things :
The sportula, then the forum, and Apollo learned in the law,
And the triumphals: *unong which, aa ^Egyptian, I know not
who,
Has dared to have titles : and an Arabian prefect ; 1 30
At whose image it is not right so much as to make water.
T*he old and tired clients go away from the vestibules,
And lay aside their wishes, altho' the man has had a very long
Cic. epist ad Attic. 1. 2. epist. xvii. because he conquered a great
part of Arabia, and made it tributary to Rome. But Juvenal means
here some infamous character, who had probably been prefect, or
vice-roy, over thatcountry, and had, by rapine and extortion, returned
to .Rome with great riches, and thus got a statue erected to him, like the
^Egyptian above mentioned, whom some suppose to have been in a like
occupation in Egypt, and therefore called wiEgyptius. Arabarches
from AganJ' or Ag*<os and ?#>!
131. To make u-ater,~] Ther-8 was a ^ery severe law ou those who
did this, at or near the images of .great men. This our poet turns into
a jest on the statues above mentioned. Some are for giving the line an-
other turn, as if Juvenal meant, that it was right, or lawful, not only to
do this non tantum meiere, bnt something worse. But I take the first
interpretation to be the sense of the author, by which he would intimate,
that the statues of such vile people were not only erected among those
of great men, but wer-e actually protected like them, from all marks of p
indignity. So PERS. sat. i. 1. 114. Sacer est locus, ite projjiani j
extra majite.
132. TJie old and tired clients J] The clients were retainers, or depen-
dents, on great men, who became their patrons : te these the clients paid
all reverence, honour, and observance. The patrons, on their part,
afforded them their interest, protection, and defence. They also, ia
better times, made entertainments, to which they invited their clients,
isee before, note on 1. 95. Here the poor clients are represented, as
jvearied out with waiting, in long expectation of a supper, and going
away in despair, under their disappointment. Cliens is derived from
Greek x.tet*>, celebro celebrem reddo for it was no srn.all part of their
business to flatter and praise jtheir patrons.
Vestibules.'] The porches, or entries of great men's houses.
Vestibulum ant ipsjim, primoque in limine. VIRG. /En. ii. 1, 469.
134. Pot-herb><."] Caulis properly denotes the stalk or stem of an
fieri), and, by SynecdaclK-, any kind of pot-herb especially cole-
\vorts, or cabbage. See AINSW. Cauiis, No. 2.
To be bovgftt.1 The hungry Avretches go from the patron's
door, in order to lay out the poor pittance which they may have re-
c.-vod from the cpcrttila^ in some kind of pot-herbs, and in buying a little
hfewood, m order to dress them for a Beauty meal.
The pcet seems 10 mention this, by way of contrast to what fol-
lows:
JUVENALIS SATIILE.
SAT. J.
Spes homini : caules miseris, at quo ignu emendus.
Optima sylvarum intcrea, pehglque vorabit 133
Rex horum, vacuisque toris tantum ip.se jacebit :
Nam da tot pulchris, et latis orbibuj-, et tarn
Antiquis, uua comedunt pairimonia niensa.
Nullus jam paraiitus cril: sed qiiis feret islas
Luxurise sordes ? quanta est gala, quae sibi totos 140
Ponit apros, animal propter convivia natum ?
Poena tamen prassens, cum tu deponis amictus
Turgidus, et crudum pavonem in balnea portas:
Hmc subitae rnortes, atque infestata-seneetus.
It nova, nee tristis per cunctas fabula ccenas : 1 15
Ducitur iratis plaudendiun funus ainicis.
135. Their Zorrf.} ?. e. The patron of thesi? clients. Rex not only
signifies a king but aay great or rich man: so a patron. See Juv,
sat. v. 1. 14. This from the power and dominion which he exercised
dvor his clients. Hence, a? well as from his protection and care over
them, he was called patronus,- from the Greek -SMT^M MO; from 3rT,
* father.
Mean wkfle.']' i. e. While the poor clients are forced to take up
with a few boiled coloworts.
The &e.-V. things oflhr woods, Sfc.~] The woods are to be ransacked for
the choicest game, and the sea for the finest sorts of fish, to satisfy the
patron's gluttony : these he will devour, without asking any body to
partake .with him.
136. On the. empty beds.~\ The Romans lay along on beds, or
couches, at their meals. Several of these beds are here supposed to be
round the table which were formerly occupied by his friends and cli-
ents, but they are now vacant not a single guest is invited to occupy
them, or to partake of the entertainment with this selfish glutton.
137. Dj'sAes.j Which were round in an orbicular shape hence
called orbes.
Bcauliful.~\ Of a beautiful pattern ancient valuable for their
antiquity: made, probably, by some artists of old time.
138. At one meal. ~\ Measa lit. table which (by Menton.) stands
here for what is set upon it. Thus they waste and devour their estates,
in this abominable and selfish gluttony.
139. No. parasite.^ From arg, near and vnoi, food.
These were a kind of jesters, and flatterers, who were frequently
invited to the tables of the great ; and who, indeed, had this in view,
when they flattered and paid their court to them. Terence, in his Eunuch,
has given a most spirited and masterly specimen of parasites, in his
inimitable character of Gnatho.
B.ut so fallen were the great into the meanest avarice, and into the
most sordid luxury, that they could gormandize by themselves, without
- even inviting a parasite to flatter or divert them. But who, e\ en though
a para-ite, would endure (feret) such a sight .'
a T . j. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 29
Expectation of a supper : pot-herbs for the wretches, and fire is to be
bought.
Mean while their lord will devour the best things of the woods, and of
the sea, 135
And he only will lie on the empty beds :
For from so many beautiful, and wide, and ancient dishes,
They devour patrimonies at one meal.
There will now be no parasite : but who will bear that
Filthiness of luxury I how great is the gullet, which, for itself, puts 140
Whole boars, an animal born for feasts ?
Yet there is a present punishment, when you put off your clothes,
Turgid, and carry an indigested peacock to the baths :
Hence sudden deaths, and intestate old age.
A new story, nor is it a sorrowful one, goes thro' all companies : 145
A funeral, to be applauded by angry friends, is carried forth.
140. FiUhinc?s of lu.riiri/.] Sordes nastiness a happy word to
describe the beastliness of such gluttony with regard to the patron him-
self and its stinginess, and niggardliness, with respect to others.
How great is the gullet.] The gluttonous appetite of these
men.
Puts.] Ponit sets places on the table.
141. jyhole boars, Sfc] A whole boar at a time the wild boar,
especially the Tuscan, was an high article of luxury, at all grand enter-
tainments. The word natum is here used as the word natis. HOR.
lib. I. od. xxvii. 1. 1. See also OVID, Met lib. xv. 1. 117.
Quid meruistis, oves, placidum pecus, inque tuer.dos
NATOII homines ?
Juvenal speaks as if boars were made and produced for no other
purpose than convivial entertainments.
142. A present punithment.] Of such horrid gluttony.
Put off your clothes.] Strip yourself for bathing.
143. Turgid.] Turgidus swoln puffed up with a full stomach.
An indigested peacock.] Which you have devoured, and
which is crude and indigested within you.
To the baths.] It was the custom to bathe before meals : the
contrary was reckoned unwholesome. See PEUS. sat iii. 1. 98 105.
aud HOB. Epist. lib. I. Ep. vi. 1. 61.
141. Sudden deaths.] Apoplexies and the like, which arise from
too great repletion. Bathing, with a full stomach, must be likely to
occasion these, by forcing the blood with too great violence towards the
brain. ^
Intestate old age.'} i. e. Old gluttons thus suddenly cut off,
without time to make their wills.
145. A new story, Sfc.] A fresh piece of news, which nobody is
sorry for.
140. A funeral is carried forth.] The word ducitur is peculiarly
used to denote the carrying forth a corpse to burial, or to the funeral
pile. So VIRG. Geor. iv. "350.
30 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. x.
Nil erit ulterhis, quod nostris moribus addat
Posteritas : eadein cupient, facientque minores.
OMNE IN PH^CIPITI VITIUM STETIT : utere velis,
Totos pande sinus. Dicas hie forsitan, " unde 150
" Ingenium par materias ? unde ilia priorum
*' Scribendi quodcunque animo flagrante liberet
" Simplicitas, cujus non audeo dicere nomcn ?
" Quid refert dictis ignoscat Mutius, an non ?
" Pone Tigellinum, tEed& lucebis in ilia, 155
' Qua stantes ardent, qui fixo gutture fument,
" Et latum media sulcum deducis arena.
Exportant tcctis, ettristia, funera
Owing, perhaps, to the procession of the friends, &c. of the deceased*
which went before the corpse, and led it to the place of burning, or
interment.
146. Applauded by angry friends.~\ Who, disobliged by having
nothing left them, from the deceased's dying suddenly, and without a
will, express their resentment by rejoicing at his death, instead of
lamenting it. See PERS. sat vi. 33, 4.
148. To our morals.'] Our vices and debaucheries, owing to the de-
pravity and corruption of our morals.
- Those born after MS.] Minorca, i. e. natu our descendents ;
the opposite of majores natu our ancestors.
149. All vice is at the height.^ In pracipiti stetit hath stood hath
been for some time at its highest pitch at its summit so that our pos-
terity can carry it no higher. Compare the two preceding lines.
Vice is at stand, and at the highest flow. DRYDEN.
On tip toe. AZNSW.
149 50. Use sails Spread, 6rc.] A metaphor taken from sailors,
who, when they have a fair wind, spread open their sails as much as
they can. The poet here insinuates, that there is now a fair opportu-
nity for satire to display all its powers.
150 1. Whence is there genius, Sfc."] Here he is supposed to be
interrupted by seme friend, who starts an objection, on his invocation
to Satire to spread all its sails, and use all its powers against the vices of
the times.
Where shall we find genius equal to the matter ? equal to range so
wide a field- equal to the description, and due correction of so much
vice ?
151. Whence iliat simplicity, <Sfc.] That simple and undisguised
freedom of reproof, which former writers exercised. Alluding, per-
haps, to Lucilius, Horace, and other writers of former times.
153. A burning mind.'] Inflamed with zeal, and burning with sa-
tiric rage against the vices and abuses of their times.
- Of which I dare not, <!yc.] It is hardly safe now to name, or
mention, the liberty of the old \yrilcrs : it is so sunk and gone, that the
very gaming it i.~ d:mgc rous.
SAT.I. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 31
There will be nothing farther, which posterity can add
To our morals: those born after us, will desire, and do the same
things.
ALL VICE IS AT THE HEIGHT. Use Sails,
Spread their whole bosoms open. Here, perhaps, you'll say
"Whence 150
" Is their genius equal to the matter 7 Whence that simplicity
" Of former (writers), of writing whatever they might like, with
' A burning mind, of which I dare not tell the name.
" What signifies it, whether Mutius might forgive what they said, or
not?
" Set down Tigellinus, and you will shine in that torch, 155
" In which standing they burn, who with fixed throat smoke;
" And you draw out a wide furrow in the midst of sand.
154. Midius.~\ Titus Mutius Albutius a very great and powerful
man. He was satirized by Lucilius, and this, most severely by name.
See note on PERS. sat. i. 1. 115.
Lucilius feared no bad consequences of this, in those days of li-
berty. . '
155. Set down Tigellinus.'] i. e. Expose him as an object of satire
satirize this creature and infamous favourite of Nero's, and most
terrible will be the consequence.
' In that torchJ] This cruel punishment seems to have been
proper to incendiaries, in which light the poet humourously supposes
the satirizers of the emperor's favourites, and other great men, to be
looked upon at that time.
After Nero had burnt Rome, to satisfy his curiosity with the pros-
pect, he contrived to^ lay the odium on the Christians, and charged
them with setting the city on fire. He caused them to be wrapped
round with garments, which were bedaubed with pitch, and other
combustible matters, and set on fire at night, by way of torches to
enlighten the streets and thus they miserably perished. See KENNETT,
Ant. p. 147.
156. Standing.'] In an erect posture.
With fixed throat.'] Fastened by the neck to a stake.
157. And you draw out a wide furrow, <Sfc.1 After all the danger
which a satirist runs of his life, for attacking 1 igellinus, or any other
minion of the emperor's all his labour will be in vain ; there is no
hope of doing any good. It would be like ploughing in the barren
sand, which would yield nothing to reward your pains.
Commentators have given various explanations of this line, which
is very difficult, and almost unintelligible where the copies read de-
ducet, as if relating to the fumant in the preceding line; but this
cannot well be, that the plural should be expressed by the third person
singular. They talk of the sufferers making a trench in the sand,
by running round the post, to avoid the flames but how can this
be, when the person has the combustibles fastened round him, and
32 JUVENALIS SATlff/E SAT. i.
" Qui dedit ergo tribus patruis aconita, velietur
" Pensilibus plumis, atque ilHnc despiciet nos?
" Cum veniet contra, digito compesce labellum : 160
" Accusator erit, qui verbum dixerit, hie est.
" Securus licet ^Eneam, Rutilumque ferocem
" Committas : nulli gravis est percussus Achilles :
" Aut multum quaesitus Hylas, urnamque secutus.
must be in the midst of fire, go where he may ? Besides, this idea
does not agree with fixo gutture, which implies being fastened, or fixed,
so as not to be able to stir.
Instead of deducet, or deducit, I should think deducis the right
reading, as others have thought before me. This agrees in number
and person, with lucebis, 1. 155, and gives us an easy and natural
solution of the observation; viz. that, after all the danger incurred, by
satirizing the emperor's favourites, no good was to be expected ; they
were too bad to be reformed.
The Greeks had a proverbial saying, much like what I contended
for here, to express labouring in vain viz. 'Apftov ptlfits Arenam
inetiris, you measure the sand i. e. of the sea.
Juvenal expresses the same thought, sat. vii. 48, 9, as- I would
suppose him to do in this line :
Nos tamen hoc agimus, tenuique in rxulvere sulcos
Ducimus, et littus sterili versamus aratro.
158. Wolf s-bane.~] Aconitum is the Latin for this poisonous herb:
but it is used in the plural, as here, to denote other sorts of poison, or
poison in general. See OVID, Met. i. 147.
Lurida terribiles miscent ACONITA novercaj.
Three undes.~] Tigellinus is here meant, who poisoned ihree
UDcles that he might possess himself of their estates. And, after their
death, he forged wills for them, by which he became possessed of all
they had. He likewise impeached several of the nobility, and got
their estates. See more in AINSW. under Tigellinus.
Shall he, therefore, <5jfc.] " And because there may be danger
" in writing satire, as things now are, is such a character as this to
" triumph in his wickedness unmolested ? Shall he be carried about in
.' state, and look down with contempt upon other people, and shall I
" not dare to say a word ?" This we may suppose Juvenal to mean, on
hearing what is said about the danger of writing satire, and on being
cautioned against it.
159. With pensile feathersJ] Pensilis means, literally, hanging in
the air. It was a piece of luxury, to have a mattress and pillows stuffed
with feathers ; on which the great man reposed himself in his litter.
Hence the poet makes use of the term pensilibuj to plumis, as being in
the litter which hung in the air, as it was carried along by the bearers.
See before, L 32, and note ; and 1. 64, 5, and note.
From thence.'] From his easy litter.
Look doicn.~\ With contempt and disdain.
160. IVlifn he shall come opposite.'] Th.' moment you meet him,
SAT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 33
' Shall he, therefore, who gave wolf's bane to three uncles, be car-
ried
" With pensile feathers, and from thence look down on us?"
" When he shall come opposite, restrain your lip with your fin-
ger 160
" There will be an accuser (of him) who shall say the word
" That's he."
" Though, secure, ^Eneas and the fierce Rutilian
' You may match: smitten Achilles is grievous to none:
" Or Hylas much sought, and having followed his pitcher,
carried along in his stately litter, (says Juvenal's supposed adviser,)
instead of saying any thing, or taking any notice of him, let him
pass quietly lay your hand on your mouth hold your tongue be
silent.
161. There will be an accuser.'] An informer, who will lay an
accusation before the emperor, if you do but so much as point with
your finger, or utter with your lips " Thai's he." Therefore, that
neither or" these may happen, lay your linger upon your lips, and
make not <he sliirhtest remark.
m j who.'] Illi or illius is here understood before qui,
1C2. Though, secure.^ Though you must not meddle with the
living, you may securely write what you please about the dead.
- jEneas and the fierce Rutilian.~] i. e. ^Bneas, and Turnus,
a king of the Rutilians, the rival oi' yEaeas, and slain by him. See
VIRG.^BU. xii. yi9, &c.
163. You may match.'] Comiflittas is a metaphorical expression,
taken from mulching or pairing gladiators, or others, in sin^ie
combat.
Martial says :
Cum JUVENALE meo cur me committere tentas ?
" Why do you endeavour to match me with my friend Juvenal?"
i. e. in a poetical contest with him.
By commitas we are therefore to understand, that one might very
safely write the history of yEneas and Turnus, and match them to-
gether in fight HS Virgil has done.
- Smitten Achilles.^ Killed by Paris in the temple of Apollo.
- Is gritvous to none^] Nobody will get into danger, or trou-
ble, by writing the history of this event.
164. Ht//as much sought.'] By Hercules when he had lost him.
See ViRG.'ecl. vi. 43, 44.
- - Followed his pitcher."] With which he was sent, by Hercu-
les, to the river Ascanius to draw some water: where being seen.
and fallen in love with, by three river-nymphs, they pulled him into
the stream.
On subjects like these, saith the adviser, you may say what you
please, and nobody will take offence; but beware of attacking the
vices of living characters, however infamous or obnoxious.
VOL. i. e
34 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT, r.
" Ense velut stricto quoties Lucilius ardens 165
" Infremuit, rubet auditor, cui frigida mens est
" Criminibus, tacila sudant praeccnrdia culpa :
' Inde irae r et lachrymae. Tecum prius ergo valuta
" Haec animo ante tubas ; galeatum sero duelli
" PcenitetJ' Experiar quid concedatur in illos, 170
Quorum Flamini& tegitur cmis, atque Latina.
165. Ardetd.'] Inflamed with fatiric rage against the vices of his
day.
166. Raged.~\ Infremuit roared aloud, in his writings, which
were as terrible to the vicious, as the roaring of a lion which
the verb in fremo signifies : hence Met. to rage violently, or tumul-
tuously.
Reddens.~\ With anger and shame,
166 7. Frigid u-ilh crimes.'] Chilled, as it were, with horror of
conscience their blood- ran cold as we should say.
167. The bosom J\ Pracordia lit. the parts about the heart
supposed to be the seat of moral sensibility.
Sweats."] Sweating is the effect of hard labour. Sudant is
here used metaphorically, to denote the state of a mind labouring,
and toiliag under the grievous burden of a guilty conscience. This
image is finely used Mat. xi. 28.
168. Anger and tearsj\ Anger at the satirist tears of vexation
and sorrow at being exposed,
169. Before the trumpets.'] A; metaphor taken from the manner
of giving the signal for battle, which \vas done with the sound of
trumpets.
Think well, says the adviser, before you sound the alarm for your
attack weigh well all hazards before you begin.
The hehneted, <!yc.] When once a man has gotten his helmet
on, and advances to the combat, it is too late to change his mind.
Once engaged in writing satire, you must go through, there's no
retreating.
170. Fit try, 3' c -3 Well, says Juvenal r since the writing satire
on the living is so dangerous, 1 11 try how far it may be allowed me
to satirize the dead.
Hence he writes against no g/eat and powerful person, but under
the feigned name of some vicious character that lived in past time.
171. Whose ashes are covered.^ When the bodies were consumed
on the funeral pile, the ashes were put into urns and buried.
The Flaniiniuii and Latin wa.y,'] These were two great
roads, or ways, leading from Rome to other parts. In the via Fla-
minia and via Latina, the urns and remains of the nobles were bu-
ried, and had monuments erected. See sat. v. 1. 55. Hence have
been so often found in ancient Rome inscriptions on monuments
Siste viator.
It was ordered by the law of the twelve tables, that nobody
should be buried within the city ; hence the urns of the great were
buried, and their monuments were erected, 011 thot'e celebrated roads
SAT. i. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 35
'* As with a drawn sword, as often as Lucilius ardent 165
" Raged the hearer reddens, who has a mind frigid
** With crimes ; the bosom sweats with silent guilt :
** Hence anger and tears. Therefore first revolve, with thyself,
" These things in thy mind, before the trumpets : the helraeted
" late of a fight
** Repents." I'll try what may be allowed towards those, 170
Whose ashes are covered in the Flaminian and Latin way.
or ways. For the Flaminian way, see before, 1. 61, note. The Via
Latina was of great extent, reaching from Rome, through many fa^
znous cities, to the farthest part of Latium.
END OF THE FIRST SATIRE.
SATIRA II.
ARGUMENT.
The Ptet, in this satire, inveighs against the hypocrisy of tfie philo-
sophers and priests of his time, Uie effeminacy of military offi-
cers and magistrates. IVhich corruption of manners, as wtli
\^J LTRA Sauromatas fugere hinc libet, et glacialem
Oceanum, quoties aliquid de moribus uudent
Qui Curios simulant, et Bacchanalia vivunt.
Indocti primum : quanquam plena ornnia gypso
Chrysippi invenias : nara perfectissimus horuin est, 5
Si quis Aristotelem similem, vel Pittacon emit,
Et jubet archetypes pluteum servare Cleanthis.
Line 1. I could ivishJ] Libet lit. it liketh me.
Sauro-mattf.^ A northern barbarous people : the same with
the Sarmatae. Ov. Trist. ii. 198, calls them Sauromatae truces.
1 2. Icy ocean.] The northern ocean, which was perpetually
frozen. Lucan calls it Scythicum pontum (Phars. 1. 1.) Scythia
bordering on its shore.
Et qua bruma rigens, et nescia vore remitti,
Astringit Scythicura glaciali frigore pontum.
The poet means, that he wishes to leave Rome, and banish him-
self, though to the most inhospitable regions, whenever he hears such
hypocrites, as he afterwards describes, talk on the subject of mora-
lity.
2. They dare.~\ i. e. as often as they have the audacity, the daring
impudence to declaim or discourse about morals.
3. Curii.~] Curius Dentatus was thrice consul of Rome : he was
remarkable for his courage, honesty, and frugality.
Live (like) Bacchanals.~\ Their conduct is quite opposite
to their profession ; for while they make an outward shew of virtue
and sobriety, as if thc-y were so many Curii, they, in truth, addict
themselves to those debaucheries and impurities, with which the foists
of Bacchus were celebrated. These were called Bacchanalia. See
them described, Liv. xxxix. 8.
Bacchanalia stands here for Bacchanaliter. Graecism. These are
frequently found in Juvenal and Persius.
-I. Unlearned."] Their pretences to learning; are as vain and empty
as to virtue and morality.
SATIRE II.
ARGUMENT.
among them, as among others, and, more particularly, certain
unnatural vices, he imputes to the atheism, and infidelity, which
then prevailed among all ranks.
JL. COULD wish to fly hence, beyond the Sauromatae, and the
icy
Ocean, as often as they dare any thing concerning morals,
Who feign (themselves) Curii, and live (like) Bacchanals.
First they are unlearned : tho' all things full with plaster
Of Chrysippus you may find : for the most perfect of these is, 5
If any one buys Aristotle like, or Pittacus,
And commands a book-case to keep original images of Clean thes.
4 5. Plaster of Chrysippus.~\ Gypsum signifies any kind of par-
get or plaster (something, perhaps, like our plaster of Paris) of
which images, busts, and likenesses of the philosophers were made,
and set up, out of a veneration to their memories, as ornaments, in
the libraries and studies of the learned : in imitatidn of whom, these
ignorant pretenders to learning and philosophy set up the busts and
images of Chrysippus, Aristotle, &c. that they might be supposed
admirers and followers of those great men.
Oinnia plena denotes the affectation of these people, instickinf
up these images, as it were, in every corner of their houses. Chrysip-
pus was a stoic philosopher, scholar to Zeno, and a great logician.
5. The most perfect of these.~] If anyone buys the likeness of
Aristotle, &c. he is ranked in the highest and mos.t respected class
among these people.
6. Aristotle like.~\ An image resembling or like Aristotle, who was
the scholar of Plato, and the father of the sect called Peripatetics,
from vi^7rTi/>j, circumambulo because they disputed walking about
the school.
Pittacus.] A philosopher of Mytelene. He was reckoned
one of the seven wise men of Greece.
7. Original images.'] Those which were done from the life were
called archetypi : from the Greek p^D beginning, and riwaj form.
Hence etfxtrvTrov, Lat. archetypus, any thing at first hand, that is
done originally.
Cleanthes.~] A stoic philosopher, successor to Zeno the foun-
der of the sect.
38 JUVENALIS SATIR/E. SAT. n.
Front! nulla fides : quis enirn non vicus abundat
Tristibus obscoenis ? castigas turpia, cum sis
Inter Socraticos notissima fossa cinaedos I 10
Hispida membra quidem, et durae, per brachia setae
Proinitttmt atrocem animum : sed podice laevi
Caeduntur tumidae, medico ridente, mariscas.
Rarus senno illis, et magna libido tacendi,
Atque supercilio brevior coma ; verius ergo, H
Et magis ingenue Peribonius : hunc ego fatis
Imputo, qui vultu morbum, incessuque fatetur.
Horum simpb'citas miserabilis, his furor ipse
Dat veniam : sed pejores, qui talia verbis
Herculis invadunt, et de virtute locuti 20
Clunern agitant : ego te ceventem, Sexte, verebor,
8. No credit, Sfc."] There is no trusting to outward appearance.
9. tYith grave obscenes.~\ i. e. Hypocrites of a sad countenance :
grave and severe as to their outward aspect, within full f the most
horrid lewdness and obscenities, which they practise in secret
The poet uses the word obscoenis substantively, by which he marks
them the more strongly.
Dost thou reprove, <5fc.] Dost thou censure such filthy things
(turpia) in others, who art thyself nothing but obscenity ?
The poet here by an apostrophe, as turning the discourse to some
particular person, reproves all such. Like St. Paul, Rom. ii. 1 3.
10. Among the Socratic, Sfc.~\ i. e. Among those, who, though
infamously vicious, yet profess to be followers, and teachers of the
doctrine and discipline of Socrates, who was the first and great
teacher of ethics or moral philosophy.
But it is not improbable, that the poet here glances at the inconti-
nence which was charged on Socrates himself. See FARNABY, n. on
this line; and LELAND on Christian Rev. vol. ii. p. 133, 4; and
HOLYDAY, note c.
12. I would here, once for all, advertise the reader, that, in this,
and in all other passages, which, like this, must appear filthy and
offensive in a literal translation, I shall only give a general sense.
15. And hair shorter than the eye-brow!\ i. e. Cut so short as not
to reach so low as the eye-brow. This was done to avoid the suspi-
cion of being what they were, for wearing long hair was looked
upon as a shrewd sign of effeminacy. It was a proverb among the
Greeks, that " none who wore long hair were free from the unnatural
vices of the Cinasdi." May not St. Paul allude to this, 1 Cor. xi.
14. where $va-ir may mean an infused habit or custom. See WETS-
TEIN in loc. and PARKHURST, Gr. and Eng. Lexicon, Qvrtr, No.
III.
16. Peribonius.'] Some horrid character, who made no secret of
SAT. it. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. S8
No credit to the countenance : for what street does not abound
With grave obscenes? dost thou reprove base (actions) when
thou art
A most noted practitioner among the Socratic catamites ? 10
Rough limbs indeed, and hard bristles on the arms,
Promise a fierce mind: but evident effects of unnatural
Lewdness expose you to derision and contempt.
Talk is rare to them, and the fancy of keeping silence great,
And hair shorter than the eye-brow : therefore more truly, 15
And more ingenuously, Peribonius : him I to the fates
Impute, who in countenance and gait confesses his disease.
The simplicity of these is pitiable ; these madness itself
Excuses : but worse are they who such things with words
Of Hercules attack, who talk of virtue, and indulge 20
Themselves in horrid vice. Shall I fear thee, Sextus,
his impurities, and, in this acted more ingenuously, and more ac-
cording to truth, than these pretended philosophers did.
16. Impute Am.] Ascribe all his vile actions.
To the fales.^\ To his destiny, so that he can't help being
what he is. The ancients had high notions of judicial astrology,
and held that persons were influenced all their lives by the stars
which presided at their birth, so as to guide and fix thuir destiny
ever after.
17. His disease."] His besetting sin, (Comp. sat. ix. 1. 49. n.) or
rather, perhaps, a certain disease which was the consequence ot his
impurities, and which affected his countenance and his gait, so as to
proclaim his shame to every body he met. What this disease was,
may appear from lines 12, 13, of this Satire, as it stands in the ori-
ginal. Perhaps Rom. i. 27, latter part, may allude to something
of this sort.
18. The simplicity of these."] The undisguised and open manner
of such people, who thus proclaim their vice, is rather pitiable, as it
may be reckoned a misfortune, rather than any thing else, to be
born with such a propensity. See notes on 1. 16.
These madness itstlf. &c.] Their ungovernable madness in
the service of their vices, their inordinate passion, stands as some ex-
cuse for their practices, at least comparatively with those who affect to
condemn such characters as Peribonius, and yet do the same that he
does.
20. Of Hercules.] This alludes to the story of Hercules, who,
when' he was a youth, uncertain in which way he should go, whe-
ther in the paths ot virtue, or in those of pleasure, was supposed to see
an apparition of two women, the one Virtue, the other Pleasure,
each of which u^ed many arguments to gain him but he made choice
of Virtue, and repulsed the other with the severest reproaches. See.
XEN. Memor. and Cic. de Offic. lib. i.
21. Sej;/iis] "Some infamous character of the kind above men-
tioned.
40 JUVENALIS SATIILE. SAT. IT,
Infamis Varillus ait ? qua deterior te ?
Loripedem rectus derideat, Ethiopian albus.
Quis tulerit Gracchos de seditions querentes ?
Quis coelum terris non misceat, et mare coelo, 25
Si fur displiceat Venri, aut homicida Miloni ?
Clodius accuset moechos, Catilina Cetliegum ?
In tabulam Syllae si dicant discipuli tres ?
Qualis erat nuper tragico pollutus adulter
Concubitu : qui tune leges revocabat amaras 30
Omnibus, atque ipsis Veneri Martique timendas :
Cum tot abortivis faecundam Julia vulvam
Solveret et patruo similes effunderet offas.
Nonne igitur jure, ac meriio, vitia ultima fictos
22. Varillus.~\ Another of the same stamp. The poet here sup-
poses one of these wretches as gravely and severely reproaching the
other. What ! says Varillus, in answer, need I fear any thing you
can say ? in what can you make me out to be worse than yourself ?
23. Let the strait, 4'c.] These proverbial expressions mean to ex-
pose the folly and impudence of such, who censure others for vices
which they themselves practise. See Matt. vii. 3 5. HOR. sat. vii.
lib. ii. 1. 402.
This sentiment is pursued and exemplified in the instances follow-
ing.
21. The Gracchi.~\ Caius and Tiberius, tribune?, who raised
great disturbances, on their introducing the Agrarian law, to divide
the common fields equally among the people. At length they wen-
both slain : Tiberius, as he was making a speech to the people, by
Publius Nasica ; and Caius, by the command of the consul Opin>ius.
25. Mix heaven with earth.] i. e. Exclaim in the loudest and
strongest terms, like him in Terence,
O coelum! O terra! O marla Neptuni !
26. Verres.~\ Praetor in Sicily, who was condemned and banish-
ed for plundering that province.
- MiloJ] He killed P. Clodius, and was unsuccessfully defended
by Tully.
27. Clodius.^ A great enemy to Cicero, and the chief promoter
of his banishment. This Clodius was a most debauched and profli-
gate person He debauched Pompeia the wife of Caasar, and like-
wise his own sister. Soon after Cicero's return, Clodius was slain
by Milo, and his body burnt in the Curia Host ilia.
Catiline Cethegus.~\ i. e. If Catiline were to accuse
gus. These were two famous conspirators against the state. See
SALLUST, bell. Catilin.
28. T/ie table of SyZ/c/.] Sylla was a noble Roman of the family
of the Scipios. He was very cruel, and first set up tables of pro-
scription, or outlawry, by which many thousand Kornan? were put
to death in cold blood.
SAT, ji. , JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 41
Says infamous Varillus, by how much (am I) worse than thou art ?
Let the strait deride the bandy-legged -the white the Ethiopian.
Who could have borne the Gracchi complaining about sedition ?
Who would not mix heaven with earth, and the sea with heaven, 25
If a thief should displease Verres, or an homicide Milo ?
If Clodius should accuse adulterers, Catiline Cethegus?
If three disciples should speak against the table of Sylla ?
Such was the adulterer lately polluted with a tragical
Intrigue : who then was recalling laws, bitter 30
To all, and even to be dreaded by Mars and Venus themselves :
When Julia her fruitful womb from so many abortives
Released, and poured forth lumps resembling her uncle.
Do not therefore, justly and deservedly, the most vicious
28. Three disciples.'] There were two triumvirates, the one con-
sisting of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, the other of Augustus, An-
tony, and Lepidus, who followed Sylla's example, and therefore are
called disciples, i. e. in cruelty, bloodshed, and murder.
29. The adulterer. ~\ Domitian. He took away Domitia Longina
from her husband zElius Lamia.
29 30. A tragical intrigued] He debauched Julia, the daughter
of his brother Titus, though married to Sabinus. After the death
of Titus, and of Sabinus, whom Domitian caused to be assassinated,
lie openly avowed his passion for Julia, but was the death of her, by
giving her medicines to make her miscarry. See below, 1. 32, 3.
30. Recalling laws.~\ At the very time when Domitian had this
tragical intrigue with his niece Julia, he was reviving the severe laws
of Julius Caesar against adultery, which were afterwards made more
severe by Augustus.
30. 1. Bitter to allj] Severe and rigid to the last degree. Many
persons of both sexes, Domitian put to death for adultery. See
Univ. Hist vol. xv. p. 52.
31. Mars and Venus."] They were caught together by Vulcan,
the fabled husband of Venus, by means of a net with which he in-
closed them. Juvenal means, by this, to satirize the zeal of Domi-
tian against adultery in others, (while he indulged, not only this,
but incest also in his own practice,) by saying, that it was so great,
that he would not only punish men, but gods also, if it came in his
way so to do.
S9L Abortive^."] Embryos, of which Julia Avas made to mis-,
carry.
33. Lumps.'] OfFas, lumps of flesh, crude births, deformed, and
eo resembling her uncle Domitian, the incestuous father of them.
34. Justly-and deservedly J] With the highest reason and justice,
The most vicious.'] Ultima vitia, i. e. ultiini vitiosi, the most
abandoned, who are to the utmost degree vicious, so that they may
be termed themselves vices. The abstract is here put for the con-
crete. MET.
42 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. ti.
Contemnunt Scauros, et castigata rernordent ? 35
Non tulit ex illis torvum Laronia quendam
Clamantem toties, ubi nunc lex Julia ! donnis ?
Atque ita subridens : felicia tempora ! quse te
Moribus opponunt : habeat jam Roma pudorem ;
Tertius e ccelo cecidit Cato. Sed tarnen unde 40
Hax: emis, hirsute spirant opobalsama collo
QUJE tibi ? nc pudeat dominum monstrare tabernas :
Quod si vexautur leges, ac jura, citari
35. Despise.] Hold them in the most sovereign contempt, for their
impudence in daring to reprove others for being vicious.
The feigned Scourt.1 ./Emilius Scaurus, as described by
Sallust, bell. Jugurth. was a nobleman, bold, factious, greedy of
power, honour, and riches, but very artful in disguising his vices,
Juvenal therefore may be supposed to call these hypocrites tictos, as
feigning to be what they were not Scauros, as being like /E. Scau-
rus, appearing outwardly grave and severe, but artfully, like him,
concealing their vices. '
However, I question whether the character of Scaurus be not ra-
ther to be gathered from his being found among so many truly great
and worthy men Sat. xi. 1. 90, 1. Pliny also represents him as a
man summae integritatis, of the highest integrity. This idea seems to
suit best with fictos Scauros, as it leads us to consider these hypo-
crites as feigning themselves men of integrity and goodness, and as
seeming to resemble the probity and severity of manners for which
Scaurus was eminent, the better to conceal their vices, and to deceive
other people.
And being reproved, bite again.~\ Such hypocrites are not
only despised by the most openly vicious for their insincerity, but
whenever they have the impudence to reprove vice, even in the most
abandoned, these will turn again and retaliate: which is well ex.-
]iresded by the word remordeat.
3.6. Laronia.~\ Martial, cotemporary with Juvenal, describes a
woman of this name a a rich widow.
Abnegat ct retinet nostrum Laronia servum,
Respoiidens, orba est, dives, anus, vidua.
By what Juvenal represents her to have said, in the following lines
sho seems to have had no small share of wit.
Did not endure.'] She could not bear him ; she was out of
all patience.
Soze?'.] Crabbed, stern in his appearance. Or torvum may
be here put for the adverb torve torve clamantem. Graecism. See
above, 1. 3, and note.
From among tlif.m.~\ i. e. One of these dissemblers one
out of this hypocritical herd.
37, Crying out so ofttn.^ Repeating aloud his seeming indignation
against vice, and calling down the vengeance of the law against
sivdne.i3 tad effeminacy.
SAT, n. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 43
Despise the feigned Scauri, and being reproved, bite again ? 35
Laronia did not endure a certain sour one from among them
Crying out so often, " Where is now the Julian law ? dost thou
" sleep?"
And thus smiling : " Happy times ! which thee
" Oppose to manners : now Rome may take shame :
"j|A. third Cato is fallen from heaven : but yet whence 40
" Do you buy these perfumes which breathe from your rough
*' Neck ? don't be ashamed to declare the master of the shop ;
* But if the statutes and laws are disturbed, the Scantinian
37. Where is the Julian law ?] Against adultery and lewdness
(see 1. 30, note) why is it not executed ? As it then stood, it pun-
ished adultery and sodomy with death.
Dost thou sleep ?] Art thou as regardless of these enormities,
as a person fast asleep is of what passes about him ?
38. And thus smiling.~\ Laronia could not refrain herself at hear-
ing this, and, with a s-rnjle of the utmost contempt, ready almost at
the same time to laugh in his face, thus jeers him.
Happy times I <Sf c.] That have raised up such a reformer as
thou art, to oppose the evil manners of the age !
39. Now Rome may take shame.'] Now, to be sure, Rome will
blush, and take shame to herself, for what is practised within her
walk, since such a reprover appears. Irony.
40. A third Cato.~] Cato Censorius, as he was called, from hi*
great gravity and strictness in his censorship : and Cato Uticensis, so
called from his killing himself at Utica, a city of Africa, were men
highly esteemed as eminent moralists : to these, says Laronia, (con-
tinuing her ironical banter,) heaven has added a third Cato, by send-
ing us so severe and respectable a moralist as thou art.
41. Perfumes.~\ Opobalsama OT? /3#x<7<s i.e. Succus balsa-
mi. This was some kind of perfumery, which the effeminate among
the Romans made use of, and of which, it seems, this same rough-
looking reprover smelt very strongly.
41 2. Your rough neck.'] Hairy, and bearing the appearance o
a most philosophic neglect of your person.
42. Dont be ashamed, Sfc. ] Don't blush to tell us where the
perfumer lives, of whom you bought these fine sweet-smelling oint-
ments.
Here her raillery is very keen, and tends to shew what this pre-
tended reformer really was, notwithstanding his appearance of sanc-
tity. She may be said to have smelt him out.
43. Statutes and laws are disturbed-.'] From that state of sleep in
which you seem to represent them, and from which you wish to
awaken them. The Roman jurisprudence seems to have been founded
on a threefold basis, on which the general taw, by which the go-
vernment was carried on, was established that is to say Consulta
patrum, or decrees of the senate Leges, which seem to answer to
our statute-laws and j';ra. tho?e rules of common justice, whitth
41 JUVENAL1S SAT1RJL SAT. n.
Ante omnes debet Scantinia : respice priraum
Et scrutare viros : faciunt hi plura ; sed illos 45
Defendit numerus, junctaeque umbone phalanges.
Magna inter molles concordia : non erit ullum
Exemplum in nostra tarn detestabile sexu :
Taedia non lambit Cluviam, nee Flora Catullam :
Hippo subit juvenes, et morbo pallet utroq-ue. 50
Nunquid nos agimus causas ? civilia jura
Novimus ? aut ullo strepitu fora vestra movemus?
Luctantur paucae, comedunt coliphia paucae :
Vos lanam trahitis, calathisque peracta refertis
Vellera : Vos teuui praegnantem stamine fusura 55
Penelope melius, levius torqnetis Afachne,'
Horrida quale fack residens in codice pellex.
were derived from the two former, but particularly from thfr latter of
the two, or, perhaps, from immemorial usag? and custom, like the
common law of England. HOR. lib. i. epist. xvi. 1. 41. mentions
these three particulars :
Vir bonus est qnis ?
Qul consulta patrum, qui leges, juraque servat.
See an account of the Roman laws at large, in Kennett's Roman
Antiq. part ii. book iih chap. xxt. and seq.
43. Tke Scantiniiin.~\ So called from Scantinius Aricinu^, by
whom it was first introduced to punish sodomy. Others think that
this law was so called from C. Scantinius, who attempted this crime
on the son of Marcellus, and was punished accordingly.
45. Examine the me.J Search diligently scrutinize iaio their
abominations.
These do more things.~\ They far outdo the other sex ; they
do more things worthy of severe reprehension.
46. Number defends^ This iends to shew how common that de-
testable vice was. (Comp. Rom. i. 27.) Such numbers were guilty
of it, that it was tanked upon rather as fashionable than criminal;
they seemed to set the law at defiance, as not daring to attack so
large a body.
Battalions joined, $c.~] A metaphor taken from the Roman
manner of engaging. A phalanx properly signified a disposition for
an attack on the enemy by the foot, with every man's shield or buck-
ler so close to another's, as to join them together and make a sort of
impenetrable wall or rampart. This is said to have been first invented
by the Macedonians ; phalanx is therefore to be considered as a Ma-
cedonian word.
47. There is great concord. &c.~\ They are very fond of each
other, and strongly connected and united, so that, attacking one,
would be like attacking all.
49. Ttsdia Flora, $c.~] Famous Roman courtezans in Juvenal's
time bad as they were, the men were worse.
SAT. -n. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 45
" Ought before all to be stirred up. Consider first,
" And examine the men : these do more things but them 45
' Number defends, and battalions joined with a buckler.
" There is great concord among the effeminate : there will not be
" any .
" Example so detestable in our sex : ;
" Traedia caresses not Ciuvia, nor Flora Catulla ;
" Hippo assails youths, and in his turn is assailed. 50
" Do we plead causes? the civil laws
" Do we know ? or with any noise do we make a stir in your courts?
" A few wrestle, a few eat wrestlers diet :
" You card wool, and carry back in full baskets your finished
" Fleeces ; you the spindle, big with slender thread, 55
" Better than Penelope do twist, and finer than Arachne,
" As does a dirty harlot sitting on a log.
51. Do we plead, $c.~\ Do we women usurp the province of the
men ? do we take upon us those functions which belong to them ?
53. A fvie wrestie.~\ A few women there are, who are of sucli a
masculine turn of miiid, as to wrestle in public. See sat. i. 22, 3,
and notes ; and Sat. vi. 245 57, and notes.
Wrestler's ditt.^ Prepare themselves for wrestling as the
wrestlers do by feeding on the coliphium a xax* I&M, membra ro-
busta a kind of dry diet which wrestlers used, to make them strong
and firm-fleshed. See AINSW.
54. You card wool.~\ You, effeminate wretches, forsake manly
exercises, and addict yourselves to employments which are' peculiar
to women.
In baskets.^ The calathi were little osier or wicker basket--,
in which the women put their work when they had finished it, in or-
der to carry it back to their employers.
56. Penelope^ Wife of Ulysses, who during her husband's ab-
sence, was importuned by many noble suitors, whose addresses she
refused with inviolable constancy ; but, fearing they might take her
by force, she amused them, by desiring them to wait, .till she had
finished a web which she was then about : and to make the time as
long as possible, shu undid during the night what she had done in the
day.
Arachne.~\ A Lydian damsel, very skilful in spinning and
weaving. She is tabled to have contended with Minerva, and being
outdone, she hanged herself, and was by that goddess changed into
a spider. Ov. Met. lib. vi. fab. i.
By mentioning these instances, Laronia ironically commends the
great proficiency of the men in carding and spinning : both theie
operations seem to be distinctly marked by the poet.
57. A dirly harlot. ~\ Peliex properly denotes the mistress of a mar-
ried man. This, and the Greek ITAAX<-, seem derived from Heb.
Tinbs pilgesh, which we render concubine.
Codex from caudex literally signifies a stump or stock of a tree
of a large piece of which a log was cut out. and made an instru-
46 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. n
Notum est cur solo tabulas impleverit Hister
Liberto ; dederit vivus cur multa puellae :
Dives erit, magno quae dorrait tertia lecto. 60
Tu nube, atque tace : donant arcana cylindros.
De nobis post haec tristis sententia fertur :
Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas,
Fugerunt trepidi vera ac manifesta canentem
Stoicidae ; quid enim falsi Laronia 1 Sed quid 65
Non facient alii, cum tu multicia sumas,
Cretice, et hanc vestem populo mirante perores
ment of punishment for female slaves, who were chained to it on
any misbehaviour towards their mistresses, but especially where there
was jealousy in the case ; and there they were to sit and work at
spinning or the like.
58. Hister.~\ Some infamous character, here introduced by Laro-
nia in order to illustrate her argument.
Filled his will.~\ Tabula signifies any plate or thin material
en which they wrote hence deeds, wills, and other written instru-
ments, were called tabula?. So public edicts. See before 1. 28.
58- 59. With only his freedtuan.~] Left him his sole heir.
59. Why alive, 3'c.j Why in his life-time he was so very gener-
ous, and made such numbers of presents to his wife, here called pu-
ellae, as being a very young girl when he married her : but I should
rather think, that the arch Laronia has a more severe meaning in her
use of the term puellas, by which she would intimate, that his young
wife,' having heen totally neglected by hi;n, remained still puella,
a maiden ; Hister having no desire towards any thing, but what was
unnatural with his favourite freedman.
It is evident that the poet uses puella in this sense, sat. ix. 1. 74-.
See note on sat. ix. 1. 70.
60. She will be rich, 4" c -] By receiving (as Ilister's wife did)
large sums for hush-money.
Who sleeps third, Sfc.~] By this she would insinuate, that
Hister caused his freedman, whom he afterwards made his heir, to lie
in the bed with him and his wife, and gave his wife large presents of
money, jewels, &c. not to betray his abominable practices.
61. Do thou marry. ~\ This apostrophe may be supposed to be ad-
dressed to the unmarried woman, who might be standing by, and
listening to Laronia's severe reproof of the husbands of that day, and
contains a sarcasm of the most bitter kind.
As if she had said : " You hear what you are to expect; such of
" you as wish to be rich, I advise to marry, and keep their husbands'
" secrets."
Secrets bestow gems. ,] Cylindros these were precious stones,
of an oblong and round form, which the women used to hang in
their ears. Here they seem to signify alt manner of gems.
62. After all this.] After all I have been saying of the men, I
can't help observing how hardly we women are used.
SAT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 47
" It is known why Hister filled his will with only
" His freedman ; why alive he gave much to a wench :
" She will be lich, who sleeps third in a large bed. 60
" Do thou marry, and hush secrets bestow gems.
" After all this, a heavy sentence is passed against us :
" Censure excuses ravens, and vexes doves."
Her, proclaiming things true and manifest, trembling fled
The Stoicides For what falsehood had Laronia [uttered] ? But
what 65
Will not others do, when thou assumest transparent garments,
O Creticus, and (the people wond'ring at this apparel) thou de
claimest
62. A heavy sentence, <?f c.] Where we are concerned no mercy is
to be shewn to us ; the heaviest sentence of the laws is called down
upon us, and its utmost vengeance is prescribed against us.
63. Censure excuses ravens, fyc.~\ Laronia ends her speech with a
proverbial saying, which is much to her purpose.
Censura here means punishment. The men, who, like ravens
and other birds of prey, are so mischievous, are yet excused ; but,
alas ! when we poor women, who are, comparatively, harmless as
doves, when we, through simplicity and weakness, go astray we
hear of nothing but punishment.
64. Her, proclaiming, <Sf c.] We have here the effect of Laronia's
speech upon her guilty hearers their consciences were alarmed, and
away they flew, they could not stand any longer : they knew what
she said to be true, and not a tittle of it could be denied : so the
faster they could make their escape, the better : like those severe hy-
pocrites we read of, John viii. 7. 9. Cano signifies, as used here,
to report, to proclaim aloud.
65. The Stoicides.^ Stoicidas. This word seems to have been
framed on the occasion, with a feminine ending, the better to suit
their characters, and to intimate the monstrous effeminacy of these
pretended Stoics. The Stoics were called Stoici, from $ox, a porch
in Athens, where they used to meet and dispute. They highly corn-
mended apattiy, or freedom from all passions.
Juvenal, having severely lashed the Stoicides, or pretended Stoics,
now proceeds to attack, in the person of Metellus Creticus, the ef-
feminacy of certain magistrates, who appeared, even in the seat of
justice, attired in a most unbecoming and indecent manner, and
such as bespeak them in the high road to the most horrid impurities.
66. Will not others do, Sfc.~] 5. d. It is no marvel that we find
vice triumphant over people that move in a less conspicuous sphere
of life, when plain and apparent symptoms of it are seen in those
who fill the seats of justice, and are actually exhibited by them, be-
fore the public eye, in open court.
67. O Creticus.] This magistrate was descended from the family
of that Metellus, who was called Creticus, from his conquest of
Crete, Juvenal; most probably, addresses Metellus by this surname
48 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT . n.
In Proculas, et Pollineas ? est moecha Fabulla :
Damnetur si vis, ctiam Carfinia : talem
Non sumet damnata togam. Sed Julius ardet, 70
^Estuo : nudus agas minus est insania turpis.
En habitum, quo te leges, ac jura ferentem
Vulneribus cnidis populus modo victor, et illud
Montanum positis audiret vulgus aratris.
Quid non proclames, in corpore Judicis ista 73
Si videas ? quaero an deceant multicia testem ?
Acer, et indomitus, libertatisque inagister,
Cretice pelluces ! Dedit hanc contagio labem,
Et dabit in plures : sicut grex totus in agris
of his great ancestor, the more to expose and shame him for acting
so unworthy his descent from so brave and noble a person.
66. Transparent garments^] Multicia, quasi multilicia, of many
threads. These were so finely and curiously wrought, that the body
might be seen through them.
Thou dedaimest.~\ Passest sentence in the most aggravated
terms perores. The end of a speech, in which the orator col-
lected all his force and eloquence, was called the peroration : but the
verb is used in a larger sense, and signifies to declaim and make an
harangue against any person or thing.
68. Proculce and Pollinc(E.~\ Names of particular women, who
were condemned, on the Julian law, for incontinence, but, so fa-
mous in their way, as to stand here for lewd women in general.
He could condemn such in the severest manner, when before him
in judgment, while lie, by his immodest dress shewed himself lobe
worse than they were.
r ' r Notorious Adulteresses.
69. Larjiiiia,}
69 70. Such a gown. $c.~\ Bad as such women may be, and
even convicted of incontinence, yet they would not appear in such a
dress, as is worn by you who condemn them.
Or perhaps this allude to the custom of obliging women convict-
ed of adultery, to pull off the stola, or woman's garment, and put
on the toga, or man s garment, which stigmatized them as infamous ;
but even this was not so infamous as the transparent dress of the
judge. Horace calls a common prostitute togata. Sat. ii. lib. i.
1. 63.
But Jiily burns, $c.~\ He endeavours at an excuse, from tlie
heat of the weather, for being thus clad.
71. Do your business, 5j'c.] As a judge. Agere Icgem some-
times signifies to execute the sentence of the law against malefactors.
See AINSW. Ago.
Madness is less shame/id."] Were you to sit on the bench
naked, you might be thought mad, but this would not be so shame-
ful ; madness might be s^orne excuse.
71. Lo the habit, $c.~] This, and the three following lines,
SAT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 40
Against the Proculae and Pollineae ? Fabulla is an adulteress :
Let Carfinia too be condemned if you please : such
A gown, condemned, she'll not put on. " But July burns 70
" I'm very hot" do your business naked : madness is less sham-
. ful.
Lo the habit ! in which, thee promulgating statutes and laws,
The people (with crude wounds just now victorious,
And that mountain- vulgar with ploughs laid by) might hear.
What would you not proclaim, if on the body of a judge, those
things 75
You should see ? I ask, would transparent garments become a wit-
ness?
Sour and unsubdued, and master of liberty,
O Creticus, you are transparent ! contagion gave this stain,
And will give it to more : as, in the fields, a whole herd,
suppose some of the old hardy and brave Romans, just come from
a victory, and covered with fresh wounds (crudis vulneribus) rough
mountaineers, who had left their ploughs, like Cincinnatus, to fight
against the enemies of their country, and on their arrival at Rome,
with the ensigns of glorious conquest, finding such an effeminate cha-
racter upon the bench, bearing the charge ot the laws, and bringing
them forth in judgment which may be the sense of ferentem in this
place.
75. What would you not proclaim, fyc.] How would you ex-
claim ! What would you not utter, that could express your indig-
nation and abhorrence (O ancient and venerable people) of such a
silken judge !
76. 1 ask, would, Sfc,] q. d. It would be indecent for a private
person, who only attends as a witness, to appear in such a dress
how much more for a judge, who sits in an eminent station, in a
public character, and who is to condemn vice of all kinds.
77. Sour and unsubdued.] O Creticus, who pretendest to stoicism,
and appearing morose, severe, and not overcome by your passions.
Master of liberty.] By this, and the preceding part of this
line, it should appear, that this effeminate judge was one who pre-
tended to stoicism, which taught a great severity of manners, and an
apathy both of body and mind : likewise such a liberty of living as
they pleased, as to be exempt from the frailties and passions of other
men. They taught JT /*<>rof o tropes iXsuSspas- that " only a wise
" man was free.' Hence Cic. Quid est libertas 1 potestas vivendi
ut velis.
78. You are transparent.] Your body is seen through your fine
garments : so that with all your stoicism, your appearance is that of
a shameless and most unnatural libertine : a slave to the vilest pas-
sions, though pretending to be master of your liberty of action.
Contagion gave this stain.] You owe all this to the company
which you have kept : by this you have been infected.
79. And icill give it to more.] You will corrupt others by your
VOL. I. I
50 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. ir.
Unius scabie cadit, et porrigine porci ; 80
Uvaque conspecta livorem ducit ab uv.
Poedius hoc aliquid quandoque audebis amictu :
Nemo repente fuit turpissimus. Accipient te
Paulatim, qui longa domi redimicula sumu-nt
Frontibus, et toto posuere monilia collo, 85
Atque Bonam tenerae placant abdomine porcae^
Et magno cratere Deam : sed more sinistro
Exagitata procul non intrat fcemina limen.
Soils ara Deae maribus patet : ite profanac,
example, as you were corrupted by the example of those whom you
have followed.
The language here.is metaphorical, taken from distempered cattle,
which communicate infection by herding together.
80. Falls by the scab, #c.] Our English proverb says " One
" scabby sheep mars the whole flock."
81. A Grape, f?.~\ This is also a proverbial saying, from the
ripening of the black grape, (as we call it,) which has a blue or livid
hue ; these do not turn to that colour all at once and together, but
grape after grape, which, the vulgar supposed, was owing to one
grape's looking upon another, being very near in contact, and so
contracting the same colour. They had a proverb Uva uvam vi-
dendo varia fit.
83. Nobody was on a sudden, fc.~] None ever arrived at the
highest pitch of wickedness at first setting out : the workings of evil
are gradual, and almost imperceptible at first ; but as the insinua-
tions of vice deceive the conscience, they first blind and then harden
it, until the greatest crimes are committed without remorso.
.1 do not recollect where I met with the under written lines ; but ag
they contain excellent advice, they may not be unuseful in this
place :
O Leoline, be obstinately jus*,
Indulge no passion, and betray no trust ;
Never let man be bold enough to say,
Thus, and no farther, let my passion stray :
The first crime past compels us on to more,
And guilt proves fate, which was but choice before.
They will receive, <Sfc.] By degrees you will go on from one
step to another till you are received into the lewd and horrid society
after mentioned. The poet is now going to expose a set of unnatu-
ral wretches, who, in imitation of women, celebrated the rites of the
Bona Dea.
84. Who at home, $fc.] Domi that is, secretly, privately, in
some house, hired or procured for the purpose of celebrating their
horrid rites, in imitation of the women, who yearly observed t!u j
rites of the Bona Dea, and celebrated them in the house of the high
priest. PLUT. in vita Ciceronis et Caesaris.
If we say redimicula domi literally fillets of the house we
fuay understand it to mean those fillets which, in imitation of the
SAT. n. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 51
Falls by the scab and measles of one swine :
And a grape derives a blueness from a grape beholden.
Some time you'll venture something worse than this dress :
Nobody was on a sudden most base. They will receive thee
By little and little, who at home bind long fillets on
Their foreheads, and have placed ornaments all over the neck, 85
And, with the belly of a tender sow, appease the good
Goddess, and with a large goblet: but, by a perverted custom,
Woman, driven far away, does not enter the threshold :
The altar of the goddess is open to males only " Go ye profane"
women, they wore around their heads on these occasions, and which
at other times, were hung up about the house, as part of the sacred
furniture.
Here is the first instance, in which their ornaments and habits were
like those of the women.
85. And have placed ornaments, <Sf c.J Monilia necklaces con-
sisting of so many rows as to cover the whole neck ; these were also
female ornaments. This is the second instance. Monile, in its
largest sense, implies an ornament for any part of the body. AINSW.
But as the neck is here mentioned, necklaces are most probably meant ;
these were made of pearls, precious stones, gold, &c.
86. The good goddess.] The Bona Dea, worshipped by the wo-
men, was a Roman lady, the wife of one Faunus ; she was famous
for chastity, and, after her death, consecrated. Sacrifices were per-
formed to her only by night, and secretly ; they sacrificed to her a
sow pig. No men were admitted,
In imitation of this, these wretches, spoken of by our poet, that
they might, resemble women as much as possible, instituted rites and
sacrifices of the same kind, and performed them in the same secret
and clandestine manner.
The belly, {c.~\ The sumen, or dugs and udder of a young
sow, was esteemed a great dainty, and seems here meant by abdo-
mine. Pliny says (xi. 84. edit. Hard.) antiqui sumen vocabant ab-
domen. Here it stands for the whole animal (as in sat. xii. 73.) by
synec.
37. A large goblet.'] Out of which they poured their libations.
By a pei-verted custom.] More sinistro by a perverterl,
awkward custom, they exclude all women from their mysteries, 33
men were excluded from those of the women ; by the latter of which
alone the Bona Dea was to be worshipped, and no men were to be
admitted.
Sacra bonas mariims non adeunda Dear. TIB. I. 6, 22.
So that the proceeding of these men was an utter perversion of tle
female rites as different from the original and real institution, as the
left hand is from the right, and as contrary.
89. Go ye profane.'] Profanas moaning the women ; as if they
fcanished them by solemn proclamation. Juvenal here humour-
5t JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. H.
Clamatur: nullo gemit hie tibicina cornu. 90
Talia secreta coluerunt Orgia taeda
Cecropiam soliti Baptae lassare Cotytt6.
Ille supercilium madida fuligine tactum
Obliqua producit acu, pingitque trementes
Attollens oculos ; vitreo bibit ille Priapo, 95
Reticulumque comis auratum ingentibus implet,
Coerulea indutus scutulata, aut galbana rasa;
Et per Junonem domiai jurante ministro.
ously parodies that passage in Virgil, relative to the Sybil ^En. vi.
258, 9.
Procul, procul, csteprofani,
Conclamat vates, totoque absistite luco !
90. With no horn here, #c.] It was usual, at the sacrifices of the
Bona Dea, for some of the women to make a lamentable noise (well
expressed here by the word gemit) with a horn. The male wor-
shippers had no women among them for this purpose. Nullo tibicina
cornu, for nulla tibicina cornu. Hypallage.
91. Such orgies.'] Orgia so called * ms Ogyrf , from the furious
behaviour of the priests of Bacchus, and others by whom they were
celebrated but the part of the orgies here alluded to, was that where-
in all manner of lewdness, even of the most unnatural kind, was
committed by private torch-light Taeda secreta. Coluerunt they
practised, celebrated, solemnized.
92. The Baptte.] Priests of Cotytto at Athens, called Baptae, be-
cause, after the horrid impurities which they had been guilty of, in
honour of their goddess, they thought themselves entirely purified by
dipping themselves in water.
The Cecropian Cotytto.'] Cotytto was a strumpet (the god-
dess of impudence and unchastity) worshipped by night at Athens,
as the Bona Dea was at Rome. The priests are said to weary her,
because of the length of their infamous rites, and of the multiplicity
of their acts of impurity, which were continued the whole night.
Cecrops, the first king of Athens, built the city, and called it, after
his name, Cecropia.
93. His eyebrow.] It was customary for the women to paint the
eyebrows, as well as the eyes : the first was done with a black com-
position made of sqpt and water ; with this they lengthened the eye-
brow, which was reckoned a great beauty. This was imitated by
those infamous wretches spoken of by the poet, to make them appear
more like women.
94. With an oblique needle.'] Acus signifies also a bodkin ; this
was wetted with the composition, and drawn obliquely over, or along
the eyebrow.
AndpainiSy lifting them up, fyc.~] This was another practice
of the women, to paint their eyes. It is now in use among the
Moorish women in Barbary, and among the Turkish women about
Aleppo, thus described by Dr. Shaw and Dr. RusseL
BAT. n. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 63
Is cried aloud : with no horn here the female minstrel sounds. 90
Such orgies, with a secret torch, used
The Baptae, accustomed to weary the Cecropian Cotytto.
One, his eyebrow, touched with wet soot,
Lengthens with oblique needle, and paints, lifting them up, hi*
trembling
Eyes ; another drinks in a priapus made of glass, 95
And fills a little golden net with a vast quantity of hair,
Having put on blue female garments, or smooth white vests ;
And the servant swearing by the Juno of his master.
" Their method of doing it is, by a cylindrical piece of silver,
14 steel, or ivory, about two inches long, made very smooth, and
" about the size of a common probe.
" This they wet with water, in order that the powder of lead ore
" may stick to it ; and applying the middle part horizontally to the
" eye, they shut the eyelids upon it, and so drawing it through be-
" tween them, it blacks the inside, leaving a narrow black rim all
" round the edge."
This is sufficient for our present purpose, to explain what the poet
means by painting the eyes. This castom was practised by many
eastern nations among the women, and at last got among the Roman
women : in imitation of whom, these male-prostitutes also tinged
their eyes.
Lifting up trembling. This describes the situation of the eyes
under the operation, which must occasion some pain from the great
tenderness of the part Or, perhaps, by trementes, Juvenal may
mean something lascivious, as sat vii. 1. 241.
95. Another drinks, #c.] A practice' of the most impudent and
abandoned women is adopted by these wretches.
96. A little golden net, <$ - c.J Reticulunv here denotes a coif,
or cawl of net-work, which the women put over their hair. This
too these men imitated.
With a vast quantity of hair."] They left vast quantities
of thick and long hair upon their heads, the better to resemble women,
and all this they stuffed under a cawl as the women did.
97. Female garments.^ Scutuluta garments made of needle-
work, in form ot' shields or targets, worn by women.
' Smooth white i'es<s.J Galbana rasa fine garments, shorn
df the pile for women's wear. Ainsworth says they were white, and
derives the word galbanum from Heb. nsaS white. But others say,
that the colour of these garments was bluish or greenish.
The adjective galbanus-a-um, signifies spruce, wanton, effeminate.
So Mart, calls an effeminate person hominem galbanatum : and of
another he says, galbanos habet mores. MART. i. 97.
98. The servant swearing, <Sfc.] The manners of the masters
were copied by the servants : hence, like their masters, they swore
by Juno, which it was customary for women to do, as the men by
Jupiter, Hercules, &c.
54
JUVENALIS SATIRE. *T. n.
Ille tenet speculum, pathici gestamen Olhonis,
Actoris Aurunci spolium, quo se ille videbat
Armatum cum jam tolli vexilla juberet.
Res memoranda novis annalibus, atque recenti
Historia; speculum civilis sarcinu belli.
Nimirum summi duels est occidere Galbam,
Et curare cutem summi constantia civis :
Bedriaci in campo spolium affectare Palati,
Et pressum in faciem digitis extendere panem :
Quod nee in Assyrio pharetrata Semiramis orbe,
Mcesta nee Actiaci fecit Cleopatra carina.
S9. A looking-glass^] Speculum such as the women used.
The bearing, $c.~\ Which, or such a one as, Otho, infa-
mous for the crime which is charged on these people, used to carry
about with him, even when he went forth to war as emperor.
The poet in this passage, with infinite humour, parodies, in deri-
sion of the effeminate Otho, and of these unnatural wretches, som
parts of Virgil first, where that poet uses the word gestamen
(which denotes any thing carried or worn) as descriptive of the
shield of Abas, which he carried in battle. ^En. iii. 286.
./Ere cavo Clypeum, magni gestamen Abantjs,
Postibus adversis figo, &c.
and again, secondly in yn. vii. 246. Virgil, speaking of the orna-
ments which Priam wore, when he sat in public among his subjects,
as their Prince and lawgiver, says :
Hoc Priami gestamen erat, &c.
In imitation of this, Juvenal most sarcastically calls Otho's mir-
ror pathici gestamen Othonis.
100. The spoil of Auruncian Actor.~\ Alluding to Virgil, ./En. xii.
93, 94. where Turnus arms himself with a spear, which he had
taken in battle from Actor, one of the brave Auruncian chiefs.
Juvenal seems to insinuate, that this wretch rejoiced as much in
being possessed of Otho's mirror, taken from that emperor after
his death, (when he had killed himself, after having been twice
defeated by Vitellius,) as Turnus did in having the spear of the
heroic Actor.
101. Commanded the banners, Sfc."\ This was a signal for battle.
When they encamped, they fixed the banners in the ground near the
general's tent. which was called statuere signa. When battle was to
be given, the general gave the word of command to take up the
standards or banners this was tollere signa.
At such a time as this was the effeminate Otho, when he was arm-
ed for the battle, viewing himself in his mirror.
103. Baggage of civil war.] A worthy matter to be recorded in
the annals and history of these times, that among the warlike baggage;
of a commander in chief, in a civil war, wherein no lees than the nog-
SAT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 55
Another holds a looking glass, the bearing of pathic Otho,
The spoil of Auruncian Actor, in which he viewed himself 100
Armed, when he commanded the banners to be taken up :
A thing to be related in new Annals, and in recent
History, a looking-glass the baggage of civil war !
To kill Galba is doubtless the part of a great general,
And to take care of the skin, the perseverance of the highest citi-
zen. 105
In the field of Bedriacum to affect the spoil of the palace,
And to extend over the face bread squeezed with the fingers :
Which neither the quivered Semiramis in the Assyrian world,
Nor sad Cleopatra did in her Actiacan galley.
session of the Roman empire was at stake, there was found a mir-
ror, the proper implement of a Roman lady ! This civil war was
between Otho and Vitellius, which last was set up, by the German
soldiers, for emperor, and at last succeeded.
104. To kill Galba, Sfc.~\ The nimirum doubtless to be sure
throws an irony over this, and the following three lines as if the
poet said To aim at empire, and to have the reigning prince as-
sassinated in the forum, in order to succeed him, was, doubtless, a
most noble piece of generalship, worthy a great general ; and, to
be sure, it was the part of a great citizen to take so much care of
his complexion it must be allowed worthy the mightiest citizen
of Rome, to attend to this with unremitting constancy !
This action of Otho's, who, when he found Galba, who had pro-
mised to adopt him as his successor, deceiving him, in favour of Piso,
destroyed him, makes a strong contrast in the character of Otho :
in one instance, bold and enterprising in another, soft and affemi-
nate.
106. In the field to 'affect, Sfc.~\ To aim at, to aspire to, the
peaceable and sole possession of the emperor's palace, as master of
the empire, when engaged in the battle with Vitellius in the field of
Bedriacum, (between Cremona and Verona,) was great and noble ;
but how sadly inconsistent with what follows !
107. To extend over tht face, 4" c -] The Roman ladies used a sort
of bread, or paste, wetted with asses milk. This they pressed and
spread with their fingers on the face to cover it from the air, and
thus preserve the complexion. See sat. vi. 1. 461. This was prac-
tised by the emperor Otho.
Otho, at last, being twice defeated by Vitellius, dreading the hor-
rors of the civil war in which he was engaged, killed himself to
prevent it, when he had sufficient force to try his fortune again.
108. The quivered Semiramis.^ The famous warlike queen of
Assyria, who after the death of her husband Ninus, put on man's
apparel, and did many warlike actions.
109. Sad Cleopatra.'] The famous and unfortunate queen of
./Egypt, who with M. Anthony, being defeated by Augustus, in
the sea-fight at Actiura. fled to Alexandria, and there despairing to
S<5 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. n.
Hie nullus verbis pudor, aut reverentia menss : 110
Hie turpis Cybeles, et fracta voce loquendi
Libertas, et crine senex fanaticus albo
Sacrorum antistes, rarum ac memorabile magni
Gutturis exemplum, conducendusque magister.
Quid tamen expectant, Phrygio queis tempus erat jam 115
More supervacuam cultris abrumpere carnem 1
Quadringenta dedit Gracchus sestertia, dotem
Cornicini : sive hie recto cantaverat aere.
Signatae tabulae : dictum feliciter ! ingens
find any favour from Augustus, applied two asps to her breast,
which stung her to death. She died on the tomb of Anthony, who
had killed himself after the loss of the battle.
109. In her Actiacan galley.~\ Carina, properly signifies the keel,
or bottom of a ship, but, by synec. the whole ship or vessel. It
denotes, here, the fine galley, or vessel, in which Cleopatra was at
the battle of Actium ; Avhich was richly ornamented with gold, and
had purple sails. Regina (Cleopatra) cum aurea puppe, veloque
gurpureo, se in altum dedit. PLIN. lib. xix. c. i. ad. fin.
From this it is probable that our Shakespeare took his idea of the
vessel in which Cleopatra, when she first met M. Anthony on the
river Cydnus, appeared: the description of which is embellished
with some of the finest touches of that great poet's fancy. See Ant.
and Cleop. act II. sc. ii.
Neither of these women were so effeminate as the emperor Otho.
110. Here is no modesty, #c.] Juvenal having censured the effe-
minacy of their actions and dress, now attacks their manner of con-
versation at their sacrificial feasts.
Reverence of the Table.'] That is, of the table where they
feasted on their sacrifices, which, every where else, was reckoned sa-
cred : here they paid no sort of regard to it.
111. Of filthy Ci/6e/e.] Here they indulge themselves in ail the fil-
thy conversation that they can utter; like the Priests of Cybele,
who used to display all manner of filthiness and obscenity before
the image of their goddess, both in word and action.
With broken voice. ~\ Perhaps this means a feigned, altered,
lisping voice, to imitate the voices of women, or of the priests of
Cybele, who were all eunuchs.
112. An old fanatic .] Fanaticus (from Gr. *n&[t.ce,t, appareo)
denotes one that pretends to inspiration, visions, and the like.
Such the Galli, or priests of Cybele were called, from their strange
gestures and speeches, as if actuated or possessed by some spirit
which they called divine.
See VIRG. yEn. vi. 1. 46 51. a description of this fanatic inspi-
ration : which shews what the heathens meant, when they spake of
their diviners being pleni Deo afflati numine, and the like. Set
PARK. Heb. and Eng. Lex. ax, No. 4.
Such a one was the old white-headed priest here spoken of.
SAT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 57
Here is no modesty in their discourse, or reverence of the table : 110
Here, of lilthy Cybele, and of speaking with broken voice,
The liberty ; and an old fanatic, with white hair,
Chief priest of sacred things, a rare and memorable example
Of an ample throat, and a master to be hired.
But what do they wait for, for whom it is now high time, in the
Phrygian 115
Manner, to cut away with knives their superfluous flesh ?
Gracchus gave 400 sestertia, a dower
To a horn-blower, or perhaps he had sounded with strait brass,
The writings were signed : " Happily" said : a vast
113. Chief priest of sacred lkings.~] Of their abominable rites
and ceremonies, which they performed, in imitation of the women,
to the Bona Dea.
114. An ample throat.'] A most capacious swallow he set an ex-
ample of most uncommon gluttony.
A master to be hired.'] If any one would be taught the sci-
ence of gluttony, and of the most beastly sensuality, let him hire
such an old fellow as this for a master to instruct him.
TER. And. act I. sc. ii. 1. 19. has a thought of this kind. Simo
says to Davus :
Turn si magistrum cepit ad earn rem improbum.
115. What, do they wait for, 8fc.~] As they wish to be like the
priests of Cybele, and are so fond of imitating them, why do they
delay that operation which would bring them to a perfect resemblance?
117. Gracchus.~\ It should seem, that by this name Juvenal does
not mean one particular person only, but divers of the nobles of
Rome, who had shamefully practised what he mentions here, and af-
terwards, 1. 143. gave a dower dotem dedit as a wife brings a
ilower to her husband, so did Gracchus to the horn-blower.
400 sestertia.] See note, sat. i. 1. 106. about 3125?.
118. A horn-blower, <Sfc.] A fellow who had been either this, or
a trumpeter, in the Roman army, in which the Romans only used
wind-instruments: the two principal ones were the cornua, or horns,
and the tuba? -trumpets : they both were made of brass : the horns
were made crooked, like the horns ol animals, which were used by
the rude ancients in battle. The trumpets were strait, like ours,
therefore Juvenal supposing the person might have been a trumpeter,
*ays recto cantaverat a?re. That these two instruments were made
of brass, and shaped as above mentioned, appears from Ovid. Met.
lib. 1. 1. 98. Non tuba directi, non aeris cornua flexi. See an ac-
count of the Roman martial musical instruments, KENNETT, Antiq.
part II. book iv. c. 11.
119. The writings.'] The marriage- writings. See note on 1. 58.
" Happily" said.'] They were wished joy, the form of
VOL. I. K
58 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. H.
Ccena sedet : gremio jacuit nova nupta mariti. 120
O Proceres, censore opus est, an haruspice nobis ?
Scilicet horreres, majoraque monstra putares,
Si mulier vituluin, vel si bos ederet agnum ?
Segmenta, et longos habitus, et flammea sumii,
Arcano qui sacra ferens nutantia lora 125
Sudavit clypeis ancilibus. O pater urbis !
which was by pronouncing the word " feliciter" I wish you joy,
as we say : this was particukrly used on nuptial occasions, as among
us.
1 1920. A rust supper is set.~\ A sumptuous entertainment, on the
occasion, set upon the table. Or, ingens ccena may here be used me-
tonymically, to denote the guests who were invited in great numbers
to the marriage supper : the word sedet is supposed equivalent with
accumbit. This last is the interpretation of J. Britannicus, and
C. S. Curio : but Holyday is for the first : and I rather think with
him, as the word sedet is used in a like sense, where our poet speaks
(sat. i. 1. 95, 6.) of setting the dole-basket on the threshold of the
>door :
- Nunc sportala prime
l.imiuo parva sedet.
So here for setting the supper on the table.
120. The new married, #c.] As Sporus was given in marriage to
Nero, so Gracchus to this trumpeter : hence Juvenal humourously
calls Gracchus nova nupta, in the feminine gender. Nabere is ap-
plicable to the woman, and ducere to the man.
- In the husband's feosora.] ?. e. Of the trumpeter, who now
was become husband to Gracchus.
121. O ye nobles.^ O proceres ! ' O ye patricians, nobles, sena-
tors, magistrates of Rome, to whom the government and magistracy,
as well as the welfare of the city is committed ! Many of these were
guilty of these abominations, therefore Juvenal here sarcastically in-
vokes them on the occasion.
- A censor.] An officer whose business it was to inspect and
reform the manners of the people. There were two of them, who
had power even to degrade knights, and to exclude senators, when
guilty of great misdemeanours. Formerly they maintained such a
severity of manners, that they stood in awe of each other.
Soothsayer.^ Aruspex or haruspex, from haruga a sacrifice
(which from Heb. ain, to kill or slaughter) and specie to view.
A diviner who divined by viewing the entrails of the sacrifices. A
soothsayer. When any thing portentous or prodigious happened, or
appeared in the entrails of the beasts, it was the- office of the haru-
spex to offer an expiation, to avert the supposed anger of the gods.
q. d. Do we, in the midst of all the prodigies of wickedness,
want inost a censor for correction, or an haruspex for expiation ?
For, as the next two lines intimate, we ought uot, in all reason, to
SAT. n. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 5ft-
Supper is set : the new married lay in the husband's bosom. 120
O yc nobles ! have we occasion for a censor, or for a soothsayer ?
What ! would you dread, and think them greater prodigies,
If a woman should produce a calf, or a cow a lamb ?
Collars, and long habits, and wedding veils he takes,
Who carrying sacred things nodding with a secret rein, 125
Sweated with Mars's .shields. O father of the city !
be more shocked or amazed at the most monstrous or unnatural
births, than at these monstrous and unnatural productions of vice.
124. Collars^] Segmenta collars, ouches, pearl-necklaces worn
foy women. AINSW. from seco, to cut segmen, a piece cut off from
something: perhaps segmina may mean pieces of ribbon, or th
like, worn as cellars, as they often are by women among us.
Long habits.~\ The stela, or matron's gown, which reached
down to the feet.
Wedding veilsJ] Flameum or flammeum, from flamma, a
flame, because it was of a yellowish or flame-colour. A kind of
veil or scarf, put over the bride's face for modesty's sake.
He takes.^\ Gracchus puts on, who once had been one of
the Salii.
125. Who carrying sacred tilings."] This alludes to the sacred
images carried in ttie processions of the Salii, which waved or nod-
ded with the motion of those who carried them, or, perhaps, so con-
trived, as to be made to nod, as they were carried along, like ,the
image of Venus when carried in pomp at the Circensian games, men-
uoned by Ov. Amor. Eleg. lib. iii. eleg. ii.
Annuit t motu signa secunda dedit.
A secret rein.'] A thong, or leather strap, secretly con-
ri\ ed, so as by pulling it to make the image nod its head : to the no
small comfort of the vulgar, who thought this a propitious sign, as
giving assent to their petitions. See the last note.
126'. Sweated with Mars's shields.~] The ancilia were so called
i'rom ancisus, cut or pared round.
In the days of Numa Pompilius, the successor of Romulus, a
round shield was said to fall from heaven : this was called ancile,
from its round form-; and, at the same time, a voice said that " the
" city would be of alUhe most powerful, while that ant He was pre-
*' served in it." Numa, therefore, to prevent its being stolen, caus-
ed eleven sluelds to be made so like it, as for it not to be discerned
which was the true ono. He theu instituted the twelve Salii, or
priests of Mars, who were to carry these twelve shields through the
city, with tke images and other insignia of Mars. (the. supposed fa-
ther of Romulus the founder of Rome,) and while these priests
went in procession, they sang and danced till they were all over in
a sweat. Hence these priests of Mar? were called Salii, a saliendo.
The poet gives tis to understand, that Gracchus had been one of
ihose Salii, but had left them, and had sunk into the effeminacies and
debaucheries above mentioned.
60 JUVENALIS SATIR/E. SAT. IK
Unde nefas tantum Latiis pastoribus ? undo
Haec tetigit, Gradive, tuos urtica nepotes ?
Traditur ecce viro clarus genere, atque opibus vir i
Nee galeam quassas, nee terrain cuspide pulsas, 130
Nee quereris patri ! Vede ergo, et cede severi
Jugeribus campi, quam negligis.' Officium eras
Primo sole mihi peragendum in valle Quirini.
Quae causa officii 1 quid quaeris I riubit amicus,
Nee inultos adhibet Liceat modo vivere ; fient, 135
126. O father of the city /] Mars, the supposed father of Ro-
mulus, the founder of Home, and therefore called pater urbis. See
HOR. lib. i. od. ii. 1. 35 40.
127! Lallan shepherds ?] Italy was called Latium, from lateo,
to lie hid ; Saturn being said to have hidden himself there, when he
fled from his son Jupiter. See VIRG. Jn. viii. 319 23. Romu-
lus was supposed to have been a shepherd, as well as the first and
most ancient ancestors of the Romans; hence Juvenal calls them
Latii pastores. So sat. viii. 1. 274, 5.
Majorum primus quisquis fuit ille tuorum,
Aut pastor fuit, &c.
Whence could such monstrous, such abominable wickedness, be de-
rived to a people who once were simple shepherds !
128. 2ms nettle.~\ Urtica a nettle literally, but, by Met. the
stinging or tickling of lewdness. So we call being angry, being
nettled: and it stands with us to denote an excitation of the passions.
Gradivus.^ A name of Mars, from Gr. KpJ<w, to bran-
dish a spear. Some derive it from gradior, because he was suppos-
ed to go or march in battle. Homer has both these ideas
H<8 ftetK^ci ftioct? x-^ttoccuv 3eA(^oi7X<6V syjcaj.
See VIRG. JEn. iii. 34. Gradivumque patrem, &c.
129. Is given.~\ Traditur is delivered up in marriage, as a thing
ipurchased is delivered to the buyer, so man to man, on payment of
dowry, as for a wife.
130. You neithetishake, 8fc.~\ In token of anger and resentment
of such abomination.
131. Nor complain, <$"c.] To Jupiter, the father of all the gods,
or perhaps Juvenal means " your father," as supposing with He-
siod that Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno. So Homer, II. e.
though some, as Ovid, make him the son of Juno without a father.
Ov. Fast. v. 229, &c.
Go therefore^] Since you are so unconcerned at these
things, as to shew no signs of displeasure at them, you may as well
depart from us entirely.
Depart.^ Cede for discede, the simple for the composite.
So VIRG. ^En. iv. 460. Invitus, regina, tuo dc litore cessi.
132. The harsh field.'] The Campus Martius, a large field
near Rome, between the city and the Tiber, where all manner of
robust and martial exercises were performed, over which Mars was
SAT. n. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 61
Whence so great wickedness to Latian shepherds ? whence
Hath this nettle, O Gradivus, touched your descendants ?
Behold a man, illustrious by family, and rich, is given to a man ;
You neither shake your helmet, nor with your spear smite the
earth, 130
Nor complain to the father ! Go therefore, and depart from the
acres
Of the harsh field, which you neglect. A business, to-morrow
Early, is to be dispatched by me in the vale of Quirinus.
What is the cause of the bus'ness ? why do you ask ? a friend
marries ;
Nor does he admit many. Only let us live, these things will be
done, 135
supposed to preside. By the poet's using the epithet harsh, or severe,
he may be supposed to allude to the harsh and severe conflicts there
exhibited ; or to Mars himself, to whom this is given by Martial,
ep. xxx. L 10.
Cura seven fugit oppidum Martis.
132. Which you neglect. ] By not vindicating its honour, and not
punishing those, who have exchanged the manly exercises of the
Campus Martius for the most abandoned effeminacy.
A bus ness to-morrow.~\ In order to expose the more, and
satirize the more severely, these male-marriages, the poet here intro-
duces a conversation between two persons on the subject.
The word officium is peculiarly relative to marriage, nuptiale
or nuptiarum being understood. Suet in Claud, c. 26. Cujus
officium nuptiarum, et ipse cum Agrippina celebravit. So PETRON.*
Consurrexi ad officium nuptiale.
Such is the meaning of officium in this place, as relative to what
follows. He was to attend the ceremony at sun-rise, at the temple
of Romulus, which was a place where marriage contracts were often
made.
131. A friend marries.'] The word nubo (as has been observed)
properly belonging to the woman, as duco to the man. Nubit here
is used to mark out the abominable transaction.
135. Nor does he admit many. ^ He does not invite many people
to the ceremony, wishing to keep it rather private. He had not,
perhaps, shaken off all fear of the Scantinian law. See before, L 43,
note.
Only let us live, 8fc.~\ These seem to be Juvenal's words.
Only let us have patience, and if we live a little longer, we shall
not only see such things done, but done openly ; and not only this,
but we shall see the parties concerned wish to have them recorded in"
the public registers.
Juvenal saw the increase of all this mischief, and might from
this venture to foretell what actually came to pass : for Salvian, who
wrote in the fifth century, speaking of this dedecoris scelerisquc
consortium, as he calls it ; says ; that " it spread all over the city, and
C* JUVENALIS SATIRE. AT. a.
Fient ista palain, cupient et in acta referri.
laterea tormentum ingens nubentibus haeret,
Quod nequeunt parere, et partu retinere maritos.
Sed melius, quod nil animis in corpora juris
Natura indulget ; steriles moriuntur, et illis 140
Turgida nou prodest condita pyxide Lyde,
Nee prodest agili palmas prasbere Luperco.
Vicit et hoc monstrum tunicati fuscina Gracchi,
Lustravitque fuga mediam gladiator arenarn,
Et Capitolinis generosior, et Marcellis, 145
Et Catulis, Paulique minoribus, et Fabiis, et
Omnibus ad podium spectantibus : his licet ipsum
" though the act itself was not common to all, yet the approbation
" of it was."
137. Mean while, Sfc.~\ The poet here, with much humour, scoffs
at these unnatural wretches in very ludicrous terms.
1 38. Retain their hmbandsj] Barrenness was frequently a causa
of divorce.
141. Turgid Lyde.~\ Some woman of that name, perhaps called
turgida from her corpulency, or from her preparing and selling me-
dicines to cure barrenness, and to occasion fertility and promote
conception. Conditus literally signifies seasoned mixed, made sa-
voury, and the like here it implies, that she sold some conserve,
or the like, which was mixed, seasoned, or, as we may say, medi-
cated with various drugs, and put into boxes for sale.
142. The nimble Lupercus.~\ The Lupercalia were feasts sacred
to Pan, that he might preserve their flocks from wolves, (a lupis,)
Ijence the priests were called Luperci. The Lupercalia appears to
have been a feast of purification, being solemnized on the dies ne-
fasti, or non-court-days of February, which derives its name from
februo, to purify ; and the very day of the celebration was called
Februaca. The ceremony was very singular and strange.
In the first place, a sacrifice was killed of goats and a dog ; then
two children, noblemen's sons, being brought thither, some of tb.n
Luperci stained their foreheads with the bloody knife, while others
wiped it off with locks of wool dipped in milk. This done, they
ran about the streets all naked but the middle, and, having cut the
goat-skins into thongs, they lashed all they met. The women, so
far from avoiding their strokes, held out the palms of their hands to
receive them, fancying them to be great helpers of conception. See
KENNETT, Antiq. b. ii. part ii. c. 2. Shakespeare alludes to this
Jul. Gees, act I. sc. ii. former part.
143. The /orA-.] Fuscina a sort of three- pronged fork or trident,
used by a particular kind of fencer or gladiator, who was armed with
this, and with a net hence called Retiarius. His adversary
was called Mirmillo (from Gr. p,v%pos, formica See AINSW.)
and was armed with a shield, scythe, and head-piece, .vith the figure
of a fish on the crest. The Retiarius tried to throw his net over the
8AT . ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 63
Done openly, and will desire to be reported in the public registers.
Mean while a great torment sticks to those (thus) marrying,
That they can't bring forth, and retain by birth (of children) their
husbands.
But it is better, that, to their minds, no authority over their bodies
Doth nature indulge ; barren they die : and to them 140
Turgid Lyde, with her medicated box, is of no use*
Nor does it avail to give their palms to the nimble Lupercus.
Yet the fork of the coated Gracchus outdid this prodigy,
When, as a gladiator, he traversed in flight the middle of the stage,
More nobly born than the Manlii, theCapitolini, and Marcelli, 145
And the Catuli, and the posterity of Paulus ; than the Fabii, and
Than all the spectators at the podium : tho', to these, him
Mirmillo's head, and so entangle him, saying, when he cast the net
Piscem peto, non te peto. The Mirmillo is sometimes called the
secutor or pursuer, because if the Retiarius missed him, by throwing
his net too far, or too short, he instantly took to his heels, running
about the arena for his life, that he might gather up his net for a se-
cond cast ; the Mirmillo, in the mean time, as swiftly pursuing him,
to prevent him of his design. This seems to be meant, 1. 144. Lus-
travitque fuga, &c. which intimates the flight of the Retiarius from
the Mirmillo.
Coated, #c.] Tunicatus, i. e. dressed in the tunica, or habit
of the Retiarii, which was a sort of coat \\ ithout sleeves, in which
they fought.
This same Gracchus meanly laid aside his own dress, took upon
him the garb and weapons of a common gladiator, and exhibited in
the public amphitheatre. Such feats were encouraged by Domitian,
to the great scandal of the Roman nobility.
Mediam arenam may here signify the middle of the amphithea-
tre, which was strewed with sand; on Avhich part the gladiators
fought : this made arena be often used to signify the amphitheatre
itself.
145. Capitolini, 4" c ] Noble families, who were an ornament to
the Roman name.
147. The podium.'] n?<6v, Gr. from zra? a foot. That part of
the theatre next the orchestra, where the nobles sat it projected in
form something like the shape of a foot. See AINSW.
T/io', to these, <Sj - c.] Though to those who have been menti-
oned before, you should add the praetor, at whose expense these
games were exhibited. The praetors often exhibited games at their
own expense. But the poet may here be understood to glance at
the emperor Domitian, who was a great encourager of these
strange proceedings of the young nobility. See note on 1. 143. He
that set forth, at his own charge, the sight of sword-players, and
64 -JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. n.
Admoveas, cnjus tune munere retia misit.
Esse aliquos manes, et subterranea regna,
Et contum, etStygio ranas in gurgite nigras, 150
Atque un;l transire vadum tot millia cymba,
"Nee pueri credunt, nisi qui nondum aere lavantur.
Sed tu vera putal Curius quid sentit, et ambo
Scipiadae ? quid Fabricius, manesque Camilli ?
Quid Cremerae legio, et Cannis cousumpta juventus, 155
Tot bellorum anima; ? quoties hinc talis ad illos
other like games unto the people, was called munerarius -Hence Ju-
venal says cujus tune munere, &e.
148. Threw the net.~\ Entered the lists in the character of a Reti-
arius : and thus a man of the noblest family in Rome debased him-
self, and his family, by becoming a prize-fighter in the public theatre.
149. That there are any ghostsJ] The poet now proceeds to trace
all the foregoing abominations to their source, namely, the disbelief
and contempt of religion, those essential parts of it, particularly,
which relate to a future state of rewards and punishments.
By manes, here, we may understand, the ghosts or spirits of per-
sons -departed out of this life, which exist after their departure from,
the body, and are capable of happiness and misery. See VIRG. zEn.
vi. 73544.
. Subterranean realms.'] Infernal regions, which were sup-
posed to be under the earth.
150. A boat po/e.] Contus signifies a long pole or staff, shod with
iron at the bottom, to push on small vessels in the water. Juvenal
here alludes to Charon, the ferry-man of hell, of whom Virgil says,
jEu. vi. 1. 302.
Ipse ratem conto subigit.
Frogs.~\ The poets feigned that there were frogs in the river
Styx. Some give the invention to Aristophanes See his comedy of
the Frogs.
Stygian gulph.~\ The river Styx, supposed to be the boun-
dary of the infernal regions, over which departed souls were ferried
in Charon's boat. See VIRG. Geor. iv. 467 80.
If any of the gods swore by this river falsely, he was to lose his
divinity for an hundred years.
15*2. Not even boys believe.~\ All these things are disbelieved, not
only by persons in a more advanced age, but even by boys.
Unless those not as yet, <5fc.J The quadrans, which was
made of brass, in value about our halfpenny, was the bathing fee
paid to the keeper of the bath by the common people. See sat. vi.
446. andlioR. lib. i. sat. iii. 1. 137.
Dum tu quadrante lavatum
Rex ibis
Little children, under four years old, were either not carried to the
baths, or if they were, nothing was paid for their bathing.
AT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 05
You should add, at whose expense he then threw the net.
That there are many ghosts, and subterranean realms,
And a boat-pole, and black frogs in the Stygian gulph, 150
And that so many thousands pass over in one boat,
Not even boys believe, unless those not as yet washed for money :
But think thou that they are true : What thinks Curius, and both
The Scipios I what Fabricius, and the ghost of Camillus ?
What the legion of Cremera, and the youth consumed at Cannze, 155
So many warlike souls ? as often as from hence to them such
The poet means, that none but children, and those very young in-
deed, could be brought to believe such things : these might be taught
them, among other old women's stories, by their nurses, and they
might believe them, till they grew old enough to be wiser, as the
freethinkers would say.
153. But think thou, <Sfc.] Do thou, O man, whatever thou art,
give credit to these important masters, which respect a future state of
rewards and punishments.
Ckrncfc] Dentatus : thrice consul, and remarkable for his
courage, singular honesty, and frugality. What does he now think,
who is enjoying the rewards of his virtue in elysium.
153 4. Both the Scipios.^ Viz. Scipio Africanus Major, who
conquered Hannibal, and Scipio Africanus Minor, who rased Nu-
mantia and Carthage. Hence YIRG. JEn. vi. 842, 3.
Geminos duo fulmina belli
Scipiadas, cladem Libya.
Fubriciw.'] C. Luscinius the consul, who conquered Pyr-
rhus.
- Camilliis.~\ A noble Roman ; he, though banished, saved
Rome from its final ruin by the Gauls. The Romans voted him an
equestrian statue in the Forum, an honour never before conferred on
a Roman citizen.
155. The legion of Cremera^] Meaning the 300 Fabii, who, with
their slaves and friends, marched against the Vejentes, who, after
many battles, surrounding them by an ambuscade, killed the 300
near Cremera, a river of Tuscany, except one, from whom came af-
terwards the famous Fabius mentioned by VIRG. ^En. vi. 8 45, 6.
The youth consumed, #c.] Cannas-arum. A village of
Apulia in the kingdom of Naples, where Hannibal defeated the Ro-
mans, and killed above 40,000. Among these, such a number ot
the young nobility, knights, and others of rank, that Hannibal sent
to Carthage three bushels of rings in token of his victory. There
was such a carnage of the Romans, that Hannibal is said, at last, to
have stopped his soldiers, crying out " Parce ferro."
156. So many warlike sow/s.] Slain in battle, righting for their
country. VIRG. JEn. vi. 660. places such in elysium.
By mentioning the above great men, Juvenal means, that they
were examples, not only of the belief of a future state, which in-
fluenced them in the achievement of great and worthy deeds, dur-
VOL i L
66 JUVEMALIS SATIRE. SAT. H,
Umbra venit, ciiperent lustrari, si qua darentur
Sulphura cum taedis, et si foret humida laurus.
Iliac, heu ! miseri traducimur : arma quidem ultra
Littora Juvernae promovimus, et modo captas 160
Orcadas, ac minima contentos nocte Britannos.
Sed quB mine populi fiunt victoris in urbe,
Non faciunt illi, quos vicimus : et tamen unu*
Armenius Zelates cunctis narratur ephebis
Mollior ardenti sese indulsisse Tribune. 165
Aspice quid faciant commercia : venerat obses.
Hie fiunt homines : nam si mora longior urbem
in their lives, but, that now they experienced the certainty of it, in
the enjoyment of its rewards.
166. As often as from hence, <Sfc.] When the spirit of such a
miscreant, as I have before described, goes from hence, leaves this
world, and arrives among the venerable shades of these great and vir-
tuous men, they would look upon themselves as defiled by such a one
coming among them, they would call for lustrations, that they might
purify themselves .from the pollution which such company would bring
with it.
157. If there could be given.'] L e. If they could come at mate-
rials for purification in the place where they are.
158. Sulphur with pines.~] Fumes of sulphur, thrown on a lighted
torch made of the wood of the unctuous pine-tree, were used amonjj
the Romans as purifying. See AINSW. Teda, No. 3.
Pliny says of sulphur " Habet et in religionibus locum ad expi-
" andas surfitu domos." Lib. xxxv. c. 15.
A u-ct laurel.^ They used also a laurel-branch dipped in
water, and sprinkling with it things or persons which they would
purify.
159. Thither, a/as .' $"c.] We wretched mortals all must die, and
be carried into that world of spirits, where happiness or misery will
be our doom.
160. Jurerna.~] Al. Juberna, hod. Hibernia, Ireland. It i.<
thought by Camden, that the Romans did not conquer Ireland ; this
passage of Juvenal seems to imply the contrary. The poet rai-jht
speak here at large, as a stranger to these parts, but according to the
report of the triumphing Romans, who sometimes took discoveries
for conquests, and thought those overcome, who were neighbours to
those whom they overcame.
161. Oiradcs.^\ A number of small islands in the north of Scot-
land, added to the Roman empire by the emperor Claudius. Hod.
the Orkneys.
The Brilons content, <c.] At the summer solstice the nights
are very short ; there is scarce any in the most northern parts of
Britain.
162. The things which, <!yc.] The abominations which are com-
mitted in Rome, are not to be found among the conquered people,
SAT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 67
A shade arrives, they would desire tp be purified, if there could be
given
Sulphur with pines, and if there were a wet laurel.
Thither, alas ! we wretches are conveyed ! our arms, indeed, be-
yond
The shores of Juverna we have advanced, and the lately captured 160
Orcades, and the Britons content with very little night.
But the things which now are done in the eity of the conquering
people,
Those whom we have conquered do not : and yet one
Armenian, Zelates, more soft than all our striplings, is said
To have yielded himself to a burning tribune. 165
See what commerce may do : he had come an hostage.
Here they become men : for if a longer stay indulges
at least not till they learn them by coming to Rome ; instances, in-
deed, may be found of this, as may appear by what follows.
164. ZelatesJ] An Armenian youth, seat as an hostage from Ar-
menia.
More soft, <5f c.] More effeminate made so, by being cor-
rupted at an earlier period of life, than was usual among the Roman
youths. Ephebus signifies a youth or lad from about fourteen to se?
venteen. Then they put on the toga virilis, and were reckoned men.
The Word is compounded of ITTI, at, and >), puberty.
165. To have yielded himself. ~\ For the horrid purpose of unna-
tural lust.
A burning tribune J] VIRG. eel. ii. 1. has used the verb ardeo
iu the same horrid sense. The tribune is not named, but some think
the emperor Caligula to be hinted at, who, as Suetonius relates, used
some who came as hostages, from far countries, in this detestable
manner.
166. See irhat commerce may do.~\ Commercia here signifies in-
tercourse, correspondence, converse together. Mark the effects of bad
intercourse. The poet seems to mean what St. Paul expresses, 1 Cor.
xv. 33. " Evil communications corrupt good manners."
He had come un hostage."] Obses quia quasi pignus obside-
tur, i. e. because kept, guarded, as a pledge. An hostage was given
as a security or pledge, for the performance uf something by one peo-
ple to another, either in war or peace, and was peculiarly under the
protection and care of those who received him. This youth had been
scat to Home from Artaxata, the capital qf Armenia, a country of.
Asia, and was debauched by the tribune who hud the custody of him.
This broach of trust aggravates the crime.
167. Here they became men.] Here, at Rome, they soon lose
their simplicity and innocence of manners, and though young in
years, are soon old in wickedness, from the corruptions which they
meet with. The word horno is of the common gender, ai\d signifuw
both man and wo.n-iu ; and it is not improbable, but that Juvenal
68 JUVENAL1S SATIR/E. SAT. it.
Indulsit pueris, non.unquam deerit amator :
Mittentur braccae, cultelli, fraena, ftagellum :
Sic pratextatos referunt Artaxata mores. 170
/
uses the word homines here, as intimating, that these youths were
soon to be regarded as of either sex.
167. If a longer stay, <Sfc.] If they are permitted to stay a longer
time at Rome, after their release as hostages, and are at large in the
city, they will never want occasions of temptation to the worst of
vices : at every turn, they will meet with those who will spare no
pains to corrupt them.
169. Trowsffrs.~] Braccae a sort of trowsers or breeches, worn by
the Armenians, Gauls, Persians, Medes, and others. Here by synec.
put for the whole dress of the country from which they came.
Knives.~\ Cultelli little knives -dim. from culter. This
should seem to mean some adjunct to the Armenian dress ; not im-
probably the small daggers, or poignards, which the Easterns wore
tucked into their girdles, or sashes, of their under vestments ; such
are seen in the East to this day.
Bridles, whifJ] With which they managed, and drove on
their horses, in their warlike exercises, and in the chace.
Will be laid usi'rfe.] The meaning of these lines is, that the
dress of their country, and every trace of their simplicity, manliness,
activity, and courage, will all be laid aside they will adopt the dress
SAT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 69
The city boys, never will a lover be wanting.
Trowsers, knives, bridles, whip, will be laid aside.
Thus they carry back praetextate manners to Artaxata. 170
and manners, the effeminacy and debauchery of the Roman nobility,
which they will carry home with them when they return to their own
capital. See 1. 166, note.
170. Pratextate manners.] See sat. i. 78, note. Rome's noble
crimes. Holyday. As we should express it the fashionable vices
of the great. The persons who wore the praetexta, were magistrates,
priests, and noblemen's children till the age of seventeen.
Artaxata.~\ The chief city of Armenia the Greater, (situate
on the river Araxes,) built by Artaxias, whom the Armenians made
their king. It was taken by Pompey, who spared both the city and
the inhabitants : but, in Nero's reign, Corbulo the commander in
chief of the Roman forces in the East, having forced Tiridates, king
of Armenia, to yield up Artaxata, levelled it with the ground. See
ANT. Univ. Hist. vol. ix. 484.
This city is called Artaxata-orum, plur. or Artaxata-se, sing. See
AlNSW.
It is probable that the poet mentions Artaxata, on account of the
fact which is recorded, 1. 164, 5 ; but he may be understood, by
this instance, to mean, that every country and people would become
corrupt, as they had less or more to do with Rome.
END OF THE SECOND SATIRE.
SATIRA III.
ARGUMENT.
Juvenal introduces Umbritius, an old friend of his, taking his depar-
ture from Rome, and going to settle in a country retirement at
Cumce. He accompanies Umbritius out of town : and, before
they talte leave of each other, Umbritius tells his friend Juvenal
V^UAMVIS digressu veteris confusus amicJ,
Laudo tamen vacuis quod sedem figere Cumis
Destinet, atque unum civem donate Sibyllas,
Janua Baiarum est, et gratum littus amoeni
Secessus. Ego vel Prochytam prsepono Suburrae. 5
Nam quid tarn miseruin, tarn solum vidimus, ut non
Deterius credas horrere incendia, lapsus
Tectorum assiduos, ac mille pericula sEevae
Line 2. Cum(C.~\ An ancient city of Campania near the sea.
Some think it had its name from nupa-ret, waves: the waves, in rough
weather, dashing against the walls of it. Others think it was so
called from its being built by the Cumaei of Asia. PLIN. iii. 4.
Juvenal calls it empty in comparison with the populousness of Rome :
it was, now, probably, much decayed, and but thinly inhabited :
on this account it might be looked upon as a place of leisure, quiet,
and retirement ; all which may be understood by the word vacuis.
3. T/ie Sj&i/f.] Quasi o-m /3A, Dei consilium. AINSW. The
Sibyls were women, supposed to be inspired with the spirit of pro-
phecy. Authors are not agreed as to the number of them ; but the
jnost famous was the Cumaean, so called from having her residence
at Cumae. Umbritius was now going to bestow, donare, one citizen
on this abode of the Sibyl, by taking up his residence there. See
VIRG. ^En. vi. 1. 10. et seq.
4. The gale of BaiaJ] Passengers from Rome to Baiae were to
pass through Cumae ; they went in on one side, and came out OH
the other, as through a gate.
BaiaJ] A delightful city of Campania," of which HOR. lib.
i. epist. i. 1. 83.
Nullus in orbe sinus Bails prxlucet amcenii.
Here were fine warm springs and baths, both pleasant and healthful ;
i which account it was much resorted to by the nobility and
SATIRE III.
ARGUMENT.
the reasons ichich had induced him to retire from Rome : each of
trhich is replete with Ike keenest satire on UK vicious inhabitants.
Thus the Poet carries on his design ofinveigjiing a gainst thz vices
and disorders which reigntd in that cily.
J HO' troubled at the departure of an old friend,
I yet approve that to fix his abode at empty Cumas
He purposes, and to give one citizen to the Sibyl.
It is the gate of Baias, and a grateful shore of pleasant
Retirement. I prefer even Prochyta to Suburra : 5
For what so Avretched, so solitary do we see, that you
Would not think it worse to dread fires, the continual
Palling of houses, and a thousand perils of the fell
gentry of Rome, many of whom had villas there for their summer
residence. It forms part of the bay of Naples.
4. A grateful shure.~] Gratum grateful, here, must be under-
stood in the sense of agreeable, pleasant. The whole shore, from
Cumae to Baia?, was delightfully pleasant, and calculated for the
most agreeable retirement. See the latter part of the last note.
5. Prochyta.~\ A small rugged island in the Tyrrhenian sea, desert
and barren.
Suburra.'] A street in Rome, much frequented, but chiefly
by the vulgar, and by women of ill fame. Hence MA.RT. vi. 66.
Famae non minium bonne puella,
Quales in media scdcut Suburra.
6. For what so wretched, 8fc.~] Solitary and miserable as any-
place may be, yet it is better to be there than at Rome, where you
have so many dangers and inconveniences to apprehend.
7. Fires.'^ House-burnings to which populous cities, from many
various causes, are continually liable.
8. Falling of houses.'] Owing to the little care taken of old and
ruinous buildings. Propertius speaks of the two foregoing dangers,
Prajterea domibus flammam, domibusque ruinam.
8 9. The fell citi/.l That habitation of daily cruelty and mis-
chief.
71 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. in.
Urbis, et Augusto recitautes mense poetas ?
Sed dum tota domus rheda componitur una, 10
Substitit ad veteres arcus, madidamque Capenam :
Hie, ubi nocturnas Numa constituebat amicae,
Nunc sacri fontis nemus, et delubra locantur
Judaeis: quorum cophinus, foenumque supellex.
9. And poets reciting.'] Juvenal very humourously introduces this
circumstance among the calamities and inconveniences of living at
Rome, that even in the month of August, the hottest season of the
year, when most people had retired into the country, so that one
might hope to enjoy some little quiet, even then you wereto be teazed
to death, by the constant din of the scribbling poets reciting their
wretched compositions, and forcing you to hear them. Comp. sat.
i. L 1 14. where our poet expresses his peculiar aversion to this.
10. His whole house, (Sfc.J While all his household furniture and
goods were packing up together in one waggon, (as rheda may hers
signify). Umbritius was moving all his bag and baggage, (as wo
say,) and, by its taking up no more room, it should seem to have
been very moderate in quantity.
11. He stood still.^ He may be supposed to have walked on out of
the city, attended by his friend Juvenal, expecting the vehicle with
the goods to overtake him, when loaded : he now stood still to wait
for its coming up ; and in this situation he was, when he began to
tell his friend his various reasons for leaving Rome, which are just
so many strokes of the keenest satire upon the vices and follies of its
inhabitants.
At the old archest] The ancient triumphal arches of Romu-
lus, and of the Horatii, which were in that part. Or perhaps the
old arches of the aqueducts might here be meant.
Wet CapenaJ] One of the gates of Rome, which led to-
wards Capua : it was sometimes called Triumphalis, because those
who rode in triumph passed through it it was also called Fontinalis,
from the great number of springs that were near it, which occasioned
building the aqueducts, by which the water was carried by pipes into
the city ; hence Juvenal calls it madidam Capenam. Here is the spot
where Numa used to meet the goddess ^Egeria.
12. NumaJ] Pompilius successor to Romulus.
Nocturnal -mistress.'] -The more strongly to recommend his
laws, and the better to instil into the Romans a reverence for religion,
he persuaded them, that, every night, he conversed with a goddess,
or nymph, called ^Egeria, from whose mouth he received his whole
form of government, both civil and religious ; that their place ol
meeting was in a grove without the gate Capena, dedicated to the
muses, wherein was a temple consecrated to them and to the god-
dess ^Egeria, whose fountain waters the grove for she is fabled
to have wept herself into a fountain, for the death of Numa. This
fountain, grove, and temple, were let out to the Jews, at a yearly
rent, for habitation ; they having been driven out of the city by
SAT. HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 7$
City, and poets reciting in the month of August ?
But while his whole house is put together in one vehicle, 10
He stood still at the old arches, and wet Capena ;
Here, where Numa appointed his nocturnal mistress,
Now the grave of the sacred fountain, and the shrines are hired
To the Jews : of whom a basket and hay are the household stuff.
Domitian, and compelled to lodge in these places, heretofore sacred
to the muses. Delubrais a general term tor places of worship. See
AINSW. By the phrase, nocturrae amicx constituebat, Juvenal
speaks as if he were describing an intrigue, where a man meets his
mistress by appointment at a particular place : from this we can b*
at no loss to judge of our poet's very slight opinion of the reality
of the transactioa.
14. A basket and 7w/y, *c.] These were all the furniture which
these poor creatures had the sum total of their goods and chattels.
This line has been looked upon as very difficult to expound.
Some commentators have left it without any attempt to explain it.
Others have rather added to, than diminished from, whatever its dif-
ficulty may be. They tell us, thai these were the marks, not of
their poverty, but, by an ancient custom, of their servitude in
/Egypt, where, in baskets, they carried hay, straw, and such thing;,
for the making of brick, and in such like labours. See Exotl. v. 7
18. This comment, with tho reasons given to support it, we caa
only say, is very far fetched, and is not warranted by any account
Vie have of the Jewkfa customs.
Others say, that the hay was to feed their cattle But how co'.ild
these poor Jews be able to purchase, or to maintain, cattle, who
were forced to beg in order to maintain themselves ? Others that
the hay was tor their bed on which they lay but neither is this
likely; for the poet, sat. vi. 541. describes a mendicant Jewess, as
coming into the city, and leaving her basket and hay behind her j
which implies, that the basket aad hay were usually carried about
with them when they went a begging elsewhere. Now it is not to
be supposed that they should carry about so large a quantity of hay,
as served them to lie upon when at home in the grove.
It is clear that the basket and hay are mentioned together here,
and in the other place of sat. vi. from whence I infer, that they had
little wicker baskets in which they put the money, provisions, of
other small alms which they received of the passers by, and, in or-
*ier to stow them the better, and to prevent their dropping through
the interstices of the wicker, put wisps of hay, or dried grass, in the
inside of the baskets. These Jew beggars were as well known by
basket..? with hay in them, as our beggars are by their wallets, or
our soldiers by their knapsacks. Hence the Jewess, sat vi. left
her basket and hay behind her when she came into the city, for fear
they should betray her, and subject her to punishment for infringing
the emperor's order against the Jews coining into the city. Her
manner of bagging too, by a whisper in the ear, seems to confirm
this supposition. The Latin cophinus is the sjiins as Gr, *P
TOt. I.
74 JUVENALIS SATIRIC. SAT. in.
Omnis enim populo mercedem pendere jussa cst 15
Arbor, et ejectis mendicat sylva Camcenis.
In vallem jSCgeriae descendimus, et speluncas
Dissimiles veris : quanto praestantius esset
Numea aquae, viridi si margine clauderet undas
Herba, nee ingenuum violarent marmora tophum ? 20
Hie tune Umbritius : quando artibus, inquit, honestis
Null us in urbe locus, nulla emolumenta laboruin,
Res hodie minor est, here quam fuit, atque eadem eras
Deteret exiguis aliquid ; proponimus illuc
Ire, fatigatas ubi Daedalus exuit alas : 25
Dum nova can-ties, dum prima, et recta senectus^
which is used several times in the New Testament to denote a provi-
sion-basket, made use of among the Jews. See Matt. xiv. 20.
Matt, xvi; 9, 10. Mark vi. 43. Mark viii. 19, 20. Luke ix. 17.
Joh. vi. 13.
1 5. To pay a rent.~\ The grove being let out to the Jews, every tree,
as it were, might be said to briog in a rent to the people at Rome.
The poet seems to mention this, as a proof of the public avarice,
created by the public extravagance, which led them to hire out these
sacred places, for what they could get, by letting them to the poor
Jew?, who could only pay for them out of what they got by beg-
g in S-
. 16. The u-Qod begs, <$'c.] i. e. The Jews, who were now the in-
habitants of the wood, (meton.) were all beggars ; nothing else was
to be seen in those once sacred abodes of the muses, who were now
banished.
17. We descend, t^'c.] Umbritius and Juvenal sauntered on, till
they came to that part of the grove which was called the vale of
jEgeria, so called, probably, from the fountain, into which she was
hanged, running there.
17 18. And into caves unlike the tnte.~\ These caves, in their
primitive state, were as nature formed them, but had been profaned
with artificial ornaments, which had destroyed their native beauty
and simplicity.
18. How much better.^ How much more suitably situated.
19. The deity of the water.'] Each fountain was supposed to
have a nymph, or naiad, belonging to it, who presided over it as the
goddess of the water ./Egeria may be supposed to be here meant.
1/, u'ith a green margin, &'c.~] If, instead of ornamenting
the banks with artificial borders made of marble, they had been lett
in their natural state, simple and unadorned by human art, having
no other margin but the native turf, and the rude stone (tophum)
which was the genuine produce of the soil. These were once conse-
crated in honour of the fountain-nymph, but had now been violated
and destroyed, in order to make way for artificial ornaments of
marble, which Roman luxury and extravagance had put in their
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 73
For every tree is commanded to pay a rent to the people : 15
And the wood begs, the muses being ejected.
We descend into the vale of ^Egeria, and into caves
Unlike the true ; how much better might have been
The deity of the water, if, with a green margin, the grass inclgsed
The waters, nor had marbles violated the natural stone ? 20
Here then Umbritius : Since for honest arts, says he,
There is no place in the city, no emoluments of labour,
One's substance is to-day less than it was yesterday, and the same,
to-morrow,
WilP diminish something from the little : we propose thither
To go, where Daedalus put off his weary wings, 25
While greyness is new, while old age is fresh and upright,
21. Here then Umbritius.~] Juvenal and his friend Umbritius, be-
lug arrived at this spot, at the profanation of which they were both
equally scandalized, Umbritius there began to inveigh against the city
of Rome, from which he was now about to depart, and spake a*
follows.
Honest arts.~\ Liberal arts and sciences, such as poetry, and
other literary pursuits, which are honourable. Comp. sat. vii. 1: 6,
Honestis artibus, in contradistinction to the dishonest and shameful
methods of employment, which received countenance and encourage-
ment from the great and opulent. Umbritius was himself a poet.
See this sat. 1. 321, 2.
22. A T o emoluments of labour.'] Nothing to be gotten by all the
pains of honest industry.
23. Otis' s substance, <Sfc.] Instead of increasing what I have, I
find it daily decrease ; as I can get nothing to replace what I spend,
by all the pains I can take.
And the same, to-morrow, ffc.~\ This same poor pittance of
naine, will to-morrow be wearing a\vay something from the little that
is left of it to-day ; and so I must find myself growing poorer from
day to day. Deteret is a metaphorical expression, taken from the ac-
tion of the file, which gradually wears away and diminishes the bo-
dies to which it is applied. So the necessary expenses of Umbritius
and his family were wearing away his substance, in that expensive
place, which he determines to leave, for a more private and cheaper
part of the country.
21. \Ve propose.'] i, e. I and my family propose or proponimus
for propono. Synec.
25 6. Thither to go.~] L e. To Cumae, where D^adalus alighted
after hi* flight from Crete.
26. Greynessisnew."] While grey hairs, newly appearing, wani
me that old age is coming upon me,
Fresh and upright?] While old age in its first stage appear-,
and I am/not yet so far advanced as to be bent double, but a:n able
to hold myself upright. The ancients supposed old age first to
commence about the 46 ih year. Cic. de Senectute. Philosopher*
75 JUVENALIS SATIRE IAT. in,
Dum superest Lachesi quod torqueat, et pedibus me
Porto meis, nullo dextram subeunte baciilo,
Cedamus patrial ; vivant Arturius istie,
Et Catulus : maneant qui nigra in Candida vertunt, 30
Queis facile est aedem condueere, flumina, portus,
Siccandam eluviem, portandum ad busta cadaver,
~Ei praebere caput domini venale sub hasta.
(says Holyday) divide man's life according to its several stages.
first : infantia to three or four years of age. Secondly : pueritia,
Whence to ten. From ten to eighteen, pubertas. Thence to twenty--
five, adolescentia. Then juventus, from twenty-five to thirty-five or
forty. Thence to fifty, aetas virilis. Then came senectus priina et
rec.atill sixty-five; and then ultima et decrepita till death.
27. JVhile there remains to Lachesis, Sfc.] One of the three des-
tinies : she was supposed to spin the thread of human life.
The Parcae, or poetical fates or destinies, were Ciotho, Lachesis,
and Atropos. The first held the distaff the second drew out, and
spun the thread, which the last cut oft' when finished.
And on my feet, c^e.] While I can stand on my own legs,
and walk without the help of a staff.
20. Let ws leave, $c.\ Let me, and all that belongs to me, take
an everlasting farewell of that detested city, which, though my native
place, I am heartily tired of, as none but knaves are fit to live there.
{.' 30. Arturius and Catulus.] Two knaves, who, from very
low life, had raised themselves to large and affluent circumstances.
Umbritius seems to introduce them as examples, to prove that such
people found more encouragement in Rome, than the professors of
the liberal arts could hope for. See before, 1. 21. note 2.
30. Let these stay, 4" c -] He means those, who by craft and sub-
tlety could utterly invert and change the appearances of things, mak-
ing virtue appear as vice, and vice as virtue falsehood as truth, and
truth as falsehood. Such were Arturius and Catulus.
31. To hire a building.^ The word aedem, here being joined with
other things of public concern, such as rivers, ports, <kc. seems to
imply their hiring some public buildings, of which they made money j
and it should seem, from these lines, that the several branches of th*
public revenue and expenditure, were farmed out to certain contrac-
tors, who were answerable to the aediles, and to the other magistrates,
for the due execution of their contracts. Juvenal here seems to point
at the temples, theatres, and other public buildings, which were thus
farmed out to these people, who, from the wealth which they had
acquired, and of course from their responsibility, could easily pro-
cure such contract?, by which they made an immense and exorbitant
profit. yEdifl-is signifies any kind of edifice. AINSW. Omne acde-
ticium acdis dicitur.
Fisheries perhaps, by hiring which, they monopp-
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 77
While there remains to Lachesis what she may spin, and on my feet
Myself I carry, no staff sustaining my hand,
Let us leave our native soil : let Arturius live there,
And Catulus : let those stay who turn black into white. 30
To whom it is easy to hire a building, rivers, ports,
A sewer to be dried, a corpse to be carried to the pile,
And to expose a venal head under the mistress-spear.
lized them, so as to distress others, and enrich themselves or th
carriage of goods upon the rivers, for which a toll was paid or, by
flumina, may here be meant, the beds of the rivers, hired out to be
cleaned and cleared at the public expense.
31. Purts.~] "Where goods were exported and imported ; these
they rented, and thus became farmers of the public revenue, to the
great grievance of those who were to pay the duties, and to the great
emolument of themselves, who were sure to make the most of their
bargain.
32. A sewer to be dried.~\ Eluvies signifies a sink or common-
sewer ; which is usual in great cities, to carry off the water and filth
that would otherwise incommode the houses and streets. From eluo,
to wash out, wash away.
These contractors undertook the opening and clearing these from,
the stoppages to which they were liable, and by which, it" not cleans-
ed, the city would have been in many parts overflowed. There was
nothing so mean and filthy, that these two men would not have under-
taken for the sake of gain. Here we find them scavengers.
A corpse, (Sfc.] Busta were places where dead bodies were
burned also graves and sepulchres. AINSW. Bustum from ustum.
Sometimes these people hired or farmed funerals, contracting for th
expense at such a price. In this too they found their account.
33. And to expose, ftc.] Thesefellows sometimes were mangones ?
sellers of slaves, which they purchased, and then sold by auction.
SeePERs. vi. 76, 7.
The inistress-spear.~\ Domina hasta. It is difficult to render
these two substantives literally into English, unless we join them, as
we frequently do some of our own as in master-key, queen-bee,
&c.
We read of the hasta decemviralis which was fixed before the
courts of justice. So of the hasta ceutumviralis, also fixed there.
A spear was also fixed in the forum where there was an auction, and
was a sign of it : all things sold there Were placed near it, and were
said to be sold under the spear. Hence (by meton.) hasta is used,
by Cicero and others, to signify an auction, or public sale of goods.
The word domina seems to imply, the power of disposal of the
property in persons and things sold there, the possession and do-
im'uion over which were setded by this mode of sale, in the several
78 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. in.
Quondam hi comicines, et municipalis arenas
Perpetui comites, notccque per oppida buccae 35
Munera nunc edunt, et verso pollice vulgi
Quemlibet occidunt populariter : inde reversi
Conducunt foricas : et cur non omnia ? cum sint
Quales ex humili magna ad fastigia rerum
Extollit, quoties voluit Fortuna jocari. 40
Quid Romas faciam ? mentiri nescio : librum,
Si malus est, nequeo laudare, et poscere : motos
Astrorum ignoro : funus promittere patris
purchasers. So that the spear, or auction, might properly be called
domina, as ruling the disposal of persons and things.
34. Tliese, in time past, horn-blowers.^ Such was formerly the
occupation of these people ; they had travelled about the country,
from town to town, with little paltry shows of gladiators, fencers,
wrestlers, stage-players, and the like, sounding horns to call the peo-
ple together like our trumpeters to a puppet-show.
Municipal theatre.'] Municipium signifies a city or town-
corporate, which had the privileges and freedom of Rome, and at
the same time governed by laws of its own, like our corporations.
Municipalis denotes any thing belonging to such a town. Most of
these had arenas, or theatres, where strolling companies of gladiators,
&c. (like our strolling players,) used to exhibit. They were attended
by horn-blowers and trumpeters, who sounded during the perform-
ance.
35. Cheeks known, 6fc.~\ Blowers on the horn, or trumpet, were
sometimes called buccinatores, from the great distension of the cheeks
in the action of blowing. This, by constant use, left a swollen ap-
pearance on the cheeks, for which these fellows were well known in
all the country towns. Perhaps buccae is here put for buccinae, the
horns, trumpets, and such wind instruments as these fellows strolled
with about the country. See AINSW. Bucca, No. 3.
36. Now set forth public sAotrs.] Munera, so called because given
to the people at the expense of him who set them forth. These fel-
lows, who had themselves been in the mean condition above describ-
ed, now are so magnificent, as to treat the people with public shows
of gladiators at the Roman theatre.
The people's thumb, $c.~] This alludes to a barbarous usage
at fights of gladiators, where, if the people thought he that was over-
come behaved like a coward, without courage or art, they made a,
sign for the vanquisher to put him to death, by clenching the hand,
and holding or turning the thumb' upward. If the thumb were
turned downward, it \yas a signal to spare his life.
37. Wlwm they will, fc.~\ These fellows, by treating the people
with shows, had grown so popular, and had such influence among
the vulgar, that it was entirely in their power to direct the specta-
tors, as to the signal for life or death, so that they either killed or
SAT. HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 79
These, in time past, horn-blowers, and on a municipal theatre
Perpetual attendants, and cheeks known through the towns, 35
Now set forth public shows, and, the people's thumb being turned,
Kill whom they will, as the people please : thence returned
They hire Jakes: and why not all things 1 since they are
Such, as, from low estate, to great heights of circumstances
Fortune raises up, as often as she has a mind to joke. 40
What can I do at Rome ? I know not to lie : a book
If bad, I cannot praise, and ask for : the motions
Of the stars I am ignorant of: the funeral of a father to promise
saved by directing the pleasure of the people. See AINSW. Popu-
lariter, No. 2.
37. Thence returned, fyc.~] Their advancement to wealth did not
alter their mean pursuits ; after returning from the splendour of the
theatre, they contract tor emptying bog-houses of their soil and
filth. Such were called at Rome foricarii and latrinarii with
us nightmcn.
38. Why not all things .?]
Why hire they not the town, not every thing,
Since such as they have fortune in a string ? DRYOEN.
39. Such, as, from low estate.'] The poet here reckons the ad-
vancement of such low people to the height of opulence, as the
sport of fortune, as one of those frolics which she exercises out of
mere caprice and wantonness, without any regard to desert. See HOB.
lib. i. ode xxxiv. 1. 14 16. and lib. iii. ode xxix. 1. 49 52.
40. Fortune.] Had a temple and was worshipped as a goddess.
The higher she raised up such wretches, the more conspicuously
ontemptible she might be said to make them, and seemed to joke,
or divert herself, at their expense. See sat. x. 366.
41. I knoic not to lit.] Dissemble, caut, flatter, say what I do
not mean, seem to approve what I dislike, and praise what in my
judgment I condemn. What ihen should I do at Rome, where this
is one of the only means of advancement ?
4-. Ask for.] It was a common practice of low flatterers, to
commend the writings of rich authors, however bad, in order to in-
gratiate 'hemselves with them, and be invited to their houses : they
also asked, as the greatest favour, lor the loan or gift of a copy,
which highly flattered the composers. This may be meant by pos-
cere, in this place. See Hon. Art. Poet. 1. 419 37. Martial
has an epigram on this subject. Epgr. xlviii. lib. vi.
Quod tarn grande ?<, &s clamat tibi turba togata,
Non tu, Pomponi, cxna. diserta tua est.
Pomponius, thy wit is extoll'd by the rabble,
'Tis not thce they commend but the cheer at thy table.
42 3. Motions of the stars. <$'c.] I have no pretensions to skill
in astrology.
43. The funeral of a father, 4"c.] He hereby hints at the profli-
80 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. tit.
Nee volo, nee possum : ranarum viscera nunquam
Inspexi : ferre ad nuptam qiicE mitiit adulter, 45
QUEB mandat, n6rjnt alii : me nemo ministro
Fur erit ; atque ideo nulli comes exeo, tanquam
Mancus, et extinctae corpus non utile dextra?.
Quis nunc diligitur, nisi conscius, et cui fervens
jSSstnat occultis annimus, semperque tacendis ? 5()
Nil tibi se debere putat, nil couferet unquain,
Participem qui te secreti fecit honesti.
Cams erit Verri, qui Verrem tempore, quo vttlt,
Accusare potest. Tanti tibi non sit opaci
gacy and want of natural affection in the young men who wished
the death of their fathers, and even consulted astrologers about the
time when it might happen ; which said pretended diviners cozened
the youths out of their money, by pretending to find out the cer-
tainty of such events by the motions or situations of the planets.
This, says Umbritius, I neither can, nor will do.
44. The entrails of toads.^\ Rana is a general word for all kinds
of frogs and toads.
The language here is metaphorical, and alludes to augurs inspect-
ing the entrails of the beasts slain in sacrifice, on the view of which
they drew their good or ill omens.
Out of the bowels of toads, poisons, charms, and spells, were
supposed to be extracted. Comp. sat. i. 70. sat. vi. 658. Umbri-
tius seems to say " I never foretold the death of fathers, or of
" other rich relations ; nor searched for poison, that my predictions
" might be made good by the secret administration of it. ' Comp.
sat. vi. 563 7.
45. To carry to a married woman. ~] I never was pimp, or go-
between, in carrying on adulterous intrigues, by secretly conveying
love-letters, presents, or any of those matters which gallants give in
charge to their confidents. I leave this to others.
46. I assisting, <Sfc.J No villainy will ever be committed by my
advice or assistance.
47. I go forth, 8fc.~\ For these reasons I depart from Rome, quite
alone, for I know none to whom I can attach myself as a compa-
nion, so universally corrupt are the people.
48. Maimed.'] Like a maimed limb, which can be of no service
in any employment : just as unfit am I for any employment which is
now going forward in Rome.
A useless body, 6fc.~\ As the body, when the right-hand, or
any other limb that once belonged to it, is lost and gone, is no
longer able to maintain itself by laborious employment, so I, having
no inclination or talents, to undergo the drudgery of vice of any
kind, can never thrive at Rome.
Some copies read extincta ' dextra abl. abs. the right-hand be-
ing lost. The sense amounts to the same.
49. tJnfess conscious.'] Who now has any favour, attention, or
SAT. HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 81
i neither will, nor can : the entrails of toads I never
Have inspected : to carry a married woman what an adulterer sends 45
What he commits to charge, let others know-: nobody, I assisting 1 ,
Shall be a thief; and therefore I go forth a companion to none, as
Maimed, and the useless body of an extinct right-hand.
Who now is loved, iinless conscious, and whose fervent
Mind boils with things hidden, and ever to remain in silence ? 50
He thinks he owes you nothing, nothing will he bestow,
Who hath made you partaker of an honest secret.
He will be dear to Verres, who Verres, at any time he will,
Can accuse. Of so much value to you let not of shady
regard shewn him, but he who is conscious, privy to, acquainted
with, the Avicked secrets of others ?
49 50. Fervent mind boils, fyc.~\ Is in a ferment, agitated between
telling and concealing what has been committed to its confidence.
The words fervens and aestuat are, in this view, metaphorical, and
taken from the raging and boiling of the sea, when agitated by a
stormy wind. Fervet vertigine pontus. Ov. Met. xi. 549. So,
icstuare semper fretum. CURT. iv. 9. AINSW. ^Estuo, No. 4.
Hence aestuans signifies boiling with any passion, when applied
to the mind. Animo ajstuante reditum ad vada retulit. Catull. See
AINSW. See Is. Ivii. 20.
Or we may give the words another turn, as descriptive of the
torment and uneasiness of mind which these men must feel, in hav-
ing become acquainted with the most flagitious crimes in others, by
assisting them, or partaking with them in the commission of them,
and which, for their own sakes, they dare not reveal, as well as from
the fear of those by whom they are intrusted.
Who now is lov'd but he who loves the times,
Conscious of close intrigues, and dipp'd in crimes :
Lab'ring with secrets which his bosom burn,
Yet never must to public light return. DRYDEN.
51. He thinks he owes you nothing, Sfc.~\ Nobody will think
himself obliged to you for concealing honest and fair transactions,
or think it incumbent on him to buy your silence by conferring fa-
vours on you.
53. Verres.'] See sat. ii. 26, note. Juvenal mentions him here
as an example of what he has been saying. Most probably, under
the name ot Verres, the poet means some characters then living, who
made much of those who had them in their power by being ac-
quainted with their secret villainies, and who, at any time, could
have ruvnod them by a discovery.
54 5. Shady Tr/g-w.s.] A river of Spain, which discharges itself
into the ocean near Lisbon, in Portugal. It was anciently said to
have golden sands. It was called opacus, dark, obscure, or shady,
from the thick shade of the trees on its bank*.
VOL. I. N
JUVENALIS SATIRE SA T. m,
Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur aurum, 55
Ut sorano careas, ponendaque praemia sumas
Tristis, et a magno semper timearis amico.
Quae ounc divitibus gens acceptissima nostris,
Et quos praecipue fugiam, properabo fateri;
Nee pudor obstabit. Non possum ferre, Quirites, 60
Gnecam urbem : quamvis quota portio faecis Achaeae?
Jampridem Syrus in Tiberim defluxit Orontes,
^Estus serenes aureo franges Tago
Obscurus umbris arborum. MART. lib. i. epigr. 50.
Or opacus may denote a dusky turbid appearance in the water.
56. That you should want sleep, <$"c.J O thou, whoe'er thou art f
that may be solicited to such criminal secrecy by the rich and great,
reflect on the misery of such flagitious confidence, and prefer the
repose of a quiet and easy conscience, to all the golden sands of
Tagus, to all the treasures which it can roll into the sea ! These
would make you but ill amends for sleepless nights, when kept
awake by guilt and fear.
Accept rewards to be rejected.'] i. e. Which ought to be re-
jected by way of hush-money, which, so far, poor wretch, from
making you happy, will fill you with shame and sorrow, and which,
therefore, are to be looked upon as abominable, and to be utterly
refused, and laid aside. Ponenda, lit. to be laid down but here it
has the sense of abominanda respuenda rejicienda abnegauda.
See HOR. lib. iii. od. ii. 1. 19.
57. Ftarcd, <!yc.] The great man who professes himself your
friend, and who has heaped his favours upon you in order to bribe
you to silence, will be perpetually betraying a dread of you, lest
you should discover him. The consequence of which, you may
have reason to apprehend, may be his ridding himself of his fears by
ridding the world of you, lest you should prove like others magni
delator amici. See sat. i. 33. But whether the great man betrays this
tear or not, you may be certain he will be constantly possessed will)
it; and a much greater proof of this you cannot have, than the
pains he takes to buy your silence. When he grows weary of this
method, you know what you may expect. Aias ! can all the trea-
sures of the whole earth make it worth your while to be in such a
situation ! Comp. 1. II".
58. What nation, Sfc.~] Umbritius proceeds in his reasons for re-
tiring from Rome. Having complained of the sad state of the
times, insomuch that no honest man could thrive there, he now at-
tacks the introduction of Grecians and other foreigners, the fond-
ness of the rich and great towards them, and tho sordid arts by
winch they raised themselves.
60. Nor thall shame hinder^] In short, I'll speak my mind with-
out reserve, my modesty shall not stand in my way.
O Romans.^ Quirites this ancient iy was a name for tho
Sabine?, from the city Cures, or from quiris, a sort of spear usixl
Isy them: but after their union with tlw Roinaas this njipellatiou
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 83
Tagus the whole sand be, and the gold which is rolled into the sea, 55
That you should want sleep, and should accept rewards to be re-
jected,
Sorrowful, and be always feared by a great friend.
What nation is now most acceptable to our rich men,
And whom I would particularly avoid, I will hasten to confess :
Nor shall shame hinder. O Romans, I cannot bear 60
A Grecian city : tho 1 what is the portion of Achaean dregs ?
Some while since Syrian Orontes has flow'd into the Tiber,
was used for the Roman people in general. The narne Quirinus was
iirst given to Romulus. See sat. ii. 133.
Probably the poet used the word Quirites here, as reminding them
of their ancient simplicity of manners and dress, byway of contrast
to their present corruption and effeminacy in both ; owing, very
much, to their fondness of the Greeks and other foreigners, for some
time past introduced among them.
61. A Grecian city. ~\ Meaning Rome now so transformed from
what it once was, by the rage which the great people had for the
language, manners, dress, &c. of those Greeks whom they invited
and entertained, that, as the inferior people are fond of imitating their
superiors, it was not unlikely that the transformation might become
general throughout the whole city ; no longer Roman, but Grecian.
Umbritius could not bear the thought.
Tho what z.s the portion, $c.~\ Though, by the way, if we
consider the multitudes of other foreigners, with which the city now
abounds, what, as to numbers, is the portion of Greeks ? they are
comparatively few. See sat. xiii. 1 57. Haec quota pars scelerum,
&c. What part is this (/. e. how small a part or portion) of the
crimes, &c.
Achacm dreg8.~\ Achaea, or Achaia, signifies the whole coun-
try of Greece, anciently called Danae, whence the Greeks are called
Dana'i. AINSW. Dregs metaph. taken from the foul, turbid, fil-
thy sediment which wine deposits at the bottom of the cask. A lit
emblem of these vile Greeks, as though they were the filth and refuse
of all Greece.
Sometimes the word Achaea, or Achaia, is to be understood in a
more confined sense, and denotes only some of that part of Greece
called Peloponnesus, or Pelops' island, now the Morea, anciently
divided into Arcadia, and Achaia, of which Corinth was the capital:
the inhabitants of this city were proverbially lewd and wicked
Kei>u>6t*M was a usual phrase to express doing acts effeminacy, lewd-
ness, and debauchery what than must the dregs of Corinth, and its
environs have been ? See 1 Cor. vi. 9 11, former part.
62. Syrian Oronte*.] Orontes was the greatest river of Syria, a
large country of Asia. Umbritius had said (at 1. 61.) that the por-
tion of Grecians was small in comparison ; he now proceeds to ex-
plain himself, by mentioning the inundation of Syrians, and other
84 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. in.
Et linguam, et mores, et cum tibicine chordas
Obliquas, necnon gentilia tympana secum
Vexit, et ad Circum jussas prostare puellas. 65
Ite, quibus grata est picta lupa Barbara mitr&.
Rusticus ille tuus sumit trechedipna, Quirine,
Et ceromatico fert niceteria collo.
Asiatic strangers, who had for some time been flocking to Rome :
these were in such numbers from Syria, and they had so introduced
their eastern manners, music, &c. that one would fancy one's self on
the banks of the Orontes, instead of the Tiber. The river Orontes
is here put for the people who inhabited the tract of country through
which it ran. Melon. So the Tiber for the city of Rome, which
stood on its banks.
62. Has flow d.~\ Metaph. This well expresses the idea of the
numbers, as well as the mischiefs they brought with them, which
were now overwhelming the city of Rome, and utterly destroying
the morals of the people.
63. With the piper.^ Tibicen signifies a player on a flute, or pipe.
A minstrel. They brought eastern musicians, as well as musical in-
strumeias. T'le flute was an instrument whose soft sound tended to
mollify and enervate the mind.
634. Harps obliqued] Chordas, literally strings ; here it signifies
the instruments, which, being in a crooked form, the strings must of
course be obliquely placed.
64. National timbrels.'] Tabours, or little drum?, in form of a
hoop, with parchment distended over it, and bits of brass fixed to it
to make a jingling noise ; which the eastern people made use of, as
they do to this day, at their feasts and dancings, and which they beat
with the fingers.
64 5. With itself hath brought.^ As a river, when it breaks ita
bounds, carries along with it something from all the different soils
through which it passes, and rolls along what it may meet with in its
way ; so the torrent of Asiatics has brought with it, from Syria to
Rome, the language, morals, dress, music, and all the enervating
and effeminate vices of the several eastern provinces from whence it
came.
65. And girls bidden to expose, <$'c.] Prosto, in this connexion,
as applied to harlots, means to be common, and ready to be hired of
all coiners for money. For this purpose, the owners of these Asia-
tic female slaves ordered them to attend at the Circus, where they
might pick up gallants, and so made a gain of their prostitution. Or
perhaps they had stews in the cells and vaults which were under th
great Circus, where they exercised their lewdness. Sec Holyday on
the place, note f.
The word jussas may, perhaps, apply to these prostitutes, as ex-
pressive of their situation, as being at every body's command. Thus
Ov. lib. i. eleg. 10.
Stat meretrix cefto cuivis mercabilis sere,
Et miseras juseo corpore quaerit opes.
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. Si
And its language, and ir,.^ :vrs, and, with the piper, harps
Oblique, also its national timbrels with itself
Hath brought, and girls bidden to expose themselves for hiring at
the Circus. 65
Go ye, who like a Barbarian strumpet with a painted mitre,
That rustic of thine, O Quirinus, assumes a Grecian dress,
Ajid carries Grecian ornaments on his perfumed neck.
65. Circus.^ There were several circi in Rome, which were places
set apart for the celebration of several games: they were gene-
rally oblong, or almost in the shape of a bow, having a wall quite
round, with ranges of seats for the convenience of spectators. The
Circus maximus, which is probably meant here, was an immense
buildin? : it was first built by Tarquinius Priscus, but beautilied
and adorned by succeeding princes, and enlarged to such a prodi-
gious extent, as to be able to contain, in their proper seats, two hun-
dred and sixty thousand spectators. See KE-NNETT, Ant. part II.
book i. c. 4.
66. Go ye, <Sfc.] Umbritius may be supposed to have uttered this
with no small indignation.
- Strumpet. ] Lu.pa literally signifies a she-wolf but an ap-
pellation fitly bestowed on common whores or bawds, whose pro-
fession led them to support themselves by preying at large on all
they could get into their clutches. Hence a brothel was called lu-
panar. The Romans called all foreigners barbarians.
- A painted mitre.'] A sort of turban, worn by the Syrian
women a? a part of their head-dress, ornamented with painted linen,
67. O Quirinus.'] O Romulus, thou great founder of this now
degenerate city ! See note on 1. 60.
- That rustic of thine.] In the days of Romulus, and under
his government, the Romans were an hardy race of shepherds and
husbandmen. See sat. ii. 1. 74, and 127. Sat. viii. 1. 274, 5. rough
in their dress, and simple in their manners. But, alas ! how
changed !
- A Grecian dress.~\ Trechedipna from rfi-^a, to run, and
a supper. A kind of garment ia which they ran to other
people's suppers. AINSW. It was certainly of Greek extraction,
and though the form and materials of it are not described, yet we
must suppose it of the soft, effeminate, or gawdy kind, very unlike
the ga;-b and dress of the ancient rustics of Romulus, and to speak
a sad change in the manners of the people. Dryden renders the
passage thus :
O Romulus, and father Mars, look down !
Your herdsman primitive, your homely clown,
Is turn'd a beau in a loose tawdry gown.
68. Grecian rrnaments.'] Niceteria rewards for victories, a*
rings, collars of gold, &c. Prises. From Gr. vixn, victory.
- OH his perfumed neck.'] Ceromatico collo. The ceroma
(Gr. xnpsutac, from xv^cs. cera) was an oil tempered with wax,
wherein wrestlers anointed themselvw.
86 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. ni.
Hie alti Sicyone, ast hie Amydone relictjl,
Hie Andro, ille Samo, hie Trallibus, aut Alabandis, 70
Esquilias, dictumque petunt a vimine collem :
Viscera magnarum domuum, dominique futuri.
Ingenium velpx, audacia perdita, sermo
Promptus, et Isaeo torrentior ; ede quid ilium
Esse putes ? quemvis hominem secum attulit ad nos : 75
Grammaticus, Rhetor, Geometres, Pictor, Aliptes,
Augur, Schcenobates, Medicus, Magus: omnia novit.
Gracculus esuriens in ccelum, jusseris, ibit.
But what proofs of effeminacy, or depravation, doth the poet set
forth in these intances ?
Using wrestlers' oil, and wearing on the neck collars of gold, and
other insignia of victory, if to be understood literally, seems but ill
to agree with the poet's design, to charge the Romans with a' loas of
all former hardiness and manliness : therefore we are to understand
this line in an ironical sense, meaning, that, instead of wearing col-
lars of gold as tokens of victory, and rewards of courage and acti-
vity, their niceteria were tinkets and gewgaws, worn merely as or-
naments, suitable to the effeminacy and luxury into which, after the
example of the Grecians, Syrians, &c. they were sunk. By the ce-
roma he must also be understood to mean, that, instead of wrestlers'
oil, which was a mere compound of oil and wax, their ceroma was
some curious perfumed unguent with which they anointed their per-
sons, their hair particularly, merely out of luxury. See sat. ii.
402. Thus Mr. Dryden :
His once unkem'd and horrid locks behold
Stilling sweet oil, his neck enchain'd with gold:
Aping the foreigners in every dress,
'NMiich, bought at greater cost, becomes him less.
69. High SicyonJ] An island in the ./Egean sea, where the ground
was very high. The JEgean was a part of the Mediterranean sea,
near Greece, dividing Europe from Asia. It is now called the Ar-
chipelago, and by the Turks, the White sea.
Amydtm,] A city of Macedonia.
70. Andros. ] An island and town of Phrygia the Lesser, situate
in the ^Egean sea.
Samos.J An island in the Ionian sea, west of the bay of
Corinth, now under the republic of Venice, now Cephalonie.
Tralles.~\ A city of Lesser Asia between Caria and Lydia.
AlabandaJ] A city of Caria in the Lesser Asia.
71. Esquilitx.~\ The mons esquilinus, one of the seven hills in
Rome ; so called from esculus a beech-tree, of which many grew
upon it. See AINSW.
The hill named, <Src/] The collis viminalis, another of the
seven hills on which Rome was built; so called from a wood or
grove of osiers which grew upon it. There was an altar there to
Jupiter, under the title of Jupiter Viminalis.
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 87
One leaving high Sicyon, but another, Amydon,
He from Andros, another from Samos, another from Tralles, or
Alabanda, 70
Seek the Esquiliae, and the hitl named from an osier ;
The bowels, and future lords, of great families.
A quick wit,' desperate impudence, speech
Ready, and more rapid than Isaeus. Say what do you
Think him to be ? He has brought us with himself what man you
please : 75
Grammarian, Rhetorician, Geometrician, Painter, Anointer,
Augur, Rope-dancer, Physician, Wizard : he knows all things.
A hungry Greek will go into heaven, if you command.
These two parts of Rome may stand (by synec.) for Rome itself;
r perhaps these were parts of it where these foreigners chiefly set-
tled.
72. The bowels, Sfc.~\ Insinuating themselves, by their art and
subtlety, into the intimacy of great and noble families, so as to be-
come their confidents and favourites, their vitals as it were, insomuch
that, in time, they govern the whole : and, in some instances, be-
come their heirs, and thus lords over the family possessions. See sat.
ii. 58, notes. The wheedling and flattering of rich people, in order
to become their heirs, are often mentioned in Juvenal such people
were called captatores.
73. A quick icit.^ Ingeniunvelox Ingenium is a word of many
meanings : perhaps, here, joined with velox, it might be rendered, a
ready invention.
Desperate impudence.^ That nothing can abash or dismay.
73 4. Speech ready .] Having words at will.
74. Iscews.] A famous Athenian orator, preceptor of Demosthe-
nes. Torrentior, more copious, flowing with more precipitation and
fulness, more like a torrent.
.Say, Sfc.~] Now by the way, my friend, tell me what you
imagine such a man to be I mean of what calling or profession, or
what do you think him qualified for ?
75 Wlwi man, 4'c.l Well, I'll not puzzle you with guessing,
but at once inform you, that, in his own single person, he has brought
with him every character that you can imagine : in short, he is a
jack of all trades. As the French say C'est un valet a tout faire.
Or, as is said of ttwr Jesuits Jesuitus est omnis homo.
76. Anointer.~] Aliptes, (from Gr. citeipa, to anoint,) he that
anointed the wrestlers, and took care of them. AINSW.
77. He knows all things.'] Not only what I have mentioned, but
so versatile is his genius, tiiat nothing can come amiss to him. There
is nothing that he does not pretend to the knowledge of.
78. A hungry Greek.'] The diminutive Greening is sarcastical,
5. d. Let my little Grecian be pinched with hunger, he would under-
take any thing you bade him, however impossible or improbable
like another Daedalus, he would even attempt to lly into the air.
8S JUVENALIS SATIRE. BAT. nf.
Ad summum non Maurus erat, nee Sarmata, nee Thrax,
Qui sumpsit pennas, mediis sed natus Athenis. 80
Homm eg-o non fugiam conchylia ? me prior ille
Signabit ? fultusque toro meliore recumbet,
Advectus Romam, quo pruna et coctona, vento ?
Usque adeo nihil est, quod nostra infantia ccelum
Hausit Aventini, bacca, nutrita Sabina ? 85
Quid ! quod adulandi gens prudentissima laudat
Sernionera indocti, faciem deformia amici,
Et longum invalidi collum cervicibus acquat
Herculis, Antaeum procul a tellure tenentis
Miratur vocem augustam, qua deterius nee 9O-
79. In fine, 8fc.~] Ad summum upon the whole, be it observed,
that the Greeks of old were a dexterous people at contrivance ; for
the attempt at flying was schemed by Daedalus, a native of Athens.
No man of any other country has the honour of the invention.
81. The splendid dress."] Conchylia shell-fish the liquor there-
of, made purple, or scarlet colour : called also murex. Conchylium,
by meton. signifies the colour itself ; also garments dyed therewith,
which were very expensive, and worn by the nobility and other great
people.
Shall not I fly, fugiam, avoid the very sight of such garments,
when worn by such fellows as these, who are only able to wear them
by the wealth which they have gotten by their craft and imposition ?
81 2. Sign before me.'] Set his name before mine, as a witness
to any deed, &c. which we may be called upon to sign.
82. Supported by a, better couch, <$" c -] The Romans lay on
couches at their convivial entertainments these couches were orna-
mented more or less, some finer and handsomer than others, which
were occupied according to the quality of the guests. The middle
couch was esteemed the most honourable place, and so in order from
thence. Must this vagabond Greek take place of me at table, says
Umbritius, as if he were above me in point of quality and conse-
quence 1 As we should say Shall he sit above me at table ? Hon.
lib. ii. sat. viii. 1. 20 3. describes an arrangement of the company
at table.
83. Brought to Rome.~\ Advectus imported from a foreign coun-
try, by the same wind, and in the same ship, with prunes, and little
figs, from Syria. These were called coctona, or cottana, as sup-
posed, from Heb. jtsp little. MART. lib. xiii. 28. parva cottana.
Syria peculiares habet arbores, in ficorum genere. Caricaa, et
niiuores ejus generic, quae coctana vocant. PLIN. lib. xiii. c. 5.
Juvenal means to set forth the low origin of these people ; that
they, at first, were brought out of Syria to Rome, as dealers in small
and contemptible articles. Or he may moan, that as slaves they
made a part of the cargo, in one of the^e little trading vessels. See
sat. i. 110, 11.
.vr. Hi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 80
In fine he was not a Moor, nor Sarmatian, nor Thracian,
Who assumed wings, but born in the midst of Athens. 80
Shall I not avoid the splendid dress of these ? before me shall he
Sign ? and supported by a better couch shall he lie at table,
Brought to Rome by the same wind as plumbs and figs ?
Is it even nothing that our infancy the air
Of Aventinus drew, nourished by the Sabine berry ? 85
What ! because a nation, most expert in flattery, praises
The speech of an unlearned, the face of a deformed friend.
And equals the long neck of the feeble, to the neck of
Hercules, holding Antaeus far from the earth
Admires a squeaking voice : not worse than which, 90
85. Aventinus, fyc.~\ One of the seven hills of Rome .; so called
from Avens, a river of the Sabines. AINSW. Umbritius here, witb.
a patriotic indignation at the preference given to foreigners, asks
What ! is there no privilege in having drawn our first lareath in
Rome ? no pre-eminence in being born a citizen of the first city in
the world, the conqueror and mi.-iress of all those countries from
whence these people came t Shall such fellows as these not only vie
with Roman citizens, but be preferred before them ?
Sabine berry.'] A part of Italy on the banks of the Tiber,
once belonging to the Sabine.s, was famous for olives, here called
bacca Sabina. But we are to understand all the nutritive fruits and
produce of the country in general. I'ro specie genus. Syu. la con-
tradistinction to the pruna et coctona, 1. 83.
86. What /] As if he had said What ! is all the favour and pre-
ference which these Greeks meet with, owing to their talent for nat-
tery .' are they to be esteemed more than the citizens of Rome, be-
catu>e they are a nation of base sycophants \
87. The spteck, <$"c.J Or discourse, talk, conversation, of some
ignorant, stupid, rich patron, whose favour is basely courted by the
mo-^t barefaced adulation.
Face of a deformed, #c.] Persuading him that he is hand-
some : or that his very deformities are beauties.
88. The long neck, dx'c.] Compares the long crane-neck of some
puny wretch, to the brawny neck and shoulders (cervicibus) of Her-
cules.
.89. Holding, ^c.] This relates to the story of Antaeus, a giant of
prodigious strength, who, v, hen knocked down by Hercules, reco-
Tered himself by lying on his mother earth ; Hercules therefore held
him up.in his left hand, between earth and heaven, and with his right
hand dashed his brains out.
90. Admires a squeaking voiced] A squeaking, hoarse, croaking
kind of utterance, as if squeezed in it? pa-^age by the narrowness of
the throat this he applauds with admiration.
Not n-orse, tS'o.] He assimilate- the voice so commended, to
the harsh screaming sound of a cock when lie crcnvs : or rather to
the noise which ho iii-ike^ when he seizes ' voadiip.g tv
VUL. I. O
90 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. i&
Ille sonat, quo mordetur gallina marito !
Haec eadem licet et nobis laudare : sed illis
Creditur. An melior cum Tha'ida sustinet, aut cum
Uxorem comoedus agit, vel Dorida nullo
Cultam palliolo ? mulier nempe ipsa videtur, Qp
2on persona loqui : vacua et plana omnia dicas
Infra ventriculurn, et temii distantia rima.
Nee tamen Antiochus, nee erit mirabilis illic
Aut Stratocles, aut cum molli Demetrius Haemo :
Natio comoeda est : rides I majore cachinno 100
Concutitur : flet, si lachrymas conspexit amici,
Nee dolet : igniculum bruraae si tempore poscas
Accipit endromidem : si dixeris, aestuo, sudat.
tread her, when he nips her comb in his beak, and holds her down
under him. This must be alluded to by the mordetur gallina, &c.
Claverius, paraph, in Juv. iv. reads the passage :
qus deterius nee
Ilia sonat, quum mordetur gallina marito.
worse than which neither
Doth that sound, when a hen is bitten by her husband.
Meaning that voice which was so extolled with admiration by the
flatterer, was as bad as the scream iijj^which a hen makes when trod-
den by the cock, who seizes and bites her comb with his beak, which
must be very painful, and occasion the noise which she makt. How-
over this reading may be rather more agreeable to the fact, yet there
does not seem to be sufficient authority to adopt it.
92. IVe may praise a/so.] To be sure we Romans may flatter, but
without success ; we shall not be believed : the Greeks are the only
people in such credit as to have all they say pass for truth.
93. Whether if lie better when he plays, fyc.~\ Sustinet sustains
the part of a Thais, or courtezan, or the more decent character of a
matron, or a naked sea nymph : there is no saying which a Grecian
actor excels most in he speaks so like a woman, that you'd, swear
the very woman seems to speak, and not the actor. Persona signi-
fies a take face, a mask, a vizor, in which the Grecian and Roman
actors played their parts, and so by mcton. became to signify an ac-
tor.
This passage shews, that women's parts were represented by men :
for which these Greeks had no occasion for any alteration of voice ;
they differed from women in nothing but their sex.
9-4. Doris, $c.~] A sea nymph represented in some play. See
AINSW. Doris. Paliioium was a little upper garment; the sea
nymphs were usually represented naked, nullo palliolo, without the
least covering over their bodies. Paliioium, dim. of pallium.
98. Yet neither icill AnliochusJ] This person, and the others
mentioned in the next line, were all Grecian comedians ; perhaps
Tlajouis, from the epithet molli, may be understood to have been p<>
adapted to the performance of female characters.
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 91
He utters, who, being husband, the hen is bitten !
These same things we may praise also : but to them
Credit is given. Whether is he better when he plays Thais, or when
The comedian acts a wife, or Doris with no
Cloak dressed ? truly a woman herself seems to spak, 9$
Not the actor : you would declare
It was a real woman in all respects.
Yet neither will Antiochus, nor admirable there will
Either Stratocles, or Demetrius, with soft Haemus, be :
The nation is imitative. Do you laugh ? with greater laughter 100
Is he shaken : he weeps, if he has seen the tears of a friend,
Not that he grieves : if in winter-time you ask for a little fire,
He puts on a great coat : if you should say " I am hot" he
sweats.
All those, however we may admire them at Rome, would not be
at all extraordinary in the country which they came from illic for
all the Grecians are born actors ; there is therefore nothing new, or
wonderful, there, in representing assumed characters, however well : .
it is the very characteristic of the whole nation to be personating and
imitative. See AINSW. Comoedus-a-um.
100. Do you laugh ?] The poet here illustrates what he had said,
by instances of Grecian adulation of the most servile and meanest
kind.
If one of their patrons happens to laugh, or even to smile, for so
rideo also signifies, the parasite sets up a loud horse-laugh, and laughs
aloud, or, as the word eoncutitur implies, laughs ready to split his
sides, as we say.
101. He weeps, <Sfc.] If he finds his friend in tears, he can hu-
mour this too ; and can squeeze out a lamentable appearance of sor-
row, but without a single grain of it.
102. If in winter-time you ask, $c.~] If the weather be cold
enough for the patron to order a" little fire, the versatile Greek in-
stantly improves on the matter, and puts on a great thick gown
endromidem a sort of thick rug, used by wrestlers, and other gym-
nasiasts, to cover them after thir exercise, lest they should cool too
fast.
103. I am hot, #c.] If the patron complains of heat- the other
vows that he is all over in a sweat.
Shakespeare has touched this sort of character something in the
way of Juvenal Hamlet, act V. sc. ii. where he introduces the
sliort but well-drawn character of Osrick, whom he represents as a
complete temporizer with the humours of his superiors.
HAM. Your bonnet to his right use ''tis fur the head.
OSR. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot.
HAM. No, believe me, 'tis very cold t/ie ivi
* JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. m,
Non sumus ergo pares : melior qui semper, et omni
Node dieque potest alienum sumere vultum : 105
A facie ja'ctare manus, laudare paratus,
Si bene ructavit, si rectum miuxii, amictis,
Si trulla inverse crepituai dedit aurea fundo.
Praeterea sanctum nihil est, et ab inguino tutum :
Non matrona lavis, non filia virgo, neque ipsa 110
Spoasus ItEvis adhuc, non h'lius ante pudieus.
OSR. Il ?\; indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
HAM. But yet, mcthinJts, it is very sultry, and hot, for my com-
flexion.
OSR. Exceedingly, my lord, it is very sultry, as it icere, I cunt
idl iiow.
But Terence has a full length picture of one of these Grecian pa-
rasite.-;, which he copied from Menander. See TEH. Eun. the part
cf Gnatho throughout : than wliich nothing can be more exquisitely
drawn, or more highly finished.
This, by the way, justifies Juvenal in tracing the original of such
characters from Greece. Menander lived about 350 years before-
Christ. Terence died about 15U years before Christ.
104. We are not therefore eqit'i'$.~] We Romans are no match for
them they far exceed any thing we can attempt in the way of flat-
tery.
Better is he, 6fc.] He who can watch the countenance of
another perpetually, and, night and day, as it were, practise an imi-
tation of it, so as to coincide, on all occasions, with the particular
look, humour, and disposition of others, is better calculated for the
office of a sycophant, than we can pretend to be.
106. Cast from the face, 'c.^ This was some action of compli-
mentary address, made use of by flatterers. He who did this, lirst
Drought the hand to his mouth, kissed his hand, then stretched it out
towards the person whom he meant to salute, and thus was under-
stood to throw, or reach forth, the kiss which he hud given to his
hand.
To this purpose Salmasius explains the phrase a facie jactare
manus.
This exactly coincides with what we call kissing the hand to one.
This we see done frequently, where persons see one another at a dis-
tance in crowded public places, or are passing each other in carriages,
and the like, where they cannot get near enough to speak together :
and this is looked upon as a token of friendly courtesy and civility.
The action is performed much in the manner above described, and
is common among us.
It is so usual to look on this as a token of civility, that it is one of
the first things which children, especially of the higher sort, are
taught sometimes it is done with one hand, sometimes with both.
According to this interpretation, we may suppose, that these flat-
BAT. MI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 93
We are not therefore equals : better is he, who always, and all
Night and day, can assume another's countenance, 105
Cast from the face the hands, ready to applaud,
If his friend hath belched well, or rightly made water;
If the golden cup hath given a crack, from the inverted bottom.
Moreover, nothing is sacred or safe from their lust ;
Not the matron of an household, not a virgin daughter, not 110
The wooer himself, as yet smooth, not the son before chaste.
terers were very lavish of this kind of salutation, towards those
whose favour they courted.
Bringing the hand to the mouth -and kissing it, as a token of re-
spect, is very ancient ; ,we read of it in Job xxxi. 26, 27. as an ac-
tion of even religious worship, which the idolaters paid to the host
of heaven.
107. Hulk belched well.'] By these ridiculous instances, the poet
means to shew that their adulation was of the most servile and ab-
ject kind.
108. If the golden cup, Sfc.~\ Trulla signifies a vessel, or cup, to
drink with ; they were made of various materials, but the rich had
them of gold.
When the great man had exhausted the liquor, so that the cup
was turned bottom upwards before he took it from his mouth, and
then smacked his lips so loud as to make a kind of echo from the
bottom of the cup, (an actfon frequent among jovial companions,)
this too was a subject of praise and commendation. This passage
refers to the Grecian custom of applauding those who drank a large
vessel at a draught.
Perhaps such parasites looked on such actions as are above men-
tioned, passing before them, as marks of confidence and intimacy,
according to that of Martial, lib. x.
Nil aliud video quo tc credamus amicum,
Quam quod me coram pedere, Crispe, soles.
A sense like that of these lines of Martial is given to Juvenal's cre-
pitam dedit by some commentators : but aa dedit has the aurea
tmlla for its nominative case, the sense above given seems to be
nearest the truth.
S.ii-li servile flatterers as these have been the growth of all climes,
the produce- of all countries. See HoR. Art. Poet. 1. 428 33.
109. Moreover, <$"c.] In this and the two following lines, Um-
britius inveighs against their monstrous and mischievous lust.
111. As yet smooth.'] Sleek, smooth-faced, not yet having hair
cn Ins face. Sponsus here means a young wooer who is supposed
to be paying his addresses to a daughter of the family, in order to
marry her ; even he can't be safo from the attempts ot these vile
Greeks.
Be/ore chaste.'] i. e. Before some filthy Grecian came into
the family.
04 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SA T. in.
Horum si nihil est, aulam resupinat amici :
Scire volunt secreta domus, atque inde timeri.
Et quoniam ccepit Gracorum mentio, transi
Gymnasia, atque audi facinus majoris abollx. 115
Sto'icus occidit Baream, delator amicum^
Discipulumque senex, ripa nutritus in illi,
Ad quam Gorgonei delapsa est penna caballi.
Non est Romano cuiquam locus hie, ubi regnat
Protogenes aliquis, vel Diphilus, aut Erimanthus, 120
1 12. He turns the house, fyc."] Aula signifies a fore-court, or an
hall, belonging to a house: here it is put (by synec.) for the
house itself: by catachresis for the family in the house.
Resupino is a word rather of an obscene import, and here used
metaphorically, for prying into the secrets of the family. 8e
Aiwsw. Resupino.
Holyday observes, that the scholiast reads aviam, (not aulam,) as
if these fellows, sooner than fail, would attack the grandmother if
there were nobody else. But though this reading gives a sense
much to our poet s purpose, yet as it is not warranted by copy, as
aulam is, the latter must be preferred. Amici here means of his
patron, who has admitted him into his family.
113. And thence befearedJ] Lest they should reveal and publish
the secrets which they become possessed of. See before, 1. 50 7.
Farnaby, in his note on this place, mentions an Italian proverb,
which is much to the purpose.
Servo d'allruisifd, chi dice il suo secreto a chi no 'I sa.
" He makes himself the servant of another, who tells his secret to
" one that knows it not."
114. And because mention, $c.~] q. d. And, by the way, as I
have begun to mention the Greeks.
Pass over, <Sfc.] Transi imp. of transeo, to pass over or
through also to omit or say nothing of to pass a thing by, or
over.
Each of these senses is espoused by different commentators.
Those who are for the former sense, make the passage mean thus :
" Talking of Greeks, let us pass through their schools, so as to see
" and observe what is going forward there."
The others make the sense to be: "Omit saying anything of
" the schools ; bad as they may be, they are not worth mentioning,
" in comparison of certain other worse things."
I rather think with the former, whose interpretation seems best
to suit with the et audi in the next sentence, q. d. " As we are
" talking of the Grecians, I would desire you to pass from tho
" common herd, go to the schools, take a view of their philosophers,
" and hear what one of their chiefs was guilty of."
115. The schools. J Gymnasia here signifies those places of exer-
cise, or schools, where the philosophers met for disputation, and for
the instruction of their disciples. See Aixsw. Gymnasium
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 95
If there be none of these, he turns the house of his friend upside
down:
They will know the secrets of the family, and thence be feared.
And because mention of Greeks has began, pass over
The schools, and hear a deed of the greater abolla. 115
A Stoic killed Bareas, an informer his friend,
And an old man his disciple, nourished on that bank,
At which a feather of the Gorgonean horse dropped down.
No place is here for any Roman, where reigns
Some Protogenes, or Diphilus, or Erimanthus, 120
115. A deed.'] Facinus, in a bad sense, means a foul act, a vil-
lainous deed, a scandalous action.
- Greater abolla.'] Abolla was a sort of cloak, worn by sol-
diers, and also by philosophers. The abolla of the soldiers was less
than the other, and called minor abolla that of the philosopher,
being larger, was called major abolla.
Juvenal also uses the word abolla (sat. iv. 76.) for a senator's
fobe.
Here, by meton. it denotes the philosopher himself.
116. Stoic.']- One of the straitest sects of philosophers among the
Greeks See AINSW. Stoici-orum.
- Killed, 4" C J By accusing him of some crime for which he
was put to death. This was a practice much encouraged by the em-
perors Nero and Domitian, and by which many made their fortunes.
See note on sat. i. 32, 3.
The fact is thus related by Tacitus, Ann. vi. " P.
" Egnatius (the Stoic above mentioned) circumvented by false tes-
" timony Bareas Soranus, his friend and disciple, under Nero."
117. His disciple.] To whom he owed protection.
- Nourished on that bunk, fyc.~\ By this periphrasis we are to
understand, that this Stoic was originally bred at Tarsus, in Cilicia,
a province of ancient Greece, which was built by Perseus, on the
banks of the river Cydnus, on the spot where his horse Pegasus
dropped a feather out of his wing. He called the city Tc-j, which
signifies a wing, from this event.
118. Gorgonean.^ The winged horse Pegasus was so called, be-
cause he was supposed to have sprung from the blood of the gorgon
Medusa, after Perseus had cut her head off.
119. For any Roman.] We Romans are so undermined and sup-
planted by the arts of these Greek sycophants, that we have DO
chance lelt us of succeeding with great men.
120. Some Protogenes.'] The name of a famous and cruel perse-
cutor of the people under Caligula. See ANT. Univ. Hist. vol. xiv.
p. J02.
Diplulns.'] A filthy favourite and minion of Domitian.
Erimanthus.'] From eg<j strife, smdpaynr, a prophet i. e. a
foreteller of strife. This name denotes some notorious informer.
The sense of this passage geems to be : "There is now no roorL
96 JUVENAUS SATIS^. SAC. ai,
Qui gentis vitio nunquain partitur amicuun ;
Solus habet. Nam cum facilem stillavit in aurera
Exiguum do natures, patriaeque veneno,
Limine summoveor : perieruat tempora longi
Servitii: nusquam minor est jacturu clientis. 125
Quod porro officium, (ne nobis blandiar.) aut quod
Pauperis hie meritum, si curet nocte togatus
Currere, cum Pra3tor lictorem impellat, et ire
Praecipitem jubeat, dudum vigilantibus orbi-5,
" for us Romans ta hope for favour and preferment, where nothing
" but Greeks are in power and favour, and these such wretches as
" are the willing and obsequious instruments of cruelty, lust and
" persecution."
121. Vice of Ids nation.'] (See before, 1. 86.) That mean and
wicked art of engrossing all favour to themselves.
Never shares a friend J\ With any body else.
122. He (done hath him.'] Engages and keeps him wholly to him-
self.
He has dropped, &;c.~\ Stillavit hath insinuated by gentle,
and almost imperceptible degrees.
Into his easy ear.~\ i. e. Into the ear of the great man, who
easily listens to all he says.
123. The poison of his nature. ~\ Born, as it were, with the mali-
cious propensity of advancing themselves by injuring others.
And of his country^] Greece the very characteristic of
which is this sort of selfishness.
124. I am removed, <Sfc.] No longer admitted within my patron's
or friend's doors.
125. Past and gone.] Perierunt lit. have perished. My long
and faithful services are all thrown away, forgotten, perished out ot
remembrance, and are as if they had never been.
Nowhere, <!yc.] There is no part of the world, where an
old client and friend is more readily cast off, and more easily dis-
missed, than they are at Rome : or where this is done with less ce-
remony, or felt with less regret.
Look round the world, what country will appear,
\Vhere friends are left with greater ease than here? DUYDEN.
The word jactura signifies any loss or damage, but its proper
meaning is, loss by shipwreck, casting goods- overboard in a storm.
The old friends and clients of great men, at Rome, were just as rea-
dily and effectually parted with.
126. What is the office.^ Ofncium business employment
service.
That I may not flatter, &jc.~\ q.d. Not to speak too highly
in our own commendation, or as over-rating ourselves and our ser-
vices.
126, 7. What the merit, Sfc.~\ What does the poor client deserve for
the assiduous and punctual execution of his office towards his patron.
SAT. nr. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 87
Who, from the vice of his nation, never shares a friend ;
He alone hath him : for, when he has dropp'd into his easy ear
A little of the poison of his nature, and of his country,
I am removed from the threshold : times of long service
Are past and gone no where is the loss of a client less. 125
Moreover, what is the office, (that I may not flatter ourselves,) or
what
The merit of a poor man here, if a client takes care by night
To run, when the Praetor drives on the lictor, and to go
Precipitate commands him, (the childless long since awake,)
127. If a client.'] So togatus signifies here. It was usual for great
men, on these occasions, to have a number of their dependents and
clients to attend them : those who went before, were called anteam-
bulones those who followed, clientes togati, from the toga, or gown,
worn by the common people.
Takes care.l Makes it his constant business.
127 8. By night to run.'] To post away after his patron before
day-break, to the early levees of the rich.
These early salutations or visits were commonly made with a view
to get something from those to whom they were paid ; such as per-
sons of great fortune who had no children, rich widows who were
childless, and the like. He who attended earliest, was reckoned to
shew the greatest respect, and supposed himself to stand fairest in the
good graces, and perhaps, as a legatee in the wills of such persons as
he visited and complimented.
The word currere implies the haste which they made to get first.
128. The Pr&tor drives on, <$fc.] The Praetor was the chief ma-
gistrate of the city. He was preceded by officers called lictors, of
which there were twelve, who carried the insignia of the Pnetor'.s
office r/r. an axe tied up in a bundle of rods, as emblems of the
punishment of greater crimes by the former, and of smaller crimes by
the latter. The lictors were so called from the axe and rods bound
or tied (ligati) together. So lector, from lego, to read.
So corrupt were the Romans, that not only the nobles, and other
great men, but even their chief magistrates, attended with their state
olticers, went on these mercenary and scandalous errands, and even
hastened on the lictors (who, on other occasions, marched slowly
and solemnly before them) for fear of being too late.
128 iQ. To go precipitate^] Headlong, as ii were, to get on as
fast as they could.
129. The childless, S)'c.~] Orbus signifies a child that has lost its
parent?, parents that are bereaved of their children, women who have
lost their husbands without issue, &c. this last (as appears from the
next line) seems to be the -ease of it hero.
The~e ladies were very fond of being addressed and complimented
at their levees, by the flattering visitors who attended there, and were
<ready very soon in the morning, even up bffoiv day-light, for i!i.-ir
reception. The Praetor drives pn his attendants as fast as IIP can,
VOL. I. P
08 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. HI.
Ne prior Albinam, aut Modiam collega salutet ? 1 30
Divitis hie servi Claudit latus ingenuorum
Filius ; alter enim quantum in legione Tribuni
Accipiunt, donat Clavinse, vel Catiense,
Ut semel atque iterum super illam palpitet : at tu
Cum tibi vestiti facies scorti placet, haeres, 1 35
Et dubitas altA Chionem deducere sella.
lest he should not be there first, oY should disoblige the ladies by
making them wait.
The childless matrons are long since awake,
And for affronts the tardy visits take. DRTDEN.
130. Lest first his coUeague.~\ Another reason for the Praetor's
being in such a hurry, was to prevent his colleague in office from
being there before him.
It is to be observed, that, though at first there was but one Praetor,
called Prsetor Urbanus, yet, as many foreigners and strangers settled
at Rome, another Prstor was appointed to judge causes between
them, and called Praetor Peregrinus.
Juvenal gives us to understand, that, on such occasions, both were
equally mean and mercenary.
Albino, or Madia.] Two rich and childless old widows, to
whom these profligate fellows paid their court, in hopes of inheriting
their wealth.
This passage, froml. 126 to 130, inclusive, relates to what Um-
britius had just said about the very easy manner in which the great
men at Rome got rid of their poor clients, notwithstanding their long
and faithful services : q. d. " I don't mean to boast, or to rate our
services too high : but yet, as in the instance here given, and in
many others which might be mentioned, when what we do, and
what we deserve, are compared together, and both with the un-
grateful return we meet with, in being turned off to make room fur
the Grecian parasites, surely this will be allowed me as another
'* irood reason for my departure from Rome."
131. Here.'] At Rome.
The son of a rick slave, 6>c.~\ A person of mean and servile
extraction, whose father, originally a slave, got his freedom, and by
some means or other acquired great wealth.
The sons of such were called libcrtini.
Closes the side.~\ Walks close to his side in a familiar man-
ner : perhaps, as we say, arm in arm, thus making himself his equal
and intimate.
131 2. The free bornJ] Of good extraction a gentleman of li-
beral birth, of a good family such were called ingenui.
The poet seems alike to blame the insolence of these upstarts, who
aimed at a freedom and intimacy with their betters ; and the meanness
f young men of family, who stooped to intimacies ~,\ ith such low
people.
BAT, in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 99
Lost first his colleague should salute Albina or Modia ? 1 30
Here, the son of ^ rich slave closes the side of the
Free-born : but another, as much as in a legion Tribunes
Receive, presents to Calvina, or Catiena,
That once and again he may enjoy her : but thou,
When the face of a well-dressed harlot pleases thee, hesitatest, 135
And doubtest to lead forth Chione from her high chair.,
132. Another.'] Of these low-born people, inheriting riches from
his father.
Tribunes."] He means the Tribuni Militum, of which there
were six to each legion, which consisted of ten regiments or cohorts.
See sat. i. 1. 68, n.
133. Presents to Cah'ina, or Catiena.~] He scruples not to give as
much as the pay of a tribune amounts to, to purchase the favours of
these women who probably, were courtezans of notorious charac-
ters, but held their price very high.
134. But thou.~\ q. cL But thou, my friend Juvenal, and such
prudent and frugal people as thou art, if thou art taken with the
pretty face of some harlot, whose price is high, thou dost hesitate
upon it, and hast doubts upon thy mind concerning the expediency
of lavishing away large sums for such a purpose.
135. Well dressed^] Veslitus means, not only apparelled but
decked and ornamented. A.IN-SW. Some are for understanding ves-
titi, hero, as synonymous with togati, to express a low strumpet,
(see sat. ii. 1. 70, and note,) but I lind no authority for such a mean-
ing of the word vestitus.
130. Chione.~] Some stately courtezan of Borne, often spoken of
by Martial. See lib. i. epigr. 35, 6, et al. So called from Or. ^;,
snow.
Her high chair.'] Sella signifies a sedan chair, borne aloft on
men's shoulders : which, from the epithet alta, 1 take to be meant
in this place q. d. While these upstart fellows care not what sums
they throw away upon their whores, and refrain from no expense,
tliat they may carry their point, their betters are more prudent, and
grudge to lavish away so much expense upon their vices, though the
finest, best-dressed, and most sumptuously attended woman inlloaie
were the object in question.
To lead forth.] Deducere to hand her out of her sedan,
and to attend her into her house.
Many other senses are given of this passage, as may be seen in
Holyday, and in other commentators ; but the above seems, to me.
best to apply to the poet's satire on the insolent extravagance of In ->,
low-born upstarts, by putting it in opposition to the more deceu',
prudence and frugality of their betters.
Dryden writes as follows :
But you, poor sinner, tho* you love the vice,
And like the whore, demur upon the price :
And, frighted with the wicked sum, forbear
To lend an hand, ami help her from }h.e chair.
100 JUVENAL1S SATIRE. SAT . IIIt
Da testem Romae tain sanctum, quam fuit hospes
Numinis Ida?i : procedat vel Numa, vel qui
Servavit trepidam flagranti ex aede Miuervam ;
Protinus ad censum ; de moribus ultima fiet 140
Quaestio : quot pascit servos 1 quot possidet ari
Jugera 1 quam multa, magnaque paropside coenat 1
QUANTUM QUISQUE SUA NUMMORUM SERVAT IN ARCA,
TANTUM HABET ET FIDEI. Jures licet et Samothracum,
Et nostrorum aras, contemnere fulmina pauper 145
Creditur, atque Deos, Dis ignoscentibus ipsis.
Quid, quod materiam prasbet causasque jocorum
Omnibus hie idem, si fioeda et seissa lacerna,
Si toga sordidula est, et rupta calceus alter
As to translating (as some have done) vestiti by the word mask-
ed, it is totally incongruous with the vest of the sentence ; for how
can a face, with a mask on, be supposed to please, as it must be con-
cealed from view I Besides, it is not said vestita fades, but facies
vestiti scorti.
However, it seems not very probable, that the poet only means to
say, that the man hesitated, and doubted about coming up to the
price of Chione, because he was so poor that he had it not to give
her, as some would insinuate ; for a man can hardly hesitate, or
doubt, whether he shall do a thing that it is out of his power to do.
137. Produce a iKitne,ss.~\ Umbritius here proceeds to fresh matter
of complaint against the corruption of the times, insomuch that the
truth of a man's testimony was estimated, not according to the good-
ness of his character, but according to the measure of his property.
137 8. The host of the Idean deliy.~] Scipio Nasica, adjudged
by the senate to be one of the best of men. He received into his
house an jmage of the goddess Cybele, where he kept it until a tem-
ple was built for it She had various names from the various places
where she was worshipped, as Phrygia, Idxa, &c. Ida was a high
hill in Phrygia, near Troy, sacred to Cybele. See VIRG. /En. x.
252.
138. Num<i.~\ See before, notes on 1. 12. he was a virtuous a?id
religious prince.
139. Preset-red trembling M/?imra.] Lucius Metellus, the high
priest, preserved the palladium, or sacred image of Minerva, out of
the temple of Vesta, where it stood trembling, as it Avere, for its '
safety when that temple was on fire. Metellus lost his eyes by the
flames.
140. Immediately as to income, $fc.~] q. d. Though a man had all
their sanctity, yet would he not gain credit to his testimony on the
score of his integrity, but in proportion to the largeness of his income ;
this is the first and immediate object of inquiry. As to his moral
character, that is the last thing they ask after.
SAT. HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 101
Produce a witness at Rome, as just as was the host
Of the Idean deity : let even Numa come forth, or he who
Preserved trembling Minerva from the burning temple :
Immediately as to income, concerning morals will be the last 140
Inquiry : how many servants he maintains '? how many acres of
land
He possesses ? in how many and great a dish he sups ?
As MUCH MONEY AS EVERY ONE KEEPS IN III3 CHEST,
So MUCH CREDIT TOO HE HAS. Tho' you should swear by the
altars, both
Of the Samoihracian, and of our gods, a poor man to contemn
thunder 145
Is believed, and the gods, the gods themselves forgiving him.
What, because this same affords matter and causes of jests
To all, if his garment be dirty and rent,
If his gown be soiled, and one of his shoes with torn
142. In how many, Sfc.~] What sort of a table he keeps. See
AINSW. Paropsis.
144. Sivear by the altars.~\ Jurare aras signifies to lay the hands
on the altar, and to swear by the gods. See HOR. Epist. lib. ii. epist. i.
1. 16. AINSW. Juro. Or rather, as appears from HOR. to swear
in or by the name of the god 1 to whom the altar was dedicated.
145. 8amotltracian.~\ Samothrace was an island near Lemnos,
not far from Thrace, very famous for religious rites. From hence
Dardanus, the founder of Troy, brought into Phrygia the worship
of the DII MAJORES ; such as Jupiter, Minerva, Mercury, &c.
From Phrygia, ^Eneas brought them into Italy.
Our gods.~\ Our tutelar deities Mars and Romulus. See
sat. ii. 1. 126 128. q. d. Were you to swear ever so solemnly.
A poor man, 6>c.~\ As credit ij given, not in proportion to a
man's morals, but as he is rich or poor ; the former will always gain
credit, while the latter will be set down as not having the fear, either
of the gods, or of their vengeance, and therefore doesn't scruple to
perjure himself.
146. Tlit gods themselves, <$'c.] Not punishing his perjury, but
excusing him, on account of the temptations which he is under from
his poverty and want.
147. WKcdC\ Quid is here elliptical, and the sense must be sup-
plied. q. d. What shall we say more ? because it is to be consi-
dered, that, besides the discrediting such a poor man as to his testi-
mony, all the symptoms of his poverty are constant subjects of jests
and raillery. See AINSW. Qnid, I^o. 2.
This sume.~\ Hie idem this same poor fellow. -
148. His garment.^ Laceraa here, perhaps, means what we call
a surtout, a sort of cloak lor the keeping oif the weather. See
AINSW. Lacema.
149. Gojort.] Toga the ordinary dress for the poorer sort. See
sat. i. 3.
102 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. ni.
Pelle patet : vel si consuto vulnere crassum 150
Atque recens linum ostendit non una cicatrix?
NlL HABET INFELIX PAUPERTAS DURIUS IN* SE,
QUAM QUOD RIDICULOS HOMINES TACIT. Exeat, inquit,
Si pudor est, et de pulvino surgat equeslri,
Cujus res legi non sufficit, et sedeant hie 155
Lenonum pueri, quocunque in fornice nati.
Hicplaudat nilidi pneconis filius inter
Pinnirapi cultos juvenes, juvenesque lanistae :
Sic libitum vano, qui nos distinxit, Othoni.
Quisgener hie placuit censu minor, atque puelloe 160
149. Soiled.] Sordidula, dim. of sordidus and signifies some-
what dirty or nasty.
With torn leather, $"c.] One shoe gapes open with a rent in
the upper leather.
150 1. The poet's language is here metaphorical he humour-
ously, by vulnere, the wound, means the rupture of the shoe ; by
cicatrix, (which is, literally, a scar, or seam in the flesh,) the awk-
Avard seam on the patch of the cobbled shoe, which exhibited to
view the coarse thread in the new-made stitches.
153. SaysheJ] i.e. Says the person who has the care of placing
the people in the theatre.
Let him go out, {c.~] Let the man who has not a knight's
revenue go out of the knight's place or seat.
It is to be observed that, formerly, all person? placed themselves,
as they came, in the theatre, promiscuously : now, in contempt of
the poor, that licence was taken away. Lucius Roscius Otho, a
tribune of the people, instituted a law, that there should be four-
teen rows of seats, covered with cushions, on which the knights
were to be seated. If a poor man got into one of these, or any
other, who had not 400 sestertia a year income, which made a
knight's estate, he was turned out with the utmost contempt.
155. Is not sufficient for the lav:.'] i. e. Who has not 400 sester-
tia a year, according to Otho's law.
156. The sons of pimps, <$'c.] The lowest, the most base-born
fellows, who happen to be rich enough to answer the conditions of
Otho's law, are to be seated in the knights' seats; and persons of
the best family are turned out, to get a seat where they can, if they
happen to be poor. See HOB. epod. iv. 1. 15, 16.
157. CWerT] Alow office among the Romans, as among us, who
proclaimed the edicts of magistrates, public sales of goods, &t:.
The poet says nitidi prseconis, intimating that the criers got a good
deal of money, lived well, were fat and sleek in their appearance,
and affected great spruceness in their dress.
Applaud.] Take the lead in applauding theatrical exhibi-
tions. Applause was expressed, as among us, by clapping of hands.
158. Of a sword-player. ~\ Pinnirapi denotes that sort of gla-
diator, called also Retiarius, who, with a net which he had in his
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 103
Leather be open : or if not one patch only shews the coarse 150
And recent thread in the stitched-up rupture ?
UNHAPPY POVERTY HAS NOTHING HARDER IN ITSELF
THAN THAT IT MAKES MEN RIDICULOUS. Let him go out, says he,
If he has any shame, and let him rise from the equestrian cushion,
Whose estate is not sufficient for the law," and let there sit here 155
The sons of pimps, in whatever brothel born.
Here let the son of a spruce crier applaud, among
The smart youths of a sword-player, and the youths of a fencer :
Thus it pleased vain Otho, who distinguished us.
What son-in-law, here, inferior in estate, hath pleased, and un-
equal 160
hand, was to surprise his adversary, and catch hold on the crest of
his helmet, which was adorned with peacock's plumes : from pinna,
a plume or feather, and rapio, to snatch. See sat. ii. 1. 143, note,
where we shall find the figure of a fish on the helmet; and as pinna
also means the fin of a fish, perhaps this kind of gladiator was called
Pinnirapus, from his endeavouring to catch this in his net.
1 58. The youths.'] The sons now grown young men juvenes.
Such people as these were entitled to seats in the fourteen rows of
the equestrian order, on account of their estates : while sons of
nobles, and gentlemen of rank, were turned out because their in-
come did not come up to what was required, by Otlio's law, to con-
stitute a knight's estate.
A fencer.'} Lanista signifies a fencing-master, one that taught
boys to fence.
159. Thus it pleased tain Olho.~] q. d. No sound or good reason
could be given for this ; it was the mere whim of a vain man, who
established this distinction, from his own caprice and fancy, and to
gratify his own pride and vanity.
However, Otho's law not only distinguished the knights from the
plebeians, but the knights of birth from those who were advanced to
that dignity by their fortunes or service; giving to the former the
first rows on the equestrian benches. Therefore HOR. epod. iv.
where he treats in the severest manner Menas, the freedman of CM.
Pompeius, who had been advanced to a knight's estate, mentions it
as one instance of his insolence and pride, that he sat himself in one
of the first rows after he became possessed of a knight's estate.
Sedilibusque magnus in primis eques,
Othone contempto, sedct. See FRANCIS, notes in loc.
160. IVhat son-in-lau.-.~] Umbritius still proceeds in shewing the
miseries of being poor, and instances the disadvantages which men
of small fortunes lie under with respect to marriage. ^
Inferior in estate.'] Census signifies a man's estate, wealth
or yearly revenue. Also a tribute, tax, or subsidy, to be paid ac-
cording to men's estates.
According to the first meaning of census ceasu minor may sig-
104 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. HI.
Sarcinulis impar? quis pauper scribitur hasres?
Quando in consilio est TEdilibus ? agmine facto
Debuerant olim tenues migrasse Quirites.
HAUD FACILE EMERGUNT, QUORUM VIRTUTIBUS OBSTAT
RES ANGUSTA DOMI : sed Romae durior illis 16j
Conatus : magno hospitium miserabile, magno
Servorum venires, et frugi coenula magno.
Fictilibus ccenare pudet, quod turpe negavit
nify, that a man's having but a small fortune, unequal to that of
the girl to whom he proposes himself in marriage, would occasion
his beiug rejected, as by no means pleasing or acceptable to her fa-
ther for a son-in-law.
According to the second interpretation of the word census, censu
minor may imply the man's property to be too small and inconsi-
derable for entry in the public register as an object of taxation.
The copulative atque seems to favour the first interpretation, as it
unites the two sentences as if Umbritius had said Another in-
stance, to shew how poverty renders men contemptible at Rome, is,
that nobody will marry his daughter to one whose fortune does not
equal hers ; which proves that, in this, as in all things else, money
is the grand and primary consideration.
Themistocles, the Athenian general, was of another mind, when he
said " I had rather have a man for my daughter without money,
" than money without a man."
161. Written down heir?~\ Who ever remembered a poor man
in his will, so as to make him his heir?
162. jdiles.~\ Magistrates in Rome, whose office it was to
oversee the repairs of the public buildings and temples also the
streets and conduits to look to weights and measures to regulate
the price of corn and victuals- also to provide for solemn funerals
and plays.
This officer was sometimes a senator, who was called Curulis, a
sella curuli, a chair of state made of ivory, carved, and placed in
curru, in a chariot, in which the head officers of Rome were wont
to be carried into council.
But there were meaner officers called .'Ediles, with a similar ju-
risdiction in the country towns, to inspect and correct abuses in
weights and measures, and the like. See sat. x. 101, 2.
When, says Umbritius, is a poor man ever consulted by one of
the magistrates? his advice is looked upon as not worth having
much less can he ever hope to be a magistrate himself, however de-
serving or fit for it.
In a foTTned bod\iJ\ Agmine facto /. e, collected together
in one body, as we say. So VIHG. Georg. iv. 167. of the bees Hying
out in a swarm against the drones. And again, /En. i. 86. of the
winds rushing forth together from the cave of ./Eolus.
163. Long ngo.~\ Alluding to the sedition and the defection of
the plebeians, called here teuues Quirites when oppressed by the
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 105
To the bags of a girl ? what poor man written down heir ?
When is he in counsel with ^diles ? In a formed body,
The mean Romans ought long ago to have migrated.
THEY DO NOT EASILY EMERGE, TO WHOSE VIRTUES NARROW
FORTUNE is A HINDRANCE; but at Rome more hard to them is 165
The endeavour ; a miserable lodging at a great price, at a great
price
The bellies of servants, and a little frugal supper at a great price.
It shameth to sup in earthen ware : which he denied to be Disgrace-
fid,
nobles and senators, they gathered together, left Rome, and retired
to the Mons Sacer, an hill near the city consecrated to Jupiter, and
talked of going to settle elewhere ; but the famous apologue of Me-
nenius Agrippa, of the belly and the members, prevailed on them to
return. This happened about 500 years before Juvenal was born.
See ANT. Un. Hist. vol. xi. 383 103.
163. Ought long ago to have migrated.'] To have persisted in their
intention ot leaving Home, and of going to some other part, where
ihey could have maintained their independency. See before, 1. 60.
Quirites.
164. Easily emerge.'] Out of obscurity and contempt
Whose virtues, 4'c-J The exercise of whose faculties and
good qualities is cramped and hindered by the narrowness of their
circumstances : and, indeed, poverty will always prevent respect,
and be an obstacle to merit, however great it may be. So HOR. sat.
v. lib. ii. 1. 8.
Atqui
Et genus et virtus, nisi cum re, vilior alga est.
But high descent and meritorious deeds,
Unblcst with wealth, are viler than sea- weeds. FRANCIS.
166. The endeavour^] But to them illis to those who have
small incomes, the endeavouring to emerge from contempt, is more
difficult at Rome than in any other place : because their little is, as it
were,* made less, by the excessive dearness of even common necessa-
ries a shabby lodging, for instance ; maintenance of slaves, whose
food is but coarse ; a small meal for one's self, however frugal all
these are at an exorbitant price.
168. It shameth, <$f c.] Luxury and expense are now got to such
nn height, that a man would be ashamed to have earthen ware at his
table.
Which he denied, Sfc.~\ The poet is here supposed to allude
to Curius Dentatus, who conquered the Samnites and the Marsi,
and reduced the Sabellans (descendants of the Sabines) into obedi-
ence to the Romans. \V hen the Samnite ambassadors came to him
to treat about a league with the Romans, they found him among the
Marsi, sitting on a wooden seat near the fire, dressing his own din-
jifr, which consisted of a few roots, in an earthen vessel, and offered
VOJ., I. Q
W6 JDVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. rn.
Translatus subito ad Marsos, mensamque Sabellam,
Contentusque illic Veneto, duroque cucullo. 170
Pars magna Italiae est, si verum adrnittimus, in quit
Nemo togam sumit, nisi mortuus. Ipsa dierum
Festorum herboso colitur si quando theatro
Majestas, tandemque redit ad pulpita notum
Exodium, cum persona? pallentis hiatum 175
In gremio matris formidat rusticus infans r
jEquales habitas illic, similemque videbis
Orcheslram, et populum : clari velamen honoris,
him large sums of money but he dismissed them, saying, " I had
" rather command the rich, than be rich myself; tell your country -
" men, that they will find it as hard to corrupt as to conquer me."
Curiais- Den talus was at that time consul with P. Corn. Rufinus,
and was a man of great probity, and who, without any vanity or
ostentation, lived in that voluntary poverty, and unaffected contempt
of riches, which the philosophers of those times were wont to re-
commend. He might, therefore, well be thought to deny that the
use of earthen ware was disgraceful, any more than of the homely
and coarse clothing of thoae people, which he was content to wear.
See ANT. Univ. Hist. vol. xii. p. 139.
But, among commentators, there are those, who, instead of nega-
vit, are for reading negabit not confining the sentiment to any par-
ticular person, but as to be understood in a general sense, as thus
However it may be reckoned disgraceful, at Rome, to use earthen
ware at table, yet he who should suddenly be conveyed from thence
to the Marsi, and behold their plain and frugal manner of living, as
well as that of their neighbours the Sabellans, will deny that there is
any shame or disgrace in the use of earthen ware at meals, or of
wearing garments of coarse materials.
This is giving a good sense to the passage but as Juvenal is so
frequent in illustrating his meaning, from the examples of great and
good men who lived in past times, and as negavit is the reading of
the copies, I should rather think that the first interpretation is what
the poet meant.
Ifi9. Tmmlated suddenly.^ On being chosen consul, he was im-
mediately ordered into Sanmium, Avhere he and his colleague acted
separately, each at the head of a consular army. The Marsi lay
between the Sabeili and the Samnites.
170. A Venetian and coarse iwod.^ Venetus-a-um, of Venice
dyed in a Venice-blue, as the garments worn tty common soldiers
and sailors were. AINSW. This colour is said to be first used by
the Venetian fishermen.
The cucuHus was a cowl, or hood, made of very harsh and coarse
cloth, which was to pull over the head, in order to keep oft' the rain.
Ml. Unless deud.~\ It was a custom among the Romans to put a
gown on the corpse when they carried it forth to burial. In many
pjrts of Italy, where they lived in rustic simplicity, they went
S*T. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 107
Who was translated suddenly to the Marsi, and to the Sabellaa ta-
ble,
And there was content with a Venetian and coarae hood. 170
There is a great part of Italy, if we admit the truth, in which
Nobody takes the gown, unless dead. The solemnity itself of
Festal days, if at any time it is celebrated in a grassy
Theatre, and at length a known farce returns to the stage,
When the gaping ot the pale-looking mask
The rustic infant in its mother's bosom dreads -
Habits are equal there, and there alike you will see
The orchestra and people : the clothiug of bright honour,
dressed in the tunica, or jacket, never wearing the toga, the ordinary
habit of the men at Rome, all their life time. Umbritius means to
prove what he had before asserted, (I. 165 7.) that one might live
in other places at much less expense than at Rome. Here he is in-
stancing in the article of dress.
172. The solemnity, $c.] The dies festi were holidays, or fes-
tivals, observed on some joyful occasions ; when people dressed in
{heir best apparel, and assembled at plays and shows.
173 4. A grassy theatre.^ He here gives an idea of the ancient
simplicity which was still observed in many parts of Italy, where, on
these occasions, they were not at the expense of theatres built with
wood or stone, but with turves dug from the soil, and heaped one
upon another, by way of seats for the spectators. See VIRG. zEn.
v. 28690.
174. A kiitucn farce.'] Exodium (from Gr. sfoSos, exitus) was a
farce, or interlude, at the end of a tragedy, exhibited to make the
people laugh, Notum exordium signifies some well known, favourite
piece of this sort, which had been often represented.
Staged] So pulpitum signifies, i. e. that part of the theatre
where ihe actors recited 'their parts.
175. The gaping of the pale-looking mask.'] Persona a false face,
vizard, or mask, which the actors wore over the face ; they were
painted over with a pafle flesh-colour, and the mouth was very wide
open, that the performer might speak through it the more easily.
Their appearance must have been very -hideous, and may well be sup-
posed to affright little chtldren. A figure with oae of these masks
yu may be seen in Holyday, p. 55. col. 2. Also in the coppei-
plate, facing the title of the ingenious Mr. Coiman's translation oi
Terence. See also Juv. edit. Ctisaubon, p. 73.
177. Habits fire equal thc.re.~\ AIL dress fiiike there : no fihkal Ji- -
tinctions of dress are to be feuud among .such simple people.
178. Tlte orchtstra.~\ Among the Greeks this was in the middle
of the theatre, where the Chorus danced. But, among the Romans,
it was the space between the stage and the common seais, where the
nobles and senators sat.
Xo distinction of this sort was made, at those rustic theatres, be-
iwc'ca the gentry and the common people.
178, The clothing of bright honour.] The chief magistrates f
108 JTJVENALIS SATIRE SAT. in
Sufficiunt tunicse summis ^Ekiilibus alba
Hie ultra vires habitus nitor: hie aliquid plus 180
Quani satis est ; interdum aliena sumitur arc&
Commune id vitium est : hie vivimus ambitiosa
Paupertate omnes : quid te moror ? Omniae Romse
Cum pretio. Quid das, ut Cossum aliquando salutes ?
Ut te respiciat clause Veiento labello ? 185
Ille metit barbam, crinem hie deponit amati :
Plena domus libis venalibus : accipe, et illud
these country places did not wear, as at Rome, fine robes decked
with purple ; but were content to appear in tunics, or jackets, white
and plain, even when they gave or presided at these assemblies. See
AINSW. Tunica, 5?o. 1, letter 6, under which this passage is
quoted.
179. MdVes.~] See before, 1. 162, and note.
180. Htre, dfc.] Here at Rome people dress beyond what they
can afford.
180 1. Someihing more tfian enough.'] More than is sufficient
for the purpose of any man's station, be it what it may in short,
people seem to aim at nothing but useless gawdy show.
1 181. Sometimes it is taken, 8{c.~\ This superfluity in dress is
sometimes at other people's expense : either these fine people borrow
money to pay for their extravagant dress, which they never repay ; or
they never pay for them at all which, by the way, is a vice very
common among such people.
182 3. Ambitious poverty.'] Our poverty, though very great,
is not lowly and humble, content with husbanding, and being frugal
of the, little we have, ' and with appearing what we really are but it
tnakes us ambitious of appearing what we are not, of living like men
of fortune, and thus disguising our real situation from the world.
This is at the root of that dishonesty before mentioned, so common
now-a-days, of borrowing money, or contracting debts, which we
never mean to pay. See 1. 181.
183. Why do 1 detain you?~\ Quid te moror ? So Hon. sat i.
lib. i. 1. 14, 15.
; , i Ne te morer audi
Quo rem deducam
This is a sort of phrase like our " In short not to keep you too
*' long."
184. With a price.~\ Every thing is dear at Rome; nothing is to
be had without paying for it viz. extravagantly. Seel. 166, 7.
What give you, fyc.] .What does it cost you to bribe the
servants of Cossus, that you may get admittance ? Cossus was some
wealthy person, much courted for his riches. Here it seems to mean
any such great and opulent person.
185. Veiento^] Some other proud nobleman, hard of access, who,
though suitors were sometimes with difficulty admitted to him, sel-
dom condescended to speak to them. Hence Umbritius describes
him clauso labello. Yet even to get at the favour of a look only,
it cost money in bribes to the servants for admittance.
SAT . HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 10Q
White tunics, suffice for the chief ^Ediles.
Here is a finery of dress beyond ability: here is something more 180
Than enough : sometimes it is taken from another's chest :
That vice is common. Here we all live in ambitious
Poverty why do I detain you ? All things at Rome
Are with a price. What give you that sometimes you may salute
Cossus ?
That Veiento may look on you with shut lip? 185
One shaves the beard, another deposits the hair of a favourite :
The house is full of venal cakes : take, and that
186. One sJiaves ilie beard.~\ On the day when they first shaved
their beard, they were reckoned no longer youths but men. A fes-
tival was observed on the occasion among the richer sort, on which
presents were made : and the misery was, that the poor were expected
to send some present, on pain of forfeiting the favour of the great
man. But the poet has a meaning here, which may be gathered
from the next note, and from the word amati at the end of this line.
Another deposits the hair.~\ It was usual for great men to
cut off the hair of their minions, deposit it in a box, and consecrate
it to some deity. On this occasion, too, presents were made. It
was, indeed, customary for all the Romans to poll their heads at
the age of puberty. See sat. ii. 1. 15, and note.
Umbritius still is carrying on his design of lashing the vices of the
great, and of setting forth the wretchedness of the poor q. d. "A
"great man can't shave his minion for the first time, or poll his
"head, but presents are expected on the occasion from his poor
" clients, ill as they can afford them, and presently there's a house-
" ful of cakes sent in, as offerings to the favourite."
187. Venal ca&es.] These were made of honey, meal, and oil,
and sent, as presents or offerings, from the poorer to the richer sort
of people, on their birth-days, (hence some read here libis geniali-
bus,) and on other festal occasions. They came in such numbers as
to be an object of profit, insomuch that the new trimmed favourite
slave, to whom they were presented, sold them for some considerable
M.i:n. Hence the text says libis venalibus.
Take, &;c.~] Tiie language here is metaphorical ; cakes have
just been mentioned, which were leavened, or fermented, in order to
make them light. Umbritius is supposed, from this, to use the word
fermentum, as applicable to the ideas of anger and indignation,
which ferment, or raise the mind into a state ot fermentation.
Accipe " there," says Umbritius, " take this matter of indi^na-
' tiou, let it work within your mind as it does in mine, that the poor
' clients of great men are obliged, even on the most trivial, and
' most infamous occasions, to pay a tribute towards the emolument
' of their servants, on pain and peril, if they do it not, of incur -
' ring their displeasure, and being shut out of their doors."
By cultis servis the poet means to mark those particular slaves of
great men, whose spruce and gay apparel besj>;ke tht-ir situation a?
110 JUVENALIS SATIR/E. SAT. HI,
Fermentum tibi habe: praestare tributa clientes
Cogimur, et cultis augere peculia servis.
Quis timet, aut timuit gelidi Praeneste ruinani; 190
Autpositis nemorosa inter juga Volsiniis, aut
Simplicibus Gabiis, aut proni Tiburis arce /
Nos urbem colimus tenui tibicine fultam
Magna parte sui : nam sic labentibus obstat
yillicus, et veteris rimae contexit hiatum : 195
Secures pendente jubet dormire ruina
Vivendum est illic, ubi nulla incendia, nulli
Nocte metus: jam poscit aquam, jam frivola transfert
Uealegon : tabulata tibi jam tertia fumant :
Tu nescis; nam si gradibus trepidatur ab imis, 200
favourites and, indeed, the word cultis may very principally allude
to this last circumstance for the verb colo not only signifies to
trim, deck, or adorn, but also to love, to favour, to be attached to.
See AINSW.
Peculia seems here to imply what we call vails.
190. Cold Prteneste.^ A town in Italy, about twenty miles from
Rome. It stood on a hill, and the waters near it were remarkably
cold ; from which circumstance, as well as its high situation, it was
called gelida Prdeneste. VIRG. ^En. vii. 682.
191. Volsinmm.~] A town in Tuscany, the situation of which was
pleasant and retired.
1 92. Simple Ga&n.] A town of the Volscians, about ten miles
from Rome : it was called simple, because deceived into a surrender
to Tarquin the proud, when he could not take it by force ; or per
haps from the simple and unornamented appearance of the houses.
T/te tower of prone Tibur.'] A pleasant city of Italy, si-
tuate about sixteen miles from Rome, on the river Anio: it stood on
a precipice, and had die appearance of hanging over it. Arx signi-
fies the top, summit, peak, or ridge of any thing, as of a rock, hill,
&c. also a tower, or the like, built upon it
193. l\'e.~\ Who live at Rome.
Supported, <$T.] In many parts of it very ruinous, many of
the houses only kept from falling, by shores or props set against
them, to prevent their tumbling down.
194. The steward.'] Villicus here seems to mean some officer,
like a steward or bailiff', whose business it was to overlook these
matters; a sort of city surveyor, (see sat. iv. 77.) who, instead of a
thorough repair, only propped the houses, and plastered up the
cracks in their walls, \v!i;ch had been opened by their giving way
t>o that, though they might to appearance be repaired and strong, yet
ihey were still in the utmost danger of falling. V r illicus may perhaps
mean the steward, or bailiif, of the great man who was landlord of
these houses: it was the steward's duty to sec that repairs were
timely and properly done.
196. He'&ds us fo sleep, frc.} If w? express any app/chen-ion of
SAT. HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. Ill
Leaven have to thyself: we clients to pay tributes
Are compelled, and to augment the wealth of spruce servants.
Who fears, or hath feared the fall of a house in cold Praeiieste, 19O
Or at Volsinium placed among shady hills, or at
Simple Gabii, or at the tower of prone Tibur ?
We inhabit a city supported by a slender prop
In a great part of itself; for thus the steward hinders
What is falling, and has covered the gaping of an old chink: 195
He bids us to sleep secure, ruin impending.
There one should live,, where there are no burnings, no fears
In the night. Already Ucalegon asks for water, already
Removes his lumber : already thy third floors smoke: [200
Thou know'st it not : for if they are alarmed from the lowest steps,
danger, or appear uneasy at our situation, he bids us dismiss our
fears, and tells us, that we may sleep in safety, though at the same
time the houses are almost tumbling about our ears.
Umbritius urges the multitude of ruinous houses, which threaten
the lives of the poor inhabitants, as another reason why he thinks it
safest and best to retire from Rome.
197. There one should live, $c. j As a fresh motive for the re-
moval of Umbritius from Rome, he mentions the continual danger
of fire, especially to the poor, who being obliged to lodge jn the up-
permost parts of the houses in which they are inmates, run the risk
of being burnt in their beds for which reason he thought it best
to live where there was no danger of house-burning, and nightly
alarms arising from such a calamity.
198. Already Ucalegon.~] He seems here to allude to Virg. ^En. ii.
310 12. where he is giving a description of the burning of the city
of Troy:
Jam Deiphobi dcdlt ampla ruinam,
Vulcano superante, domus: jam proiimus ardet
Ucalegon.
Some unhappy Ucalegon, says Umbritius, who sees the ruin of his
neighbour's house, and his own on fire, is calling out for water, is
removing his wretched furniture (frivola trifling, frivolous, of little
value) to save it from the flames.
199. Tin/ thirdjloo^.'] Tabulatum from tabula, a plank, signi-
fies any thing on which planks are laid so the floors of a house.
200. Tlwu know si it HO/.] You a poor inmate, lodged up in the
garret, are, perhaps, fast asleep, and know nothing of the matter :
but you are not in the less danger, for if the fire begins below, it
will certainly reach upwards to the top of the house.
- If they are alarmed.'] Trepidatur impers. (like concurri-
tur, HOR. sat. i. 1. 7.) if they tremble are in an uproar (AiNsw.)
from the alarm of fire.
From the lau-eat s(epx.~\ Gradus is a step or stair of a house
JUVENALIS SATIR/E. SAT. niv
Ultimus ardebit, quern tegula sola tuetur
A pluvisi ; molles ubi reddunt ova columbae.
Lectus erat Codro Procula minor : iftceoli sex
Ornamentum abaci ; necnon et parvulus infra
Cantharus, et recubans sub eodem marmore Chiron ; 205
Jamque vetus Graecos servabat cista libellos,
Et divina Opici rodebant carmina mures.
Nil habuit Codrus : quis enim negat ? et tainen illud
Perdidit infelix totum nil : ultimus autem
./Erumnse cumulus, quod nudum, et frusta rogantein 210
Nemocibo, nemo hospitio, tectoque juvabit.
imis gradibus, then, must denote the bottom of the stairs, and sig-
nify what we call the ground-floor.
201. The highest.'] Ultimus, i. e. gradus, the last stair from the
ground, which ends at the garret, or cock-loft, (as we call it,) the
wretched abode of the poor. This will be reached by the ascending
flames, when the lower part of the house is consumed.
The roof.~\ Tegula, lit. signifies a tile a tego, quod tegat
Bedes hence it stands for the roof of a house.
202. Where the soft pigeons.'] The plumage of doves and pigeons
is remarkably soft. Perhaps molles here has the sense of gentle,
tame ; for this sort love to lay their eggs and breed in the roofs of
buildings.
203. Codrus had a bed, <$fc.] Umbritius still continues to set forth
the calamities of. the poor, and shews that, under such a calamity as
is above mentioned, they have none to relieve or pity them.
Codrus, some poor poet perhaps he that is mentioned, sat. i.
L 2. which see, and the note.
The furniture of his house consisted of a wretched bed, which wu.s
less, or shorter, than his wife Procula, who is supposed to have been
a very little woman. Minor signifies less in any kind, whether in
length, breadth, or height.
Six little pitchers.'] Urceoli, (dim. of urceus,) little water-
pitchers made of clay, and formed on the potter's wheel.
Amphora cspit
Institui, currente rota cur urceus exit ? Hon. ad Pis. 1. 21, C.
204 5. A small jug.~\ Cantharus a sort of drinking vessel,
with a handle to it Attrita pendebat Cantharus ansa. VIRG. eel. vi.
17.
205. A Chiron reclining, $c.'] A figure of Chiron the centaur in
a reclining posture under the same marble, ?'. e. under the marble
slab, of which the cupboard was formed, perhaps by way of sup-
port to it
Some suppose Umbritius to mean by sub eodem marmore, that
this was a shabby figure of Chiron made of the same materials with
the cantharus viz. of clay which he jeeringly expresses by mar-
more, for of this images were usually made.
206. An old chest, 4" c -] This is another instance of the poverty
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. . 113
The highest will burn, which the roof alone defends
From the rain : where the soft pigeons lay their eggs.
Codrus had a bed less than Procula ; six little pitchers
The ornament of his cupboard ; also, underneath, a small
Jug, and a Chiron reclining under the same marble. 205
And now an old chest preserved his Greek books,
And barbarous mice were gnawing divine verses.
Nothing had Codrus who forsooth denies it ? and yet all that
Nothing unhappy he lost. But the utmost
Addition to his ailliction was, that, naked, and begging scraps, 210
Nobody will help him with food, nobody with entertainment, and
an house.
of Codrus he had no book-case, or library, but only a few Greek
books in an old worm-eaten wooden chest.
207. Barbarous mice, #c.] Opicus is a word taken from the
Opici, an ancient, rude, and barbarous people of Italy. Hence the
adjective opicus signifies barbarous, rude, unlearned. The poet,
therefore, humourously calls the mice opici, as having so little respect
for learning, that they gnawed the divine poems, perhaps even of
Homer himself, which might have been treasured up, with others, in
the chest of poor Codrus. See opicus used in the above sense, sat.
vi. 454.
Some suppose opici to be applied to mice, from Gr. OTT, a cavern
alluding to the holes in which they hide themselves.
208. Who forsooth denies it ?] By this it should appear that the
Codrus mentioned here, and in sat. i. 1. 2. are the same person,
whose poverty was so great, and so well known, as to be proverbial.
See note, sat. i. 1. 2.
209 10. The utmost addition, 6fc.] Ultimus cumulus the ut-
most height the top of his unhappiness as the French say Le
comble de son malheur. The French word comble evidently comes
from Lat. cumulus, Avhich signifies, in this connexion, that which is
over and above measure the heaping of any measure when the
measure is full to the brim, and then more put on, till it stands on an
heap above, at last it comes to a point, and will hold no more. BOYER
explains comble to mean Ce qui pent tenir par dessus unen s irj
deja pleine. We speak of accumulated affliction, the height of sor-
row, the completion of misfortune, the finishing stroke, and the
like, but are not possessed of any English phrase, which literally
expresses the Latin ultimus cumulus, or the French comble du mal-
heur.
210. Naked."] Having lost the few clothes he had by the fire.
Scraps."] Frusta broken victuals, as we say. In this sense
the word is used, sat. xiv. 128.
211. With entertainment.^ So hospitium seems to mean here, and
is to be understood, in the sense of hospitality, friendly or charitable
reception and entertainment : some render it lodging but this is
implied by the next word.
VOL. i. R
114 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. m.
Si raagna Asturii cecidit domus : horrida mater,
Pullati proceres, differt vadimonia Prater :
Tune gemimus casus urbis, tune odimus ignem :
Ardet adhuc et jam accurrit qui marmora donet, 215
Conferat impensas : hie nuda et Candida signa ;
Hie aliquid praeclarum Euphranoris, et Polycleti ;
Phaecasianorum vetera ornamenta deorum.
Hie libros dabit, et forulos, mediamque Minervam ;
Hie medium argenti : meliora, ac plura reponit 220
Persicus orborum lautissimus, et merito jam
211. And an house.'] Nobody would take him into their house,
that he might find a place where to lay his head,, secure from the in-
clemency of the weather.
Having shewn the miserable estate of the poor, if burnt out of
"house and home, as we say, Umbritius proceeds to exhibit a strong
contrast, by stating the condition of a rich man under such a cala-
mity by this he carries on his main design of setting forth the abo-
minable partiality for the rich, and the wicked contempt and neglect
of the poor.
212. Aslurius.] Perhaps this may mean the same person as is
spt>ken of, 1. 29. by the name of Artureus. However, this name
may stand for any rich man, who, like Asturius, was admired and
courted for his riches.
Hath fallen.'] A prey to flames hath been burnt down.
The mother is ghtuthf.] Mater may here mean the city itself.
All Rome is in a state of disorder and lamentation, and puts on a
ghastly appearance, as in some public calamity Or, the matrons of
Rome, with torn garments and dishevelled hair, appear in all the
horrid signs of woe. See ViR{>. ^En. ii. 1. 489.
213. The nobles sarf/y clothed*] Pullati clad in sadrcoloured ap-
parel, as if in mourning.
The Pr&tor, <Sfc.] The judge adjourns his court, and re-
spites the pledges, or bonds, for the suitors' appearances to a future
day.
214. Tlien we lament, #c.] Then we lament the accidents to
which the city is liable particularly the loss of so noble an edifice
as the house of Asturius, as if the whole city was involved, in the
misfortune.
Wt hate fire. ,] We can't bear the very mention of fire. It
was customary for mourners to have no fire in their houses. Per-
haps this may be meant.
215. It burns yet.~\ i. e. While the house is still on fire, before
the flames have quite consumed it.
And now runs one, <Sfc.] Some officious flatterer of Asturius
loses no time to improve his own interest in the great man's favour,
but hastens to offer his services before the fire has done smoaking, and
io let him know, that he has marble of various kinds, which he wishes
to present him with, for the rebuilding of the house.
216. Can contribute expenses.] i.e. Can contribute towards tht
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 115
If the great house of Asturius hath fallen ; the mother is ghastly,
The nobles sadly clothed, the Praetor defers recognizances :
Then we lament the misfortunes of the city : then we hate fire :
It burns yet and now runs one who can present marbles, 215
Can contribute expenses : another naked and white statues,
Another something famous of Euphranor and Polycletus ;
The ancient ornaments of Phoecasian gods.
This man will give books, and book-cases, and Minerva down to
the waist ;
Another a bushel of silver ; better and more things doth 22O
The Persian, the most splendid of destitutes lay up, and now de-
servedly
expense of repairing the damage, by presenting a large quantity of
this fine marble, which was a very expensive article. '
216. Another, $c.~\ Of the same stamp as one furnishes marble
to rebuild the outside of the house, another presents ornaments for
the inside such as Grecian statues, which were usually naked, and
made of the finest white marble.
217. Another something famous, Sfc.^ Some famous works of
Euphranor and Polycletus, two eminent Grecian statuaries.
218. Of Phecasian gods.'] The ancient images, of the Grecian
deities were called Phaecasian, from <px.ix.ae-v<r, calceus albus ; because
they were represented with white sandals: probably the statues here
mentioned had been ornaments of Grecian temples.
219. Minerva down to the icaist.~] Probably this means a bust of
Minerva, consisting of the head, and part of the body down to the
middle.
Pallas to the breast. DRVDEN.
Grangius observes, that they had their imagines aut integrae, aut di-
midiatae of which latter sort was this image of Minerva.
Britannicus expounds mediam Minecvam " Statuam Minarvae in
" medio reponeridam, ad exornandam bibliothecam" " A statue of
" Minerva to be placed in Hie middle, by way of ornamenting his
" library."
220. A bushel of silver."] A large quantity a definite for an in-
definite as we say " such a one is worth a bushel of money"
So the French say un boisseau d'ecus. Argenti, here, may either
mean silver to be made into plate, or silver plate already made, or it
may signify money. Either of these senses answers the poet's de-
sign, in setting forth the attention, kindness, and liberality shewn to
the rich, and forms a striking contrast to the want of all these to-
wards the poor.
221. The Persian, &)'c.~\ Meaning Asturius, who either was a
Persian, and one of the foreigners who came and enriched himsell at
Rome, (see 1. 72.) or so called, on account of his resembling the
Persians in splendor and magnificence.
The most splendid of destitutes.'] Orbus means one that is
deprived of any thing that is dear, necessary, or useful as children
116 JUVENALIS SATIIL'E. SAT. in.
Suspectus, tanquam ipse suas inrenderet aedes.
Si potes aveili Circensibus, optima Sorae,
Aut Fabrateriae domus, aut Frusinone paratur,
Quanti nunc tenebras unum conducis in annum : 225
Hortulus hie, puteusque brevis, nee reste movendus,
In tenues plantas facili ditt'unditur haustu.
Vive bidentis amans, et culti villicus horti,
Unde epulura possis centum dare Pythagoraeis.
Est aliquid quocunque loco, quocunque recessu, 230
Unius sese dominum fecisse laeertas.
Plurimus hie asger moritur vigilando ; (sed ilium
Languorem peperit cibus imperfectus, et haerens
of their parents men of their friends or of their substance and
property, as Asturius, who had lost his house, and every thing in it,
by a fire. But, as the poet humourously styles him, he was the most
splendid and sumptuous of all sufferers, for he replaced and repaired
his loss, with very considerable gain and advantage, from the con-
tributions which were made towards the rebuilding and furnishing
his house, with more and better (meliora et plura) materials for both,
than those which he had lost.
The contrast to the situation of poor Codrus is finely kept up, as
well as the poet's design of exposing the monstrous partiality which
was shewn to riches.
221 2. A T o?c deservedly suspected.'] See MARTIAL, epigr. 51.
lib. iii.
The satire upon the venality, self-interestedneas, and mercenary
views of those who paid their court to the rich and great, is here
greatly heightened, by supposing them so notorious, as to encourage
Asturius to set his own house on fire, on the presumption that he
should be A gainer by the presents which would be made him from
those who expected, in their turn, to be richly repaid by the enter-
tainments lie would give them during his life, and, at his death, by
the legacies lie might leave them in his will. Such were called cap-
tatores. See sat. x. 202. HOR. lib. ii. sat. v. 1. 57.
As for poor Codrus, he was left to starve ; nobody could expect
any thing from him, either living or dying, so he was forsaken of all
orborum misserrimus whereas Asturius was, as the poet calls
him orborum lautissimus.
223. The Circenses.^ The Circensian games so called, because
exhibited in the Circus. See KENNETT, Antiq. book v. part ii.
chap. ii. These shows Avere favourite amusements, and therefore the
Rdmans could hardly be prevailed onto absent themselves from them
Hence he says, Si potes aveili.
224. Sora, dfc.] These were pleasant towns in Campania, where,
says Umbritius to Juvenal, a very good house and little garden is
purchased (paratur) for the same price (quanti) as you now, in thete
dear times, hire (conducis) a wretched, dark, dog-hole (tenebras) at
Rome for a single year.
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 117
Suspected, as if he had himself set fire to his own house.
Could you be plucked away from the Cireenses , a most excellent
house
At Sora, or Fabrateria, or Frusino, is gotten
At the price for which you now hire darkness for one year : 225
Here is a little garden, and a shallow well, not to be drawn by a
rope,
It is poured with an easy draught on the small plants.
Live fond ef the fork, and the fanner of a cultivated garden,
Whence you may give a feast to an hundred Pythagoreans.
It is something in any place, in any retirement, 23Q
To have made one's self master of one lizard.
Here many a sick man dies with watching; (but that
Languor food hath produced, imperfect, and sticking
226. A shallow icdl, $c.~\ The springs lying so high, that there
is no occasion for a rope for letting down a bucket to fetch up the
\vater ; the garden may be watered with the greatest ease, by merely
dipping, and thus, facili haustu, with an easy drawing up by the
hand, your plants be refreshed. This was no small acquisition in
Italy, where, in many parts, it seldom rains.
228. Live fond of the fork.~\ i. e. Pass your time in cultivating
your little spot of ground. The bidens, or fork of two prongs,
was used in husbandry here, by met. it is put for husbandry itself.
229. An hundred Pythagoreans] Pythagoras taught his disciples
to abstain from flesh, and to live on vegetables.
231. Of one lizard.^ The green lizard is very plentiful in Italy,
ns in all warm climates, and is very fond of living in gardens, and
among the leaves of trees and shrubs.
Seu viridcs rubum
Dimovere lacertaj Hoa. lib. i. od. xxili. 1. 7, 8.
The poet means, that, wherever a man may be placed, or wherever
iviired from the rest of the world, it is no small privilege to be able
to call one's self master of a little spot of ground of one's own,
however small it may be, though it were no bigger than to contain
one poor lizard. This seems a proverbial or figurative kind of ex-
pression.
232. With waiching.~\ With being kept awake. Another incon-
venience of living in Rome, is, the perpetual noise in the-streets,
which is occasioned by the carriages passing at all hours, so as to
prevent one's sleeping. This, to people who are sick, is a deadly
evil.
3. But that languor, Sfc.'] q. d. Though, by the way, it
must be admitted, that the weak, languishing, and sleepless state, in
which many of these are, they tirst bring upon themselves by their
own intemperance, and therefore their deaths are not wholly to be
set down to the account of the noise by which they are kept awake,
> -.nvi'ver this may help to finish them.
233. Food irnperfe.ct.^ i, e. Imperfectly digested indigested
118 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. HI.
Ardenti stomacho,) nam quae meritoria somnum
Admittunt? magnis opibus dormitur in Urbe. 235
Inde caput morbi : rhedarum transitus arcto
Vicorum inflexu, et stands- convicia mandra
Eripiunt somnum Druso, vitulisqut marinis.
Si vocat officium, turba cedente vehetur
Dives, et ingenti curret super ora Liburno, 240
Atque obiter leget, aut scribet, aut dormiet iutus;
Namqae facit soinnum clausa lectica fenestra.
Ante tamen veniet : nobis properantibus obstat
nnd lying hard at the stomach barrens, adhering, as it were, to the
coats of the stomach, so as not to pass, but to ferment, and to oc-
casion a burning or scalding sensation. This seems to be a descrip-
tion of what we call the heart-burn, (Gr. x^Ays,) which arise*
from indigestion, and is so painful and troublesome as to prevent
sleep : it is attended with risings of sour and sharp fmr.es from the
stomach into the throat, which occasion a sensation almost like that
of scalding water.
234. For what hired lodgings, <?fc.] The nam, here, seems to join
this sentence to vigilando, 1. 232. I therefore have ventured to put
the intermediate words in a parenthesis, which, as they are rather di-
gressive, makes the sense of the passage more easily understood.
Meritorium a merendo locus qui mercede locatur, signifies any
place or house that is hired. Such, in the city of Rome, were
mostly, as we may gather from this passage, in the noisy part of the
town, in apartments next to the street, so not very friendly to re-
pose.
235. With great wealth.^ Dormitur is here used impersonally,
like trepidatur, 1. 200. None, but the rich, can afford to live in
houses which are spacious enough to have bed-chambers remote from
the noise in the streets those who, therefore, would sleep in Rome,
must be at a great expense, which none but the opulent can af-
ford,
236. Thence ike source, <5fc.] One great cause of the malady
complained of (morbi, i. e. vigilandi, 1. 232.) must be attributed to
the narrowness of the streets and turnings, so that the carriages must
not only pass very near the houses, but occasion frequent stoppages ;
the consequence of which is, that there are perpetual noisy disputes,
quarrels, and abuse (convicia) among the drivers. Rheda signifies
any carriage drawn by horses, &c.
237. Of the standing team.^ Mandra signifies, literally, a hovel
for cattle, but, by melon, a company or team of horses, oxen,
mules, or any beasts of burden these are here supposed standing
still, and not able to go on, by reason of meeting others in a nar-
row pass ; hence the bickerings, scoldings, and abusive language
which the drivers bestow on each other for stopping the way.
238. DJ-WSMS.] Some perr.on remarkable for drowsiness.
Sea-calves.'] These are remarkably eluggish and drowsy ;
SAT. HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 119
To the burning stomach,) for what hired lodgings admit
Sleep ? With great wealth one sleeps ia the city. 235
Thence the source of the disease: the passing of carriages in the
narrow
Turning of the streets, and the foul language of the standing team^
Take away sleep from Drusus, aud from sea-calves.
If business calls, the crowd giving way, the rich man will be
Carried along, and will pass swiftly above their faces with a huge
Liburnian, 210
And in the way he will read, or write, or sleep within;
For a litter with the window shut causeth sleep.
But he will come before us: us hastening the crowd before
they will lay themselves on the shore to sleep, in which situation
they are found, and thus easily taken.
Sternum se somno diversse in littore pfcocze. VIRG. Geor. iv. 432.
239. If business calls.] Umbritius, having shewn the advantages
of the rich, in being able to afford themselves quiet repose notwith-
standing the constant noises in the city, which break the rest of the
poorer sort, now proceeds to observe the advantage with which the
opulent can travel along the crowded streets, where the poorer sort
are inconvenienced beyond measure.
Si vocat officium if business, either public or private, calls the
rich man forth, the crowd makes way for him as he is carried along
in his litter.
2 10. Pass swiftly, Sfc.] Garret lit. will run while the common
passengers can hardly get along, for the crowds of people, the rich
man passes on without the least impediment, being exalted above the
heads of the people, in his litter, which is elevated on the shoulders
of tall and stout Liburnian bearers.
The word ora properly means faces or countenances the supor
ora may denote his being carried above the faces of the crowd,
which are turned lip wards to look at him as he passes.
-A huge Liburnian.] The chairmen it Rome, commonly
came from Liburnia, a part of Illyria, between Istria and Dalmatia.
They were remarkably tall and stout.
241. Ready or write, or sleep.] He is carried on with so much
ease to himself, that he can amuse himself with reading employ
himself in writing or if he has a mind to take a nap, has only to
shut up the window of his litter, and he will be soon composed to
sleep. All this he may do obiter in going along En, chemia
faisant en passant, as the French say.
243. But he icill come before us.] He will lose no time by all
this, for, however lie may employ himself in his way, he will be
sure to arrive before us toot ^ussengers, at the place he is going to.
Us hastening.] Whatever hurry we may be in, or whatever
haste we wish to make, we are sure to be ob-Uructcd the crowd
that is before us, ia multitude and turbulence, like waves, closes ia
120 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. in.
Unda prior, magno populus premit agmine lurabos
Quisequitur: ferit hie cubito, ferit assere duro 245
Alter : at hie tignum capiti incutit, ilte metretam.
Pinguia crura luto : planta mox undique magna
Calcor, et in digito clavus mihi militis hajret.
Nonne vides quanto celebretur sportula fuvna?
Centum convivae; sequitur sua quemque culina: 250
Corbulo vix ferret tot vasa ingentia, tot res
Impositas capiti, quot recto vertice portat
Servulus infelix; et cursu ventilat ignem.
upon us, as soon as the great man, whom they made way for, is
passed, so that we can hardly get along at all.
244. The people who fallow, 6fc.~] As the crowd which is before
us stops up our way, that which is behind presses upon our backs,
so that we can hardly stir either backward or forward.
245. One strikes with the elbow.~\ To jostle us out of his way.
245 6. Another with a large joist.^ Which he is carrying
along, and runs it against us. Assen signifies a pole, or piece of
wood, also the joist of an house : which, from the next word, we
may suppose to be meant here, at least some piece of timber for
building, which, being carried along in the crowd, must strike those
who are not aware of it, and who stand in the way.
Some understand asser in this place to mean a pole of to ne litter
that is passing along a chair-pole, as we should call it.
246. Drives a beam, 4" C -J Another is carrying tignum, a beam,
or rafter, or some other large piece of wood used in building, which,
being carried on the shoulder, has the end level with the heads of
those it meets with in its way, and must inflict a severe blow.
A tub.~^ Metreta signifies a cask of a certain measure,
which, in being carried through the crowd, will strike and hurt those
who don't avoid it.
247. Thick with mud.~] Bespattered with the mire of the streets,
which is kicked up by such a number of people upon each other.
247 8. On all sides the nail, fycj] I can hardly turn myself
but some heavy, splay-footed fellow tramples upon my feet ; and at
last some soldier's hob-nail runs into my toe. The soldiers wore a
sort of harness on their feet and legs, called caliga, which was stuck
full of large nails. See sat. xvi. 24, 5.
Such are the inconveniences which the common sort of people
meet Avith in walking the streets of Rome.
249. Do not you see, Sfc.~] Umbritius proceeds to enumerate far-
ther inconveniences and dangers, which attend passengers in the
streets of Rome.
Some understand fumo, here, in a figurative sense q. d. With
how much bustle with what crowds of people, like clouds of
smoke, is the sportula frequented? Others think it alludes to the
smoke of the chafing-dishes of hot coals which were put under the
*AT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 121
Obstructs : the people who follow press the loins with a large
Concourse : one strikes with the elbow, another strikes with a
large 245
Joist, but another drives a beam against one's head, another a tub.
The legs thick with mud : presently, on all sides, with a great foot
I'm trodden on, and the nail of a soldier sticks in my toe.
Do not you see with how much smoke the sportula is frequented ?
An hundred guests : his own kitchen follows every one : 250
Corbulo could hardly bear so many immense vessels, so many things
Put on his head, as, with an upright top, an unhappy little
Slave carries ; and in running ventilates the fire.
victuals, to keep them warm as they were carried along the street :
this, from the number, must have been very offensive.
249. The sportula.'] Of this, see sat. i. 95, note. But, from the
circumstances which are spoken of in the next four lines of this pas-
sage, it should seem, that the sportula mentioned here was of anothf-r
kind than the usual poor dole-basket. Here are an hundred guesn
invited to partake of it, and each has such a share distributed to him
as to be very considerable.
250. His own kitchen follows.'] Each of the hundred sharers of
this sportula had a slave, who, with a chafing-dish of coals on hij
head, on which the victuals were put, to keep them hot, followed his
master along the street homewards: so that the whole made a long
procession.
Culina denotes a place where victuals are cooked ; and as the
slaves followed their masters with vessels of fire placed under the dishes
so as to keep them warm, and, in a manner, to dress them as they
went along, each of these might be looked upon as a moveable or
travelling kitchen : so that the masters might each be said to be fol-
lowed by his own kitchen.
251. Corbulo.~\ A remarkable strong and valiant man in the time
of Nero. Tacitus says of him Corpore ingens erat, et supra ex-
perientiam sapieutiamque erat validus.
252. An upright top.~] The top of the head, on which the vessels
of fire and provision were carried, must be quite upright, not bead-
ing or stooping, Lest the soup, or sauce, which they contained, should
be spilt as they went along, or vessels and all slide off. The tot vasa
ingentia, and tot res shew that the sportula above mentioned \vas of
a magnificent kind, more like the splendor of a coena recta a sec
and full supper, than the scanty distribution of a dole-basket.
2523. Unhappy little slave.'] Who was hardly equal to the
burden which he was obliged to curry in so uneasy a situation, as
not daring to stir his head.
253. lit running ventilates;, 4' c -] He bltnv up. y fanned, the fire
VOL, I. ^
122 JUVENA^IS SATIRE. 9 AT. m.
Scinduntur tunicas sartac : modo longa coruscat
Sarraco veniente abies, atque altera pinum 255
Plaustra vehunt, nutant alte, populoque minantur.
Nam si procubuit, qui saxa Ligustica portat
Axis, et eversum fudit super agmina montem,
Quid superest de corporibus ? quis membra, quis os?a
Invenit? obtritum vulgi perit omne cadaver 260
More animae. Domus interea secura patellas
J am la vat, et bucczk foculum excitat, et sonat unctis
Strigilibus, pleno et componit lintea gutto.
Haec inter pueros varie properantur ; at ille
under the provisions, by the current of air which he excited in has-
tening on with his load. These processions Umbritius seems to rec-
kon among other causes of the street being crowded, and made disa-
greeable and inconvenient for passengers.
254. Botched coats are torn.'] Some refer this to the old botched
clothes of these poor slaves but I should rather imagine, that L ni-
britius here introduces a new circumstance, which relates to the poor
in general, whose garments being old, and only hanging together by
being botched and mended, are rent and torn off their backs, in get-
ting through the crowd, by the violence of the press, which is in-
creased by the number of masters and servants, who are hurrying
along with the contents of the sportula.
A long fir-tree,.^ Another inconvenience arises from the
passing of timber-carriages among the people in the streets. SENECA,
epist. xl. Longo vehiculorum ordine, pinus ant abies deferebalur
vicis intrementibus.
Brandishes.'] Corusco signifies to brandish or shake ; also
neut. to be shaken, to wave to and fro which must be the case of
a long stick of timber, of the ends especially, on a carriage. This
may be very dangerous if approached too near.
255. The waggon coming.] Moving on its way sarracum signi-
fies a waggon, or wain, for the purpose of carrying timber.
250. They nod on hlgh.^ These trees being placed high on the
carriages, and lying out beyond them at each end, tremble aloft, and
threaten the destruction of the people.
257. Bui if the axk, &'c.~] i. e. If the stone-carringo has over-
turned, by the breaking of the axle-tree.
Ligiislian sto?ies.] Which were hewn, in vast masses, in
Liguria, from the quarries of the Apennine mountains.
258. The overturned -mountain.] Hyperbole, denoting the im-
mensity of the block of stone.
Upon the crowd.'] Aginen denotes a troop or company ; also
a number of people walking together, as in a crowded .treet.
259. What remains, $c.~] If such an immense mass should, in
its fall, light upon any of the people, it must grind them to atoms :
no trace of a human body, its limbs, or bones could be found.
261. In the manner of the sow/.] i. e. The particle? which com-
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 123
Botched coats are torn. Now a long fir-tree brandishes,
The waggon coming, and a pine other 255
Carts carry, they nod on high, and threaten the people.
But if the axle, which carries the Ligustian stones,
Hath fallen down, and hath poured forth the overturned mountain
upon the crowd,
What remains of their bodies ? who finds members who
Bones ? every carcase of the vulgar, ground to powder, perishes 260
In the manner of the soul. Mean while, the family secure now
washes
The dishes, and raises up a little fire with the cheek, and makes a
sound with anointed
Scrapers, and puts together the napkins with a full cruise.
These things among the servants are variously hastened : but he
posed the body could no more be found, than could the soul which
is immaterial ; both would seem to have vanished away, and disap-
peared together.
261. Mean while] Interea q. d. While the slave is gone to
bring home the provisions, and is crushed to pieces, by the fall of a
stone-carriage, in his way. See 1. 264, 5.
The family.] The servants of the family (Comp. 1. 264.)
safe at home, and knowing nothing of what had happened, set-about
preparing for supper.
262. The dishes] Patella signifies any sort of dish, to hold meat.
One washes and prepares the dishes which are to hold, the meat
when it arrives.
. Raises tip a little fire, &fc] Another, in order to prepare
vhe fire for warming the water for bathing before supper, blows it
with his mouth. Hence it is said bucci foculum excitat -alluding
to the distension of the cheeks in the act of blowing.
'2'j 1 5. IV ilk anointed scrapers] Slrigil denotes an instrument
for scraping the body after bathing It had some oil put on it, to
make it slide with less friction over the skin. Scrapers were made of
gold, silver, iron, or the like, which, when gathered up, or thrown
down together, made a clattering sound.
263. Puts together the napkins] Lintea rlinen napkins, or towels,
made use of to dry the body after bathing : these he folds and lays,
in order.
A fall cruise.'] Gutto a sort of oil-cruet, with a long and
narrow neck, which poured the oil, drop by drop, on the body after
bathing, and then it was rubbed all over it.
264. These things among the servants, Sic] Each servant, in his
department, made all the haste he couid, to get things ready against
the supper should arrive.
But he] Hie i. e. The servulus infelix, (which wo read of,
1. 253.) in his way home with his load of provisions, is^killed by the
full of a block of stone upon him,
!24 JtiVENALlS SATIR/E. SAT. n*
Jam sedet in rip&, tetrumque novitius horret 263
PcTthmea ; nee sperat coenosi gurgitis alnum
Infelix, nee habet quern porrigat ore trientem.
Re^pice nuuc alia, ac diversa pericula noctis :
Quod spatium teetis sublimibus, unde eerebrum
Testa ferit, tjuoties rimosa et curta fenestris 2.70
Vasa cadumV quanto percussum pondere signent,
Et leeoant silicexn : possis ignavus haberr,
51 1 subiti casus improvidus, ad eccnam si
Intestatus eas : adeo tot fata, quot ilia,
Nocte patent vigiles, te praetereunte, fenestrse. 275
Ergo optes, votumque feras miserabile tecum,
Ut sint contents patulas effundere pelves.
Ebrius, ae petulans, qui nullum forte ceetdit,
265. Sits on the bank."] Of the river Styx. By this account of
tbe deceased, it is very clear, that Juvenal was no Epicurean, be-
lieving the soul to perish with the body, which some have wrongly
inferred, from what he says, 1. 261, more animce. Comp. sat. ii.
1. 14959.
A novice."] Just newly arrived, and now first beholding such
i ---one.
2-656. The black fei~rymcm.~] Porthmea from Gr. -ar^fuvs, a
ferryman, one who ferries people over the water. Charon, the fa-
bled ferryman of hell, is here meant.
266. Nor does he hops for the boat, Sfc."] Alrms properly signi-
fies an alder-tree ; but as the wood of this tree was used in making
boats, it therefore by met. signifies a boat.
As the poor deceased had dit-d a violent death, and such a one as
4issipatad all the parts of his body, so as that they could not be col-
lected for burial, he could not pass over the river Styx, but must re-
iriiiin on its banks an hundred years, which was held to be the case
of all unburied bodies. See Vino. /En. vi. 325 29. 365, 6. and
IIoK. lib. i. ode xxviii. 35, 6. This situation was reckoned to be
very unhappy.
267. No/'Ao/A he a farthing, #c.] The triens was a very small
piece of money the third part of the AS, which was about three
ferthings of our money. It was a custom among the Greeks, to put
a piece of money into the mouth of a dead person, which was sup-
posed to be given to Charon, as his fare, for the passage in his boat,
over the river Styx. This unhappy man, being killed in the manner
he was, could not have this done for him.
Though Juvenal ee.rtainly believed a future state of rewards and
punishments, (tee sat. ii. 1. 153.) yet he certainly means here, as he
does elsewhere, to ridicule the idle and foolish superstitions, which
the Romans had adopted from the Greeks, upon those subjects, as
w ell as on many others relative to their received mythology.
268. Now consider, <$fc.] Umbritius still pursues his discourse,
and adds fresh reasons for his departure from Rome : which, like
SAT. HI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 125
Now sits on the bank, and, a novice, dreads the black 265
Ferryman ; nor does he hope for the boat of the muddy gulph,
Wretch [that he is] nor hath he a farthing which he can reach forth
from his mouth.
Now consider other, and different dangers of the night:
What space from high roofs, from whence the brain
A potsherd strikes, as often as from the windows cracked and
broken 270
Vessels fall, with what weight they mark and wound
The stricken flint : you may be accounted idle,
And improvident of sudden accident, if to supper
You go intestate; there are as many fates as, in that
Night, there are watchful windows open, while you pass by. 275
Therefore you should desire, and carry with you a miserable wish,
That they may be content to pouri forth broad basons.
One drunken and petulant, who haply hath killed nobody,
the former, already given, arise from the dangers which the inhabi-
tants, the poorer sort especially, are exposed to, in walking the
streets by night. These he sets forth with much humour.
268. Other, and different dangers.~\ Besides those already men-
tioned, 1. 196202.
269. What space from high roq/s.] How high the houses are,
and, consequently, what a long way any thing has to fall, from the
upper windows into the street, upon people's heads that are passing
by ; and therefore must come with the greater force ; insomuch that
pieces of broken earthen ware, coming from such a height, make a
mark in the flint pavement below, and, of course, must dash out the
brains of the unfortunate passenger on whose head they may hap-
pen to alight.
272. Idle.~\ Ignavus indolent negligent of your affairs, q. d.
A man who goes out to supper, and who ha^ to walk home through
the streets at night, may be reckoned very indolent, and careless of
his affairs, as well as very improvident, if he does not make his will
before he sets out.
274. As many fatesJ] As many chances of being knocked on
the head, as there are open windows, and people watching to throw
down their broken crockery into the street, as you pass along.
276. Therefore you should desire, tlyc.] As the" best thing which
you can expect, that the people at the windows would content them-
selves with emptying the Hastiness which is in their pots upon you,
and not throw down the pots themselves.
Pelvis is a large bason, or vessel, wherein they washed their feet,
or put to more filthy uses.
278. One drunken, $c.] Umbritius, among the nightly dangers
of Rome, recounts that which arises from meeting drunken rakes in
their cup.-:.
"" Drunken and petulant.'] We may imagine him in his way from
126 JUVENALIS SATIRES. SAT. HI.
Dat pcenas, noctem patitur lugentis amicum
Pelidac; cubat in faciem, mox deinde supinus: 280
JErgo non aliter poterit dormire: QUIBUSDAM
SOMNUM RIXA FACIT: sed quamvis improbus annis,
Atque mero fervens, cavet hunc, quern coccina laena
Vitari jubet, et coraitum longissimus ordo ;
Multum praeterea fiammarum, atque auiea lampas. 285
Me quern Luna solet deducere, vel breve lumen
Candelae, cujus dispense et tempero filum,
Contemnit: miserde cognosce prooemia rixae,
Si rixa est, ubi tu pulsas ego vapulo tantum.
Stat contra, starique jubet ; parere necesse est ; 290
Nam quid agas, cum te furiosus cogat, et idem
Fprtior? undevenis? exclamat: cujus aceto,
Cujus conche tumes? quis tecum sectile porrum
Sutor, et elixi vervecis labra comedit?
some tavern, very much in liquor, and very saucy and quarrelsome,
hoping to pick a quarrel, that he may have the pleasure of beating
somebody before he gets home to tail of this, is a punishment to
him.
279. The night of Pelides.~\ The poet humourously compares
the uneasiness of one of these young fellows, on missing a quarrel,
to the disquiet of Achilles (the son of Peluus) on the loss of his
friend Patroclus; and almost translates the description which Ho-
mer gives of that hero's restlessness on the occasion. II. w '. 1. 10,
11.
AXXor' t5T< srhlvpiti; KetTHtaifAtMff >>ATS $ XVTl
'f'TTtCf, ethhtTs 01 Wg'<i>41f.
Nunc lateri incumbens, iterujp post paulo supinus
Corpore, nunc pronus.
So the poet describes this rakehelly youth, as tossing and tumbling in
his bed, first on his face, then on his back (supinus) thus endeavour-
ing to amuse the restlessness of his mind, under the disappointment
of having met with nobody to quarrel with and beat thus weary-
ing himself, as it were, into sleep.
281 2. To some a quarrel, <Sfc.] This reminds one of Prov. iv. 16.
" For they (the wicked and evil men, ver. 14.) sleep not, except
" they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they
" cause some to fall."
282. Wicked from years."] Improbus also signifies lewd, rash,
violent, presumptuous. Though he be all these, owing to his young
time of life, and heated also with liquor, yet he takes care whom he
assaults.
283. A scarlet cloak."] Instead of attacking, he will avoid any
rich man or noble, whom he full well knows from his dress, as well
as from the number of lights and attendants which accompany him.
The laeiia was a sort of cloak usually worn by soldiers: but
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 127
Is punished ; suffers the night of Pelides mourning
His friend ; he lies on his face, then presently on his back : 28f)
For otherwise he could not sleep: To SOME
A QUARREL CAUSES SLEEP : but tho' wicked from years
And heated with wine, he is aware of him whom a scarlet cloak
Commaifds to avoid, and a very long train of attendants,
Besides a great number of lights, and a brazen lamp. 285
Me whom the moon is wont to attend, or the short light
Of a candle, the wick of which I dispose and regulate,
He despises : know the preludes of a wretched quarrel,
If it be a quarrel where you strike and I only am beaten.
He stands opposite, and bids you stand ; it is necessary to obey ; 29Q
For what can you do, when a madman compels, and he
The stronger? "Whence come you," he exclaims, "with whose
" vinegar,
" With whose bean, swell you ? What cobbler with you
" Sliced leek, and a boiled sheep's head, hath eaten ?
only the rich and noble could afford to wear those which were dyed
in scarlet. Coccus signifies the shrub which produced the scarlet
grain, and coccinus implies what was dyed with it of a scarlet co-
lour.
285. Brazen lamp.~\ This sort of lamp was made of Corinthian
brass: it was very expensive, and could only fall to the share of tha
opulent.
286. Me u-hom the moon, $c.~] Who wAlk by moon-light, or
at most, with a poor, solitary, short candle, which" I snuff with my
fingers such a one he holds in the utmost contempt,
298. Know the preludes, #c.] Attend a little, and hear what the
preludes are of one of these quarrel?, if that can properly be called
a quarrel, where the beating is by the assailant only.
Rixa signifies a buffeting, and. fighting, which last seems to be the
best sense in this place, viz. if that can be called fighting, where the
battle is all on one side.
290. He stands opposite.~\ Directly in your way, to hinder your
passing and orders you to stop.
291. What can you do, #c.] You must submit, there's no mak-
ing any resistance; you are no match for such a furious man.
292. With whose vinegtfr, S)' C -] Then he begins his taunts, in
hopes to pick a quarrel. VV here have you been ? with whose sour
wine have you being filling yourself .'
293. With whose bean, #e.] Conchis means a bean iu the- shell,
and thus boiled a common food among the lower sort of people,
and very filling, which is implied by tuiues.
-, What cobbler.^ He now falls foul of your company, as well
as your entertainment
294. Sliced teek.^ Sectilis signifies any thing that is or may be
easily cut asunder. But see sat xiv. L 1 33, now.
128 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. in.
Nil mihi respondes ? aut die, aut accipe calcem : 295
Ede ubi consistas : in qua te quaero proseucha?
Dicere si tentes aliquid, tacitusve recedas,
Tantundem est : feriunt pariter : vadimonia deinde
Irati faciunt. Libertas pauperis haec est :
Pulsatus rogat, et pugnis concisus adorat, 300
Ut liceat paucis cum dentibus inde reverti.
Nee tamen hoc tantum metuas : nam qui spoliet te
Non deerit, clausis domibus, postquam omnis ubique
Fixa catenate siluit compago tabernae.
Interdum et ferro subitus grassator agit rem, 305
Armato quoties tutae custode tenentur
Et Pontina palus, et Gallinaria pinus.
294. A boiled sheep's head,~] Vervex particularly signifies a we-
ther sheep. Labra, the lips, put here, by synec. for all the flesh
about the jaws.
295. A kick.~\ Calx properly signifies the heel but by meton. a
spurn or kick with the heel.
296. Where do you abide,~\ Consisto signifies to abide, stay, or
keep in one place here I suppose it to allude to taking a constant
stand, as beggars do, in order to beg: as if the assailant, in order
to provoke the man more, whom he is wanting to quarrel with,
meant to treat him as insolently as possible, and should say " Pray
" let me know where you take your stand for begging?" This idea
seems countenanced by the rest of the line.
In what begging-place, 4' c -] Proseucha properly signifies a
place of prayer, (from the Gr. argsreu^fo-^*;,) in the porches of
which beggars used to take their stand. Hence by met. a place
where beggars stand to ask alms of them who pass by.
298. They equally striked] After having said every thing to insult
and provoke you, in hopes of your giving the first blow, you get
nothing by not answering; for their determination is to beat you
therefore either way, whether you answer, or whether you are si-
lent, the event will be just the same it will be all one.
- Then angry, <S - c.] Then, in a violent passion, as if they had
been beaten by you, instead of your being beaten by them a\vay
they go, swear the peace against you, and make you give bail, as
the aggressor, for the assault.
299. This is the liberty, <Sfc.] So that, after our boasted freedom,
a poor man at Rome is in a fine situation All the liberty which he
has, is, to ask, if beaten, and to supplicate earnestly, if bruised un-
mercifully with fisty-cufFs, that he may return home, from the place
where he was so used, without having all his teeth beat out of his
head and perhaps he is to be prosecuted, and ruined at law, as the
aggressor.
302. Yet neither, S(c.~] Umbritius, as another reason foi -retiring
from Rome, describes the perils which the inhabitants are in from
house and street-robbers.
BAT. nt. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 129
" Do you answer me nothing ! either tell or tatce a kick :
Tell where you abide in what begging-place shall I Seek you ?"-
If you should attempt to say any thing, or retire silent,
It amounts to the same : they equally strike : then, angry, they
Bind you over. This is the liberty of a poor man.
Beaten he asks, bruised with fists he entreats, 300
That he may return thence with a few of his teeth.
Yet neither may you fear this only : for one! who will rob you will
not
Be wanting, the houses being shut up, after, every where, every
Fixed fastening of the chained shop hath been silent :
And sometimes the sudden footpad with a sword does your busi-
ness, $09
As often as, with an armed guard, are kept safe
Both the Pontinian marsh, and the Qallinarian pine ;
303. The houses being shut upJ] The circumstance mentioned
here, and in the next line, mark what he says to belong to the alia et
uiversa pericula noetis, 1. 268.
304. The chained .s/io/?.] Taberna has many significations ; it de-
notes any house made of boards, a tradesman's shop, or warehouse;
also an inn or tavern. By the preceding domibus he means private
houses.' Hero, therefore, we may understand tabernae to denote the
sliops and taverns, which last were probably kept open longer than
private houses or shops ; yet even these are supposed to be fastened
up, and all silent and qniet within. This marks the lateness of the
hour, when the horrid burglar is awake and abroad, and when there
is not wasting a robber to destroy the security of the sleeping inha-
bitants.
Compago signifies a joining or closure, as of planks, or boards,
with which the tabernse were built fixa compago denotes the fixed
and firm manner in which they were compacted or fastened toge-
ther Inducta etiam per singulos asseres grandi catena Vet. Schol.
" with a great chain introduced through every plank" in order to
keep them from being torn asunder, and thus the building broken
open by robbers.
The word siluit, here, shows that the building is put for the inha-
bitants within. Meton. The noise and hurry of the day was over,
mid they were all retired to rest.
305. The. sudden foolpadJ} Grassator means an assailant of any
kind, such as highwaymen, footpads, &c. One of these may leap
on a sudden from his lurking-place upon you, and do your business
by stabbing you. Or perhaps the poet may here allude to what is
very common in Italy at this day, namely, assassins, who suddenly
attack and stab people in the streets late at night.
307. Pontinian marsh.~\ Strabo describes this as in Campania, a
champain country of Italy, in the kingdom of Naples ; and Suet,
says, that Julius Caesar had determined to dry up this marsh it was
a noted harbour for thieves.
voj. i. T
136 JUVENALIS SATIRE. BAT. in.
Sic inde hue otnnes tanquam ad vivaria currunt.
Qua fornace graves, qua non incude catena? I
Maximus in vinclis ferri modus, ut timeas, ne 310
Vomer deficiat, ne marrae et sarcula desiut.
Felices proavorum atavoe, felicia dicas
Secula, quae-quondam subregibus atque tribuais
Viderunt uno contentam carcere Romarn.
His alias poteram, et plures subneetere causas : 31 &
&ed jumenta vocant, et sol inclinat ; eundum est :
Nam mihi commota jamdudum mulio virgii
Innuit : ergo vale nostri-memor ; et quoties te
Roma tuo refici properantem reddet Aquino,
Me quoque ad Helvinam Cererem, vestramque Dianam 320
307. GalUnarian pine.~\ i.e. Wood, by synec. This was situ-
ated near the bay of Cumae, and was another receptacle of robbers.
When these places were so infested with thieves, as to make the
environs dangerous for the inhabitants, as well as for travellers, a
guard was seat there to protect them, and to apprehend the offenders ;
Avhen this was the case, the rogues fled to Roh.e. whore they thought
themselves secure and then thuse places wore rendered safe.
308. As to vinaries."] Vivaria are places where wild creatures live,
and are protected, as deer in a park, fish in a stew-pond, c. The
poet may mean here, that they are not only protected in Rome, but
easily find subsistence, like creatures in vivaries. See sat. iv. !. 51.
What Rome was to the thieves, when driven out of their lurkirftj
places in the country, that London is to the thieves of our time.
This must be the case of all great cities.
309. In what furnace, 4" c -] 1 this and the t\vo following- linee,
the poet, in a very humourous hyperbole, describes the numbers of
ihieves to be so great, and to threaten such a consumption of iron in
making totters for them, as to leave some apprehensions of i here being
non^ left io make ploughshares, and other implements of husbandry.
312. O;;r great-granrlfalhers, $c.~] ?'. e. Our ancestors of old
time proavorum atavos old grandsires, or ancestors indefinitely.
313. King* and tribunes."] After the expulsion of the kings, tri-
bunes, with consular authority, governed the republic.
314. With one priton.~\ Which w* built in the forum, or mar-
ket-place, at Rome, by Ancus Martius, the fourth king. Robberies,
and the other offences above mentioned, were then so rare, that this
one gaol was sufficient to contain all the offenders.
315. And more causes.] i. e. For my leaving Rome.
316. My cattle ca//.] Summon me ;i\vay. It is to be supposed,
that the carriage, as soon as the loading was finished, (see I. 10.)
had set forward, had overtaken Urabritius, and had been some time
waiting for him to proceed.
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 131
Thus from thence hither all run as to vivaries.
In what furnace, on what anvil are- not heavy chains 1
The greatest quantity of iron (is used) in fetters, so that you may
fear, lest 310
The ploughshare may fail, lest hoes and spades may be wanting.
You may call our great-grandfathers happy, happy
The ages, which formerly, under kings and tribunes,
Saw Rome content with one prison.
To these I could subjoin other and more causes, 315
But my cattle call, and the sun inclines, I must go :
For long since the muleteer, with his shaken whip,
Hath hinted to me : therefore farewell mindful of me : and as often
as
Rome shall restore you, hastening to be refreshed, to your Aqui-
num,
Me also to Helvine Ceres, and to your Diana, 320
316. The sun inclines. ~\ Frotn the meridian towards its setting.
Inclinare meridiem
Sentis Hon. lib. ill. od. zxvili. 1. 5.
317. The muleteer.'] Or driver of the mules, which drew the car-
riage containing the goods, (see 1. 10.) had long since given a hint,
by the motion of his whip, that it was time to be gone. This Um-
britius, being deeply engaged in his discourse, had not adverted to
till now.
318. Mindful of me.~] An usual way of taking leave. See HOR
lib. iii. ode xxvii. 1. 1 4.
Et memor nostri Galatea xJvas.
319. Hastening to be refreshed.'] The poets, and other studious
persons, were very desirous of retiring into the country from the
noise and hurry of Rome, in order to be refreshed with quiet and
repose.
HOR. lib. i. epist. xviii. I. 104.
Me quoties reficit gelidus Digentia rivus, &c.
See also that most beautiful passage O Rus, &c. lib. ii. sat. *ii.
1. 602.
Your Aquinum.~\ A town in the Latin way, famous for
having been the birth-place of Juvenal, and to which, at times, he
retired.
320. Helvine Cer?s.l Helvinam Cercrem Helvinus is used by
Pliny, to denote a sort of flesh-colour. AINSW. Something perhap*
approaching the yellowish colour of corn, Also a pale red-colour
Helvus. AINSW. But we may understand Ceres to be called Hel-
vinus or Elvinus, which was near Aquinum. Near the fons Helvi-
nus was a temple of Ceres, and afeo of Diaaa, the vestiges of which
are said to remain till this day.
132 JtJVENALlS SATIRE. AT. m,
Convelle a Cumis : Satirarum ego (nj pudet illas)
Adjutor gelidos veniam caligatus in agros.
321. Rend from Citma.'] Convelle pluck me away-*-by which
expression Umbritius describes his great unwillingness to be takei^
from the place of his retreat, as if nothing but his friendship for Ju-
venal could force him (as it were) from it.
322. Armed, <5fc.] Caligatus the caliga was a sort of harness
for the leg, worn by soldiers, who hence were called caligati. It is
ysed here metaphorically.
SAT. in. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 133
Rend from Cumae : I of your Satires (unless they are ashamed)
An helper, will come armed into your cold fields.
" I, (says Umbritius,) unless your Satires should be ashamed of
" my assistance, will come, armed at all points, to help you in
" your attacks upon the people and manners of the times." By this
it appears that Umbritius was himself a poet.
Your cold fields.] Aquinum was situated in a part of Cam-
pania, much colder than where Cumae stood.
END OF THE THIRD SATIRE.
SATIRA IV.
ARGUMENT.
From the luxury and prodigality of Crispinus, ichom he lashes so
severely, sat. i. 269, JAve-nal takes occasion to describe a ridi-
culous consultation, held by Domitian over a large turbot which
was too big to be contained in any dish that could be found. The
Poet, with great wit and humour, describes the senators being
summoned in this exigency, and gives a particular account of
their characters, speeches, and advice. After long consultation,
iterum Crispinus ; et est mihi saspe vocaadus
Ad partes ; monstrum nulla virtute redemptum
A vitiis, aeger, solaque libidine fortis :
Delicias viduae tantum aspernutur adulter.
Quid refert igitur quantis juinenta fatiget &
Porticibus, quanta nemorum vectetur in umbra,
Jugera quot vicina foro, quas einerit sedes ?
Line 1. Again Crispinus.~] Juvenal mentions him before, sat. i.
27. He was an ^Egyptian by birth, and of very low extraction ;
but having the good fortune to be a favourite of Domitian's, he came
to great riches and preferment, and lived in the exercise of all kinds
of vice and debauchery.
2. To his parts.^\ A metaphor, taken from the players, who, when
they had finished the scene they were to act, retired, but were called
again to their parts, as they were successively to enter and carry oa
the piece.
Thus Juvenal calls Crispinus again, to appear in the parts, or
characters, which he has allotted him in his Satires.
- By no virtue, #c.] He must be a monster indeed, who had
not a single virtue to rescue him from the total dominion of his vices.
Redemptum here is metaphorical, and alludes to the state of a mise-
rable captive, who is enslaved to a tyrant master, and has none te
ransom him from bondage.
3. Sicfc.] Diseased perhaps full of infirmities from his luxury
and debauchery. JEger also signifies weak feeble. This sense top
is to be here included, as opposed to fortis.
- And strong in lust, $c.~] Vigorous and strong in the grati-
fication of his sensuality only.
4. The adulterer despises, Sfc.~\ y. d. Crispinus, a common adul*
SATIRE IV.
ARGUMENT.
it was proposed that the fish should be cut to pieces, and so dress-
ed: at last then a ^ came over to the opinion of the senator Mon-
tanus, that it should be dressed whole ; and that a dish, big enough
to contain it, should be made on purpose for it. The council in
then dismissed, and the Satire concludes but not without a most
severe censure on the emperor's injustice and, cruelty towards some
of the best and most worthy of the Romans.
_L3 EHOLD again Crispinus ! and he is often to be called by me
To his parts : a monster by no virtue redeemed
From vices sick, and strong in lust alone :
The adulterer despises only the charms of a widow.
What Dignifies it, therefore, in how large porches he fatigues 5
His cattle, in how great a shade of groves he may bo carried,
How many acres near the forum, what houses he may have bought?
terer, sins only from the love of vice ; he neither pretands interest
or necessity, like those who sold their favours to lascivious widows,
in hopes of being their heirs. Sat. i. 38 42. He was too rich for
this, but yet too wicked not to gratify his passions in the most cri-
minal manner: he would not intrigue with a widow, lest he should
be suspected to have some other motives than mere vice; therefore
he despises this, though he avoided no other ispecies of lewdness.
5. In how large porches, #c.] It was a part of the Roman luxury
to build vast porticos in their gardens, under which they rode in
wet or hot weather, that they might be sheltered from the rain, and
from the too great heat of the sun. Jumentum signifies any labour-
ing beast, either for carriage or draught. Sat. iii. 316.
6. How great a shade, <Sfc.] Another piece of luxury was to
be carried in litters among the sliady trees of their groves, in sultry
weather.
7. Acres near the forum.'] Where land was the most valuable,
as being in the midst of the city.
IVhat houses, ^c.] What purchases he may have made of
houses in the same lucrative situation. Comp. sat. i. 1. 105, and
note.
136 JUVENALIS SATIR/E. SAT. m
NEMO MALUS FELIX ; minime corruptor, et idem
Incestus, cum quo nuper vittatajacebat
Sanguine adhuc vivo terrum subitura sacerdos. 10
Sed nunc de factis levioribus : et tamen alter
Si fecisset idem, caderet sub judice morum.
Nam quod turpe bonis, Titio, Seioque, decebat
Crispinum : quid agas, cum dira, et fcedior omni
Crimine persona est? mullum sex millibus emit, 15
^Equantem sane paribus sestertia libris,
Ut perhibent, qui de magnis majora loquuntur.
8. No bad man, &fc.~\ This is one of those passages, in which Ju-
venal speaks more like a Christian, than like an heathen. Comp.
Is. Ivii. 20, 21.
A corrupterj] A miner, a debaucher of women.
9. Incestuous.^ Incestus from in and castus in general is used
to denote that species of unchastity, which consists in defiling those
who are near of kin but, in the best authors, it signifies unchaste
also guilty profane. As in HOR. lib. iii. ode ii. 1. 2.
Ssepe Diespiter
Neglectus incesto addidit integrum.
In this place it may be taken in the sense of profane, as denoting
tliat sort of uncha<tity which is mixed with profaneness, as in the
instance which follows, of defiling a vestal virgin.
9 10. A filletted priestess.^ The vestal virgins, as priestesses of
Vesta, had fillets bound round their heads, made of ribbons, or the
like.
10. With blood as yet ative.1 The vestal virgins vowed chastity,
and if any broke their vow, they were buried alive; by a law of
Numa Pompilius their founder.
11. Lighter deeds.'} i.e. Such faults as, in comparison with the
preceding, are trivial, yet justly reprehensible, and would be so
deemed in a character less abandoned than that of Crispinus, in
whom they are in a manner eclipsed by greater.
12. Under the judge, $c.] This seems to be a stroke at the par-
tiality of Domitian, who punished Maximilla, a vestal, and those
who had defiled her, with the greatest severity. SUET. Domit. ch. viii.
See note 2, on 1. 60.
Crispinus was 11 favourite, and so he was suffered to escape pu-
nishment, however much he deserved it, as was the vestal whom he
defiled, on the same account.
Suet, says, that Domitian, particularly Morum correctionem ex-
erctiit in vestal e.
13. What would be base, Sfc.~\ So partial was Domitian to his
favourite Crispinus, that tvhat would be reckoned shameful, and be
punished as a crime, in good men, was esteemed very 'becoming in
him.
Titius, or Seius.~] It does not appear who these were; but
SJ.T. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 137
No BAD MAN is HAPPY : least of all a corrupter, and the same
Incestuous, with whom there lay, lately, a rilletted
Priestess, about to go under ground with blood as yet alive. 10
But now concerning lighter deeds : . and yet another,
If he had done the same, would have fallen under the judge of man-
ners :
For what would be base in good men, in Titius, or Seius, became
Crispinus : what can you do, since dire, and fouler than every
Crime, his person is ? He bought a mullet for six sestertia, 15
Truly equalling the sestertia to a like number of pounds,
As they report, who of great things speak greater.
probably they were some valuable men, who had been persecuted by
the emperor for some supposed offences. See this sat. 1. 151, 2.
14. IVkatcan you do, <$".] q. d. What can one do with such a
fellow as Crispinus ? what signifies satirizing his crimes, when his
person is more odious and abominable than all that can be mentioned ?
What he is, is so much worse than what he DOES, that one is at a
loss how to treat him.
This is a most severe stroke, and introduces what follows on the
gluttony and extravagance of Crispinus.
15. A mullet.^ Mullus a sea fish, of a red and purple colour,
therefore called mullus, from mulleus, a kind of red or purple shoe,
worn by sen Uors and great persons. AINSW. I take take this to be
what is called the red mullet, or mullus barbatus, by some rendered
baibel. Horace speaks of this fish as a great dainty :
Laudas, insane, trilibrem
Mullum HOR. sat. ii. libi ii. 1. S3, 4.
So that about three pounds was their usual weight : that it was a
rarity to find them larger, we may gather from his saying, 1. 36.
His breve pondus.
But Crispinus meets with one that weighed six pounds, and, rather
than not purchase it, he pays for it the enormous sum of six thousand
sestertii, or six sesieitia, making about 46/. 17s. 6d. of our money.
For the manner of reckoning sesterces, see before, sat. i. 1. 106,
and note.
Thi* fi.-h, whatever it strictly was, was in great request, as a dain-
ty, among the Romans. Asinius Celer, -a man of consular dignity
under the emperor Claudius, is said to have given 8000 nummi
(/. e. eight sestertia) for one. See SENEC. epist. xcv.
16. Truli/ equalling, $c.] That is, the number of sestertia were
exactly equal to the number of pounds which the fish weighed, so
that it cost him a sestertium per pound.
17. Atithfi/ report, <Sfc.] So Crispinus's flatterers give out, who,
to excuse his extravagance, probably represent the fish bigger than it
was, for it is not easily credible that this sort of fish ever grows so
large. Pliny says, that a mullet is not to be found that weighs more
than two pounds. -Her. ubi supr. goes so far as three pounds a o
VOL, i, r
t38 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. v,
Coneilium laudo artificis, si munere tanto
Praecipuam in tabulis ceram senis abstulit orbi.
Est ratio ulterior, rnagnT si inisit amicae, 20
Quce vehitur ckuso latis specularibus antro.
Nir talc expectes : emit sibi : raulta vidcmu?,.
Quae miser et fruginon fecit Apicius : hoc tu
Succinctus patriti quondam, Crispine, papyra
Hoc pretium squamae 1 potuit fortasse minoris 25
Piscator, quam piscis, emi. Provincia tanti
Vendit agros : sed majores Appulia vendit.
that probably these embellishers of Crispinus made the fish to be-
twice as big s it really was.
18. I praise the device, $c.~\ If this money had been laid out in
buying such a rarity, in order to present it to some childless old man,
and, by this y Crispinns had succeeded so well as to have become his
dhjef heir, I should commend such an artifice, and say that the con-
triver of it deserved some credit.
19. Had obtained the chief wax, Sfc.~] It was customary for wills
to consist et' two parts: the first named the priini haeredes or chief
heirs, and was therefore called cera pnecipua, from the wax which
was upon it, oa which was the first seal. The other contained t'r/e
secundi haeredes, or lesser heirs : this was also sealed with wax this
was called cera sccunda.
'20. Therein further reason, fc.~] There might have been a rea-
son for his extravagance, even beyond the former ; that is, if he had
purchased it to have presented it to some rich woman of quality, in
order to have ingratiated himself with her as a mistress, or to induce
her to leave him her fortune,, or perhaps both. Comp. sat. iii. 129,
SO, andib. 132 4.
21. Carried in a close lUter.~\ Antrum properly signifies a den.
cave, or the like but there it seems to be descriptive of the lectica,
or litter, in which persons of condition were carried close shut up.
Broad windou's.^ Latis specularibus. Specularis means aivy
thing whereby one may see the better, belonging 10 windows, or
spectacles. The specularis lapis was a stone, clear like glass, cut
into small thin panes, and in old times used for glass.
This was made use of r\ the construction of the litters, as glass is
uhh us in our coaches ana sedan chairs, to admit the light, and to
keep out the weather.
The larger these windows were, the more expensive they must be,
and the more denote the quality of the owner.
22. Expect no such thing, ffc.~\ If you expect to hear that some-
thing of the kind above mentioned was a motive for what lie did, or
that he had any thing in view, which could in the least excuse it,
you will be mistaken ; for the truth is, he bought it only for himself,
without any other end or view than to gratify his own selfishness aud
gluttony.
13. Apitius.~] A noted epicure and glutton in the days of Nora.
SAT. iv,
JUVENAL'S SATIRES.
I praise the device of tlte contriver, if, with so large a gift,
He had obtained the chief wax on the will of a childless old man,
There is further reason, if he had sent it to a great mistress, 20
Who is carried in a close litter with broad windows.
Expect no such tiling : he bought it for himself : we see many
things
Which the wretched and frugal Apicius did not : this thou [didst}
Crispinus, formerly girt with your own country flag.
Is this the price of a scale ? perhaps, at less might 25
The fisherman, than the fish, be bought. At so much a province
Sells fields : but Apulia sells greater.
He wrote a volume concerning the ways and means to provoke ap-
petite, spent a large estate on his guts, and growing poor and despised,
handed himself.
The poet means, that even Apicius, glutton as he was, was yet a
mortified and frugal man in comparison of Crispinus.
' Thou, Crispinus, hast done, -what Apicius never did."
24. Formerly girt, <Sfc.] q. d. Who wast, when thou first earnest
to Rome, a poor ^Egyptian, and hadst not a rag about thee, better
than what was made of the flags that grow about the river Nile. Of
the papyrus, ropes, mats, and, among other things, a sort of cloth-
ing was made.
This flag, and the leaves of it, were equally called papyrus. See
sat. i. 1. 26, 7, where Crispinus is spoken of much in the same
terms.
25. The price of a scale.'] Squamae, here, by synec. put for the
fish itself ; but, by this manner of expression, the poet shews his
contempt of Crispinus, and means to make his extravagance as con-
temptible as he can.
26. A province, Sfc.~\ In some of the provinces which had be-
come subject to Rome, one might purchase an estate for what was
laid out on this mullet.
27. But Apulia, &c.] A part of Italy near the Adriatic gulph,
where land, ii seems, was very cheap, cither from the barrenness and
craggy height of the mountains, or from the unwholesomeness of
the air, and the wind atabulus :
Monies Apulia no.tos
Quos torret atabulus. HOR. lib. 5. sat. v. 1. 77, 8.
q. d. The price of this fish would purchase an estate in some of ihf
provinces ; but, iu Apulia, a very extensive one.
For less some provinces whole acres sell : ~\
Nay, in Apulia, if you bargain well,
A manor would cost less than such a meal. 3
DCKE,
14<J JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. iv.
Quales tune epulas ipsum glutisse putemus
Induperaiorem, cum tot sestertia, partem
Exiguam, et modicse sumptam de margiiie coenas 30
Purpureus magni ructarit scurra palaii,
Jam priaceps equitum, magna qui voce solebat
Vendere municipes pacta mercede siluros ?
Incipe Calliope, licet hie eonsidere : non cst
Cantandum, res vera agitur : narrate puellae 35
Pierides ; prosit mihi vos dixisse puellas.
Cum jam semianimum laceraret Flavius oi'bem
28. The emperor, &fc.~\ Domitian. q. d. What must we suppose
to be done by him, in order to procure dainties I how much expense
must he be at to gratify his appetite, if Crispinus can swallow what
cost so many sertertia in one dish, and that not a principal one ; not
taken from the middle, but merely standing as a side-dish at the edge
of the table ; not a part of some great supper, given on an extraor-
dinary occasion, but of a common ordinary meal.
31. A purple buffoon.'] No longer clad with the papyrus of
./Egypt, (see note on L 24.) but decked in sumptuous apparel, or-
namented with purple. So sat. i. 27.
Criipinus, Tyrias humero revocante lacernas.
Though advanced to great dignity, by the favour of the emperor,
yet letting himself down to the low servility and meanness of a
court-jester, or buffoon.
Belched.~] The indigestions and crudities, which are gene-
rated in the stomachs of those who feed on various rich and luscious
dainties, occasion flatulencies, and nauseous eructations. The poet,
here, to express the more strongly his abhorrence of Crispinus's ex-
travagant gluttony, uses the word ructarit the effect for the cause.
See sat. iii. 233, note.
32. Chief of knights.'] i. e. Chief of the equestrian order.
Horace hath a thought like this, concerning alow-born slave, who,
like Crispinus, had been advanced to equestrian dignity.
Sedillbusque in primis eques
Othone contempto sedet. Epod. iv. 1. 15, 1G.
See before, sat. iii. 159, and note.
32- 3. Who used to sell, fyc.~] Who used formerly, in his flag-
, jacket (1. 24.) to cry fish about the streets.
33. S/iac/s.] What the silnri were I cannot find certainly defined ;
but must agree that they were a small and cheap kind of fish, taken
iii great numbers out of the river Nile hence the poet jeeringly
Styles them municipes, q. d. Crispinus's own countrymen. AINSW.
For hire.'} Various are the readings of this place as fracta
de merce pacta de merce pharia de merce but I think, with Ca-
euubon, that pacta mercede gives the easiest and best sense : it still
exaggerates the wretchedness and poverty of Crispinus at hi 1 - outlet
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 141
What dainties then can we think the emperor himself
To have swallowed, when so many sestertia, a small
Part, and taken from the margin of a moderate supper, 30
A purple buffoon of the great palace belched?
Now chief of knights, who used, with a loud voice,
To sell his own country shads for hire.
Begin Calliope, here you may dwell : you must not
Sing, a real matter is treated: relate it ye Pierian 35
Maids let it avail me to have called ye maids
When now the last Flavius had torn the half-dead
in life, as it denotes, that he not only got his living by bawling fish
about the streets, but that these fish were not his own, and that ha
sold them for the owners, who bargained with him to pay him so
much for his pains pacta mercede lit. for agreed wages or hire.
34. CalliopeJ} The mother of Orpheus, and chief of the nine
muses: said to be the inventress of heroic verse.
To heighten the ridicule, Juvenal prefaces his narrative with a
burlesque invocation of Calliope, and then of the rest of the muses.
op
Here you, mat] dwell .] A subject of such importance re-
quires all your attention, and is not lightly to be passed over, there,
lore, here you may sit down with me.
34 5. Not sz/ig-.] Not consider it as a matter of mere invention,
and to be treated, as poetical fictions are, with flights of fancy: my
theme is real fact, therefore non est cantanduin it is not a subject
for heroic song or, tibi understood, you are not to sing
Begin Calliope, but not to sing:
Plain honest truth we for our subject bring. DUKE.
35. Relate.'] Narrate corresponds with the non est cantandum .
q. d. deliver it in simple na'rrative.
35 6. Pierian maids.'] The muses were called Pierides, from
Pieria, a district of Thessaly, where was a mountain, on which Ju-
piter, in the form of a shepherd, was fabled to have begotten them
on Mnemosyne. See Ov. Met. vi. 114.
36. Let i~t avail me, #c.] He banters the poets who gave the ap-
pellations of nymphaj and puelte to the muses, as it' complimenting
them on their youth and chastity. It is easily seen that the whole
of this invocation is burlesque.
37. }V f hen now.~\ The poet begins his narrative, which he intro-
duces with great sublimity, in this and the following line; thus
finely continuing his irony ; and at the same time dating the fact in
such terms, as reflect a keen and due severity on the character of
Doiiiitian.
Tlielast Flavitis.~] The Flavian family, as it was imperial,
began in Vespasian, and ended in Domitian, whose monstrous cruel-
ties are here alluded to, not only as affecting the city of Rome,
but as felt to the utmost extent of the Roman empire,- tearing, as it
were, the world to pieces. Semianimum half dead under oppres-
sion. Metaph.
142 JUVENALIS SATIRES. SAT. iv.
Ultimus, et calvo serviret Roma Neroni,
Incidit Adriaci spatium admirabile rhombf,
Ante domuiu Veneris, quam Dorica sustinet Ancon, 40
Implevitque sinus : neque enini minor haeserat illis,
Quos operit glacies Maeoliea, ruptaque tandem
Solibus effundit torpentis ad ostia Ponti,
Desidia, tardos, et loago frigore pingues.
Destinat hoc monstrum cymbte liaique rnagister 45
Pontifici summo: quis enim proponere talem,
Aut emere auderet { cum plena et littora multo
Delatore forent : dispersi protinus algae
38. Was in bondage to bald ]Vm>.] Was ii bondage and slavery
to the tyrant Domitian. This emperor was bald ; at which he was
so displeased, that he would not suffer baldness to be mentioned in
his presence. He wns called Nero, as all the bad emperors were,
from hi.s cruelty. Servire implies the service which is paid to a ty-.
rant: parere that obedience which is paid to a good prince.
39. There fell, 4' c -] Having related the time when, he now men-
tions the place where, this large turbot was caught. It was in the
Adriatic sea, near the city of Ancon, which was built by a people
originally Greeks, who also built there a temple of Venus. This
city stood on the shore, at the end of a bay which was formed by
two promontories, and made a curve like that of the elbow when
the arm is bent hence it was called #/*>, the elbow. The poet,
by being thus particular, as if he were relating an event, every cir-
cumstance of which was of the utmost importance, enhances the
irony.
The Syracusans, who fled to this part of Italy from the tyranny
of Dionysius, were originally from the Dorians, a people of Achaia:
hence Ancon is called Dorica : it was the metropolis of Picenum.
Ancona is now a considerable city in Italy, and belongs to the
papacy.
40. Sustains.'] Sustinet does not barely mean, that this temple of
Venus stood at Ancon, but that it was upheld and maintained, in all
its worship, rites and ceremonies, by the inhabitants.
41. Into a nttJ\ Sinus, lit. means the bosom or bow of the net,
which the turbot was so large as entirely to fill.
Stuck.'] Haeserat had entangled itself, so as to stick fast.
42. The Mtctic ice.] The Maeotis was a vast lake, which in the
winter Was frozen over, and which, when thawed in summer, dis-
charged itself into the Euxine sea, by the Cimmerian Bosphorus.
Here vast quantities of fine fish were detained while the frosts
lasted, and then came with the flowing waters into the mouth of the
Pontus Euxinus. These fish, by lying in a torpid state during the
winter, grew fat and bulky.
43. T/ie dull Pontic.^ So called from the slowness of its tide.
This might, in part, be occasioned by the vast quantities of broken
ice, which came down from the lake Maotis, and retarded it;
AT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 143
World, and Rome was in bondage to bald Nero,
There fell a wondrous size of an Adriatic turbot,
Before the house of Venus which Doric Ancon sustains, 40
Into a net and rilled it, for a less had not stuck than those
Which the Maeotic ice covers, and at length, broken
By the sun, pours forth at the entrance of the dull Pontic,
Slow by idleness, and, by long cold, fat.
The master of the boat and net destines this monster 45
For the chief pontiff for who to offer such a one to sale,
Or to buy it would dare? since the shores too with many
An informer might be full : the dispersed inquisitors of sea- weed
The Euxine, or Pontic sea, is sometimes called Pontus only. Seer
AINSW. Euxinus and Pontus.
45. Net.'] Linum lit. signifies flax, and, by meton. thread,
which is made of flax but as nets are made of thread, it frequently,
as here, signifies a net Meton. See VIRG. Georg. ii. 1. 142.
46. For the chief pontiff^} Domitian, whose title, as emperor,
was Pontifex Summus, or Maximus. Some think that the poet al-
ludes to the gluttony of the pontiff's in general, which was so great
as to be proverbial. The words glutton and priest were almost sy-
nonymus Coena? pontificum, or the feasts which they made on
public occasions, surpassed all others in luxury. Hence HOR. lib.
ii. ode xiii. ad fin.
Pontificum potiore cccnis.
Juvenal, therefore, may be understood to have selected this title of
the emperor, by way of equivocally calling him what he durst not
plainly have expressed the chief of gluttons. Comp. sat ii. 1. 113.
He was particularly the Pontifex Summus of the college at Alba.
See note on 1. 60. ad fin.
The poor fisherman, who had caught this monstrous fish, knew
full well the gluttony, as Avell as the cruelty of Domitian : he there-
fore determines to make a present of it to the emperor, not daring
to offer it to sale elsewhere, . and knowing that, if he did, nobody
would dare to buy it; for both buyer and seller would be in the
utmost danger of Domitian's resentment, at being disappointed of
such a rarity.
47. Since the shores, 6j - c.] The reign of Domitian was famous
for the encouragement of informers, who sat themselves in all
places to get intelligence. These particular people, who are men-
tioned here, were officially placed on the shore to watch the landing
of goods, and to take care that the revenue was not defrauded.
They appear to have been like that species of revenue officers
amongst us, which are called tide-waiters.
48. Inquisitors of sea-weed.^ Alga signifies a sort of weed, which
the tides cast up and leave on the shore. The poet's calling these
people algaj iaquisitores, denotes their founding accusations on the
merest trifles, and thus oppressing the public. They dispersed thenv
elves in such a roanjier as not to be avoided.
144 JUVENALIS SATIILE. .SAT. -iv.
Inquisitores agorent cum remige nudo;
Non dubitaturi fugitivuin dicere piscem, 50
Depastumque diu vivaria Caesaris, inde
Elapsura, veterem ad dominum debere reverti. ^x^
Si quid Palphurio, si credimus ArmiHato,
Quicquid conspicuum, pulehrumque est acquore toto,
Res fisci est, ubicunque natat. Donabitur ergo, 55
Ne pereat. Jam lethifero cedente pruinis
Autumno, jam quartanam sperantibus a?gris,
Stridebat deformis hyems, praedamque recent em
Servabat : tamen hie properat, velut urgeat Auster :
Utque lacus suberant, ubi, quanquam diruta, servat 60
49. Would immediately contend, Sf c.~] They would immediately
take advantage of the poor fisherman's forlorn and defenceless con-
dition, to begin a dispute with him about the fish ; and would even
have the impudence to say, that, though the man might have caught
the fish, yet he had no right to it that it was astray, and ought to
return to the right owner.
51. Long liad fed, Sfc.~\ Vivarium, as has been before observed,
denotes a place where wild beasts or fishes are kept, a park, a war-
ren, a stew or fish-bond.
The monstrous absurdity of what the poet supposes these fellows
to advance, in order to prove that this fish was the emperor's pro-
perty, (notwithstanding the poor fisherman had caught it in the Adria-
tic sea,) may be considered as one of those means of oppression,
which were made use of to distress the people, and to wrest their
property from them, under the most frivolous and groundless pre-
tences, and at the same time under colour of legal claim.
53. Palphurius Armillatus.~] Both men of consular dignity ;
lawyers, and spies, and informers, and so favourites with Domitian.
Here is another plea against the poor fisherman, even granting
that the former should fail in the proof ; namely, that the emperor
has, by his royal prerogative, and as part of the royal revenue, a
right to all fish which are remarkable in size or value, wheresoever
caught in any part of the sea ; and as this turbot came within that
description, the emperor must have it, and this on the authority of
those great lawyers above mentioned. By the la?v of England,
whale and sturgeon are called royal fish, because they belong to the
king, on account of their excellence, as part of his ordinary reve-
nue, in consideration of his protecting the seas from pirates and rob-
bers. See BLACKS. Com. 4to. p. 29O.
55. Therefore it sltall be presented.^ The poor fisherman, aware
of all this, rather than incur the danger of a prosecution at the suit
of the emperor, in which he could have no chance but to lose his fine
turbot, and to be ruined into the bargain, makes a virtue of neces-
sity, and therefore wisely determines to carry it as a present to Do -
mi dan, who was at that lime at Alba.
56. Lest it should be lost.^ Lest it should be seized, and taken
from him by the informers.
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 145
Would immediately contend with the naked boatman,
Not doubting to say that the fish was a fugitive, 50
And long had fed in Caesar's ponds, thence had
Escaped, and ought to return to its old master.
If we at all believe Palphurius, or Annillatus,
Whatever is remarkable, and excellent in the whole sea,
Is a matter of revenue, wherever it swims. Therefore it shall be
presented 55
Lest it shduld be lost. Deadly autumn was now yielding to
Hoar-frosts, the unhealthy now expecting a quartan,
Deformed winter howled, and the recent prey
Preserved : yet he hastens as if the south wind urged.
And as soon as tbey~had_got-to the lakes, where, tho' demolished,
Alba ^ **** 60
The boatman then shall a wise present make,
And give the fish, before the seizers take. DUKE.
Or It shall be presented, and that immediately, la=rt it should grow
stale and stink.
56. DeaiU.y autumn, Sfc.~\ By this we learn, that the autumn,
m that part of Italy, was very unwholesome, and that, at the begin-
ning of the winter, quartan agues were expected by persons of a
weakly and sickly habit. Spero signifies to expect either good or
evil. This periphrasis describes the season in which this matter hap-
pened, that it was in the beginning of winter, the weather cold, the
heats of autumn succeeded by the hoar-frosts, so that the fish was in
no danger of being soon corrupted.
59. Yet he hastens, <$"c.] Notwithstanding the weather was so
favourable for preserving the fish from tainting, the poor fisherman
made as much haste to get to the emperor's palace, as if it had been
now summer-time.
60. They.] i. e. The fisherman, and his companions the infor-
mers they would not leave him.
Got to the lakea.^\ The Albanian lakes these are spoken of
by Hon. lib. iv. od. i. 1. 19, 20.
Albanos prope te lacus
Ponet marmoreain sub trabe citrea.
The city of Alba was built between these lakes and the hills, which,
(or this reason, were called Colles Albani ; hence these lakes were
also called Lucus Albani. Alba was about fifteen miles from
Rome.
Tho demolished, S,'c.~] Tullus Hostilius, king of Rome,
took away all the treasure and relics which the Trojans had placed
there in the temple of Vesta; only, out of a superstitious fear, the
fire was left; but he overthrew tho city. See ANT. Un. Hist.
vol. xi. p. 310. All the temples were spaaed. Liv. 1. i.
The Albans, on their misfortunes, neglecting their worship, were
commanded, by various prodigies, to restore their ancient rites, tho
chief of which was, to keep perpetually burning the vestal fire whicb
VOL. i. x
14(5 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. i*.
Ignem Trojanum, et Vestam colit Alba minorem,
Obstitit intranti miratrix turba parumper:
Ut cessit, facili patuerunt cardine valvae :
Exclusi spectant admissa opsonia patres.
Itur ad Atridem : turn Picens, accipe, dixit, 65
Privatis majora focis : genialis agatur
Iste dies; propera stomachum laxare saginis,
was brought there by JEneas, and his Trojans, as a fatal pledge of
the perpetuity of the Roman empire.
Alba Longa was built by Ascanius the son of ^Eneas, and called
Alba, from the white sow which was found on the spot. See VIRG.
Mn. iii. 3903. Mn. viii. 438.
Domitian was at this time at Alba, where he had instituted a col-
lege of priests, hence called Sacerdotes, or Pontifices Albani. As
he was their founder and chief, it might be one reason of his being
called Pontifex Summus, 1. 46. when at that place. The occasion
of his being there at that time, may be gathered from what Pliny
says in his epist. to Corn. Munatianus.
" Domitian was desirous to punish Corn. Maximilla, a vestal, by
" burying her alive, she having been detected in unchastity ; he went
" to Alba, in order to convoke his college of priests, and there, in
" abuse of his power as chief, he condemned her in her absence, and
" unheard." See before, 1. 12, and note.
Suetonius says, that Domitian went every year to Alba, to cele-
brate the Quinquatria, a feast so called, because it lasted rive days,
aud was held in honour of Minerva, for whose service he had alse
instituted the Albanian priests this might have occasioned his being
at Alba at this time.
61. The lesser Vesta.'] So styled, with respect to her temple at
Alba, which was far inferior to that at Rome built by Numa.
62. Wondering croicd.~] A vast number of people assembled to
view this fine fish, insomuch that, for a little while, parumper, they
obstructed the fisherman in his way to the palace.
63. As it gave way.~\ i. e. As the crowd, having satisfied their
curiosity, retired, and gave way for him to pass forward.
The gates, <5fc.] Valvae the large folding doors of the pa-
lace are thrown open, and afford a ready and welcome entrance to
one who brought such a delicious and acceptable present Comp.
HOR. lib. i. od. xxv. 1. 5, 6.
64. The excluded falhcrs.~\ Patres i. e. patres conscript!, the
senators, whom Domitian had commanded to attend him at Alba,
either out of state, or in order to form his privy -council on state affairs.
There is an antithesis here between the admissa opsonia and the
exclusi patres, intimating, that the senators were shut out of the pa-
lace, when the doors were thrown open to the fisherman and his
turbot : these venerable personages had only the privilege of look-
ing at it, as it was carried through the crowd.
Many copies read expectant q. d. The senators are to wait,
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 147
Preserves the Trojan fire, and worships the lesser Vesta,
A wondering crowd, for a while, opposed him as he entered :
As it gave way, the gates opened with an easy hinge:
The excluded fathers behold the admitted dainties.
He comes to Atrides : then the Picenian said " Accept 5
" What is too great for private kitchens : let this day be passed
" As a festival ; hasten to release your stomach from its crammings,
while the business of the turbot is settled, before they can be admit-
ted lit. they await the admitted victuals. See expectant used ia
this sense. VIRG. JEn. iv. 1. 134.
Casaubon reads spectant, which seems to give the most natural
and easy sense.
64. Dfd)ities.~] Opsonium-ii signifies any victuals eaten with
bread, especially fish. AINSW. Gr, o-^ov, proprie, piscis. Hed.
So likewise in S. S. John vi. 9. $vo o^a^x, 'two little fishes. Here
Juvenal uses opsonia for the rhombus.
65. Atrides.] So the poet here humourously calls Domitian, in
allusion to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, whose pride prompted
him to be styled the commander over all the Grecian generals. Thus
Domitian affected the titles of Dux ducum Princeps principum,
and even Deus.
The Picenian.] i. e. The fisherman, who was an inhabitant
of Picenum.
Accept.'] Thus begins the fisherman's abject and fulsome
address to the emperor, on presenting the turbot.
66. JVhut is too great.] Lit. greater than private fires. Focus is
properly a fire-hearth, by met. fire. Focis here, means the fires
by which victuals are dressed, kitchen fires ; and so, by met. kit-
chens, q. d. The turbot which he presented to the emperor was
too great and valuable to be dressed in any private kitchen.
67. As a fcslival~] The adj. genialis signifies cheerful merry
festival so, genialis dies a day of festivity, a festival such as
was observed on marriage or on birth-days: on these latter, they
held a yearly feast in honour of their genius, or tutelar deity, whicli
was supposed to attend their birth, and to live and die with them.
See PERS. sat. ii. 1. 3, and note. Probably the poet here means
much the same as Horace, lib. iii. ode xvii. by genium curabis
you shall indulge yourself make merry.
: Hasten to release, <Sfe.] The poet here lashes Domitian's
gluttony, by making the fisherman advise him to unload, and set
his stomach at liberty from the dainties which it contained, (which
was usually done by vomits,) in order to whet it, and to make room
for this turbot. Sagina lit. means any meat wherewith things are
crammed or fatted, and is well applied here to express the emperor' .-5
stuffing and cramming himself, by his daily gluttony, like a beast or
a fowl that is put up to be fattened.
148 JUVKNALIS SATIRE. SAT. IT.
Et tua servatum consume in saecula rhombum :
Ipse capi voluit. Quid apertius ? et tamen illi
Surgebant criatae : nihil est, quod credere de se 70
Non possit, cum laudatur Di* aequa potestas.
Sed deerat pisci patinae mensura : vocantur
Ergo in corn-ilium proceres, quoa oderat ilk 1 ;
In quorum facie mi^erae, magnaeque sedebat
Pallor amicitiae. Primus, clamante Liburno, 75
Currite, jam sedit, rapta properabat abolla
Pegasus, attonitae positus modo villicus urbi :
Anne aliud tune Praefecti ? quorum optiraus, atque
68. Resetted for your age.] As if Providence had purposely
formed and preserved this fish for the time of Domitian.
69. Itself it would be tak<jn.~\ The very fish itself was ambitious
to be caught for the entertainment and gratification of your Ma-
jesty.
What could be plainer ?] What flattery could be more open,
more palpable than this 1 says Juvenal.
70. His crest arose.] This flattery, which one would have thought
too gross to be received, yet pleased Domitian, he grew proud of it
surgebant cristae. Metaph. taken from the appearance of a cock
when he is pleased, and struts and sets up his comb.
There is nothing* 4' c ] ? - e - When a prince can believe him-
self equal in power to the gods, (which was the case with Domitian,)
no flattery can be too gross, fulsome, or palpable to be received ; he
will believe every thing that can be said in his praise, and grow still
the vainer for it.
Mr. Dryden, in his ode called Alexander's Feast, has finely ima-
gined an instance of this, where Alexander is almost mad with pride,
at hearing himself celebrated as the son of Jupiter by Olympia.
With ravish'd ears
The monarch hears ;
.Assumes the god,
Affects to nod,
And seems to shake the spheres.
72. But a's/se, 'c.~\ They had no pot capacious enough, iti ,'j
dimensions, to contain this large turbot, so as to dress it whole.
Patina is a pot of earth or metal, in which things were boiled, and
brought to table in tlieir broth. AINSW.
73. The nobles.'] Proceres the senators called patres, 1. G4.
Are called into council.'] To deliberate on what was to he
done in this momentous business.
r- Whom ht hattd.^ From a consciousness of his being dreaded
and hated by them.
74. The paleness.~\ We have here a striking representation of a
tyrant, who, conscious that he must be hated by all about . him, hate^
them, and they, knowing his capricious cruelty, never approach
him without horror and dread, lest they should say or do something-,
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 149
" And consume a turbot reserved for your age :
' Itself it would be taken." What could be plainer ? and yet
His crest arose : there is nothing which of it itself it may not 70
Believe, when a power equal to the gods is praised.
But there was wanting a size of pot for the fish : therefore
The nobles are called into council, whom he hated :
In the face of whom was sitting the paleness of a miserable
And great friendship. First, (a Liburuian crying out 75
" Run he is already seated,") with a snatched-up gown, hastened
Pegasus, lately appointed bailiff to the astonished city
Were the Prefects then any thing else 1 of whom [he was] the
best, and
however undesignedly, which may cost them their lives. Comp. 1. &&
8.
75. A Liburnian.'] Some have observed that the Romans made
criers of the Liburnians, a remarkable lusty and stout race of men,
(see sat iii. 240.) because their voices were very loud and strong.
Others take Liburnus here for the proper name of some particular
man who had the office of crier.
76. Run, {c.~\ " Make haste lose no time the emperor has al-
" ready taken his seat at the council-table don't make him wait."
IVith a snatched-up gown.'] Aboila, here, signifies a senator's
robe. Li sat. iii. 115. it signifies a philosopher's gown. On hear-
ing the summons, he caught up his robe in a violent hurry, and hud-
dled it on, and away he went.
This Pegasus was an eminent lawyer, who had been appointed
pnsfect or governor of the city of Rome. Juvenal calls him villicus,
pr bailiff, as if Rome, by Domitian's tyranny, had so far lost its li-
berty and privileges, that it was now no better than an insignificant
village, and its officers had no more power or dignity than a country
b liliJi- a little paltry officer over a small district.
The praefectus KEXXETT, Ant. lib. iii. part ii. c. 13.)
was a sort of mayor of the city, created by Augustus, by the advice
of his favourite Maecenas, upon whom at first he conferred the new
honour. He was to precede all other city magistrates, having power
to receive appeals from the inferior courts, and to decide almost all
causes within the limits of Rome, or one hundred miles round. Be-
fore this, there was sometimes a praefectus urbis created, when the
or the greater officers, weiv abjunt from the city, to adminis-
ter justice in their room.
But there was an end of all this, their hands were now tied up,
their power and consequence were no more ; Domitian had taken
every thing into his own hands, and no oiiitvr of the city could act
f.irther than the emperor deigned to permit, who kept the whole city
in the utmo-t terror and astoniahmeut at his cruelty and oppression.
78. Of u-iioni, eye.] This Pegasus was an excellent magistrate,
the best of any that had filled that oih'ce most conscientious ami
150 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. it.
Interpres legum sanctia&inras ; omnia quanquam
Temporibus diris tractanda putabat inermi 80
Justitiit. Venit et Crispi jucunda senectus,
Cujus erant mores, qualis facundia, mite
Ingenium. Maria, ac terras, populosqne regent!
Quis comes utilior, si clade et peste sub ilia
Saevitiam damnare, et honestum afferre liceret 85
Consilium ? sed quid violentius aure tyranni,
Cum quo de nimbis, aut aestibus, aut pluvioso
Vere locuturi fatum pendebat amici ?
Ille igitur nunquam direxit brachia contra
Torrentem : nee civ is erat, qul liber a posset 90
Verba aniini proferre, et vitam impendere vero.
Sic multas hyemes, atque octogesima vidit
Solstitia : his armis, ilia quoque tutus in aula.
Proximus ejusdem properabat Acilius aevi
Cum juvene indigno, quern mors tarn saeva maneret, 95
Et domini gladiis jam festinata : sed olim
faithful in his administration of justice never straining the laws to
oppress the people, but expounding them fairly and honestly.
80 I. With unarmed justice. ~\ Such was the cruelty and tyranny
of Domitian, that even Pegasus, that good and upright magistrate,
was deterred from the exact and punctual administration of justice,
every thing being now governed as the emperor pleased ; so that the
laws had not their force ; nor dared the judges execute them, but
according to the will of the emperor -justice was disarmed of its
powers.
81. Cn'spws.] Vibius Crispus, who, when one asked him, if any
body was with Caesar ? answered, " Not even a fly." Domitian, at
the beginning of his reign, used to amuse himself with catching flies,
and sticking them through with a sharp pointed' instrument. A sure
presage of his future cruelties.
82 3. A gentle disposition.] He was as remarkable for sweetness
of temper, as for his eloquence, pleasantry, and good nature. Conip.
HOR. lib. ii. sat. i. 1. 72. Mitis sapientia Laeli.
84. Who a more useful companion.] The meaning is, who could
have been a more salutary friend and companion, as well as counsel-
lor, to the emperor, if he had dared to have spoken his mind, to have
reprobated the cruelty of the emperor's proceedings, and to Imvu
given his advice to a man, who, like sword and pestilence, destroyed
all that he took a dislike to.
86. What is more violent, &>c.~\ More rebellious against the dio
tates of honest truth more'impatient of advice more apt to imbibe
the most fatal prejudices.
87. Speak of showers, (5fc.] Such was the capriciousness and cru-
elty of Domitian, that it was unsafe for his friends to converse with
hinrij even on the most indifferent subjects, such as the weather, and
th'jlike: the U?ast word misunderstood, or taken ill, might co?t a
AT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 151
Most upright interpreter of laws : tho' all things,
In direful times, he thought were to be managed with unarmed 80
Justice. The pleasant old age of Crispus also came,
Whose manners were, as his eloquence, a gentle
Disposition ; to one governing seas, and lands, and people,
Who a more useful companion, if, under that slaughter and pesti-
lence,
It were permitted to condemn cruelty, and to give honest 85
Counsel ? But what is more violent than the ear of a tyrant,
With whom the fate of a friend, who should speak of showers,
Or heats, or of a rainy spring, depended ?
He therefore never directed his arms against
The torrent : nor was he a citizen, who could utter 90
The free words of his mind, and spend his life for the truth.
Thus he saw many winters, and the eightieth
Solstices ; with these arms, safe also in that court.
Next of the same age, hurried Acilius
With a youth unworthy, whom so cruel a death should await, 95
And now hastened by the swords of the tyrant : but long since
man his life, though to that moment he had been regarded as a
friend.
89. Never directed, 6fc.] Never attempted to swim against the
stream, as we say. He knew the emperor too well ever to venture
an opposition to his will and pleasure.
91. Spend his life, <5j'c.] Crispus was not one of those citizens
who dared to say what he thought ; or to hazard his life in the cause
of truth, by speaking his mind.
92 3. Eightieth solstices.^ Eighty solstices of winter and summer
i. e. he was now eighty years of age.
93. With these arms, #c.] Thus armed with prudence and cau-
tion, he had lived to a good old age, even in the court of Domitian,
where the least offence or prejudice would, long since, have takea
him off.
94. Acilius,'] Glabrio a senator of singular prudence and fide-
lity.
95. With a youth, &fc.~\ Domitins, the son of Acilius, came with
liis father ; but both of them were soon after charged with designs ,
against the emperor, and were condemned to death. The father's
sentence was changed into banishment, the more to grieve him with
the remembrance of his son's death.
Unworthy.^ Not deserving that so cruel a death should await
him.
This unhappy young man, to save his life, affected madness, and
fought naked with wild beasts in the amphitheatre at Aiba, where
Domitian every year celebrated games in honour of Minerva ; but
he was not to be deceived, and he put Domitius to death in a cruel
manner. Seel. 99, 100.
96. The sword*.'] Gladii.", in the plur. cither by syn. for gladio,
1 52 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. iv.
Prodigio par est in nobilitate senectus :
Unde fit, ut malim fraterculus esse gigantum.
Profuit ergo nihil raisero, quod corainus ursos
Figebat Numidas, Albana nudus arena 100
Venator : quis enim jam non intelligat artes
Patricias ? quis priscum illud miretur acumen.
Brute, tuum ? facile est barbato imponere regi,
Nee melior vultu, quamvis iguobilis ibat
Rubrius, offensae veteris reus, atque tacendae ; 105
Et tamen improbior satiram scribente cinaedo.
Montani quoque venter adest, abdomine tardus ;
Et matutino sudans Crispinus amomo ;
sing, or perhaps to signify the various methods of torture and death
used by this emperor.
96. Of the t if rant.'] Domini, lit. of the lord i. e. the emperor
Domitian, who thus lorded it over the lives of his subjects.
97. Old age in nobility. ~] q. d. From the days of Nero, till this
hour, it has been the practice to cut off the nobility, when the empe-
ror's jealousy, fear, or hatred, inclined him so to do ; insomuch
thrt, to see a nobleman live to old age, is something like a prodigy ;
and indeed this has long been the case.
98. Of the giants.'] These fabulous beings were supposed to be
the sons of Titan and Teilus. These sons of Earth were of a gi-
gantic size, and said to rebel and fight against Jupiter. See Ov.
Met. lib. 1. fab; vi.
q. d. Since to be born noble is so very dangerous, I had much
rather, like these Terrae filii, claim no higher kindred than my pa-
rent Earth, and though not in size, yet as to origin, be a brother of
theirs, than be descended from the highest families among our nobi-
lity.
101. Who cannot now, <Sfc.j Who is ignorant of the arts of the
nobility, either to win the emperor's favour, or to avoid his dislike,
or to escape the effects cf his displeasure ? these are known to every
body therefore it can hardly be supposed that they are unknown to
the emperor hence poor Domitius miscarried in his stratagem. See
note on 1. 95.
Domitian could perceive, yet could swallow down the grossest
flattery, and thus far deceive himself, (comp. 1. 70.) yet no shift,
or trick, to avoid his destructive purposes could ever deceive him.
102. Who can wonder, 6fc.~\ Lucius Junius Brutus saved his life
by affecting to play the fool in the court of Tarquin the Proud, when
many of the nobility were destroyed, and, among the rest, the bro-
ther of Brutus. Hence he took the surname of Brutus, which sig-
nifies senseless void of reason.
q. d. This old piece of policy would not be surprising now ; it
would be looked upon but as a shallow device ; therefore, how-
ever it might summed in those days of ancient simplicity, wu
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 153
Old age in nobility is equal to a prodigy :
Hence it is, that I had rather be a little brother of the giants..
Therefore it nothing availed the wretch that he pierced
Numidian bears in close fight, a naked hunter in the Alban 100
Theatre : for who cannot now understand the arts
Of the nobles ? who can wonder at that old subtlety of thine,
O Brutus ? It is easy to impose on a bearded king.
Nor better in countenance, tho' ignoble, wont
Rubrius, guilty of an old crime, and ever to be kept in silence : 105
And yet more wicked than the pathic writing satire.
The belly of Montanus too is present, sloAv from his paunch :
And Crispinus sweating with morning perfume:
\
find it would not do now, as the wretched Domitius sadly experi-
enced.
103. On a bearded king.'] Alluding to the simplicity of ancient
times, when Rome was governed by kings, who, as well as their
people, wore their beards; for shaving and cutting the beard were
not in fashion till later times. Barbatus was a sort of proverbial
term for simple, old-fashioned. Sea AINSW.
It is remarkable that, long before the days of Brutus, we have
an instance of a like device, by which David saved himself at the
court of Achish, king of Gath. 1 Sam. xxi. 10 15.
104. Nor better in countenance.^ He looked as dismal as the rest
S-e 1. 74.
Tho ignoble^] Though he was xjf plebeian extraction, and
therefore could not be set up as a mark tor Doruiliaii's envy and
suspicions, as the nobles were, yet he well knew that no rank or
degree was safe: as none were above, so none were below his dis-
pleasure and resentment.
105. Guilty, 6fc.] What this offence was, is not said particular-
ly ; however, its not being to be named, must make us suppose it
something very horrible : or that it was some offence against the em-
peror, which was kept secret.
Some commentators have supposed it to have been debauching Ju-
lia, Domitian's wife.
106. And i,tt more u-ichrd, &c.~| More lewd, more abandoned,
than even that unnatural wretch, the emperor Nero, who, though
himself a monster of lewdness, yet wrote a satire against Quintianus,
ia \viiuh he censures him severely for the very abominations which
Nero himself was guilty of. See Aixsw. Improbus, No. 7.
U7. The Islly, #c.J As if his belly were the most important thing
belonging to him, it, rather than himself, is said to be present. This
jM onMnus was some corpulent glutton, fat and unwieldy.
108. Critjjitws, cVc.J Here we lind Crispinus brought forward
again vocotcs ad partes See i. 1 and 2.
With morning perfume.'] The amomum was a shrub which
the Easterns u?od in embalming. Of this a fine perfumed ointment
was made, with which Crispinus is described as anointing himself
VOL. i. v
154 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. iv.
Quantum vix redolent duo funera : ssevior ilia
Pompeius tenui jugulos aperire susurro: 110
Et, qui vulturibus servabat viscera Dacis,
Fuscus, marmorea meditatus pnelia villa :
Et cum mortifero prudens Yeiento Catullo,
Qui nunquam visae flagrabat amore puelke,
Grande, et conspicuum nostro quoque tempore monstrum ! 1 1 j
Cascus adulator, dirusque a poute satelles,
Dignus Aricinos qui mendicaret ad axes,
Blandaque devexae jactaret basia rhedae.
Nemo magis rhombum stupuit : nam plurima dixit
In lasvum conversus: atilli dextrajacebat 129
Bellua: sic pugnas Cilicis laudabat, et ictus,
early in a morning, and in such profusion, as that he seemed to
weat it out of his pores.
Some think that the word matutino, here, alludes to the part of
the world from whence theamomum came ?'. e. the East, where the
sun first arises : but I find no example of such a use of the word.
109. Two funerals, Sfc.~\ Crispinus had as much perfume about
him as would have served to anoint two corpses for burial. It wa^
a custom among the ancients to anoint the oodles of persons who
died with sweet ointments. See Matt. xxvi. 12. This custom, among
others, was derived from the Easterns to the Romans.
110. Than him more cruel, 6fc.~\ Pompeius was another of this
assembly, more cruel than Crispinus, in getting people put to death,
by the secret accusations which he whiskered against them into the
emperor'a ear.
111. Fuscus, who icas preserving, <$"c.] Cornelius Fuscus wa?
sent by Domitian general against the Dacians, where his army and
himself were lost, and became food for the birds of prey.
112. Meditated tears, dye.] An irony, alluding to his being sent
to command, without having any other ideas of war, than he con-
ceived amid the sloth and luxury of his sumptuous villa.
113. Prudent Veienlo.~] See sat. iii. 185. The poet gives Veiento
the epithet of prudent, from his knowing how to conduct himself
wisely, with regard to the emperor, so as not to risk his displeasure,
and from his knowing when, and how, to flatter to the best advan-
tage. See 1. 123.
Deadly Catullus.'] So called from his causing the death of
many by secret accusations. He was raised by Domitian from beg-
ging at the foot of the Aricine hill, in the Via Appia, to be a mi-
nister of state.
114. Jl'hoburnd, 6fc.~] Catullus was blind, but his lust was so
great, that he could not hear a woman mentioned without rftgin^
with desire. Or perhaps this alludes to some particular in;
which he kept, and was very fond of.
115. In our times, Sfc.~\ He was so wicked, as, even in the UK. r
s, to appear a monster of iniquity.
SnT. IV.
JUVENAL'S SATIRES.
Two funerals scarcely smell so much. Pompeius too,
Than him more cruel to cut throats with a gentle whisper. 110
And Fuscus, who was preserving his bowels for the Dacian.
Vultures, having meditated watg in his marble villa.
And prudent Veiento, with dealy Catullus,
Who burn'd with the love of a girl never seen ;
A great, and also, in our times, a conspicuous monster 1 115
A blind flatterer, a dire attendant from the bridge,
Worthy that he should be at the Aricinian axles,
And throw kind kisses to the descending carriage.
Nobody more wonder'd at the turbot : for he said many things
Turned to the left, but on his right hand lay 120
The fish : thus he praised the battles- and strokes of the Cilician,
116. A blind. flatterer,"] As he could admire a woman without
seeing her, so he could flatter men whom he never saw ; rather than
fail, he would flatter at a venture.
A dire attendant, 4'c.] There was a bridge in the Appiau
way, which was a noted stand for beggars. From being a beggar
at this bridge, he was taken to be an attendant on the emperor, and
a most direful one he was, for he ruined and destroyed many by se-
cret accusations.
117. IVorihy that he should beg.~] This he might be allowed to
deserve, as the only thing he was fit for. See note 2, on 1. 113.
Aricinian axles.^ Axes by syn. for currus or rhedas i. e.
the carriages which passed along towards or from Aricia, a town in
the Appian way, about ten miles from Rome, a very public road,
and much frequented ; so very opportune for beggars. See HOB.
lib. i. sat. v. 1. 1. Hod. la Ricca.
118. Throw kind kisses.~] Kissing his hand, and throwing it from
his mouth towards the passengers in the carriages, as if he threw
them kisses, by way of soothing them into stopping, and giving him
alms. See sat. iii. 1. 10G, and note.
The descending carriage.^ Aricia was built on the top of
an high hill, which the carriages descended in their way to Rome:
this seems to be the meaning of devexae. See AINSW. Devexus-a-
um. From de and veho, q. d. Deorsum vehitur.
119. Nobody more wondered.'] That is, nobody pretended more
to do so, out of flattery to Domitian ; fpr as for the fish, winch Ju-
venal here calls bellua, (speaking of it as of a great beast,) he could
not see it, but turned the wrong way from it, and was very loud in
its praises: just as he used to flatter Domitian, by praising the fen-
cers at the games he gave, and the machinery at the theatre, when it
was not possible for him to see what was going forward. Juvenal
might well call him, 1. 110, csecus adulator.
121. The Cilician.'] Some famous gladiator, or fencer, from Cili*
via, who, probably, was a favourite of Domitum.
IMS JUVENAUS SATIRE SAT.IV.
Et pegma, et pueros inde ad velaria raptos.
Kon cedit Veieato, sed ut fanaticus cestro
Percussus, Bellona, tuo divinat ; et ingens
Omen habes, inquit, magni clarique triumph! : 125
Regem aliquem capies, aut de temone Britanno
Excidet Arviragus : peregrina est bellua, cernis
Erectas in terga sudes? hoc defuit unum
Fabricio, patriam ut rhombi inemoraret, et annos.
Quidnam igitur censes.' conciditur 2 absit ab illo 130
Dedecus hoc, Montanus ait ; testa alta paretur,
Quae tenui inuro spatiosum colligat orbem.
Debetur magnus patinae subitusque Prometheus :
Argillam, atque rotam citius properate : sed ex hoc
Temporejam, Caesar, figuli tua castra sequ&ntur. 135
122. The machine.'] Pegma (from Gr. w/wfAt, figo) a sort of
wooden machine used in scenical representations, which was so con-
trived, as to raise itself to a great height Boys were placed upon
it, and on a sudden carried up to the top of the theatre.
- The /coverings.'] Velaria were sail-cloths, extended over
the top of the theatre, to keep out the weather. Aixsw.
123. Veiento.^ We read of him, sat. iii. 1. 185, as observing
great silence towards those who were his inferiors ; but here we find
him very lavish of his tongue when he is flattering the emperor,
Seel. 113.
- Does not ijield.~] Is not behindhand to the others in flattery,
not even to blind Catullus who spoke last.
124. O Bellona.^ The supposed sister of Mars ; she was fabled
to preside over war VIRG. ^En. viii. 1. 703. describes her with a
bloody scourge. Her priests, in the celebration of her feasts, used
to cut themselves, and dance about as if they were mad, pretending
also to divine^or prophesy future events.
CEstrus signifies a sort of fly, which we call a gad-fly ; in the
summer-time it bites or stings cattle, so as to make them run about
as if they were mad. See VIRG. G. iii. 1. 146 53. By meton.
inspired fury of any kind. Hence our poet humourously calls the
spirit which inspired the priests of Belloua by this name. For fa-
naticus see sat. ii. 1. 112.
- Divines. J In flattery to Domitian, he treats the event of the
turbot as something ominous, as if the taking it predicted some sig-
nal and glorious victory, the taking some monarch prisoner per-
haps Arviragus, then king of the Britons, with whom Domitian was
at war, might be prefigured, as falling wounded from his chariot into
the hands of the emperor.
127. Is foreign^] Therefore denotes some foreign conquest.
128. Spears, <Sfc.] Sudes properly signifies a stake a pile
driven into the ground in fortifications, also a spear barbed with
iron. Hence x.*T<tx,r,stx,as, the fin of a fish. AINSW.
q. d. Do you perceive his sharp fins rising on his back ; they look
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 157
And the machine, and the boys snatched up to the coverings.
Veiento does not yield: but as a fanatic stung with thy gad-fly,
O Bellona, divines, and says, " A great omen
" You have, of a great and illustrious triumph : 125
" You will take some king, or from a British chariot
" Arviragus will fall : the fish is foreign : dp you perceive
" The spears erect on his back ?" This one thing was wanting
To Fabricius, that he should tell the country of the turbot, and its
age.
" What thinkest thou then ? Must it be cut ?" " Far from it
be 130
" This disgrace," says Montanus ; let a deep pot be prepared,
" Which, with its thin wall, may collect the spacious orb.
" A great and sudden Prometheus is due to the dish :
" Hasten quickly the clay, and the wheel : but now, from this
" Time, Cccsar, let potters follow your camps." 135
like so many spears, and portend and signify the spears which you
shall stick in the backs of vanquished foes.
129. Fabricius.] i. e. Fabricius Veiento. He was so diffuse in
his harangue, that, in short, there wanted nothing but his telling
where it was bred, and how pld it was, to complete and establish his
prophetic history of the fish.
130. IV hut thinkest thou then? <Sfc.] The words of Domitian,
who puts the original question for which he assembled these senators,
1. 72, viz. as no pot could be got large enough to dress the turbot in,
that they should advise what was to be done : this they had said no-
thing about therefore Domitian asks, if it should be cut in pieces.
131. Montanus.] The glutton See 1. 107. He concludes the
debate, with expressing a dislike of disfiguring this noble fish, by
dividing it, and, at the same time, by flattering the emperor, and
raising his vanity.
Let a deep pot.] Testa signifies a pot, or pan, made of
clay. He advises that such a one be immediately made, deep and
wide enough to hold the fish within its thin circumference, (teuui
muro :) by this means the fish will be preserved entire, as in such a
pot it might be dressed whole.
133. Prometheus, Sfc.] The poets feigned him to have formed
men of clay, and to have put life into them by fire stolen from hea-
ven. Juvenal humourously represents Montanus as calling for Pro-
metheus himself, as it were, instantly to fashion a pot on so great an
occasion, when so noble a fish was to be dressed, and that for so
great a prince.
134. Hasten.] That the fish may not be spoiled before it can be
dressed.
The day, and the wheel.] Clay is the material, and a wheel,
which is solid, and turns horizontally, the engine on which the pot-
ter makes his ware. This was very ancient. Jer. xviii. 3.
135. Let potters follow, fyc.] This is a most ludicrous idea, and
158 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. IT.
X
Vicit digna viro scntentia : noverat ille
Luxuriam imperil veterem, nootesquo Neronis
Jam medias, aliamque fainem, cum pulmo Faleruo
Arderet : nulli major fuit usus edendi
Tempestate mea, Circeis nata forent, an 110
Lucrinum ad saxum, Rutupinove edita fimdo
Ostrea, callebat priino deprendere morsu ;
Et semel aspecti iittus dicebat echini.
Surgitur, et misso proceres exire jubentur
Concilio, quos Albanam dux magnus in arcem 145
Traxerat attonitos, et festinare coactos,
Tanquam de Cattis aliquid, torvisque Sicambris
Dicturus : tanquam diversis partibus orbis
Anxia prascipiti venisset epistola penna.
Atque utinam his potius nugis tota ilia dedisset 1 50
Tempora saevitis, claris quibus abstulit urbi
Iliustresque aniinas impune, et vindice nullo,
Sed periit, postquam cerdonibus esse Umendus
seems to carry with it a very sharp irony on Domitian, for having
called his council together on such a subject as this but, however
it might be meant, the known gluttony of Montanus, which is de-
scribed, 1. 136 43, made it pass for serious advice, and as such
Domitian understood it, as the next words may inform us.
136. The opinion, 8{c.~] What Montaaus had said about dressing
the fish whole, was thoroughly worthy his character ; just what
might have been expected from him, and as such prevailed.
He hud known, #c.] He was an old court glutton, and was
well acquainted with the luxury of former emperors, here meant by
luxuriam imperil. No man understood eating, both in theory and
practice, better than he did, that has lived in my time, says Juve-.
nal.
137. Nero."] As Suetonius' observes, used to protract his feasts
from mid-day to mid-night.
138. Another hunger, $fc.~] i. e. What could raise a new and
fresh appetite, after a drunken debauch.
140. Circeei.~\ -orum. A town of Campania, in Italy, at the
foot of mount Circello on the sea coast.
141. The Lucrine rock.'] The Lucrine rocks were in the bay of
Lucrinum, in Campania. All these places Avere famous for different
sorts of oysters.
Rutupian bottom.~\ Rutupae-arum, Richburrow in Kent
Rutupina littora, the Foreland of Kent. The luxury of the Ro-
mans must be very great, to send for oysters at such a distance, when
so many places on the shores of Italy afforded them.
143. Sea-urchin.'] Echinus, a sorl of crab with prickles on its
shell, reckoned a great dainty. </. d. So skilled in eating was Mon-
tanus, that at the tirst bite of an oyster, or at the first sight of a crab,
he could tell where they were taken.
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 159
The opinion, worthy the man, prevailed : he had known
The old luxury of the empire, and the nights of Nero
Now half spent, and another hunger, when the lungs with Falernan
Burned : none had a greater experience in eating
In my time. Whether oysters were bred at Circaei, or 140
At the Lucrine rock, or sent forth from the Rutupian bottom,
He knew well to discover at the first bite ;
And told the shore of a sea-urchin once looked at
They rise and the senators are commanded to depart from the
dismissed
Council, whom the great general into the Alban tower 145
Had drawn astonished, and compelled to hasten,
As if something concerning the Catti, and the tierce Sicambri
He was about to say ; as if from different parts of the world
An alarming epistle had come with hasty wing.
And I wish that rather to these trifles he had given all those 150
Ti mes of cruelty, in which he took from the city, renowned,
And illustrious lives, with impunity, and with no avenger.
But he perished, after that to be fear'd by cobblers
144. They rise.~\ Surgitur, imp. the council broke up. Seel. 65.
itur.
1 45. The great generaL~\ Domitian, who gave the word of com-
mand for them to depart, as before to assemble.
Into the Alban tourer.] To the palace at Alba, where the
emperor now was. The word traxerat is very expressive, as if they
had been dragged thither sorely against their wills.
146. Astonished compelled, #c.] Amazed at the sudden sum-
mons, but dared not to delay a moment's obedience to it. Comp. 1.
76.
147. Catti.'] A people of Germany, now subject to the Land-
grave of Hesse Sicambri, inhabitants of Guelderland. Both these
people were formidable enemies.
149. An alarming epistle, $'c.] Some sorrowful news had been
dispatched post-haste from various pans of the empire.
Little could the senators imagine, that all was to end in a consul-
tation upon a turbot.
The satire here is very fine, and represents Domitian as anxious
about a matter of gluttony, as he could have been in affairs of the
utmost importance to the Roman empire.
150. And I wish, #c.] i. e. It were to be wished that he had
spent that time in such trines as this, which he passed in acts of cru-
elty and murder, which he practised with impunity, en numbers of
the greatest and best men in Rome, nobody daring to avenge their
sufferings.
153. But he perished, #c.] Cerdo signifies any low mechanics,
such as cobblers, and the like. Cerdonibus stands here for the rab-
ble in general.
While Domitian only cut off, now and then, some of the nobles,
the people were quiet, however amazed they might be, (comp, L 77.~)
160 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. iv.
Cceperat : hoc nocuit Lamiarum caede madenti.
but when he extended his cruelties to the plebeians, means were de-
vised to cut him off, which was done by a conspiracy formed against
him. See ANT. Un. Hist. vol. xv. p. 87.
154. The Lami(S.~\ The Lamian family was most noble. See
HOR. lib. iii. ode xvii. Of this was ^Elius Lama, whose wife, Do-
mitia Longina, Domitian took away, and afterwards put the husband
to death.
The Lamia?, here, may stand for the nobles in general, (as before
SAT. iv. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 161
lie had begun : this hurt him reeking with slaughter of the Lamiae.
the cerdones for the rabble in general,) who had perished under the
cruelty of Domitian, and with whose blood he might be said to be
reeking, from the quantity of it which he had shed during his reign.
He died ninety -six years after Christ, aged forty-four years, ten
months, and twenty-six days. He reigned fifteen years and five
days, and was succeeded by Nerva : a man very unlike him, being
a good man, a good statesman, and a good soldier.
END OF THE FOURTH SATIRE.
SATIRA V.
ARGUMENT.
The Poet dissuades Trebius, a parasite, from frequenting the tabhs
of the great, where he, irrzs certain to be treated with the utmost
scorn and contempt. Juvenal then proceeds to stigmatize the
s
I te propositi nondum pudet, atque eadem est mens,
TJt bona summa putes aliena vivcre quadra ;
Si potes ilia pati, quae nee Sarmentus infquas
Caesaris ad mensas, nee vili.3 Galba tulisset,
Quamvis jurato metuam tibi credere te^ti. 5
Venire nihil novi frugalius : hoc tamen ipsura
Defecisse puta, quod inani sufficit alvo,
Nulla Crepido vacat? nusquam pons, et tegetis pars
Argument, line I, Paa/wte.'] From , to, and arras, com
anciently signified an officer under the priests, who had the care of
the sacred corn, and who was invited as a guest to eat part of the sa-
crifice. Afterwards it came to signify a sort of flatterer, a buffoon,
who was invited to great men's tables by way of sport, and who, by
coaxing and flattery, often got into favour. See sat. i. 1. 139, and
note.
1. Of your purpose.] Your determination to seek for admittance;
at the tables of the great, however ill you may be treated.
2. Highest happiness.] Summa bona. Perhaps Juvenal here ad-
verts to the various disputes among the philosophers about the sum-
mum bonum, or chief good of man. To inquire into this, was the
design of Cicero in his celebrated five books Do Finibus, wherein it
is supposed all along, that man is capable of attaining the perfection
of happiness in this life, and he is never directed to look beyond it ;
upon this principle, this parasite sought his chief happiness in the pre-
sent gratification of his sensual appetite, t the tables of the rich and
great.
AnolJier's lrencfter.~] Quadra signifies, literally, a square
trencher, from its form ; but here., aliena vivere quadra, is to bo
taken metonymically, to signify living at another's table or at
another's expense.
3. SarmcntusJ] A Roman knight, who, by his flattery and buf-
foonery, insinuated himself into, the favour of Augustus Caasar, and
SATIRE V.
ARGUMENT.
insolence and luxury of the nobility, their treatment of their poor
dependents, whom they almost suffer to starve, while they them-
selves fare deliriously.
JLF you are not yet ashamed of your purpose, and your mind is
the same,
That you can think it the highest happiness to live from anothers
trencher ;
If you can suffer those things, which neither Sarmentus at the une-
qual
Tables of Caesar, nor vile Galba could have borne,
I should be afraid to believe you as a witness, tho' upon oath. 5
I know nothing more frugal than the belly : yet suppose even that
To have failed, which suffices for an empty stomach,
Is there no hole vacant ? no where a bridge ? and part of a rug
often came to his table, where he bore all manner of scoffs and af-
iroiits. See HOR. lib. i. sat. v. 1. 51, 2.
3 4. The unequal tables.'] Those entertainments were called ini-
quae mensae, where the same food and wine were not provided for
the guests as for the master. This was often the case, when great
men invited parasites, and people of a lower kind ; they sat before
them a coarser sort of food, and wine of an inferior kind.
4. Galbu.~\ Such another in the time of Tiberius.
5. Afraid to believe.] q. d. If you can submit to such treatment
as this, for no other reason than because you love eating and drink-
ing, 1 shall think you so void of all right and honest principle, that
I would not believe what you say, though it were upon oath.
G. Nut/ting more frugal.'] The mere demands of nature are easily
supplied hunger wants not delicacies.
Suppose even that, <$c.] However, suppose that a man has
not wherewithal to procure even the little that nature wants to satisfy
his hunger.
8. Is there no hole, $c.'] Crepido a hole or place by the high-
way, where beggars sit.
A bridge.] The bridges on the highways were common
stands for beggars. Sat. iv. 116.
164 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. v.
Dimidiii brevior ? tantine injuria coenae ?
Tarn jejuna fames ; cum possis honestiusillic 10
Et tremere, et sordes farris mordere canini ?
Primo fige loco, qdod tu discumbere jussus
Mercedem solidam veterum capis officiorum :
Fructus amicitiae magnae cibus : imputat hunc Rex,
Et quamvis rarum, tamen imputat. Ergo duos post 15
Si libuit menses neglectum adhibere clientem,
Tertia ne vacuo cessaret culcitra let-to,
9. Shorter by the half.'] Teges signifies a coarse rug, worn by
beggars to keep them warm. q. d. Is no coarse rug, or even a bit of
one, to be gotten to cover your nakedness ?
Is the injury of a supper, 8fc.~] Is it worth while to suffer
the scoffs and affronts which you undergo at a great man's table ?
Do you prize these so highly as rather to endure them than be ex-
cluded 1 or than follow the method which I propose ? Comp. 1. 10,
11. I should observe, that some are for interpreting injuria coenae
by injuriosa coena : so Grangius, who refers to VIRG. yEn. iii. 256,
injuria caedis pro-caede injuriosa ; but I cannot think that this comes
up to the point, as the reader may see by consulting the passage, which
the Delphin interpreter expounds by injftria caedis nobis illatae and
PO I conceive it ought to be ; and if so, it is no precedent for chang-
ing injuria coenae into injuriosa ctena. However, it is certain that
this is adopted in the Variorum edition of Schrevelius Tantine tihi
est injuriosa et contumeliosa coena; ut propter earn turpissimum adu-
latorem velis agere, et tot mala, tot opprobria et contumelias potius
perferre velis, quam mendicare ? LUBIN. To this purpose Mar-
bhall, Prateus, and others. Doubtless this gives an excellent sent v
to the passage ; but then this is come at, by supposing that Juvenal
says one thing and means another : for he says, injuria coeuae lite-
rally, the injury of a supper i. e. the injury sustained by Nffivo-
lus, the indignity and affronts which he met with when he went to
Virro's table. The poet asks tantine injuria, not tantine comae,
meaning, as I conceive, a sarcasm on the parasite for his attendance
where he was sure to undergo all manner of contempt and ill treat-
ment, as though he Avere so abject as to prefer this, and hold it in
high estimation, . in comparison with the way of life which Juvenal
recommends as more honourable. Hence the explanation of the pas-
sage which I have above given, appears to me to be most like the
poet's meaning, as it exactly coincides with his manner of expression,
I would lastly observe, that Prateus, Delph. edit, interprets tan-
tine injuria coenae ? by an tanti est contumelia convivii i
10. Is hunger so craving.] As to drive you into all this, when
you might satisfy it in the more honourable way of begging ?
More honestly.] With more reputation to yourself.
There.] At a stand for beggars.
11. Tremble.'] Shako with cold, having nothing but a part of a
SAT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. ICi
Shorter by the half? is the injury of a supper of so great value ?
Is hunger so craving, when you might, more houes-iy, there I(>
Both tremble, and gnaw the tilth of dogs'-meat ?
Fix in the first place, that you, bidden to sit down at table,
Receive a solid reward of old services:
Food is the fruit of great friendship: this the great man reckons,
And tho' rare, yet he reckons it. Therefore h', alter two 15
Months, he likes to invite a neglected client,
Lest the third pillow should be idle on an empty bed,
rug to cover you, 1. 8, 9. Or, at last, pretending it, in order to
move compassion.
11. (Jlnuw theJiUh, <$'c.] Far literally signifies all manlier of
*orn ; also ineal and flour- hence bread made thereof. A coarser
sort was made for the common people, a coarser still was given to
dogs. But perhaps the poet, by farris canini, means what was
spoiled, and grown musty and hard, by keeping, only tit to be
thrown to the dogs.
The substance of this passage seems to be this viz. that the situ-
ation of a common beggar, who takes his stand to ask alms though
half naked shaking with cold and forced to satisfy his hunger
with old hard crusts, such as were given to the dogs, ought to be
reckoned far more reputable, and therefore more eligible, than thosa
abject and scandalous means, by which the parasite subsisted.
12. Fix, $c.~] Fix it in your hand, us a certain thing, in the first
place.
To sit doicn at table.~\ Discumbere lit means to lie down,
as on a couch, after the manner of the Homans at their meals.
13. A solid reward.] Whatever services you may have rendered
the great man, he thinks that an invitation to supper is a very solid
and lull recompence.
14. Food is the fruit, <$'c.] A meal's meat (as we say) is all you
get by your friendly offices, but then they must have been very
great. Or magnae amicitias may mean, as in sat. iv. 1. 74, 5. the
friendship of a great man, the fruit of which is an invitation to
supper.
The great man reckons, Sfc.~\ Rex lit. a king, is often
used to denote any great and high personage. See sat. i. 1 36. He
sets it down to your account; however seldom you may be invited,
yet he reckons it as a set-off against your services. Hunc relates to
the preceding cibus.
17. Lent the third pillow, Sfc.~\ q. d. Only invites you to fill up
a place at his table, which would be otherwise vacant.
In the Roman dining-room was a table in fashion of an half-
moon, against the round part w r hereof they sat three beds, every one
containing three persons, each of which had a (culcitra) pillow to
lean upon : they were said, discuiubere, to lie at meat upon a bed.
We say sit at table, because we use chairs, on which we sit.
Ssee Vmu. jEu. i. 1. 712. Tori* ju^i dibcumWre pictis.
166 JUVENALI3 SATIRE. SAT. v
Una simus, ait : votorum sumrna ; quid ultra
Quseris? habet Trebius, propter quod rumpere somnum
Debeat, et ligulas dimittere ; sollicitus, lie 2>
Tota salutatrix jam turba peregerit orbem
Sideribus dubiis, aut illo tempore, quo se
Frigida circumagunt pigri sarraca Bootee.
Quails coena tamen ? vinum quod succida nolit
Lanapati: de conviva Corybanta videbis. 25
Jurgiu proludunt : sed mox et pocula torques
18. " Ltt us be together," says he.] Supposed to be the words
of some great man, inviting in a familiar way, the more to enchance
the obligation.
The sum of your wishes.^] The sum total of all your desires
what can you think of farther I
19. Trebius.^\ The name of the parasite with whom Juvenal is
supposed to be conversing.
for which he ought, 6{C.~] Such a favour as this is sufficient
to make him think that he ought, in return, to break his rc?t, to
rise before day, to hurry himself to the great man's levee in such a
manner as to forget "to tie his shoes ; to run slip-shod, as it were,
for fear he should seem tardy in paying his respects, by not getting
there before the circle is completely formed, who meet to pay their
compliments to the great man. See sat. iii. 127 30, where we find
one of these early levees, and the hurry which people were in to
get to them.
Ligula means not only a shoe-latchet, or shoe-tie, but any ligature
which is necessary to tie any part of the dress; so a lace, or point
ligula cruralis, a garter. Aixsw.
22. The stars dubious^] So early, that it is uncertain whether
the little light there is, be from the stars, or from the first breaking
of the morning. "What is the night.'" "Almost at odds -\\hli
" morning, which is which." SIIAK. Macb. act III. sc. iv.
23. Bootes.^ A constellation near the Ursa Major, or Great
Bear Gr. PUT& Lat. bubulcus, an herdsman lie that ploughs
with oxen, or tends them. Called Bootes, from its attending, and
seeming to drive on, the Ursa Major, which is in form of a wain
drawn by oxen. Ctc. Nat. Deor. lib. ii. 42.
Arctophylax, vulgo qui dicitur esse Bootes,
Quod quasi temone adjunctum prae se quatit Arcturn.
Arctophylax, who commonly in Greek
Is termed Bootes, because he drives before him
The greater Bear, yoked (as it were) to a wain.
Arctophylax from xfcro^, a bear, and <pv>., a keeper.
We call the Ursa Major Charles's wain, (see Aixsw. Arctos,)
seven stars being so disposed, that the first two represent the oxen,
the other five represent a waiu, or waggon, which they draw.
Bootes seems to follow as the driver.
2 C > 3. The cold wains'] Sarraca, plur. the wain consisting of
sit. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 167
" Let us be together," says he. It is the sum of your wishes
what more
Do you seek ? Trebius has that, for which he ought to break
His sleep, and leave loose his shoe-ties ; solicitous lest 30
The whole saluting crowd should have finished the circle,
The stars dubious, or at that time, in which the
Cold wains of slow Bootes turn themselves round.
Yet, what sort of a supper? wine which moist wool
Wou'd not endure : from a guest you will see a Corybant. 25
They begin brawls ; but presently you throw cups,
many stars. Frigida, cold because of their proximity to the north
pole, which, from thence, is called Arcticus polus. See AINSW.
23. Slow Bootes :]
Sive est Arctophylax, sive est piger ille Bootes. OVID.
Nunquid te pigra Boote
Plaustra vehunt. MARTIAL.
The epithet piger, so often applied to Bootes, may relate to the
slowness of his motion round the north pole, his circuit being very
small ; or in reference to the slowness with which the neat-herd
drives his ox- wain. VIRG. Eel. x. 1. 19. Tardi venere bubulci.
See OVID. Met. lib. i. fab. i. 1. 176, 7.
Turn tliemselres round.'] Not that they ever stand still, but
they, and therefore their motion, can only be perceived in the night-
time.
This constellation appearing always above the horizon, is said by
the poets never to descend into the sea.
Juvenal means, that Trebius would be forced out of his bed at
break of day stellis dubiis see note on 1. 22. Or, perhaps, at
that time, when Bootes, with his wain, would be to light him L e.
while it was yet night :
" When Charles's wain is seen to roll
" Slowly about ihe north pole." DUNSTER.
24. What sort, Sfc.~\ After all the pains which you may have
taken to attend this great man's levee, in order to ingratiate yourself
with him, and after the great honour which you think is done you
by his invitation to supper pray how are you treated? what kind
of entertainment does iiegive you?
Wine, #c.] Wine that is so poor, that it is not fit to soak
wool, in order to prepare it for receiving the dye, or good enough
to scour the grease out of new-shorn wool. See AINSW. Succidus.
2:3. A CorybanQ The Corybantes were priests of Cybele, and
wlio danced about in a wild and frantic manner.
So this wine was so heady, and had such an effect on the guests
Tvho drank it, as to make them frantic, and turn them, as it were,
iiito priests of Cybele, whose mad and strange gestures they imi-
tated.
26. They fegin brawh.~\ Or brawls begin. Proludo (from pro
end ludo) i to ilqurisa, as fencers do, before they begin to play 14
168 JUVENALTS SATIR-E. SAT. v.
Sauciup, et rubra deterges vulnera irmppa :
Inter vos quoties, libertorumque cohortem
Pugna Saguntina fervet commissa lageni >
Ipse capillato diffusum consule potat, 30
Calcatamque tenet bellis socialibus uvain,
Cardiaco nuuquam cyathum missurus araico.
Cras bibet Albanis aliquid de montibus, aut de
Setinis, cujus patriam, tituluinque senectus
I)elevit multa veteris fuligine testae : 35
Quale coronati Thrasea, Helvidiusque bibebant,
Brtitorum et Cassi natalibus. Ipse capaces
Hciiadum crustas, et inanjuales beryllo
good earnest to begin, to continence. Brawls, or strifes of words,
are begun by way of preludes to blows.
27 '. fVith a red napkin.'] Stained with the blood of the comba-
tants. See HOR. lib. i. od. xxvii.
28. Troop of freedmenJ] The liberti were those, who, of slaves,
or bondmen, were made free : the great people had numbers of
these about them, and they were very insolent and quarrelsome on
these occasions. ,
29. Saguntine prA.~\ Saguntum was a city of Spain, famous for
its earthen ware.
This city was famous for holding out against Hannibal ; rather
than submit, they burnt themselves, their wives, and children. Pug-
nam committere, is a military term for engaging in fight.
30. He.] Ipse the patron himself.
What ' was racked.^ Diffusum poured, racked, or filled
out, from the wine-vat into the cask.
When tl>e consid, #c.] Capillato consnle In old time,
when the consuls wore long hair. AINSW. See sat iv. 103.
31. Social wars.1 The civil war, or the war of the allies, some-
times called the Marsian Avar, (of which, see ANT. Univ. Hist.
vol. xiii. p. 34.) which broke out ninety years before Christ. So
that this wine must have been very old when this satire was written.
32. Cholicky.~] Cardiaco (a xxfiut., cor.) sick at heart also
one that is griped, or had a violent pain in the stomach. Good old
wine is recommended by Celsus, as highly useful in such a com-
plaint. Pliny says, lib. xxiii. c. 1. Cardiacorum morbo unicain
spam in vino esse certum est.
But so selfish is this great man supposed to be, that he would not
spare so much as a single cup of it to s^ve one's lite.
33. From the Allan mountains.'] The Alban hills bore a plea-
t-ant grape, and the vines have not yet degenerated, ibr the vino Al-
bano is still in great esteem.
31. The Setine.] Setia, the city which gave name to these hills,
lies not far from Terracina, in Campania.
35. Thick Mouldiness.l Multa lit. much. See AINSVT. Multus,
Vn o
-:AT. T. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 16S
Wounded, and wipe wounds with a red napkin.
Ho\V often, between you and a troop of freed men,
Does the battle glow, which is fought with a Sdguntine pot ?
He drinks what was racked off when the consul wore long hair, 30
And possesses the grape troddeij in the social wars,
Never about to send a cup [of it] to a cholicky friend.
To-morrow he'll drink something from the Alban mountains,
Or from the Setine, whose country, and tide, old-age
Has blotted out, by the thick mouldiness of the old cask. 35
Such Thraseas and Helvidius drank, crowned,
On the birth-day of the Bruti and Cassius. Virro himself
Holds capacious pieces of the Heliades, and cups with beryl
Casks which are long kept in cellars contract a mouldiness, which
so overspreads the outside, as to conceal every mark and character
which may have been impressed on them as where the wine grew,
and the name (titulum) by which it is distinguished.
36. Thraseus HelmdxuaJ} Thraseas was son-in-law to Helvi-
tlius. They were both patriots, and opposers of Nero's tyranny,
Thraseas bled to death by the command of Nero Helvidius was
banished.
- CrownedJ] The Romans in their carousals, on festival-days,
wore crowns or garlands of flowers upon their heads. See Hoa.
lib. ii. od. vii. 1. 7, 8. and 235.
37. Of the Bruti, fyc.~\ In commemoration of Junius, and of De-
eius Brutus: the former of which expelled Tarquin the Proud; the
latter delivered his country from the power of Julius Caesar, by as-
sassinating him in the senate- house. Cassius was also one of the
conspirators and assassins of Ca?sar. These men acted from a love
of liberty, and therefore were remembered, especially in after-times
of tyranny and oppression, with the highest honour. The best of
wine was brought forth on the occasion.
- PtrmJ The master of the feast perhaps a fictitious name.
38. Pieces of tiie Heliades.^ Drinking cups made of large pieces
of amber. The Heliades (from vhit? , the sun) were the daughters of
Phoebus and Clymene, who, bewailing their Phaeton, were turued
into poplar -trees : of whose tears came amber, which distilled con-
tinually t'rom their branches. See Ov. Met. lib. i. fab. ii. and iii.
Inde fluunt lachrymse : stillataque sole tigescunt
De ramis electra novis : quse lucidus aainis
Eicipit: ct nuribus mitti: gestanda Latinis. FAB. iii.
- Holds.'] Tenet holds them in his hands when he drinks.
- Cups.'] Phiala means a gold cup, or beaker, to drink out
of. Sometimes drinking cups, or vessels, made of glass. See AINSW,
- Beryl.'] A. sort of precious stone, cut into pieces, which
were inlaid in drinking cups, here said to be inajquales, from the in-
equality or roughness of the outward surface, owing to the protube*
ranees of the pieces of beryl with which it was ink14-
VOL. I. A A
170 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. v.
Virro tenet phialas : tibi non committitur aurum ;
Vel si quando datur, custos affixus ibidem, 40
Qui numeret gemmas, unguesque observet acutos :
Da veniam, praeclara illic laudatur iaspis;
Nam Virro (ut multi) gemmas ad pocula transfer!
A digitis ; quas in vaginae fronte solebat
Ponere zelotypo juvenis praelatus Hiarbae. 45
Tu Beneventani sutoris nomen habentem
Siccabis caticem nasorum quatuor, ac jam
Quassatum, et rupto poscentem sulphura vitro.
Si stomachus domini fervet vinove cibove,
Frigidior Geticis petitur decocta pruinis. 50
Non eadem vobis poni modo vina querebar ?
Vos aliam potatis aquam. Tibi pocula cursor
Gaetulus dabit, aut nigri manus ossea Mauri,
39. Gold is not commilled."] You are looked upon in too despi-
cable a light, to be intrusted with any thing made of gold. But if
this should happen, you will be narrowly watched, as if you were
suspected to be capable of stealing it.
41. Who may count, <Sf c.] To see that none are missing 1 .
Slwrp nails.~] Lest you should make use of them to pick
out the precious stones with which the gold cup may be inlaid.
42. A bright jasper, <Sfc.] Praeclara, very bright or clear is
commended by ail that see it r for its transparency and beauty, as
well as- for its size, therefore you must not take it ill that Virro is so
watchful over it.
The jasper is a precious stone of a green colour; when large it
was very valuable.
43. Virro (as many, <$f c.l The poet here censures the vanity and
folly of the nobles, who took the gems out of their rings to orna-
ment their drinking-cups this, by the ut multi, seems to have been
growing into a fashion.
44. Such as, in the front, 8fc.~\ Alluding to VIRG. /Eu. iv. \^
261, 2.
Atque illi stellatus liispide fulva
Ensis erat.
Virro had set in his cups such precious stones, as yEneas, whom
Dido preferred as a suitor to Hiarbas, king of Getulia, had his sword
decked with; among the rest, that sort of jasper, which though not
yellow throughout, was sprinkled with drops of gold, which sparkled
like stars, something like the appearance of the spots in the lapis
lazuli.
By the frons vaginae, we may understand the hilt of the sword,
and upper part of the scabbard ; for Virgil says ensis, and Juvenal,
vagina?.
47. The Beneventane cobbler, <Sfc.] We read in Plaut. of nasiter-
Tia, a vessel with three handles; here one is mentioned of four han-
dles, nazorum quatuor. Perhaps it had four ears, or spouts, which
SAT. v. JUVENAUS SATIRES. 171
Unequal : to you gold is not committed :
Or if at any time it be given, a guard is fixed there, -4O
Who may count the gems, and observe your sharp nails :
Excuse it, for there a bright jasper is commended ;
For Virro (as many do) transfers his gems to his cups
From his fingers ; such as, in the front of his scabbard,
The youth preferr'd to jealous Hiarbas used to put. 46
You shall drain a pot with four handles, having
The name of the Beneventane cobbler, and now
Shattered, and requiring sulphur for the broken glass.
If the stomach of the master is hot with wine, or meat,
Boiled [water] is sought, colder than Getic hoar-frosts. 60
Was I just now complaining that not the same wines were set before
you?
You drink other water. To-you the cups a Getulian
Lackey will give, or the tony hand of a black Moor,
stood out like noses. The cobbler of Beneveritum was named Vati-
nius, and was remarkable for a large nose, as well as for being a
drunkard.
Villa sutoris calicem monumenta Vatini
Accipe, sed nasus longior ille fuit. MARTI lib. xiv. cpigr. 96.
Hence those glass cups which had four noses, handles, or spouts,
which resembled so many large noses, were called calices Yatiniani :
as also because they were such as he used to drink out of.
48. Shattered^] So cracked as hardly to be fit for use,
Sulphur for the broken, glass.'] It was the custom at Rome
to change away broken glass for brimstone matches. '
Qui pallentia sulfurata fractis
Pernautant vitreis, MART. lib. i. epigr. 42,
And lib. x. epigr. 3.
Quas sulfurato nolit empta ramento,
Vatiniorum proxeneta fractorum, &c.
49. If the stomach of the master.^ i. e. Of the master of the
feast the patron. If he finds any unusual heat in his stomach from
what he eats or drinks. Comp. sat. iii. 1. 233, 4.
50. Boiled water, $c.~] Decocta. It was an invention of Nero's
to have water boiled, and then set in a glass vessel to cool, in heaps
of snow, which the Remans had the art of preserving in caverns and
places, like our ice-houses, in order to cool their liquors in the sum-
nter-time.
Getic, SfcJ] The Getes were neighbours to the Scythians ;
their country was very cold, and their frosts exceedingly severe.
52. Other water. ~\ While the master of the house regaled himself
with ihis iced- water, his meaner guests had only common water to
drink.
53 4. A Getulian lackey.'] Not one of those delicate domestics,
described 1. 56, but u low servant, a foot-boy, a mere runner of er-
17% JUVEXALIS SATIRES. SAT. r.
Et cui per mediam nolis occurrere noctem,
Clivosae veheris dum per monimenta Latinae. 55
Flos Asiae ante ipsum, pretio majore paratus
Quam fuit et Tulli census pugnacis, et Anci ;
Et, ne te teneam, RomaQorum omnia regum
Frivola. Quod cum ita sit, tu Gaetulum Ganyraedem
Respice, cum sities : nescit tot millibus cmptus 60
Pauperibus miscere puer : sed forma, sed aetas
Digna supercilio. Quando ad te pervenit ille ?
Quando vocatus adest calidae, gelidaeve minister ?
Quippe indignatur veteri parere clienti ;
Quodque aliquid poscas, et quod se stante recumbas. 65
MAXIMA QU.EQUE DOMUS SERVIS EST PLENA SUPERBIS.
Ecce alius quanto porrexit murmure pauem
. Vix fractum, solidae jam mucida frusta farinae,
Quae genuinum agitent, non admittentia morsum.
rands. Or who, like a running footman, ran before his master's
horses and carriages. Getulia was a country of Africa, where the
inhabitants were blacks, or, as we call them, negroes.
53. The bony hand of a black Moor, #c.] A great, hideous, and
raw-boned Moor, so frightful as to terrify people who should happen
to meet with him in the night-time, when travelling among those
mansions of the dead, which are in the Latin way. See sat. i.
i. 171. He might be taken for some hideous spectre that haunts the
monuments.
66. A flower of Asia.~] The master of the feast has for his cup-
bearer an Asiatic boy, beautiful, and blooming as a flower, and who
had been purchased at an immense price. The poet here exhibits a
striking contrast. Comp. 1. 53.
57. Tullus ami Ancus,~\ The third and fourth of the Roman
kings, whose whole fortunes did not amount to what Virro gave for
this Asiatic boy.
58. Not to detain you."] i. e. To be short, as we say. Co;np
sat. iii. L 1-83.
Trifle*, #c.] The price given for this boy was so great, as
to make the wealth of all the ancient Roman kings frivolous and
trifling in comparison of it.
The poet means, by this, to set forth the degree of luxury and
expense of the great men in Rome.
59. GanymtdeJ] The poet alludes to the beautiful cup-bearer of
Jupiter, and humourously gives his name to the Getulian negro foot-
boy, mentioned 1. 52, 3. Respice look back at the Ganymede be-
hind you, and call to him, if you want to be helped to some drink.
61. To mingle, fyc.~\ It was the office of the cup-bearer to pour
the wine into the cup in such proportion, or quantity, as every one
chose. This was called miscere. So MART. lib. xiii. epigr. 108,
Misrcri debet hoc a Ganymede mrum,
M. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 173
And whom you would be unwilling to meet at midnight,
While you are carried thro' the monuments of the hilly Latin
way. 55
A flower of Asia is before him, purchased at a greater price,
Than was the estate of warlike Tullus, and of Ancus :
And, not to detain you, all the trifles of the Roman
Kings. Which since it is o, do thou the Getulian Ganymede
Look back upon, when you are thirsty: a boy bought for so
many 60
Thousands knows not to mingle [wine] for the poor : but his form,
his age,
Are worthy disdain. When, does he come to you ?
When, being called, does he attend [as] the minister of hot or cold
water ?
For he scorns to obey an old client ;
And that you should ask for any thing, or that you should lie down,
himself standing. 6i
EVERY VERY GREAT HOUSE is FULL OF PROUD SERVANTS.
Behold, with what grumbling another has reached out bread,
Kardly broken, pieces of solid meal already musty,
Which will shake a grinder, not admitting a bite,
62. Worthy disdain.'] q. d. Ills youth and beauty justify his con-
tempt : they deserve that he should despise such guests.
63. When does he attend ] Adest lit. when is he present ?
As the noNttfelv] To serve you with to help you to cold
er hot water. Both these the Romans, especially iu winter-time,
had at their feasts, that the guests might be served with either, as they
might choose.
6'4. He scorns, #c.] This smart favourite looks down with too
much cojitempt on such a poor needy spunger, as he esteems an old
hanger-on upon his master to be, to think of giving him what he
calis tor. He is affronted that such a one should presume to expect
his attendance upon him, and that he should be standing at the table
as a servant, while the client is lying down at his ease, as cue of the
guests.
66. Every very great house, <Sf c.] And, therefore, where can you
find better treatment, than you do at Virro'd, at any of the tables of
the rich and great ?
G7. f/us reached oitt, .Sfc.] When you have caHed for bread, it
has indeed been brought, but with what an ill-will have you been
served how has the slave that reached, or held it out for you to
take, murmured at what he was doing !
68. Hardly broken.'] With the utmost difficulty broken into pieces.
Of solid >neal.} Grown into hard, solid lumps, by being so
ad stale, and now grown mouldy.
ti. Will shake a grinder.'] Geauinus from gona, the cheek
174 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. v.
Sed tener, et niveus, mollique siligine factus 70
Servatur domino : dextram cohibere memento :
Salva sit artpptae reverentia : finge tamen te
Improbulum ; superest illic qui ponere-cogat.
Vin' tu consuetis, audax conviva, canistris
Impleri, panisque tui novisse colprem ? 7$
Scilicet hoc fuerat, propter quod saepe relicti
Conjuge, per montem adversum, gelidasque cucurri
Esquilias, fremeret saeva curn grandine vernus
Jupiter, et multo stillaret penula nimbo.
Aspice, quain longo distendat pectore lancem, 80
what we call the grinders, are the teeth next the cheeks, which grind
food. So far from being capable of being bitten, and thus divided,
it would loosen a grinder to attempt it.
70. Soft flour.] The finest flour, out of which the bran is en
tirely sifted, so that no hard substance is left.
71. To restrain, Sfc] Don't let the sight of this fine white, and
new bread, tempt you to filch it mind to keep your hands to your-
self.
72. The butler.] Artopta Gr. apron-rns from prf , bread, and
TT, to bake signifies one that bakes bread a baker. Or artopta
may be derived from gT?, bread, and oTrrtfMti, to see i. e. an
inspector of bread a pantler, or butler one who has the care and
oversight of it This I take to be the meaning here. o. d. Have all
due respect to the dispenser of the bread ; don't offend him by put-
ting your hand into the wrong basket, and by taking some of the fine
bread.
. Suppose yourself, fyc] But suppose you are a little to
bold, and that you make free with some of the fine bread, there's
one remains upon the watch, who will soon make you lay it down
again, and chide you for your presumption.
74. Wilt thou, 6fc.] The words of the butler on seeing the poor
client filch a piece of the white bread, and on making him lay it down
again.
The accustomed baskets.] i. e. Those in which the coarse.
bread is usually kept and do not mistake, if you please, white for
brown.
75. Filled.] Fed satisfied.
76. Well, this has been, <5fc.] The supposed words of Trebius,
vexed at finding himself so ill repaid for all his services and attend-
ances upon his patron. <j. d. " So this is what I have been toiling
" for for this I have got out of my warm bed, leaving my wife, at
" all hours of the night, and in all weathers," &c.
77. The adverse mount] The Esquiline hill had a very steep
ascent, which made it troublesome to get up, if one were in haste. It
must be supposed to have lain in the parasite's way to his patron's
house, and, by its steepness, to have been a hindrance to his spued.
SAT.Y. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 175
But the tender and white, and made with soft flour, 70
Is kept for the master. Remember to restrain your right hand:
Let reverence of the butler be safe. Yet, suppose yourself
A little knavish; there remains one who can compel you to lay it
down.
" Wilt thou, impudent guest, from the accustomed baskets
" Be filled, and know the colour of your own bread 1" 75
" Well, this has been that, for which often, my wife being left,
" I have run over the adverse mount, and the cold
11 Esquiliae, when the vernal air rattled with cruel
" Hail, and my cloak dropped with much rain."
See with how long a breast, a lobster, which is brought 80
Hence he calls it adversura montem. Adversus signifies opposite
adversum may mean, that it was opposite to the parasite's house.
77 8. The cold JEsquili<e.~] Its height made it very bleak and
cold at the top, especially in bad weather. See sat iii. 1. 71.
78. The vernal air.'] Vernus Jupiter The Romans called the
air Jupiter. See HOR. lib. i. od. i. 1. 25. The air, in the spring of the
year, is often fraught with storms of hail and rain, with which the
poor parasite often got wet to the skin, in his nightly walks to at-
tend on his patron.
" A pretty business, truly, to suffer all this for the sake of being
" invited to supper, and then to be so treated !"-
All this Juvenal represents as the treatment which Trebius. would
meet with, on being invited to Virro's house to supper and as the
mournful complaints which he would have to make on finding all his
attendances and services so repaid therefore Trebius was sadly mis-
taken in placing his happiness in living at the tables of the great, and
in order to this to take so much pains. Comp. 1. 2.
80. With how long a breast, 4' c -] Such a length is his chest, or
forepart, as to fill the dish, so as to seem to stretch its size.
A lobster.] Squilla. It is hardly possible to say, with pre-
cision, what fish is here meant. Mr. BOWLES translates it a stur-
geon, and says, in his note, " The authors, whom I have the op-
portunity to consult, are not agreed what fish is meant: I have
" translated it a sturgeon, I confess at random, but it may serve as
" well." See trans, of Juv. by DRYDEN, and others.
AINSWORTH calls it a lobster without legs.
HOR. lib. ii. sat. viii. 412. seems to use squillas for prawns or
shrimps.
Affertur squillas inter muraena natantes
In patina porrecta.
In a large dish an out-stretch'd lamprey lie*
With shrimps all floating round. FRANCIS.
Perhaps what we call a shrimp, or prawn, may be the pinno-
thera, or pinnophylax, of PLIN. iii. 4 1 2. the squilla parva. The
shrimp is a sort of lobster in miniature ; and if we understand the
word parva to distinguish it from the fish which is simply called
176 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. r,
*
Quae fertur domino, squilla ; et quibus undique septa
Asparagis, qua. despiciat convivia caudi,
Cum venit excels! maaibus sublata ministri.
Sed tibi dimidio coastrictus Cammarus ovo
Ponitur, exigua feralis ccena patelli. 8&
Ipse Venafrano piscem perfundit : at hie, qui
Pallidus ofFertur misero tibi caulis, olebit
Laternam; illud enim vestris datur alveolis, quo(J
Canna Micipsarum prora subvexit acuta ;
Propter quod Romae cum Bocchare nemo lavatur j 9QL
Quod tutos etiam facit a serpentibus Afros.
Mullus erit domino, quern misit Corsica, vel quern
squilla, the latter may probably signify a lobster, particularly here,
from what is remarked of the tail (i. 82.) which is the most deliciou>
part of a lobster.
81. Asparagus.'] Asparagis, plur. may here denote the yours*
shoots, or buds, of various herbs. See AINSW. Asparagus, No. 'J.
With these it was perhaps usual to garnish their dishes.
82. With what a tail, 4" c -] What a noble tail he displays with
what contempt dofts he seem to look down upon the rest of the
banquet, when lifted on high, by a tall slave, over the heads of the
guests, in order to be placed on the table.
84. A crab.'] Cammarus a sort of crab-fish, called also Gam-
marus a very vile food, as we may imagine by its being opposed to
the delicious squilla, which was set before the master of the least.
Shrunk.] I think Holyday's rendering of constrictus near-
est the sense of the word, which lit. signifies straitened narrow.
Crabs, if kept long out of water, will waste and shrink up in the
shell, and when boiled will be half full of water; so lobsters, as
every day's experience evinces.
Farnaby explains it by semiphlenus half-full, or spent, as 1:3
calls it, which conveys the same idea.
This sense also contrasts this fish with the plumpness of the fore-
going. Comp. 1. 80 3.
With half an egg.'] To mix with it Avhen you eat it a
poor allowance. Many construe conslrictus in the sense of paratus
coctus conditus, and the like q. d.. dressed or seasoned with
half an egg.
85. Funeral supper, <$f c.] The Romans used to place, in a small
dish on the sepulchres of the dead, to appease their manes, milk,
honey, water, wine, flowers, a very little of each ; which circum-*
stances, of the smallness of the dish and of the quantity, seem (9
be the reason of this allusion.
~A little plotter.] Patella is itself a diminutive of patera; bu^
the poet, to make the matter the more contemptible, adds exigua.
'I his is a contrast to the lancem, 1. 80.- which signifies a great
broad plate a deep dish to serve meat up in.
86. He.'] Virro, the master of the feast.
SAT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 177
To the master, distends the dish, and with what asparagus
On all sides surrounded ; with what a tail he can look down on the
banquet,
When he comes borne aloft by the hands of a tall servant.
But to you is set a shrunk crab, with half an egg,
A funeral supper in a little platter. 85
He besmears his fish with Venafran (oil) but this
Pale cabbage, which is brought to miserable you, will smell
Of a lamp, for that is given for your saucers, which
A canoe of the Micipsas brought over in its sharp prow.
For which reason, nobody at Rome bathes with a Bocchar, SO
Which also makes the Africans safe frgin serpents.
A mullet will be for the master, which Corsica sent, or which
86. Venafran oil.'] Venafrum was a city of Campania, famous
for the best oil. Hon. lib. ii. od. vi. 1. 15, 10.
87. Pale cabbaged] Sickly looking, as if it was half withered.
88. Your saucers.] Alveolus signifies any wooden vessel made
hollow here it may be understood of wooden trays, or saucers, iu
which the oil was brought, which was to be poured on the cabbage.
89. A canoe.] Cannu a small vessel made of tfie cane, or large
reed ; which grew to a great size and height, and which was a prin-
cipal material in building the African canoes.
Micipsa:^] It seems to have been a general name given to all
the Numidians, from Micipsa, one of their kings. These were a
barbarous people on the shore of Africa, near Algiers, from whence
came the oil which the Romans used in their lamps.
Sharp prvu:~] Alluding to the shape of the African canoes,
which were very sharp-beaked.
90. Bocckar.^ Or Bocchor a Mauritanian name, but here, pro-
bably, for any African. This was the name of one of their kings,
and hence the poet takes occasion to mention it, as if he said, tliat
" the Numidians and Moors, who anointed themselves with this oil,
" stunk so excessively, that nobody at Rome would go into the same
" bath with one of them; no, though it were king Bocchar himself."
91. Safe from serpents."] So horrid is tlie smell of these Africans,
that, in their own country, their serpents would not come near
them. " What then must you endure, in having this same oil to
" pour on your cabbage, while you hsive the mortification of seeing
" your patron so;ik his fish with the fine and sweet oil of Vena-
" frum ! I should think this another instance of that sort of treat-
" ment, which should abate your rage of being invited to the table
" of a great man."
92. A mullet.'] See sat. iv. 15, and note.
The master.] Yirro, the master of the feast.
Corsica sent.] Which came from Corsica, an island in the
Mediterranean, famous perhaps for this sort of fish.
VOL. i. B a
178 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. v.
Taurominitanae rupes, quando ornne peractum est,
Et jamdefecit nostrum mare; dum gulasievit.
Retibus assiduis penitus scrutante macello 95
Proxima ; nee patitur Tyrrhenum crescere piscem :
Instruit ergo ibcurn provincia ; sumitur illinc
Quod captator emat Lenas, Aurelk vendat.
Virroni murseaa datur, quae maxima venit
Gurgite de Sieulo : nam dum se contiriet Auste?; 100
Dum sedet, et siccat madidas in carcere pennas,
Contemnunt mediam temeraria Una Charybdim.
Vos anguilla manet, longae cognata colubrac,
Aut glacie aspersus maculis Tjj>erinus, et ips^
Vemula riparum, pinguis torrente cloaca, 105
93. Taurominitinian rocks."] On the sea-coast, near Taujomi-
nium, in Sicily.
Our sea is exhausted, <Sf c.] Such is the luxury and gluttony
of the great, that there is now no more fine fish to be caught at home.
94. While the appetite, <$f c.] While gluttony is at such an height,
as not to be satisfied without such dainties.
95. The market.^ The market-people who deal in fish, and who
supply great tables.
With assiduous nets, 6)'c.~] Are incessantly fishing in the
neighbouring seas, upon our own coasts, leaving no part unsearched,
that they may supply the market.
96. A Tyrrhene fall."] The Tyrrhene sea was that part of the
Mediterranean which washes the southern parts of Italy.
So greedy were the Roman nobility of delicate lish, and they
were caught in such numbers, that they were not suffered to grow to
their proper size.
97. Therefore a province, <Sf c.] They were forced, therefore, to
go to the coasts of some of the foreign provinces, which were sub-
ject to the Romans, in order to catch such fish as they wanted for
the kitchens of the nobles. Comp. sat. iv. 66, and note.
From thence.^ From some of the foreign coasts.
98. IVhat the it'hecdler Lenas, $c.] Some famous captator, or
legacy hunter, one of the people called haeredipetaE, who courted
and made presents to the rich and childless, in hopes to become their
heirs : they also took care to buy whatever was rare and curious for
this purpose.
. Aurelia se//.] This may probably be the name of some fa-
mous dealer in fine fish. The commentators suppose also, that this
might have been the name of some rich childless widow, who had
so many presents of fine fish, that she could not dispose of them to
her own use, and therefore sold them, that they might not be spoiled
and thrown away.
99. To Virro a lamprey is given."] i. e. Is given him to eat -jg
set before him at table.
SAT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 179
The Taurominitinian rocks, since all our sea is exhausted,
And now has failed : while the appetite rages,
The market, with assiduous nets, is searching thoroughly 95
The neighbouring (seas,) nor suffers a Tyrrhene fish to grow :
Therefore a province furnishes the kitchen ; from tkence is taken
What the wheedler Lenas might buy, Aurelia sell.
To Virro a lamprey is given, the largest that .came
From the Sicilian gulph : for while the south contains itself, 100
While it rests, and in its prison dries its wet wings,
The rash nets despise the middle of Charybdis.
An eel remains for you, a relation of a long snake ;
Or a Tiberine sprinkled with spots by the ice, and that
An attendant of the banks, fat with the rushing commonrsewer, 105
100. The Sicilian gulph.] That part of the sea which formed the
Straits of Sicily, which, at times, was most formidable and danger-
ous, especially with a strong wind from the south. But, by what
follows, 1. 102, the dreadful whirlpool of Charybdis seems to be
meant ; where, jn fine weather, the fishermen would venture to go,
and fish for lampreys.
101. It rests.'] Refrains from blowing is perfectly quiet.
fn its prison, <$fc.] Alluding to VIRG. jn. i. 1. 56 8.
Vasto rex ^Eolus antro
Luctantes ventos temp.estateaque sonoras.
Imperio premit, ac vinc'lis et carcerc fraenat,
Its wet wings.'] It WAS usually attended with heavy rains
and storms.
102. The rash nets.~\ Lina see sat. jv. 1. 45. Lina here mean*
the persons who use the nets the fishermen. METON. They
would, in calm weather, despise the danger of Charybdis itself, in
order to catch the fish which lay within it, so good a market were
they sure to have for what they caught. Charybdis was a dangerous
whirlpool in the Straits of Sicily, near the coast of Taurominium,
over against Scylla, a dreadful rock. See VIRG. ./En. iji. 414 32.
103. An eel, $c,~] The contrast between Virro's fine lamprey,
and Trebuis's filthy eel, is well imagined.
Relation of a long snake.] Perhaps we are to understand
the eel and snake to appear as related, from the likeness of their
form. Some have supposed, that eels and vyater-snakes will engen-
der together.
104. A Tiberine] Tiberinus, i. e. piscis a pike, or some othqr
fish, out of the river Tiber.
Unde 4atum ser-tis, Lupus hie Tiberinus
&c. HOR. lib. ii. sat. ii, 1.31.
Some common, coarse, and ordinary fish is here meant, which,
in the winter-time, when the Tiber was frozen, contracted spots,
perhaps from some disorder to which it might be liable this was
reckoned the worst sort of pike.
105. An attendant, frc. } Vernula lit. sijnifias a little bond-
180 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. r.
Et solitus medi<E cryptavn penetrare Suburrac.
Ipsi pauca velim, faciletn si preheat aurem :
Nemo petit, modicis quae mittebantur ainicis
A Seneca ; quae Piso bonus, quae Cotta solebat
Largiri : namque et titulis, et fascibus olim 1 10
Major habebatur donandi gloria : solum >
Poscimus, ut coenes civiliter : hoc face, et csto,
Esto (ut nunc multi) dives tibi, pauper amicis.
Anseris ante ipsum magni jecur, anseribus par
Altilis, et flavi dignus ferro Meleagri 115
Fumat aper : post hunc raduntur tubera, si vcr
slave, or servant. Hence this fish is so called, from its constant at-
tendance on the banks of the river, in some of the holes of which it
was usually found.
105. Fat, #c.~j From this circumstance, one would be inclined to
think that a pike is here infant, which is a voracious, foul-feeding
fish. Juvenal, to carry on his description of the treatment which
Trebius must expect at a great man's table, adds this circumstance
that the fish ?et oefore Trebius would be a pike, that of the worst
sort, and fatted with the filthy contents of the common-sewer, into
which the ordure and nastiness of the city were conveyed, and which
ran under the Suburra, down to the Tiber, and there emptied itself
into the river.
106. Accustomed to penetrate, fc.] This fish is supposed to enter
the mouth of the drain, that it might meet the filth in its way, and
feed upon it. For Suburra see sat. iii. 5.
107. To himself, <$'c.] To Virro the master of the feast. Ipsi
pauca velim like TER. And. act I. sc. i. 1. 2. paucis te volo a
word with you. COLMAN.
109. Seneca.] L. Annacus Seneca, the tutor of Nero; he was
rery rich, and very munificent towards his poor clients. See sat. x.
16. where Juvenal styles him prrcdives very rich.
...... PJ'SO.] L. Calphurnius Piso, one of the Calphurnian family
descended from Numa ; he lived in the time of Claudius, and was
famous for his liberality. HOR. Ar. Poet. 291, 2. addressing the
Pisones, says Vos O Pompilius sanguis.
Cotta. ] Aurelius Cotta, another munificent character in the
time of Nero.
110. Titles and offices, Sfc.~j High titles of nobility, or the en-
signs of magistracy. See sat. iii. 128, note.
112. That you would sup civilly.'] Civiliter courteously with so
much good manners towards your poor friends, as not to affront and
distress them, by the difference you make between them and your-
self when you invite them to supper.
Do this.'] Consult the rulers of civility, and then you will
accommodate yourself to the condition of your gue=K
113. Be, as many now are, <Sfc.] When you sup alone, then, as
many are, be dives tibi, i. e. fare as expensively and as sumptvi-
SAT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 181
And accustomed to penetrate the drain of the Suburrn.
I would say a few words to himself, if he would lend an ea?y
ear :
Nobody seeks, \vhat were sent to his mean friends
By Seneca ; what good Piso, what Cotta used
To bestow : for, than both titles and offices, formerly, 110
Greater was the glory of giving esteemed : only
We ask that you would sup civilly : do this, and be,
Be (as many no\V are) rich to yourself, poor to your friends.
Before himself (is placed) the liver of a great goose : equal to
geese,
A crammed fowl, and, worthy the spear of yellow Meleager, 115
Smokes a boar : after him truffles are scraped, if then
ously as you please ; spare no expense to gratify yourself. But
when you invite your poor friends, then fare; as they do: if you
tn:at them as poor and moan, so treat yourself., .hat you and they
may be upon the same footing thus be pauper amicis.
q. d. This is all we ask : we don't require of you the munificence
of Seneca, Piso, Cotta, or any of those great and generous patrons,
who esteemed a service done, or a kindness bestowed, on their poor
friends, beyond the glory of titles of nobility, or of high offices in
the state ; this, perhaps, might be going too far therefore, we de-
sire no more, than that, when you invite us, you would treat us ci-
villy at least, if not sumptuously ; fare as we fare, and we shall be
content.
This little apostrophe to Virro contains a humourous, and, at the
tame time, a sharp reproof of the want of generosity, and of the
indignity with which the rich and great treated their poorer friends.
1 14. Before himself.] i. e. Before Virro himself.
The liver, <Sfc.] This was reckoned a great dainty ; and ia
order to increase the size of the liver, they fatted the goose with figs,
mixed up with water, wine, and honey ; of this a sort of paste was
made, with which they crammed them until the liver grew to a very
large size. See PEIIS. vi. 1. 71. HOR. lib. ii. sat. viii. 1. 88. and
MART, epigr. Iviii. lib. xiii.
Aspice quara tumeat magno jecur ansere majus.
\t5. A crammed fowl.] Altilis from alo- ere fatted, fed, cram-
med. Probably a fat capon is here meant, which grows to a large
size ; Juvenal says here, equal in size to geese par ausoribus.
Yellow, c^'c.] Yellow-haired. See AINSW. The story of
Meleager. \
Golden-haired. Holyday. See VIRG. /En. iv. G98. IIou. lib.
iii. od. ix. 1. 19. lib. iv. od. iv. 1. 4.
116. Smokes abate:*] See sat. i. 1-40, 1.
After him, $c.\ The next dish, which comes after the boar,
i-' composed of truffles tuber signifies a puff, or what we call a
toadstool, from tuineo, to swell but it seems to denote mushrooms,
tru tiles, and other fungous plants, which are produced from the
earth. Tubera terrae, sat. xiv. 7.
182 JUVENALIS SATIRE. BAT. y.
Tune erit, et facient optata tonitraa comas
Majores ; tibi habe frumentum, Alledius inquit,
O Libya, disjunge boves, dum tubera mittas.
Structorem interea, ne qua indignatio desit, 120
Saltantem spectes, et chironomonta volanti
Cultello, donee peragat dictata magistri
Omnia ; nee minimo sane diserimine refert,
Quo gestu lepores, et quo gallina secetur.
Duceris planta, velut ictus ab Hercule Cacus, 125
Et ponere foris, si quid tentaveris uhquam
Hiscere, tanquam habeas tria noinina. Quando propinat
Virro tibi, sumitque tuis contacta labellis
Pocula ? quis vestrum temerarius usque adeo, quis
Here some understand truffles, others mushrooms; which last,
rainy and thundering springs produce in abundance, and therefore
were desired. But the same weather may also have the same eftect
on truffles, which are a sort of subterraneous mushroom, and so ori
all fungous excrescences of the earth. PUN. xix.
117 18. Make suppers greater.]. By a plentiful addition ef
truffles.
118. Alledius.'] Some famous glutton. Rome was supplied with
great quantities of corn from Libya, a part of Africa, which bor-
ders upon ^Egypt; "and, it should seem," (says Mr. Brown,)
" with mushrooms too." See DUYDEN'S Juv. note on this place.
However, from the circumstance of their being brought from Libya
to Rome, I should apprehend that species of " under -ground edible
" mushrooms" (as Bradley calls truffles) to be meant here, which
grow best in dry chapped grounds, and will boar to l>e carried a great
way, and to be kept a considerable time without being spoiled.
This is not the case with that species of tuber which is called bole-
tus, or mushroom : they remain good but a little while, either grow-
ing or gathered. Hence, upon the whole, and from the circumstance
of the word raduntur, 1. 116, which may imply the scraping, or
shaving off, the outward thick^bark, or rind, which is peculiar to
truffles, these are most probably meant in this passage. See CHAM-
BERS. Truffle.
119. Unyoke your ojcen.~\ Disjunge lit. disjoin them. y. d.
Plough and sow no more, that there may be the more land for truf-.
ties to grow. A fine speech for an epicure.
1'20. The carver.'] Structor signifies a purveyor of victuals, a ca-
terer ; also a server, who settetk the meat upon the table also a car>
ver of meat : this last seems to be meant here, and hp is supposed
to do it with some antic gestures, something like capering or dancing.
121 Flourishing.'] Chironomon-ontisfrom %<g, maims, and *,<>?,
lex) signifies one that sheweth nimble motions with his hands henco
chironomia, a kind of gesture with the hands, either in dancing, or
in carving meat. AINSW, Chironomonta is from the ace. s ing. (Gr.
SAT. T, JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 183
It be spring, and wished-for thunders make suppers
Greater : " Have thy corn to thyself," says Alledius,
" O Libya, unyoke your oxen, while you will send truffles."
Mean while the carver, lest any indignation be wanting, 120
\ ou will behold dancing, and flourishing with a nimble
Knife, till he can finish all the dictates of his
Master ; nor indeed is it a matter of the least concern,
With what gesture hares, and with what a hen should be cut,
You will be dragged by the foot, as the stricken Cacus by Her-
cules, 125
And put out of doors, if you ever attempt
To mutter, as if you had three names. When does Virro
Drink to you, and take the cup touched by your
Lips ? which of you is rash enough, who so
^e^cva^BVT*) of the participle of the verb ^u^io^.iu manuscertalege
motito concinnos gestus edo gesticulor.
q. d. That nothing may be wanting to mortify and vex you, you
not only see all these tine things brought to table, but you will be a
spectator of the festivity, art, and nimbleness, with which the carver
does his office, till he has exhibited all that he has learned of his mas-
ter in the art of carving. See the next note, ad fin. Dictata See
A i NSW.
123. A r or indeed is it a matter, 'c.~] It is now by no means reck-
oned an indifferent matter, or of small concern, in what manner, or
with what gesture, a hare or a fowl is cut up ; this, as well as glut-
tony itself, is become a science. This was so much the case, that we
find people taking great pains to learn it under a master. See sat.
xi. 1. 13641.
126 7. If yoM ever attempt to mutter^] Hiscere so much as to
open your mouth, as it were, to speak upon the occasion, as betray-
ing any dislike.
127. Three names.^ i. e. As if you were a man of quality. The
great men at Rome were distinguished by the pnsnomen, nomen, and
cogiiomea, as Gaius Cornelius Scipio Cains Marcus Coriolanus,
and the like.
It you were to take upon you, like a nobleman, to complain or find
fault with all this, you would be dragged with your heels foremost,
and turned out of doors, as the robber Cacus was by Hercules. See
VIRG. yEn. viii. 219 65.
127 8. When does Virro drink to you.~\ The poet, having parti-
cularized instances of contempt, which were put upon the poorer
gue.-sts, such as having bad meat and drink set before them, &c. here
mentions the neglectful treatment which they meet with.
q. d. Does Virro ever drink your health" or " does he ever take
" the cup out of your hand in order to pledge you, after it has
" once touched your lips ?" By this we may observe, that drinking
to one another is very ancient.
129. Is rasheiwugh, 6)'c.~] After all the pains which you take to
184 JUVENAL1S SATIRE. SAT. v.
Perditus, ut dicat regi, bibe ? Plurima sunt quae 130
Non audent homines pertusa dicere hena.
Quadringenta tibi si quis Deus, aul similis Dis,
Et raelior fatis, donaret ; homuncio, quantus
Ex'nihilo fieres ! quantus Virronis amicus !
DaTrebio, pone ad Trebium : vis, frater, ab istis 135
Ilibus ? O Nummi, vobis hunc praestat honorem ;
Vos estis fratres. Dominus tamen, et domiui rex
Si vis tu fieri, nullus tibi parvulus aula.
Luserit ^Eneas, nee filia dulcior iilo.
Jucundum et caruin sterilis facit uxor amicum. 1 10
Sed tua aunc Micale pariat licet, et pueros tres
In gremiura patris fundat simul ; ipse loquaci
Gaudebit nido ; viridem thoraca jubebit
Afferri, minimasque nuces, assemque rogatum,
be invited to great tables, is there one of you who dares venture 10
open his mouth to the great man, so much as to say " drink'' ;K
it" you had some familiarity with him ? As we should say " put
" the bottle about."
130. The great man.~] Regi see before, 1. 14.
13 C 2. Four hundred sestertia^\ A knight's estate. See sat. i. 1.
106, and note.
133. Better than the fates.'] i. e. Better and kinder than the fates
have been to you, in making you so poor.
Poor mortal. ~\ Homuncio means a poor sorry fellow suck
was Trebius in his present state.
134. From nothing, <^~c.]j The poet here satirizes the venality and
profligate meanness of such people as Virro, whose insolence and
contempt towards their poor clients, he has given us so many striking
examples of. Here he shews the change of conduct towards them,
which would be created immediately, if one of them should happen
to become rich.
135 Give to Trebius, fc.] Then, says he, if you were invited
to sup with Virro, nothing would be thought too good you would
be offered every choicest dainty upon the table, and die servants would
be ordered to set it before you.
136. Of those dainties.] Ilia lit. signifies entrails, or bowels
of which some very choice and dainty dishes were made ; as of the
goose's liver, and the like see 1. 114. He would in the most kind
manner call you brother, and invite you to taste of the most delicate
dainties.
O riches! Sfc.~] A natural exclamation 011 the occasion, by
which he gives Trebius to understand, that all this attention was not
paid to him on his own account, but solely on that of his monev
8eosat. i. 1. 112, 3. " ,
137. Ye are brethren.^] Ye, O ye four hundred sestertia, are the.
friends and brethren of Virro, to whom he pays his court. When
he called Trebius brother, (1. 135.) he really meant you.
SAT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 185
Desperate, as to say to the great man drink? Many things there
are, 130
Which men in a torn coat dare not say.
If to you four hundred (sestertia) any god, or one like the gods,
And better than the fates, should present ; poor mortal, how great
From nothing would you become ! how great a friend of Virro !
' Give to Trebius set before Trebius : would you have, brother,
some 135
" Of those dainties ?" O riches ! he gives this honour to you
Ye are brethren. But if a lord, and sovereign of a lord
You would become, in your hall no little
-^Eneas must play, nor a daughter sweeter than he.
A barren wife makes a pleasant and dear friend. 140
But tho' your Micale should bring forth, and should pour
Three boys together into the bosom of their father, he in the prat-
tling
Nest will rejoice; he'll command a green stomacher
To be brought, and small nuts, and the asked-for penny,
137. And sovereign of a lord, $'c.] If you would be in a situa-
tion, not only of domineering over poor clients, but even over the
lord.> of those clients you must be childless, you must have neither
son nor daughter to inherit your estate.
138. In your hall t <5>'c.] See Dido's words to ./Eneas. VIBO.
JEn. iv. 1. 3 : J8, 9.
Si quis mihi parvuius aula
Luserit ./Eneas.
Which Juvenal applies on this occasion very humourously.
140. A barren wife, 6 > 'c.~] While a wife remains without child-
bearing, so that there is no ostensible heir to the estate, the husband
wilt not want for people who will pay their court to him, and pro-
fess themselves his friends, in hopes of ingratiating themselves, so far
as to be made his heirs.
141. But tho 1 your Micale. ~\ The name of Trebius's wife.
q. (I. But suppose it to happen otherwise, and your wife should
not only have children, but bring you three at a birth still as you
are rich, they'll pay their court to you, by fondling your little ones.
He, Virro himself, (ipse,) will pretend to rejoice in your young fa-
mily uido a metaphorical expression, taken from a brood of
young birds in a nest.
143. A green stomacher.'] Viridem thoraca lit. breastplate.
What this was, cannot easily be determined, but it was, doubtless,
some ornament which children were pleased with.
144. Small nuts.~] Nuces lit. signifies riuts: but here it de-
notes little balls of ivory, and round pebbles, which were the usual
playthings of children ; and which to ingratiate themselves with the
parents, such mercenary persons as had a design upon their fortunes
used to make presents of. See HOR. lib. ii. sat. iii. 1. 171, 2.
FKANCIS' note; aad PEIIS. sat. 1. 1. 10.
VOL. i. c c
186 JUVENAL1S SATIRE. SAT. v.
Ad mcnsam quoties parasitas venerit infans. 145
Vilibus ancipites fungi ponentur amicis,
.Boletus domino : sed qualem Claudius edit,
Ante ilium uxoris, post quern nihil amplius edit.
"V iiro sibi, et reliquis Virronibus illajubebit
Poma dari, quorum solo pascaris odore ; 1 50
Qualia perpetuus Phaeacum autumnus habebat;
Credere quae possis surrepta sororibus Afris.
Tu scabie frueris mali, quod in aggere rodit
Qui tegitur parma et galea ; metuensque flageUi
Discit abhirsuto jaculum torquere Capella. 155
fi I
144. The askedrfor penny. ~\ The AS was about three farthings of
eur money. We are to suppose the little ones, children-like, to
ask Virro for a small piece of money to buy fruit, cakes, &c. which
he immediately gives them.
1 45. As often as, #c.] Virro not only goes to see the children,
but invites them to his table, where they never come but they wheedle
and coax him, in order to get what they want of him. Hence the
poet says Parasitus infans.
146. Doubtful funguses.^ There are, several species of the mush-
room-kind, some of which are poisonous, and it is sometimes diffi-
cult to distinguish them, therefore the eater cannot be certain that
he is safe hence Juvenal says, ancipites fungi.
It is to be observed, that the poet, after his digression on the mean
venality of such people as Virro, (who would pay their court to
those whom they now use with the utmost contempt, if by any ac-
cident they became rich,) now returns to his main subject, which was
to particularize those instances of ill treatment which the dependents
on great men experienced at their tables, in order to dissuade Tre-
bius from his present servile pursuits.
147. A mushroom^] Boletus signifies a mushroom of the whole-
some and best sort.
But such as, Sfc.'] They were not only of the best sort, but
the best of that sort ; such as regaled the emperor Claudius, before
the fatal catastrophe after mentioned.
148. That of his wife.'] Agrippina, the mother of Nero, and sis-
ter to Caligula, the wife of Claudius, who succeeded Caligula in the
empire, destroyed her husband, by mixing poison in a mushroom
which she gave him to eat.
149. The rest of the Virros."] i. e. The rest of the great men at
his table, who, like Virro, were very rich, and of course much re-
spected by him.
160. Apples^] Poma is a general name for fruits of all kinds
which grow on trees, as apples, pears, cherries, &c. and signifies,
here, some of the mojt delicious fruits imaginable which poor Tre-
bius was to be regaled with nothing but the smell of at Virro's
ble.
151. Phaaciuns."] A people of the island of Corfu, or Corcyra,
AT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 187
As often as the infant-parasite comes to his table. 145
Doubtful funguses are put to mean friends,
A mushroom to the lord ; but such as Claudius ate
Before that of his wife, after which he ate nothing more.
Virro will order to himself, and the rest of the Virros, those
Apples to be given, with the odour alone of which you may be
fed, 150
Such as the perpetual autumn of the Phaeacians had ;
Which you might believe to be stolen from the African sisters.
You will enjoy the scab of an apple, which in a trench he gnaws
Who is covered with a shield and helmet, and, fearing the whip,
Learns from the rough Capella" to throw a dart. ': 155
in the Ionian sea, where there was feigned to be a perpetual au?
tumn, abounding with the choicest fruits.
152. The African sisters^] Meaning the Hesperides, ^Egle, He-
retusa, Hespertusa, the three daughters of Hesperus, brother of
Atlas, king of Mauritania, who are feigned to have had orchards in
Africa, which produced golden fruit, kept by a watchful dragon,
which Hercules slew, and obtained the prize.
loJ. The scab of an apple.~\ While Virro and his rich guests
have before them fruits of the most fragrant and beautiful kinds,
you, Trebius, and such as you, will be to enjoy scabby, specky,
rotten apples, and such other fruit as a poor half-starved soldier in
a fortress, who is glad of any thing he can get, is forced to take up
with.
154. Fearing the whipJ] Being under severe discipline.
155. Learns to throw, <Sfc.] Is training for arms, and learning to
throw thejavelin.
From the rough Capella.~\ This was probably the name of
some centurion, or other officer, who, like our adjutant or serjeant,
taught the young recruits their exepcise, and stood over them with a
twig or young shoot of a vine, (jfrhich flagellum sometimes signifies,
see Aixsw.) and witli which tkey corrected them if they did amiss.
See sat. viii. 1. 247, 8, and n^e. "/
The epithet hirsute, hece, may intiinato the appearance of this
centurion, either from his Caress, or from his person. As to the first,
we may observe, that the/soldiers wore a sort of hair-cloth, or rough
garment, made of goa/s hair. VIRGIL, G. iii. 311 13, says, that
the shepherds shaved/the beards of the he-goats for the service of
the camps, and for/coverings of mariners:
Nee minus interea barbas, incanaque menta
Cyniphii tondent hirci, setasque comantes,
Usum in castrorum, et miseris velamina nautis.
tJsum in castrorum may mean, here, coverings for the tents, but
al<o (as Ruaeus observes) hair cloths for the soldiers garments, ag
well as for those of mariners.
The roughness of his person must appear from the hairiness of its
appearance irom the beard which he wore, from the neglected hair
188 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. v.
Forsitan impensfE Virronem parcere credas :
Hoc agit, ut doleas : nam qua? coincedia raimus
Quis meliorplorantegula? ergo omnia fiunt,
Si nescis, ut per lachrymas elfundere bilem
Cogaris, pressoque diu stridere molari. 160
Tu tibi liber homo, et regis con viva videris;
Captum te nidore suae putat ille culinae :
Nee male conjectat : quis enim tarn nudus, ut illura
Bis ferat, Hetruscura puero si contigit aurum,
Vel nodus tantum, et signum de paupere loro ? 165
Spes bene ccenandi vos decipit: eccedabit jam
Semesum leporem, atque aliquid de clunibus apri:
Ad nos jam veniet minor altilis: inde parato,
of his head, and, in short, from the general hairiness of his whole
body. See sat. ii. 1. 11, 12. and sat. xiv. 1. 194, 5,
Sed caput intactum buxo, naresque pilosas
Annotet, et grandes miretur I.xiius alas.
- This passage of Juvenal has been the occasion of various conjec-
tures among commentators, which the reader may find in Holyday's
note, who himself seems to have adopted the least probable. The
reading hirsuto Cape'la as the name and description of some person,
cppears to me, as it does to Marshal and others, the most simple and
natural,
156. Perhaps ymt may think.'] The poet, with much archness,
and, at the same time, with due severity, concludes this Satire by
setting the behaviour of the patron, as well as that of the parasite,
in its true light, and, from thence, endeavours to shame Trebius o.ut
of his mean submission to the indignities which he has to expect, if
he pursues his plan of attending the'tables of the great. A useful
lesson is to be drawn from hence by all who affect an intimacy with
their superiors, and who, rather than not have the reputation of
it, submit to the most insolent treatment; not seeing that every
* affront which they are forced to endure is' only an earnest of still
greater.
Vivro spares, <$"c.] Perhaps you will set all this down to a
principle of parsimony in the great man, and that, to save expense,
Virro lets you fare so ill but you are mistaken.
157. He dc.es this, <Sfc.] All this is done, (ergo omnia fiunt,
1. 1 58.) first to vex you, and then to laugh at you.
For what comedy, # c.] There can be no higher comedy, or
any buffoon or jester (miinus) more laughable, than a disappointed
glutton (gula, lit. throat) bemoaning himself (plorante) with tears
of nicer and resentment at such ill fare, and gnashing and grating
his teeth together, having nothing to put between them to keep
them asunder. -This, if you know it not already, I now tell you,,
to be the motive of Virro's treatment of you, when he sends f^r
you to sup with him.
SAT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 189
Perhaps you may think Virro spares expense :
He does this that you may grieve : for what comedy what
Mimic is better, than deploring gluttony ? therefore all is done,
If you know not, that by tears to pour forth vexation
You may be compell'd, and long to creek with a press'd grinder. 160
You seem to yourself a free man, and a guest of the great man ;
He thinks you are taken with the smell of his kitchen,
Nor does he guess badly ; for who so naked, that would
Bear him twice if the Etruscan gold befel him when a boy,
Or the nodus only, and the mark from the poor strap ? 165
The hope of supping well deceives you : " Lo now he will give
*' An half-eaten hare, or something from the buttocks of a boar:
" To us will now come the lesser fat fowl" then with prepared,
161. A free man, 8fc.~\ A gentleman at large as we say and
think that you are a fit guest for a rich man's table, and that, a
such, Virro invites you.
16'2. He thinks, <$"c.] He knows you well enough, to suppose
that you have no other view in coming but to gormandize, and that
therefore the scent of his kitchen alone is what brings you to hi*
house : in this he does not guess amiss, for this is certainly the case.
Nidor signifies the savour of any thing roasted or burnt.
163. For -who so naked, 8{c.~] So destitute of all things, as after
once being so used, would submit to it a second time ? This plainly
indicates your mean and sordid motives for coming.
164. If the Etruscan gold, 8{c.~] The golden boss, or bulla,
brought in among the Romans by the Etrurians, was permitted, at
first, only to the children of nobles : afterwards to all free-born. It
was an ornament, made in the shape of an heart, and worn before
the breast, to prompt them to the study of wisdom they left it off
at the age of sixteen. See sat. xiii. 1. 33.
165. The nodus only.~\ A bulla or boss of leather, a sign or note
of freemen, worn by the poorer sort of children, and suspended at
the breast by a leathern thong.
The meaning of 1. 104, 5. seems to be, that no man, one should
think, could bear such treatment a second time, whatever situation of
life he hunself might be in, whether of a noble, or of a freedman's
family.
166. The hope of supping well deceives.'] Your love of gluttony
gets the better of your reflection, and deceives you into a notion,
that however ill-treated you may have been before, this will not hap-
pen again.
" Lo now he will give, Sfc.'] This is supposed to be their
reasoning upon the matter.
167. An half-eaten /tare.] " Now," say they, " we shall have
" set before us what Virro leaves of a hare or part of the haunches
" of a wild boar."
16'8. The lesstrfat fou.-l.~] A fat hen or pullet called minor al-
ISO JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. r.
Intactoque omnes, et stricto pane tacetis.
Ille sapit, qui te sic utitur : omnia ferre 170
Si potes, et debes ; pulsandum vertice raso
Praebebis quandoque caput, nee dura timebis
Flagra pad, his epulis, et tali dignus amico.
tilis, as distinguishing these smaller dainties from the larger, such as
geese, &c.
168. Then with prepared, <Sfc.] Then, with bread ready before
you which remains untouched, as you reserve it to eat with the
expected dainties, and ready cut asunder into slices, or, as some,
ready drawn out metaph. from the drawing a sword to be ready
against an attack.
169. Ye are silent.~\ You wait in patient expectation of the good
things which you imagine are coming to you.
170. He is wise, <Sf c.] Mean while, Virro does wisely ; he treats
SAT. v. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 191
And untouched, and cut bread, ye are silent.
He is wise who uses you thus : all things, if you can, 170
You also ought to bear: with a shaven crown you will sometime
Offer your head to be beat, nor will you fear hard
Lashes to endure, worthy these feasts, and such a friend.
you very rightly, by sending none of his dainties to your part of the
table : for if you can bear such usage repeatedly, you certainly de-
serve to bear it.
171. With a shaven crown, #c.] q. d. You will soon be more
abject still ; like slaves, whose heads are shaven, in token of their
servile condition, you will submit to a broken head ; you'll not mind
an hearty flogging.
173. Worthy these feasts, <Sfc.] Thus you will prove yourself
deserving of such scurvy fare as you are insulted with at Virro's
table, and of just such a patron ae Vino to give it you.
END OF THE FIFTH SATIRE.
SATIRA VI.
ARGUMENT.
This Satire is almost twice the length of any of the rest, and is a
bitter invective against the fair sex. The ' ladies of Rome are here
represented m a very shocking light. The Poet takes occasion
P
VvREDO pudicitiam Saturno rege moratam
In terns, visamque diu ; cum frigida parvas
Praberet spelunca doaios, ignemque, Laremque,
Et pecus, et dominos communi clauderet umbra :
Silvestrem montana torum cum sterneret uxor 5
Frondibus et culmo, vicinarumque ferarum
Pellibus : baud similis tibi, Cynthia, nee tfbi, cujus
Turbavit nitidos extinctus passer ocellos :
Sed potanda forens infantibus ubera magnis,
Et saspe horridior glandem ructante marito. 10
Quippe aliter tune orbe novo, coeloque recenti
Vivebant homines ; qui rupfq robore nati,
Compositique luto nullos habuere parentes.
Multa pudicitiae veteris vestigia forsan,
Line 1. Saturn."] The son of Coelum and Vesta. Under his reiga
in Italy, the poets place the Golden Age, when the earth, not forced
by plough or harrow, afforded all sorts of grain and fruit, the whole
world was common, and without inclosure.
2. Was seen long.~\ During the whole of the Golden Age.
3. The household god.^ Lar signifies a god, whose image was
kept within the house, and set in the chimney, or on the hearth, and
was supposed to preside over and protect the house and land.
5. 1 he mountain-wife^] Living in dens and caves of the moun-
tains.
7. Cynthia."] Mistress to the poet Propertius.
7 8. Northee whose bright eyes, <Sfc.] Meaning Lesbia, mis-
tress to Catullus, who wrote an elegy on the death of her sparrow.
The poet mentions these ladies in contrast with the simplicity of life
and manners in ancient times.
9. Her great children."] According to Hesiod, in t BC Golden Age,
men were accounted infants, and under the euro of their mother, till
near an hundred years old. Potanda well suits this idea, for
might rather bo said to drink, than to suck.
SATIRE VI.
ARGUMENT.
to persuade his friend Ursidius Posthumus from marriage, at
the expense of the whole sex. See Mr. DRYDEN'S Argument.
JL BELIEVE that chastity, in the reign of Saturn, dwelt
Upon earth, and was seen long : when a cold den afforded
Small habitations, and fire, and the household-god,
And inclosed the cattle, and their masters, in one common shelter :
When the mountain-wife would make her rural bed
With leaves and straw, and with the skins of the neighbouring 5
Wild beasts : not like thee, Cynthia, nor thee, whose bright
Eyes a dead sparrow made foul (with weeping :)
But carrying her dugs to be drunk by her great children,
And often more rough than her husband belching the acorn. 10
For then, in the new orb of earth, and recent heaven,
Men lived otherwise who, born from a bursten Oak,
And composed out of clay, had no parents.
Perhaps many traces of chastity remained,
10. Belching the acorn.] The first race of men were supposed to
have fed on acorns ; a windy kind of food.
So DRYDEN :
" And fat with acorns belch'd their windy food."
11. Recent heaven.'] Coelum here means the air, firmament, or
atmosphere.
12. From a bursten oak.'] Antiquity believed men to have come
forth from trees. So VIRG. JEn. viii. 315.
Gcnsque virum truncis et duro robore nata.
The notion came from their inhabiting the trunks of large trees, and
from thence they were said to be born of them.
1 3. And composed out of day.'] Or mud by Prometheus, the
son of Japetus, one of the Titans. See AINSW. Prometheus.
So this poet, sat. xiv. 35.
Et meliore luto finxit prscordia Titan.
See sat. iv. 133, and note.
VOL. i. D n
194 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT . VI .
Aut aliqua extiterant, et sub Jove, sed Jove nondunx 15
Barbato, nondum Gracis jurare paratis
Per caput alterius : cum furem nemo timeret
Caulibus, aut pomis, sed aperto viveret horto.
Paulatim deinde ad superos Astraea recessit
Hac comite, atque duae pariter fugere sorores. 20
Antiquum et vetus est alienum, Pbsthume, lectum
Concutere, atque sacri Genium contemnere fulcrk
Omne aliud crimen mox ferrea portulit aetas :
Viderunt primos argentea saecula mcechos.
Conventam tamen, et pactum, et sponsalia, nostra 25
Tempestate paras ; jamque a tonsore magistro
Pecteris, et digito pignus fortasse dedisti.
Certe sanus eras : uxorem, Posthume, duels ?
Die, qua Tisiphone, quibus exagitare colubri*?.
Ferre potes dominant salvis tot restibus ullam ? 30
Cum pateant altae, caligantesque feneatrae ?
Cum tibi visinum s^prasbeat ^Emilius pons ?
15. Under Jupiter, <Sfc.] When Jove had driven his father Saturn
'into banishment, the Silver Age began, according to the poets. Jove
was the supposed son of Saturn and Ops.
16. Bearded^] The most innocent part of the Silver Age was be-
fore Jove had a beard; for when once down grew -upon his chin, what
pranks he played with the female sex are well known : iron bars and
locks could not hold against his golden key. See HOR. lib. iii. ode
xvi. 18.
17. By the head of another. ~\ The Greeks introduced forms of
swearing., not only by Jupiter, who was therefore called Orator, but
by other gods, and by men, by themselves, their own heads, &c.
Like Ascanius, .5n. ix. 300.
Per caput hoc juro, per quod pater ante solebat.
18. Lived with an open gardeji.^ They had no need of inclosuira
to secure their fruits from thieves.
19. Astrtea.~\ The goddess of justice, who, with many other dei-
ties, lived on earth in the Golden Age, but, being oft'ended with
men's vices, -she retired to the skies, and was translated into the sign
Virgo, next to Libra, who holdeth her balance. See Ov. Met. lib. i.
1. 1 50.
20. The two sistersJ] Justice and Chastity.
22. Genius.~\ Signifies a good or evil dremon, attending each man
or woman at every time and place ; hence, to watch over the mar-
riage bed, and to preserve it, or punish the violation of it.
Of the sacred prop.^ Fulcrum not only denotes the prop
which supports a bed, (i. e. the bedstead, as we call it,) but, by sy-
nec. the couch or bed itself.
The poet is heru describing the antiquity of the sin of adultery, or
violation of the marriage bed.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 195
Or some, even under Jupiter, but Jupiter not as yet 15
Bearded ; the Greeks not as yet prepared to swear
By the head of another : when nobody feared a thief
For his herbs, or apples, but lived with an open garden.
Then, by little and little, Astraea retired to the gods,
With this her companion, and the two sisters fled away together. 20
It is an old ancient practice, O Posthumus, to violate the bed
Of another, and to despise the genius of the sacred prop.
Every other crime the Iron Age presently brought in,
The Silver Age saw the first adulterers.
Yet a meeting, and a contract, and espousals, in our 25
Time you prepare: and already by a master barber
You are combed : and perhaps have given the pledge to the finger.
You certainly was once sound (of mind.) Do you, Posthumus,
marry ?
Say, by what Tisiphone, by what snakes are you agitated !
Can you bear any mistress, when so many halters are safe ? 30
When so many high and dizzening windows are open ?
5 " ri the .'Emilian bridge presents itself near you ?
13 4. The Iron Age the Silver Age.~] Of these, see OVID. Met
lib. i. fab. iv. and v.
25. YeL, $<:.] Here Juvenal begins to expostulate with his friend
Ursidius Posthumus on his intention to marry. You, says he, in
these our days of profligacy, are preparing a meeting of friends, a
marriage contract, and espousals. 1 he word sponsalia sometimes
deuotes presents to the bride.
'26. By a 'master barber.~\ You have your hair dressed in the
sprucest manner, to mak yourself agr^ealile to your sweetheart.
27. Pledge to the finger."] The wedding-ring this custom is very
ancient. See CHAMBERS Tit. Hing.
28. Once sound (of mind).'] You were once in your senses, be-
fore you took marriage into your head.
29. What Tisiphone.'] She was supposed to be one of the furies,
with snakes upoa her head instead of hair, and to urge and irritate
men to furious actions.
30. Any mistress.^ A wife to domineer and govern.
So many halters are safe.'] Are left unused, and therefore
readily to be come at, and you might so easily hang yourself out of
the way.
31. "Dizzening windows."] Altai, caligantesque i. e. so high as to
make one's head dizzy by looking down from them. Caligo-inw
signifies sometimes dizziness. See AINSV. .
Ths poet insinuates, that his friend might dispatch himself by
throwing himself out at window.
32. jtlmilian bridge.~] Built over the Tiber by ^Emilius Scauru
about a mile from Rome.
196 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Aut si de multis nullus placet exitus ; illud
Nonne putas melius, quod tecum pusio dormit ?
Pusio qui ftoctu non litigat : exigit a te 35
Nulla jaceus illic munuscula, nee queritur quod
Et lateri parcas, nee, quantum jussit, anheles.
Sod placet Ursidio lex Julia : tollere dulcem
Cogitat haeredem, cariturus tuvture magno,
Mullorumque jubis, et captatore macello. 40
Quid fieri non posse putes, si jungitur ulla
Ursidio I si moechonim notissimus olim
Stulta maritali jam porrigit ora capistro,
Quern toties texit periturum cista Latini ?
Quid, quod et antiquis uxor de moribus illi
Quaeritur ? O medici mediam pertundite venam :
Delicias hominis ! Tarpeium limen adora
Pronus, et auratam Junoni caede juvencam,
Si tibi contigerit capitis matrooa pudici.
Paucae adeo Cereris vittas contingere dignae ; 5Q
Quaruni non timeat pater oscula. Necte coronam
Postibus, et densos per limina tende corymbos.
Ursidius might throw himself over this, and drown himself in the
river.
3-1 7. In these four lines our poet i; carried, by his rage against
the vicious females of his day, into an argument which ill suits with
his rectitude of thought, and which had better be obscured by decent
paraphrase, than explained by literal translation. See sat. ii. 1. 12,
note.
38. The Julian Jcwr.]. Against adultery. Vid. sat. ii. 37.
Ursidius delights himself to think that, if he marries, the Julian
law will protect the chastity of his wife.
39. An heir.] To his fortune and estate.
r About to want, #c.] Now, at a time of life to be courted,
as a single man, he'll have no presents of fish, and other dainties,
from people who wish to ingratiate themselves with him, in hopes of
being his heirs. (Comp. sat. v. 1. 136 140.) This was very usual,
and the people who did it were called captatores. See sat. x. 1. 202.
AINSW. Turtur.
40. Inveigling market-place.] Macellum the market-place for
fish and other provisions, which were purchased by these flatterers
to make presents of to those they wished to inveigle ; and this seems
to be the reason of the word captatore being placed as an epithet to
macello in this line.
42. Once the most noted of adulterers.'] From this it appears that
^Juvenal's friend, Ursidius, had been a man. of very profligate cha-
racter, a thorough debauchee, as we say.
43. Now reach, #c.] A metaphor, taken from beasts of burden,
who quietly reach forth their heads to the bridle or halter.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 197
Or if, of so many, no one death pleases you, do not you
Think it better to live -as you now do?
With those who have no nightly quarrels with you, 35
Who exact no presents, nor complain that
You don't comply with all their unreasonable desires ?
But the Julian law pleases Ursidius, he thinks
To bring up a sweet heir, about to want a large turtle fish,
And the crests of mullets, and the inveigling market-place. 40
What think you may not come to pass, if any woman
Be joined to Ursidius ? If he, once the most noted of adulterers,
Now reach his foolish head to the marriage headstall,
Whom, so often, ready to perish, the chest of Latinus has con-
cealed?
What (shall we say beside?) that a wife of ancient morals too 45
Is sought by him O physicians, open the middle vein !
Delightful man ! adore the Tarpeian threshold
Prone, and slay for Juno a gilded heifer,
If a matron of chaste life fall to your share.
There are so few worthy to touch the fillets of Ceres, 50
Whose kisses a father would not fear. Weave a crown
For your gates, and spread thick ivy over your threshold.
44. Chest of Lalinua.'] The comedian Latinus played upon the
stage the gallant to an adulteress, who, being in the utmost danger,
^ipon the unexpected return of her husband, she locked him up in a
chest ; a part, it seems, that had been often realized by Ursidius in
his younger days.
45. What.'} Sat. iii. 1. 147, note.
That a wife, 4" c -] ? d. This we may say, that, moreover,
he is mad enough to expect a chaste wife.
46. The middle vein.'} It was usual to bleed mad people in what
was called the vena media or middle vein of the arm. Pertundite
lit. bore through.
Juvenal is for having Ursidius treated like a madman, not only
for intending to marry, but especially for thinking that he could find
any woman of ancient and chaste morals.
47. The Tarpeian threshold.^ The Capitoline hill, where there
was a temple of Jupiter, was also called the Tarpeian hill, on account
of Tarpeia, a vestal virgin, who was there killed, and buried by the
Sabines.
48. Far Juno a gilded heifer.'] Juno was esteemed the patroness
of marriage, and the avenger of adultery. Farnab. See J&n. iv. 5&.
To her was sacrificed an heifer with gilded horns.
50. To touch the fillets of Ceres.] The priestesses of Ceres were
only to be of chaste matrons: their heads were bound with fillets, and
none but chaste women were to assist at her feasts.
51. Whose kisses, <$'] So lewd and debauched were the Roman
woinen, that it was hardly safe for their own fathers to kiss them.
-r Wfave a crown, 4" c -] Upon wedding-days the common peo-
198 JUVENALIS SATIRE. AT. vi,
Unus Iberinae vir sufficit? ocyus illud
Extorquebis, ut haec oculo contenta sit uno.
Magna tamen fama est cujusdain rure paterno 55
Viventis: vivat Gabiis, ut vixit in agro;
Vivat Fidenis, et agello cedo paterae.
Qais tamen affirmat nil actum in montibus, aut ia
Speluncis ? adeo senueruat Jupiter et Mars ?
Porticibusne tibi monstratur foemina voto . 60
Digna tuo? cuneis an habent spectacula totis
Quod securus ames, quodque inde excerpere possis ?
Chironomon Ledam molli saltante Batyllo,
Tuceia vesicae non imperat: Appulagannit
Sicut in amplexu : subitum et miserabile longum 65
Attendit Thymele ; Thymele tune rustiea discit.
Ast aliae, quoties aulaea recondita cessant,
Et vacuo clausoque sonant fora sola theatre,
Atque a pjebeis longe Megalesia; tristes
Persoaam, thyrsumve tenent, et subiigar Acct. 70
pie crowned their doors aad door-posts with ivy-boughs; but persons
of fortune made use of laurel, and built scaffolds in the streets for peo-
ple to see the nuptial solemnity. See 1. 78.
53, Does one man siiffice for Iberina?^\ i. e. For the woman you
are going to marry.
56. Gabii.~\ A' town of the Volscians, about ten miles from
Rome.
57. Fidence.~] A city of Italy.
The poet means " Let this innocent girl, who has such a reputa-
tion for living chastely in the country, be carried to some town, as
Gabii, where there is a concourse of people, or to Fidenae, which is
still more populous, and if she withstands the temptations which she
meets with there, then, says he, agello cedo paterno I grant what
you say about her chastity, while at her father's house ia the coun-
try."
59. Are Jupiter and Mars, 6fc.] Juvenal alludes to the amours
of these gods, as Jupiter with Leda, &c. Mars with Venus, the wife
of Vulcan, &c. and hereby insinuates that, even ia the most remote
situations, and by the most extraordinary and unlikely means, women
might be unchaste.
60. In the Porticos."] These were a sort of piazza, covered over
to defend people from the weather, in some of which the ladies of
Rome used to meet for walking as ours in the Park, or in other
public walks.
61. The spectacles.'] Spectacula the theatres, and other public
places for shews and games.
63. When the soft Bathyllus, Sfc.~] This was some famous dancer,
who represented the character and story of Leda embraced by Ju-
piter in the shape of a swan in this Bathyllus exhibited such la-
5AT.VI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 199
Does one man suffice for Iberina ? you will sooner that
Extort, that she should be content with one eye.
But there is great fame of a certain (girl) living at her father's 55
Country house ; let h&r live at Gabii as she lived in the country ;
Let her live at Fidenae, and I yield the father's country seat.
But who affirms that nothing is done in mountains, or in
Dens ? Are Jupiter and Mars grown so old ?
Is there a woman shewn to you in the Porticos worthy 60
Your wish ? have the spectacles, in all the benches,
That which you might love securely, and what you might pick out
from thence ?
When the soft Bathyllus dances the nimble Leda,
Tuccia can't contain herself: Appula whines
As if embraced: the quick, the languishing, Thyraele 65
Long attends : then the rustic Thymele learns.
But others, as soon as the lock'd-up curtains cease,
And the courts alone sound, the theatre being empty and shut up,
And the Megalesian games, long from the Plebeian, sad
They possess the mask, or thyrsus, and sash of Accius. 70
seivious gestures a^ were very pleasing to the country ladies here men-
tioned. Chironomon see sat. v. 121, and note.
65 6. Thymele long attends.] Thymele pays the utmost and un-
wearied attention to the dances, as well to the quicker motions, as to
the languishing expressions of distress.
66. Learns. J Becomes acquainted with all this, and practises ac-
cordingly.
67. The lock'd-up curtains, 4'^-] Aulaeum a piece of hanging,
or curtain, as in the theatre. It may stand here for all the ornaments
of the theatre, which were taken down and laid aside when the sea-
son came for the theatres to be shut up.
68. The courts aloiie sound. J The courts of justice with the plead-
ings of the lawyers.
6. The Megalesian games, $c.~\ The Megalesian games were
instituted by Junius Brutus, in honour of Cybale, the mother of the
gods. The Plebeian games were instituted either in remembrance of
v'.e's liberty, upon the expulsion of their king?, or for the re-
conciliation of the people after secession to mount Aventine. See
sat. iii. 163, and note. The Mogaiesian were celebrated in April,
the Pi . .ie latter end of November : so that there was a long
distance of time between them.
v, <S'c.] During this long vacation from public
:idies divert themselves with acting plays, dress-
ing the.uaeives in the garb of the actors. See DRYDE.V.
. The Ikvrsus.'] A spear twisted about with ivy, and proper to
Bacchus, used by actors, when they personated him.
The sasA.] Subligar a sort of clothing which the actors
used to cover the lower parts of the body.
The name of some famous tragedian.
200 JUVENALIS SATIRE 6AT. vr.
Urbicus exodio risum movet Atellanae
Gestibus Autonoes ; hunc diligit ^Elia pauper.
Solvitur his magno comcedi fibula. Sunt, qua?
Chrysogonum cantare vetent. Hispulla tragoedo
Gaudet; anexpectas, ut Quintilianus ametur? 75
Accipis uxorem, de qua citharcedus Echion
Aut Glaphyrus fiat pater, 1 Ambrosiusve choraule*.
JLonga per angustos figamus puipita vicos :
Ornentur postes, et grandi janua lauro,
Ut testudineo tibi, Lentule, conopeo 80
71. UrbicusJ] Some famous comedian or buffoon.
Excites laughter.^ i. e. While he represents, in a ridiculous
manner, the part of Autonoe, in some interlude written en the sub-
ject of her story, in the Atellan style ; the drift of which was to turn
serious matters into jest, in order to make the spectators laugh.
Something like what we call burlesque.
- '. Interlude.'} Exodio. See sat. iii. 1. 174, and note.
72. AtellanJ] 1 his species of interlude was called Atellan, from
Atella, a city of the Osei, where it was first invented. It was a kind
of Latin drama, full of jokes, banters, and merriments, (see AINSW.)
the origin whereof may be seen in Liv. lib. vii. c. 2. See also ANT.
Univ. Hist. vol. xii. p, 34, note /.
AutonoeJ] Autonoe was the daughter of Cadmus, and mo-
ther of Actaeon, who was turned into a stag, and eaten by his own
hounds. There was an exordium, or farce, on this subject, in which
it may be supposed, that Autonoe was a principal character, proba-
bly the chief subject of the piece.
PoorJElia, <$fc.] Some woman of the ^Elian family which
had fallen into decay and poverty.
73. The button of the comedian.~\ The fibula here denotes a cir-
cle of brass, put on the young singers, so as to prevent commerce
with women, which was reckoned to spoil their voice. The lewd
women, here spoken of, were at a great expense to get this impedi-
ment taken off, that they might be intimate with these youths. See
1. 378, note.
74. Will forbid Chrysogonus.~] This was a famous singer, of
whom the ladies were so fond, as to spoil his voice with their cares-
ses, so that they hindered his singing.
Hispulla.'] Some- great lady, famous for her lewdness with
players, of which she was very fond.
75. Qnintilian.~\ A grave rhetorician, born at Caliguris, in
Spain ; he taught rhetoric at Rome, and was tutor to Juvenal. The
meaning is can it be expected, that any virtuous, grave, and sober
man, can be admired, when the women are so fond of singers, play-
ers, and such low and profligate people?
76. You take a wife, <$'c.J The drift of this satire is to prejudice
Ursidius, Juvenal's friend, so much against the women, as to make
him afraid to venture on marriage. Here the poet intimates, that,
SIT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 201
Urbicus excites laughter in an interlude by the gestures
Of Atellan Autoaoe ; poor ^Elia loves him.
The button of the comedian is loosen'd for these at a great price.
There are, who
Will forbid Chrysogonus to sing. Hispulla rejoices
In a tragedian : do you expect that Quintilian can be loved ? 75
You take a wife, by whom the harper Kchion,
Or Glaphyrus, will become a father ; or Ambrosius the piper.
Let us fix long stages thro' the narrow streets,
Let the posts be adorned, and the gate with the grand laurel,
That to thee, O Lentulus, in his vaulted canopy, 80
if Ursidius should take a wife, she will probably begotten with child
by some of the musicians.
78. Let usf.r, #c.] See before, I 52, and nota
80. Vaulted canopy.] Testudineo conopeo. Testudineus from
tostudo, signifies of, belonging to, or like a tortoise, vaulted : tor
such is the form of the upper shell.
Conopeum, from x.uiy\>, a gnat. A canopy, or curtain, that hangs
about bed?, and is made of net-work, to keep away flies and gnats
an umbrella, a pavilion, a tester over a bed ; which, from the
epithet testudineo, we must suppose to be in a vaulted form.
But. probably, here we are to understand by conopeo the whole
bed, synec. which, as the manner was among great people, such as
Ursidius appears to have been, had the posts and props inlaid with
ivory and tortoise-shell : so that, by tesmdineo, we are rather to un-
u< ; stand the ornaments, than the form.
That the Romans inlaid their beds, or couches, with tortoise-shell,
. sat. xi. 1. 94, 5.
Quails in oceani fluctu testudo natarat,
ClarumTrojugcnis factura ac nobile fulcrum.
This more immediately refers to the beds, or couches, on which
they lay at meals ; but, if these were so ornamented, it is reasonable
to suppose, by tostudineq conopeo, we are to understand, that they
extended their expense and luxury to the beds on which they slept ;
therefore, that this noble infant was laid in a magnificent bed this
heightens the irony of the word nobilis, as it the more strongly mark*
the difference between the apparent and real quality of the child ;
which, by the sumptuous bed, would seem the offspring of the noble
Ursidius, whereas, in fact, it would be the bastard of a gladiator.
Comp. 1. 89, which shews, that the beds, or cradles, in which thoj
laid their children, were richly ornamented.
To thts O Lenluln*.~\ The sense is that if Ursidius should
marry, and have a son, which is laid in a magnificent cradle, as the
heir of a great family, after all, it will turn oiu to be begotten by
some gladiator, such as Euryalus, and bear his likcne.%<.- He calls
Ursidius by the name of Lentulus, who was a famous fencer, inti-
mating that, like the children of Leutulus, Uidius's childrea
VOL. I. E E
502 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Nobilis Euryalum mirmillonem exprimat infans.
Nupta senatori comitata est Hippia ludium
Ad Pharon et Nilum, famosaque mcenia Lagi,
Prodigia et mores urbis darnnante Canopo.
Iminemor ilia domus, et conjugis, atque sororis 85
Nil patriae indulsit ; plorantesque iniproba gnatos,
Utque magis stupeas, ludos, Paridemque reliquit.
Sed quanquam in magnis opibus, plumaque paterni,
Et segmentatis dormisset parvula cunis,
Contempsit pelagus ; famam coiitempserat olim, 90
Cujus apud molles minima est jactura cathedras :
Tyrrhenos igitur liuctus, lateque sonantem
Pertulit ronium, constant! pectore, quamvis
Mutandum toties esset mare. Justa pericli
Si ratio est, et honesta, timent : pavidoque gelaotur 95
Pectore, nee tremulis possunt insistere plantis :
Fortem animum praestant rebus, quas turpiter audent.
Si jubeat coujux, durum est consceudere navem;
Tune sentina gravis ; tune suinmus vertitur aer.
would have a gladiator for their father. Exprimat pourtray re-
semble.
82. Hippia.~\ Was the wife of Fabricius Veicnto, a man of se-
natorial dignity in the time ot Domitian. See sat. iii. 185. sat. iv.
113. She lelt her husband, and went away with Sergius, the gla-
diator, into ^Egypt.
83. Pharos.] A small island at the mouth of the Nile, where
there was a lighthouse to guide the ships in the night.
- FamoMs.J Fainosa, infamous, as we speak, for all manner
of luxury and debauchery.
i. e. Alexandria ; so called from Ptolemy, the son
of Lagus, who succeeded Alexand^ty from which son of Lagus
came the kingdom of Lagidae, which was overthrown, after many
years, on the death of Cleopatra.
84. Canopus condemnln<r.~\ Even the city of Canopus, bad as it
was, condemned, as prodigious and unusual, the manners of the ci-
tizens at Rome.
87. The games, and Paris.] As if leaving her husband, children,
&c. were not so extraordinary as leaving the theatres, and Paris, a
handsome young actor, who was probably no small favourite of hers.
This is a fine stroke of the poet, and exhibits a strong idea of the
profligacy of such a woman's mind.
88. hi great riche$.~] In the midst of a profusion of wealth.
- Paternal down..] Pluma signifies a small or soft feather so,
what we call down. The poet is here describing the tender, as well
as costly manner, in which Hippia was brought up from a child ;
and, among other particulars, he here alludes to the soft and downy
bed on which she used to lie at her father's house. Notwithstanding
which, when the gratification of her lust was in question, she could
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES* 203
The noble infant may express the sword-player Euryalus.
Hippia, married to a senator, accompany'd a gladiator
To Pharos and the Nile, and the famous walls of Lagus,
Canopus condemning the prodigies and manners of the city,
She, unmindful ef her family, of her husband, of her sister, 85
Indulged not (a thought) to her country, and, wicked, her weeping
children
Left, and, to astonish you the more, the games, and Paris.
But tho' in great riches, and paternal down,
And, when a little one, she had slept in an embroidered cradte,
She despised the sea : she had long ago contemn 1 d her character, 90
The loss of which, is thejeast of all things, among fine ladies:
The Tyrrhene waves therefore, and the widely-sounding
Ionian she bore, with a constant mind, altho'
The sea was so often to be changed. If there be a just
And honest cause of danger, they fear : and are frozen with ti-
morous ' 95
Breast, nor can they stand on their trembling feet :
They shew a dauntless mind in things that they shamefully adventure.
If the husband command, it is hard to go aboard a ship ;
Then the sink of the ship is burtheusome then the top air is turned
round.
not only forget all this, but bid defiance to the boisterous sea, and
contemn all its dangers and inconveniences.
91. Among Jine ladies.'] Molles cathedras literally soft or easy
chairs, in which the fine ladies used to be carried a sort of covered
sedan. Here used loetonymically, for the ladies themselves. See
sat. i. 65. Or by cathedras, here, may be meant the strata? cathe-
drae, or soft chairs, or couches, on which the fine ladies reposed
themselves. Meton. for the ladies. See sat. ix. 52, and note.
92. The Tyrrhene waves, 4" c -] The mare Tyrrhenian means that
part of the Mediterranean sea which washes the southern part of
Italy.
The Ionian.] Ionia was a country of Asia the Lesser, so
railed along the coast of the Archipelago ; the sea which washed this
coast was called Ionium mare the Ionian sea.
93. Wilh a constant mind.] Was quite firm in the midst of all the
dangers which she underwent, and unmoved at the raging of the
v. aves.
94. The sea was so often to be changed."] i. e. She was to sail over
so many different seas between Rome and ygypt.
87. In things that, 6fc.~] Juvenal here lashes the sex very severely;
he represents women as bold and daring in the pursuits of their vices
timorous aud fearful of every thing where duty calls them. See
sat. viii. 165.
99. The sink, # c.J Sentina the hold or part of the ship where
S04 JUVENALI3 SATIRE. SAT. n.
Q\ix moechum scquitur, stomacho valet : ilia marUum 100
Convomit : haec inter nautas et prandet, et errat
Per puppim, et duros gaudet tractare rudentes.
Qua tamen exarsit forma 1 qu capta juventa
Hippia ? Quid vidit, propter quod ludia dici
Sustinuit ? nam Sergiolus jam radere guttur 105
Cceperat, et secto requiem sperare lacerto.
Praeterea multa in facie deformia ; sicut
Attritus galea, mediisque in naribus ingcns
Gibbus, et acre malum semper stillantis ocelli.
Scd gladiytOT erat ; facit hoc illos Hyaciuthos : 1 10
Hoc pueris, patriaeque, hoc praetulit ilia sorori,
Atque viro : ferrum est, quod amant : hie Sergius idem
Accepta rude ccepisset Veiento videri.
Quid privata domus, quid fecerit Hippia curas ?
Respice rivales Divorum : Claudius audi 115.
Que tulerit : dormire virum cum senserat uxor,
the pump is fixed, and where the bulge-water gathers together aiid
putrifies.
99. The top air, Sfc.] Summus aer the sky seems to run round
over her head, and makes her giddy. All this can be complained of,
as well as sea-sickness, and its effects, if with her husband : but if
nith a gallant, nothing of this is thought of.
103. Site on fire, $c.~\ But let us consider a little the object of
this Lady's amorous flame what sort of person it was that she was
so violently fond of. "
104. To be called an actress.~\ Ludia properly signifies an ac-
tress, or woman who dances, or the like, upon the stage : it seems
the feminine of ludius, which signifies a stage-player, or dancer,
sword-player, &c. Ludia, here, is used by Juvenal as denoting a
stage-player's wife which, Hippia, by going away with Sergius the
gladiator, subjected herself to be taken for.
105. Sergy.~\ Sergiolus the diminutive of Sergius, is used here
in derision and contempt, as satirizing her fondness for such a fellow,
whom probably she might wantonly call her little Sergius, when in an
amorous mood.
To slure his throat.'] i. e. Under his chin. The young men
used to keep thc'ir beards till the age of twenty-one; then they were
shaved. Here the poet means, that Sergius was an old fellow ; and
when he says " he had already begun to shave" he is to be under-
stood ironically, not as meaning literally that Sergius now first begun
this, but as having done it a great many years before.
106. Rest to his cut artn.^ He hud been crippled in one of his
arms, by cuts received in prize-fighting, which could not add much
to the beauty of his figure.
107. Deformities in his face.'] The poet in this, and the two fol-
lowing lines, sets forth the paramour of this lady in a most forbidding
light, as to his person, the better to satirize th taste of ths women
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 205
She that follows an adulterer, is well at her stomach : she be-
spews
Her husband : this dines among the sailors and wanders
About the ship, and delights to handle the hard cables.
But with what a form was she on fire ? with what youth was
Hippia taken ? What did she see, for the sake of which to be called
an actress
She endured ? for Sergy to shave his throat already had 105
Begun, and to hope for rest to his cut arm.
Beside many deformities in his face ; as, galled
With his helmet, and in the midst of his nostrils a great
Wen, and the sharp evil of his ever-dropping eye.
But he was a gladiator, this makes them Hyacinths. 1 10
This she preferr'd to her children, her country, her sister,
And her husband : it is the sword they love : but this very Sergius,
The wand accepted, had begun to seem Veiento.
Care you what a private family, what Hippia has done ?
Consider the rivals of the gods: hear what tilings 115
Claudius has suffered : the wife, when she had perceived her husband
asleep,
towards stage performers ; as if their being on the stage was a
surticieut recommendation to the favour of the sex, however forbid-
ding their appearance might otherwise be.
107 8. Galled with his helmet.] Which, by often rubbing and
wearing the skin off his forehead, had left a scarred and disagreeable
appearance.
108. Midst of his nostrils, Sfc.] Some large tumour, from re-
peated blows on the part.
109. The sliarp eiv7, $c] A sharp humour, which was continu-
ally distilling from his eyes blear-eyed, as we call it which fretted
and disfigured the skin of the face.
110. Hyacinths] Hyacinthus was a beautiful boy, beloved by
Apollo and Zephyrus : he was killed by a quoit, and changed into a
fiower. See AINSW.
1 1 3. The v:a)id accepted.~\ The rudis was a rod, or wand, giren
to sword-players, in token of their release, or discharge, from that
exercise.
Had begun to seem Veiento.] But this very Sergius, for
whom this lady sacrificed so much, had he received his dismission,
and ceased to be a sword-player, and left the stage, she would have
cared no more for, than she did for her husband Veiento. 'Sergius
would have seemed just as indifferent in her eves.
114. A private family.] What happens in private families, or is
done by private individuals, such as Hippia, ij, comparatively, hardly
worth notice, wheTi we look higher.
1 1 5. The rivals of the gods.] The very emperors themselves are
served as ill as private husbands are.
110. Claudius.] Caesar, the successor of Caligula.
206 JUVENALIS SATIR./E. SAT. YI,
(Ausa Palatine tegetem praeferre cubili,"
Sumere nocturnes meretrix Augusta cucullos,)
Linquebat, comite ancilla non amplius um\ ;
Et nigrum ttavo crinem abscondente galero, 120
Intravit calidum veteri centone lupanar,
Et cellam vacuam, atque suam : tune nuda papillis
Constitit auratis, titulum mentita Lyciscae,
Ostenditque tuuin, generose Britannice, ventrem.
Excepit blanda intrantes, atque a?ra poposcit : 125
Mox lenone suas jam dimittente puellas,
Tristis abit ; sed, quod potuit, tamen ultima cellam
Clausit, adhuc ardens rigidae tentigine vulvae,
Et lassata viris, nondum satiata recessit :
Obscurisque genis turpis, fumoque lucernas 1 30
Foeda, lupanaris tulit ad pulvinar odorem.
Hippomanes, carmenque loquar, coctumque venenum,
116. The wife, <$fc.] Messalina, who, as here related, took the
opportunity, when her husband was asleep, to go to the common
stews, like a prostitute.
117. The august harlot.^ Augustus was an imperial title, which
the poet sarcastically applies to this lewd empress hence it may be
rendered, the imperial harlot.
A coarse rug.~] See note on 1. 121.
118. The bed of staled] Palatine cubili literally the Palatinian
bed i. e. the bed of her husband in the royal palace, which was on
Mount Palatine.
Nocturnal hoods.~] Nocturnes cucullos a sort of hood,
with which the women used to cover their heads when it rained.
Messalina made use of something of this kind to disguise herself,
when on her nightly expeditions.
120. A yellow peruke.^ What the galerus was, is not very easy
to define ; but it seems (on this occasion at least) to have been some-
thing of the peruke kind, and made with hair of a different colour
from the empress's, the better to disguise her.
121. Warm with an old patched quilt.'] It is probable, that the
only piece of furniture in the cell was an old patched quilt, or rug,
on which she laid herself down.- Or this may be understood to mean,
that the stew was warm from the frequent concourse of lewd people
there ; and that Messalina carried with her some old tattered and
patched garment, in which she had disguised herself, that she might
not be known in her way thither. See AINSW. Cento.
122. Which was /icr's.] As hired and occupied by her, for her
lewd purposes.
123. Lycisca.~\ The most famous courtezan of those times, whose
name was chalked over the chamber-door, where Messalina enter-
tained her gallants.
124. Thy belly, f c.] i. e. The belly which bare thec. Britaani-
rus was the son of Claudius and Messaliua.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 207
(The august harlot daring to prefer a coarse rug to the
Bed of state, to take nocturnal hoods,)
Left him, attended by not more than one maid-servant,
And a yellow peruke hiding her black hair, 120
She enter'd the brothel warm with an old patched quilt,
And the empty cell which was hers ; then she stood naked
With her breasts adorned with gold, shamming the name of Ly-
cisca,
And she\ys thy belly, O noble Britannicus.
Kind she received the comers in, and asked for money : 125
Presently, the bawd now dismissing his girls,
She went away sad : but (which she could) she nevertheless
Last shut up her cell, still burning with desire,
And she retired, weary, but not satiated with men :
And filthy with soiled cheeks, and with the smoke of the lamp 130
Dirty, she carried to the pillow the stench of the brothel.
Shall I speak of philtres and charms, and poison boiled,
131. To the pillow.'] To the royal bed. Thus returning to her
husband's bed, defiled with the reek and stench of the brothel.
132. Philtres and charms.] Hippomanes, (from twos, equus
and f.iM/neci, insanio,) according to Virgil, signifies something which
comes from mares, supposed to be of a poisonous nature, and used
as an ingredient in venefic potions, mixed with certain herbs, and at-
tended with spells, or words of incantation.
Hinc demum \hippomanes vero quod nomine dicunt
Pastores, lentum distillat ab inguine virus :
Hippomanes quod sa;pe malae legere novercz,
Miscueruntque herbas, etnon innoxia verba. Georg. iii. 1. 280 3.
By the account of this, in the third line of the above quotation,
we may understand it, in this passage of Juvenal, to denote a part of
a poisonous mixture which step-mothers administered to destroy their
husband's sons, that their own might inherit.
But the hippomanes seems to be of two sorts, for another is men-
tioned, ^En. iv. 1. 515, 16.
Qiueritur et nascentis equi de fronte revulsus.
Et matri prsereptus amor
This was supposed to be a lump of flesh that grows in the forehead
of a foul newly dropped, which the mare presently devours, else she
loses all aflection for her offspring, and denies it suck. See. AINSW.
Hippomanes, No. 3. Hence Virgil calls it matrix ;>mor. This no-
tion gave rise to the vulgar opinion of its efficacy in love-potions, or
philtres, to procure love. In tiiis view of the word, it may denote
some love-potions, which the svomen administered to provoke un-
lawful love. The word carmen denotes a spell, or charm, which
they made use of for the same purpose. Carmen, sing, for carmina,
plur. synecdoche.
Poison boiled] This signifies the most deadly and quickest
20S JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. YI.
Privignoque datum ? faciunt graviora coactae
Imperio sexus, minimumque libidine peccant.
Optima sed quare Cesennia teste marito? 135
Bis quingenta dedit, tanti vocat ille pudicam :
Nee Vfciieris pharetris macer est, aut latnpade fervet :
Inde faces ardent ; veriiuat a dote sagittae.
Libertas emitur: coram licet innuat, atque
Rescribat yidua est, locuples quae nupsit avaro. J40
Cur desiderio Bibulas Sertorius ardet ?
Si verum excutias, facies, non uxor amatur.
Tres rugae subeant, et se cutis arida laxet,
Fiant obscuri dentes, oculique minores ;
" Collige sarcinulas," dicet libertus, " et exi ; 145
" Jam gravis es nobis, et saepe emungeris ; exi
" Ocyus, et propera ; sicco venit altera naso."
Interea calet, et regnat, poscitque maritum
poison, as boiling extracts the strength of the ingredients, much more
than a cold infusion.
133. A son-in-law] To put him out of the way, in order to make
room for a son of their own. See 1. 628.
134. The empire of the sex, #c.J i. e. That which governs, has
the dominion over it. See imperiurn used in a like sense. VIRG.
/En. i. 1. 142. q. d. What they do from lust is less mischievous than
what they do from anger, hatred, malice, and other evil principle*
that govern their actions, and may be said to rule the sex in general,
135. Cesennia] The poet is here shewing the power which wo-
men got over their husbands, by bringing them large fortunes ; inso-
much that, let the conduct of such women be what it might, the
husbands would gloss it over in the best manner they could; not from
any good opinion, or from any real love which they bare them, but
the largeness of their fortunes, which they retained m their own dis-
posal, purchased this.
136. She save twice jive hundred.] i. e. She brought a large for-
tune of one thousand sestertia, which was sufficient to bribe the hus-
band into a commendation of her chastity, though she had it not.
See sat. i. L 106, and note ; and sat. ii. 1. 117, and note.
137. Lean, Sfc] He never pined for love, Pharetris lit qui-
vers.
The lamp.] Or torch of Cupid, or of Hymen.
138. From tkence the torches burn, Sfc.] He glows with no other
flame than what is lighted up from the love of her money nor is he
wounded with any other arrows than those with which her large for-
tune has struck him.
139. Liberty is bought] The wife buys with her large fortune tha
privilege of doing as she pleases, whilo the husband sells his liberty,
so as not to dare to restrain her, even in her amours.
T/to 1 she nod] Iiinuat give a hint by some motion or nod
tAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 200
And given to a son-in-law ? they do worse things, compelled
By the empire of the sex, they sin least of all from lust
But why is Ceseimia the best (of wives) her husband being wit-
ness ? 135
She gave twice five hundred, for so much he calls her chaste.
Nor is he lean from the shafts of Venus, nor does he glow with the
lamp;
From thence torches burn ; arrows come from her dowry.
Liberty is bought : tho' she nod before (her husband) and
Write an answer, she is a widow, who rich, hath married a miser. 140
Why doth Sertorius burn with the desire of Bibula ;
If you examine the truth, the face, not the wife, is beloved.
Let three wrinkles come on, and her dry skin relax itself,
Let her teeth become blade, and her eyes less
* Collect together your bundles, the freedman will say, and go
" forth : 145
" You are now troublesome to us, and often wipe your nose, go
" forth
" Quickly arid make haste another is coming with a dry nose."
In the mean time she is hot, and reigns, and demands of her hus-
band
of her head, or make signs to a lover, even before her husband's
face.
140. Write an answer, 8fc.~] Pen an answer to a billet-doux in
the very presence of her husband. Comp. sat. i. 55 7.
She is a widow.~\ She is to be considered as such, and as re-
sponsible to nobody but to herself.
A miser. ~\ For he is too anxious about her money to venture
disobliging her by contradiction.
142. The face, not the wife, fc.~\ The poet is still satirizing the
female sex. Having shewn that some women were only attended to
for the sake of their money, he here lets us see that others had no
other inducement than exterior beauty. While this lasted, they were
admired and favoured, as well as indulged in a kind of sovereignty
over the husband ; but when their beauty decayed, they were repu-
diated, turned out of doors, and others taken in their room.
145. The freedman, <Sfc.] " Pack up your alls," says the hus-
band, now emancipated from his bondage to her beauty, by her loss
of it.
. 146. You often wipe your rcose.] From the rheum which distills
from it one symptom of old age.
147. Another is coming, #c.] Young and handsome, to supply
your place, who has not your infirmities.
148. In the mean time, <5>fc.] i. e. In the days of her youth and
beauty.
She is hot.'] She glows, as it were, with the rage of domi-
nion over her huaband, which she exercises -re:jnat.
VOL. i. r F
210 JUVEiNALIS SATIR.E. SAT. VI .
Pastores, et ovem Canusinam, ulmosque Falernas.
Quantulum in hoc ? pueros omnes, ergastula tota, 150
Quodque domi non est, et habet vicinus, ematur.
Mense quidem brumae, cum jam mercator lason
Clausus, ct armatis obstat casa Candida nautis,
Grandia tolluntur crystallina, maxima rursus
Myrrhina, deinde adamas notissimus, et Berenices 155
In digito factus pretiosiort hunc dedit olim
Barbaras incestae ; dedit hunc Agrippa sorori,
Observant ubi Testa mero pede sabbata reges,
148. Demands of her husband, $c] In short, her husband must
supply her with every thing she chooses to fancy.
149. Canusian sheep] Canusium, a town of Apulia, upon the
riyer Aufidus ; it afforded the best sheep, and the finest wool in Ita-
ly, which nature had tinged with a cast of red.
Falernan elms.] The vines of Falernum used to grow round
theelms, therefore elms here denote the vines, and so the wine itself
metonym. See VIRG. Georg. i. 1. 2.
150. All boys.] All sorts of beautiful boys must be purchased to
wait upon her.
> Whole workhouses.'] Ergastula were places where slaves were
sot to work here the word seems to denote the slaves themselves,
numbers of which (whole workhouses'-full) must be purchased to
please the lady's fancy. See AINSW. Ergastulum, No. 2.
151. And her neighbour has.] Whatsoever she has not, and her
neighbour has, must be purchased.
152. The month of winter.] Bruma qu. brevissima the shortest
day in the year, mid-winter the winter solstice; this happens on
the twenty-first of December so that mensis bruma; means Decem-
ber. By synecdoche winter.
The merchant Jason] This is a fictitious name for a mer-
chant who goes through the dangers of the seas in all climates, for
the sake of gain. Alluding to Jason's dangerous enterprise after the
golden fleece.
153. Is shut up] At his own home, it not being a season of the
year to venture to sea. So clausum mare is a phrase to denote the
winter-time. Cic. See Aixsw. Clausus.
The white house] All the houses covered with frost and
snow.
Hinders.] Prevents their going to sea, from the inclemency
of the season.
Armed sailors.] Armatis here means prepared for sea i. e.
as soon as the weather will permit.
So VIRG. JEn. iv. I. 289, 90.
Classem aptent taciti, sociosque ad litora cogant,
Anna parent.
Where we may suppose anna to signify the soils, roasts, and other
tackling of the ship. Anna nautiea.
svr. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 211
Shepherds, and Canusian sheep, and Falernan elms.
How little (is there) in this ? all boys, whole workhouses, 1-50
And what is not at home, and her neighbour has, must be bought.
Indeed, in the month of winter, when now the merchant Jason
Is shut up, and the white house hinders the armed sailors,
Great crystals are taken up, and again large (vessels)
Of myrrh, then a famous adamant, and on the finger of Berenice 155
Made more precious : this formerly a Barbarian gave,
This Agrippa gave to his incestuous sister,
Where kings observe their festival-sabbaths barefoot,
154. Great crystals.'] Crystallina large vessels of crystal, which
were very expensive.
Are taken up.'] Tolluntur. How, from this word, many
translators and commentators have inferred, that this extravagant and
termagant woman sent her husband over the seas, to fetch these things,
at a time of year when they have just been told (L 152, 3.) that
the merchants and sailors did not venture to sea, I cannot say but
by tolluntur, I am inclined to understand, with Mr. Drydeu, that
these things were taken up, as we say, on the credit of the husband,
who was to pay for them.
When winter shuts the seas, and fleecy snows
Make houses white, she to the merchant goes ;
Rich crystals of the rock she takes up there,
&.c. &c. DRYDEN.
This is what is called in French enlever de chez le marchand.
Some have observed, that during the Saturnalia, a feast which was
observed at Home, with great testivity, for seven days in the month
of December, there was a sort of fair held in the porches of some of
the public baths, where the merchants made up shops, or booths, and
sold toys and baubles. Vet. Schol. See Sigellaria. AJNSW.
" Tolluntur crystaUina.'] i. e. Ex mercatoris officina elevantur a
" Bibula, solvente eo marito Sertorio." GRANG. /
15-1 5. Vessels of myrrh.'] Bowls to drink out of, made of /t "^
myrrh, which was supposed to give a fine taste to the wine. So -i
MARTIAL, lib. xiv. ep. cxiii.
Si calidum potas, ardenti myrrha Falerno
Convenit, et mclior fit sapor hide mero.
155. Berenice, <Src.] Eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa, king of
Judaea, a woman of int'amous lewdness. She was first married to
Herod, king of Chalcis, her uncle, and afterwards suspected of in-
cest with her brother Agrippa. See ANT. Un. Hist. vol. x, p. 6,
uote e.
156. Made more precious.] The circumstance of Berenice's being
supposed to have received this diamond ring from her brother, and
having worn it on her finger, is here hinted at, as increasing its value
in the estimation of this lewd and extravagant woman.
A barbarian.] The Romans, as well as the Greeks, were
accustomed to cull all people, but themselves, barbarians.
158. Their j\ .'ftir^sabbatka barefoot.'] Meaning in- Judaea, and
414 JUVENALIS SATIRJB. AT. vi.
Et vetus indulget seaibus etamentia porcis.
Nullane de taniis gregibus tibi digna videtur ? 100
{Sit formosa, decens, dives, fcecimda, vetustos
Porticibus dibponat avos, intactior omni
Crinibus effusis bellum dirimente SabinS. :
(Kara avis in terris, nigroque simillima cygno :) *
Quis feret uxorem, cui constant omnia ? malo, 165
Malo Venusinam, quam te, Cornelia, mater
Gracchorum, si cum magnis virtutibus affers
Grande supercilium, et numeras in dote triumphos.
Tolle tuum, precor, Hannibalem, victumque Syphacem
In castris, et cum tola Carthagine migra. 170
Parce, precor, Paean ; et tu, Dea, pone sagittas ;
alluding to Agrippa and his sister's performing the sacred rites of sa-
crificing at Jerusalem without any covering on their feet. This was
customary, in some parts of the Jewish ritual, to all the Jews in
imitation of Moses at the bush (see Exod. iii. 5, et seq.) and is
practised, on particular days, in the Jewish synagogues to this very
time. JOSEPH. Bel. Jud. lib. ii. says of Berenice " Queen Bere-
*' nice, that she might pay her vows for the recovery of her health,
" came to Jerusalem, and, when the victims were slain according to
" custom, with her hair shaved, she stood barefooted before th
" sanctuary."
159. Clemency is indtdgent to old swine.'] The swine in Judaea,
says Tacitus, lived to be very old, as, by the law of Moses, they
were forbidden to be eaten, and consequently they were not killed
for that purpose.
160. Herds.'] Numbers of such ladies as I have mentioned, and
of which so mariy are to be found.
161 2. In porticos dispose, <Sfc.] It was usual for persons of
noble families to place images of their ancestors in galleries, or por-
ticos, about their houses so that the poet means here let her be of
high rank, as well as handsome, decent, &c.
163, Than every Sabine, <*<fc.] The Sabines were a people of
Italy, between the Umbrians and the Latins, famous for their gra-
vity, sobriety, and chastity. Of the rape of the Sabine women, see
ANT. Univ. Hist vol. xi. p. 283. This occasioned a war between
them and the Romans, which was put an end to by the intervention
of the Sabine women, who, having laid aside their ornaments, and
put on mourning, one token of - which was dishevelling the hair, ob-
tained a truce, after which a peace succeeded, and the Romans and
Sabines became one people. Ib. p. 287.
164. A rare bird, 4"c.] A proverbial expression. See PERS. i.
46, alluding to the phoenix.
166. A Venusian gir/.] Some poor plain country wench, from
Venusium, in Apulia.
Cornelia.'] The mother of those two mutinous tribunes,
Cains and Tiberius Gracchus, daughter to Scipio Africanus, that
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 213
And an ancient clemency is indulgent to old swine.
Does none from so great herds seem to you worthy ? 16Q
Let her be handsome, decent, rich, fruitful : in porticos
Let her dispose her old ancestors, more chaste
Than every Sabine, with dishevelled hair, who put an end to the
war:
(A rare bird in the earth, and very like a black swan)
Who could bear a wife that has all these? I'd rather, 165
Rather have a Venusian (girl) than you, Cornelia, mother
Of the Gracchi, if, with great virtues, you bring
Great haughtiness, and you number triumphs as part of your dow'ry.
Take away, I pray, your Hannibal, and Syphax conquer'd
In his camp, and depart with the whole of Carthage. 170
" Spare, I pray, O Paean ; and thou, goddess, lay down thine
arrows ;
conquered Hannibal, and Syphax, king of Numidia, whose camp he
burned, and subjected Carthage to the power of Rome, to which
it first became tributary, and then was destroyed and rased to the
ground by Scipio ^Smiiianus.
168. Great haughtiness.'] The poet having before satirized the
women, as not endowed with virtues sufficient to make a man happy
in marriage, here allows that it might be possible for a large assem-
blage of virtues to meet together ; but yet all these might be spoiled
and counteracted by the pride which might attend the person posses-
sed of them.
169 70. Your Hannibal S>/])ha.r Cwthoge.~\ See note on
1. 166. i. e. If, as part of her merit, she is to be for ever boasting
of the victories and triumphs of her sous, assuming a very high re-
spect on those accounts, her pride would make her troublesome and
intolerable : a poor country girl, who had none of these things to
pull' her up, would be far more eligible than even Cornelia herself,
under such circumstances. In short, Juvenal is not for allowing any
such thing as a woman without some bad fault or other.
171. Ptfan.j Apollo either from 7r,ia, Gr. to strike, because
he struck and slew the Python with his arrows or from -TMtw, a
physician medicus. Apollo was the fabled god of physic.
ThuK goddess.^ Diana, who slew the seven daughters of
Niobe, as Apollo slew the seven sons. Niobe was the wife of
Amphion, king of Thebes, by wham she had seven sons, (accord-
ing to some, ton rleea sons,) and seven daughters; of which, toge-
ther with her high birth, she grew so proud, as to slight the sacrifices
which the Theban women offered to Diana, comparing herself with
Latona, and, because she had borne more children, even setting her-
self above her, which the children of Latona, Apollo, and Diana, re-
senting, he slew the males, together with the father, and she the fe-
males ; on which Niobe was struck dumb with grief, and is feigned
t,o have been turned into marble.
214 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Nil pucri faciunt, ipsam configite matrem ;
Amphion clamat : seel Pa>an contrahit arcum.
Extulit ergo gregem natoram, ipsumque parentem,
Dumsibi nobilior Latonae gente videtur, 175
Atque eadem scrofd, Niobe foecundior alba.
Quae tanti gravitas ? qufe forma, ut se tibi semper
Imputet? hujus enim ran, summique voluptas
Nulla boai, quoties animo corrupta superbo
Plus aloes, quam mellis, habet. Quis deditus autem 180
Usque adeo est, ut non illam, quam laudibus effert,
Horreat, inque diem septenis oderit horis ?
Quacdam parva quidem ; scd non toleranda maritis :
Nam quid rancidius, quam quod se non putat ulla
Formosam, nisi quae de Tusca Graecula f'acta est ? 18a
De Sulmonensi mera Cecropis? omnia Graece;
Cum sitturpe minus nostris nescire Latine.
Hoc sermone pa vent ; hoc iram, gaudia, curas.
Hoc cuncta effundunt animi secreta. Quid ultra!
Concumbunt Graece dones tamen ista puellis : 190
Tune etiam, quam sextus et octogesimus annus
Pulsat, adhuc Graece ? non est hie sermo pudicus
172. The chidren do nothing, $c.~] To provoke tbee. The poet
is here shewing, in this allusion to the fable of Niobe and her chil-
dren, that the pride of woman is such, as not only to harass man-
kind, but even to be levelled at, and provoke, the gods themselves,
so as to bring ruin on whole families.
175. More noble.'] On account of her birth, as the daughter of
Tantalus, king of Corinth, or, according to some, of Phrygia, and as
wife of Amphion.
176. Than the white ?.ow.~\ Found by ^Eneas near Lavinium,
which brought thirty pigs at a litter, and which was to be his direc-
tion where to build the city of Alba. VIRG. ^En. iii. 39C 3.
&n. viii. 438.
177 IV hat gravity.'] Gravitas may here signify sedateness, sobrie-
ty of behaviour.
178. Impute.'] i. e. That she should be always reckoning up her
good qualities to you, and setting them to your account, as if
you were so much her debtor, on account of her personal accom-
plishments, that you have no right to find fault with her pride and
ill-humour. A metaphorical expression, alluding to the person's
imputing, or charging something to the account of another, for
which the latter is made his debtor.
180. More of aloes, than of honey. ,] More bitter than sweet in
her temper and behaviour.
Given up, Sfc.'] To his wife, so uxorious.
181. As not to abhor, fc.] Though he may be lavish in her
praises, in some respect?, yet no man can be eo blind to her pride and
SAT, vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 215
" The children do nothing, pierce the mother herself ;"
Cries Amphion : but Apollo draws his bow,
And took off the head of children, and the parent himself,
While Niobe seems to herself more noble than the race of La-
tona, 175
And more fruitful than the white sow.
What gravity what beauty is of such value, as that she should al-
ways herself to you
Impute ? for of this rare and highest good there is
No comfort, as often as, corrupted with a proud mind,
She has more of aloes, than of honey, But who is given up 180
To such a degree, as not to abhor her whom he extols
With praises, and hate her for seven hours every day ?
Some things indeed are small ; but not to be borne by husbands :
For- what can be more fulsome, than that none should think her-
self
Handsome, unless she who from a Tuscan becomes a Grecian ? 185
From a Sulmonian, a mere Athenian ? every thing in Greek ;
Since it is less disgraceful to our ladies to be ignorant of speaking
Latin.
In this dialect they fear, in this they pour forth their anger, joy, cares,
In this all the secrets of their minds. What beside ?
They prostitute themselves in Greek. Yet you may indulge those
things to girls : 190
But do you too, whose eighty-sixth year
Beats, speak Greek still I This is not a decent dialect
ill temper, as not to have frequent occasion to detest her many hours
in the day.
185. From a Tuscan, $c.~] The poet here attacks the affectation
of the women, and their folly, in speaking Greek instead of their
own language. Something like our ladies affectation of introducing
French phrases on all occasions. The Greek language was much
affected in Rome, especially by the higher ranks of people ; and the
kidii'rf, however ignorant ot their own language, were mighty fond
of cultivating Greek, and affected to mix Greek phrases in their con-
versation.
186. A Sulmonian.'] Sulmo, a town of Peligni, in Italy, about
ninety miles from Rome it was the birth-place of Ovid.
Athenian.^ Cecropis. Athens was called Cecropia, from
Cecrops, who reigned in Attica, and was the first king of Athens.-
It may be supposed that the poet iiere means to ridicule some awk-
ward country ladies, who, when they came to Rome, affected to speak
Greek with elegance.
188. They fear, $c.~\ Express their fears, joys, anger, and, in
short, all their passions.
190. To girls.~\ This may be allowable perhaps in giddy girls in
them such affectation may be forgiven.
192. Beats.~] Pulsat knocks at the door, as we say, or beats in
the pulse.
216 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
In vetula : quoties lascivum intervenit illud
ZH KAI *YXH, modo sub lodice relictis
Uteris in turba : quod enim non excitat inguen 195
Vox blanda et nequam ? digitos habet. Ut tamen omnes
Subsidant pennae (dicas haec mollius ^Emo
Quanquani, et Carpophoro) fades tua computat annos.
Si tibi legitirais pactam junctamque tabellis
Non es amaturus, ducendi nulla videtur 200
Causa ; nee est quare ccenam et mustacea perdas,
Labente officio, crudis donanda : nee illud,
Quod prima pro nocte datur ; cum lauee beata
Dacicus, et scrlpto radiat Germanicus auro.
Si tibi simplicitas uxoria, deditus uni 205
Est animus : submitte caput crevice parata
Ferre jugum : nullam invenies, quae parcat amanti.
Ardeat ipsa licet, tormentis gaudet amantis.
193 4. T/uit wanton Zat>, $c.] This was a wanton expression
my life ! my soul ! which the women affected to express in Greek.
See MART. lib. x. epigr. Ixviii. 1. 5 8.
194. Just now lefi, $c.~] The poet reproves the old women for ex :
pressing themselves in public, or in a crowd of company (turba), in
phrases, which are made use of in the more private and retired scenes
of lasciviousness, from which these old women, if judged by their
conversation, may be suspected to have newly arrived.
196. It has fingers.'] Is as provocative as the touch.
196 7. Alt desires, $c.] Pennae lit. feathers. Metaph. al-
luding to birds, such as peacocks, &c. which set up their feathers
when pleased, and have a gay appearance ; but they presently sub-
side on approach of danger, or of any dislike. Thus, however las-
civious words may tend to raise the passions, when uttered by the
young and handsome ; yet, from such an old hag, they will have a
contrary effect all will subside into calmness.
197. Though you may say, #c.] <j. d. However you may excel
in softness of pronunciation, when you use such phrases, even
./Emus and Carpophorus, the two Grecian comedians, whose fame
is so great for their soft and tender manner of uttering lascivious
speeches on the stage, (see note on sat. iii. 1. 98.) yet fourscore and
six stands written on your face, which has at least as many wrinkle*
as you are years old* a sure antidote.
199. Lawful f/eerfs.1 Tabellis legitimis by such writings and
contracts as were by law required <f. d. If, for the above reasons,
you are not likely to love any woman you marry 1. 200.
201 . Lose. J i. e. Throw away the expense of a marriage-enter-
tainment.
Bri(k-cakes.~] Mustacea were a sort of cakes made of
meal, anise seed, cummin, and other ingredients, moistened with
mustum, new wine whence probably their name; they were of a
carminative kind. They were used at weddings. AINSW.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES, 217
In an old woman : as often as intervenes that wanton
Zan nctt -^v^*), words just now left under the coverlet
You use in public : for what passion does not a soft and lewd 195
Word excite ? It has fingers. Nevertheless, that all
Desires may subside (though you may say these things softer
Than /Emus, and Carpophorus) your face computes your years.
If one, contracted, and joined to you by lawful deeds,
You are not about to love, of marrying there appears no 200
Cause, nor why you should lose a supper, and bride-cakes,
To be given to weak stomachs, their office ceasing ; nor that
Which is given for the first night, when the Dacic in the happy dish?
And the Germanic shines with the inscribed gold.
If you have uxorious simplicity, your mind is devoted 205
To her alone : submit your head, with a neck prepared
To bear the yoke : you'll find none who can spare a lover.
Tho' she should burn, she rejoices in the torments
202. To weak stomachs.'] To the guests who have raw and queasy
stomachs, in order to remove the flatulency and indigestion occasi-
oned by eating too copiously at the entertainment.
Their office ceasing.^ Labente olficio. It was so much rec-
koned a matter of duty to attend the marriage-entertainments of
friends, that those, who were guests on the occasion, were said ad
ofh'cium veuire. Labente officio here means the latter end of the
feast, when the company was going to break up, their duty .then al-
most being ended it was at this period that the bride-cake? were car-
ried about and distributed to the company. See sat. ii. 1. 132 5.
203. The Daci'c.] Dacieus a gold coin, having the image of
Domitian, called Dacicus, from his conquest of the Dacians.
The happy dish.~\ Alluding to the occasion of its being put
to this use.
204. Germanic.'] This was also a gold coin with the image of
Domitian, called Germanicus, from his conquest of the Germans.
A considerable sum of these pieces was put into a broad plate, or dish,
and presented by the husband to the bride on the wedding night, as
a sort of price for her person. This usage obtained among the
Greeks, as among the Jews, and is found among many eastern na-
tions. See PARKH. Heb. Lex. nn, No. 3. Something of this
kind was customary in many parts of England, and perhaps is so
still, under the name of dow-p"urse.
Inscribed gold.'] i. e. Having the name and titles of the em-
peror stamped on it.
203. Uxorious simplicity.'] So simply uxorious so very simple
as to be governed by your wife.
206. Submit your head, <$'c.] Metaph. from oxen who quietly
submit to the yoke. See 1. 43, and note.
207. JVho can spare a lover. .] Who will not take the advantage
of a man's affection for her to use him ill.
208. T/io' she should burn, $c.~\ Though she love to distraction,
VOL, I. G G
218 JUVENALIS SATHL> SAT. vi.
Et spoliis : igitur Icnge minus utilis illi
Uxor, quisquis erit bonus, optandusque maritus* 210
Nil unquam invita donabis conjuge : vendes
Ilac obstante nihil : nihil, haec si nolit, emetur..
Haec dabit affectus : ille excludetur amicus
Jam senior, cujus barbam tua janua vidit.
Testandi cum sit lenonibus> atque lanistis 215
Libertas, et juris idem contingat arenae,
Non unus tibi rivalis dictabhur haeres*
" Pone crucem servo :" " meruit quo crimine servus-
*' Supplicium ? quis testis adest ? quis detulit ? audi,
4< Nulla unquam de morte hominis cunctatio longa e^t.'' 220
** O demens, ita servus homo est ? nil fecerit, esto i
" Hoc volov sic jubeo, sit pro tatione voluntas."
Imperat ergo viro : sed mox hasc regna relinquit,
Permutatque domos, et flammea conterit : inde
Avolat, et spreti repetit vestigia lecti. >;!..
she takes delight in. plaguing and plundering the man who loves.
her.
209 10. Less useful to him, Sfe."] The better husband a man is,
the more will she tyrannize over him : therefore an honest man, whu
would make a good husband, will find that, of all men, he has the
least reason to marry, and that a wife will be of less use to him than
to a raaH of a different character.
213. S'fe.] Haec this wife of yours.
- Will give affeclions.~\ Direct your affections dictate to you
in what manner you shall respect, or ill-treat, your friend* whom
you are to like, and whom to dislike.
214. Whose beard your gate Itath seen.~^ An old friend, who used
always to be welcome to your house, ever since the time he had first
a beard on his chin.
215. To make a will, <Jfc.] q. d. Panders, prize-fighters, and
gladiators, have liberty to make their wills as they please, but your
wife will dictate yours, and name not a few of her paramours, your
rivals, to enjoy your estate. A T . B. All the Romans, even the
most inferior and most infamous sort of them, had the power oi
making wills. DRYD.
216. The amphiUieatre.~] Arenae metonym. the gladiators be-
longing to it.
218. " Set up, #c."] Crucifixion was the usual way of putting
slaves to death, and of this the masters had the power here the wife
bids her Imsband do it, only out of caprice.
" For ichat crime, <Sfc."] The words of the husband re-
monstrating against this piece of wanton barbarity.
219. " Hear."] Attend mark what I say.
220. " A T o delay," <Sf c.} Sorely where the death of a fellow-crea-
ture is depending, the matter should be well considered, and not
SAT. v*. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 219
And spoils of a lover : therefore a wife is by far less useful
To him, whoever will be a good and desirable husband. 210
You will never bestow any thing against your wife's will : you will
sell
Nothing if she opposes : nothing, if she be unwilling, will be bought:
She will give affections : that friend will be shut out,
Now grown old, whose beard your gate hath seen.
When there is liberty to pimps and fencers to make a will, 215
And the same right happens to the amphitheatre,
Not one rival only will be dictated as your heir.
" Set up a cross for your slave :" " for what crime has the skve
" deserved
" Punishment ? what witness is there ? who accused I- hear
" No delay is ever long concerning the death of a man." 220
** O madman ! so, a slave is a man ! be it so he has done no-
" thing,
" This I will thus I command let my will stand as a reason."
Therefore she governs her husband: but presently leaves these
realms,
And changes houses, and wears out her bridal veils : from thence
She flies away, and seeks again the footsteps of her despised bed. 225
hastily transacted no delay, for deliberation, should be thought
long.
221. " O madman, 6fc."] The words of the imperious wife, who
insisis upon her own humour to be the sole reason of her actions. She
even styles her husband a fool, or madman, for calling a slave a man.
She seems to deny the poor slave human nature and human feelings,
such is her pride and savage cruelty !
223. She garerns, Sfc.] Therefore, in this instance, as in all
others, it is plain that she exercises a tyranny over her husband,
" Leaves these realms."] i. e_Her husband's territories, over
which she ruled, in order to seek new cgnquests, and new dominion
over other men.
224. Changes houses.] She elopes from her husband to others
and so frorp house to house, as often as she chose to change from man
to man.
T Wears out her bridal veils."] The fiameum was a bridal veil,
with which the bride's face was covered, during the marriage cere
mony : it was of a yellow, or ilame-colour whence its name.
She divorced herself so otten, and was so often married, that she
even wore out, as it were, her veil, with the frequent use of it.
'2 1 2 j. She flits away, 4' c -] The inconstancy and lewdness of this
woman was such, that, after running all the lengths which the law
allowed, by being divorced eight times, she leaves her paramours,
and even comes back again to the man whom she first left.
. And seeks again.] Traces back the footsteps which once led
her from his bed.
220 JUVENALIS SATIR/E. SAT. vi.
Ornatas paulo ante fores, pendentia linquit
Vela dornus, et adhucwirides in limine raiaos.
Sic crcscit numerus ; sic fiunt octo mariti
Quinque per autumnos : titulo res digna sepulchri.
Desperanda tibi salva concord! a socru : 230
Ilia docet spoliis nudi gaudere mariti :
Ilia docet, missis a corruptore tabellis,
Nil rude, nil simplex rescribere : decipit ilia
Custod.es, aut aere domat : tune corpore sano
Advocat Archigenem, onerosaque pallia jactat. 235
Abditus interea latet accersitus adulter,
Impatiensque morqp silet, et praputia ducit.
Scilicet expectas, ut tradat mater honestos,
Aut alios mores, quam quos habet ? utile porro
Filiolam turpi vetulae producere turpem. 240
Nulla fere causa est, in qua non fcemina litem
Moverit. Accusat Manilla, si rea non est.
Componunt ipsae per se, formantque libellps,
226. The doors adorned, 8fc.~] See before, 1. 52, and note i. e.
She lives but a very short time with each ef her husbands, quitting
them, as it were^ while the marriage garlands, veils, &c. were hang-
ing about the doors.
228. Eight husbands in five autumns.^ The Roman law allowed
eight divorces beyond that was reckoned adultery.
Of these divorces Seneca says De Benenciis, c. xvi. " Does,
" any body now blush at a divorce, since certain illustrious and no-
" ble women compute their years, not by the number of consuls,
" but by the number of husbands they have had ?"
Tertullian says, Apol. c. vi. " Divorce was now looked upon as
" one fruit of marriage."
"WhenMartialis satirizing Thclesina as an adulteress, he represents
her as having exceeded the number of divorces allowed by law.
Aut minus, aut certe non plus tricesima lux est,
Et nubit decimo jam Thelesina viro.
Quse nubit toties, non nubit, adultera lege est. Lib. v. ep. vii.
229. The title of a septdchre.~] Such actions as these, like other
great and illustrious deeds, are well worthy to be recorded by a mo-
numental inscription. Iron. It was usual, on the sepulchres of
women, to mention the number of husbands to which they had been
married.
230. Mother-in-law.'] The poet seems willing to set forth the fe-
male sex, as bad, in every point of view. Here he introduces one
as a mother-in-law, disturbing the peace of the family, carryiug on
her daughter's infidelity to her husband, and playing tricks for this
purpose.
231. She teaches."] Instructs her daughter.
To plunder, fyc.~] Till the poor husband is stripped of all
lie lias.
SAT. vr. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 221
The doors, a little before adorned, the pendent veils
Of the house she leaves, and the boughs yet green at the threshold.
Thus the number increases, thus eight husbands are made
In five autumns a matter worthy the title of a sepulchre.
You must despair of concord while a mother-in law lives : 230
She teaches to rejoice in the plunder of the stripped husband :
She teaches, to letters sent by a corrupter,
To write back nothing ill bred or simple : she deceives
Keepers, or quiets them with money. Then, while in health,
She sends for Archigenes, and throws away the heavy clothes. 235
Mean while the sent-for adulterer lies hidden,
Is silent, impatient of delay, and prepares for the attempt.
But do you expect that a mother should infuse honest
Morals, or other than what she has herself? moreover, it is profitable
For a base old woman to bring up a base daughter. 240
There is almost no cause in which a woman has not stirr'd up
The suit. Manilla accuses, if she be not the accused.
They by themselves compose, and form libels,
232. A corrupier.~\ A gallant who writes billets-doux, in order to
corrupt her daughter's chastity.
233. Nothing ill bred or simple.'] To send no answers that can
discourage the man from his purpose, either in point of courtesy or
contrivance.
233 4. She deceives keepers, Sfc.~] She helps on the amour with
her daughter, by either deceiving, or bribing, any spies which the
husband might set to watch her.
235. Archigenes.~\ The name of a physician. The old woman
shams sick, and, to carry on the trick, pretends to send for a physi-
cian, whom the gallant is to personate.
Throws aitsay the heavy clothes.~\ Pretending to be in a v\o-
lent fever, and not able to bear the weight and heat of so many bed-
clothes.
236. Mean while, <$'c.] The old woman takes this opportunity to
secrete the adulterer in her apartment, that when the daughter comes,
under a pretence of visiting her sick mother, he may accomplish his
design.
238. A mother should infuse, &fc.~\ It is not very likely that such
a mother should bring up her daughter in any better principles than,
her own.
239. It is profitable, 6fc.] Since, by having a daughter as base as
herself, she has opportunities of getting gain, and profit, by assist-
ing in her prostitution, being well fee'd by her gallants. He next at-
tacks the litigiousness of women.
241. Almost no cause.~\ No action at law, which a woman has not
fomented. If she be not defendant, she will be plaintiff, 1. 242.
212. Manilla, 6fc.] An harlot, whom Hostilius Mancinus, the
urule ./Edile, prosecuted for hitting him with a stone.
243. Compose, and form libels.'] The libelli in the courts of law
222 JUVENALIS SATItLE. SAT. vr.
Principium atque locos Celso dictare paratae.
Endromidas Tyrias, et foemineum ceroma 245
Quis nescit 1 vel quis non vidit vulnera pali,
Quern cavat assiduis sudibus, scutoque lacessit ?
Atque omnes implet numeros ; dignissima prorsus
Florali matrona tuba ; nisi si quid in illo
Pectore plus agitet, veraeque paratur arenae. 250
Quern praestare potest mulier galeata pudorem,
Quae fugit a sexu, et vires amat ? haec tamen ipsa
Vir nollet fieri : nam quantula nostra voluptas !
Quale decus rerum, si conjugis auctio fiat,
Balteus, et manicae, et cristae, crurisque sinistri 255
Dimidium tegmen : vel si diversa movebit
at Rome, seem to answer to those pleadings among us, which are
drawn up in writing by skilful lawyers on the part of the complain-
ant. In our civil law-courts the term libellus is still in use, and an-
swers to a declaration at common law, which contains the complaint.
244. Celsus, $c.] He was a noble orator and eminent lawyer :
he left behind him seven books of institutes, all written by himself.
The women had the impudence to think that they could direct him
in the management of a cause ; viz.
The beginning.'] i. e. How to open it the exordium.
The places.] 1 he sedes argumenti, or parts of the libel
from which the arguments were taken, and on which they were
grounded, were called loci so that they not only dictated to Celsus
how to open a cause, but how to argue and manage it.
245. The Tyrian rugs, w/c.] Women had the impudence to prac-
tise fencing, and to anoint themselves with the ceroma, or wrestler's
oil like them they put on the endromidae, or rugs, after their exer-
cise, to keep them from catching cold ; but, to shew their pride, they
were dyed in Tyrian purple.
246. The tcounds of the stake."] This was the exercise of the pa-
laria, used by the soldiers at their camp, but now practised by im-
pudent women. The palus was a stake fixed in the ground, about
six feet high, at which they went through all the fencer's art, as with
an enemy, by way of preparation to a real fight.
247. She hollows, <$'c.] By fencing at this post they wore hollow
places in it, by the continual thrusts of their weapons against it,
which were swords made of wood, with which the soldiers and prize-
fifhters practised the art of fencing, (as we do now with foils,)
these were used by these masculine ladies.
And provokes with the shield.] Presenting their shields to the
post as to a real enemy, and as if provoking an attack.
248. Fills up all her parts.] Omnes implet numeros. This
phrase may be understood " goes through all the motions incident
" to the exercise."
219. The Ftoralian trumpet.'] The Floral games, which were
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 223
Prepared to dictate to Celsus, the beginning, and the places.
The Tyrian rugs, and the female ceroma, 245
Who knows not ? or who does not see the wounds of the stake,
Which she hollows with continual wooden-swords, and provokes
with the shield ?
And fills up all her parts ; altogether a matron most worthy
The Floralian trumpet ; unless she may agitate something more
In that breast of hers ; and be prepared for the real theatre. 250
What modesty can an helmeted woman shew,
Who deserts her sex, and loves feats of strength ? yet she herself
Would not become a man : for how little is our pleasure 1
What a fine shew of things, if there should be an auction of your
wife's,
Her belt, her gauntlets, and crests, and the half covering 255
Of her left leg ? or, if she will stir up different battles,
celebrated in honour of the goddess Flora, were exhibited by harlots,
with naked impudence, who danced through the streets to the sound
of a trumpet.
250. Ire that breast of hers.] Unless she carry her impudence
into another channel, and, by these preparations, mean seriously to
engage upon the theatre ; otherwise one should think that she was
preparing to enter the lists Avith the naked harlots in the feasts of
Flora.
251. An helmeted ii-oman.] Who can so far depart from the de-
cency and modesty of her sex as to wear an helmet.
252. Feats of strength.] Masculine exercises.
253. Hoir little is our pleasure.] In intrigues, comparatively with
that of the women therefore, though such women desert their sex,
yet they would not change it.
254. What a fine shew of things, $c.] Decus rerum how cre-
ditable what an honour to her husband and family, to have a sale
of the wife's military accoutrements, and the whole inventory to con-
sist of nothing but warlike attire !
255. Her belt.] Balteus signifies the sword-belt worn by -soldiers
and prize-fighters.
Her gattntiets.] A sort of armed glove to defend the hand.
CYeste.J The crests which were worn On the helmets, made
of tufts of horse-hair, or plumes of feathers.
The half covering, <Sfc.] The buskin, with which the lower
part of the left leg was covered, as most exposed ; as in those days
the combatants put forth the left leg when they engaged an enemy,
and therefore armed it half-way with a stout buskin to ward off the
blows to which it was liable the upper part was covered by the
shield. So Farnaby, and Jo. Britannicus. But this seems contrary
to what VIBCJL says, .'En. vii. 1. 689, 90, of the Hernicians :
Vestigia nuda sinistri
InstituOre pedis ; crudus tegit altera pero.
256. If .4e uv'H stir up, #c.] If, instead of the exercises above
224 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vr.
Praelia, tu felix, ocreas vendente puellsL
Hae sunt, quae tenui sudant in cyclade, quarum
Delicias et panniculus bombyciims urit.
Aspice, quo fremitu monstratos perferat ictus, 260
Et quanto galeae curvetur pondere ; quanta
Poplitibus sedeat : quam denso faseia libro ;
Et ride, scaphium positis cum sumitur armis.
Dicite vos neptes Lepidi, caecive Metelli,
Gurgitis aut Fabii, quae ludia sumpserit unquam 265
Hos habitus ? quando ad palum gemat uxor Asylli ?
Semper habet lites, alternaque jurgia lectus,
described, she chooses other kinds of engagements, as those of the
Retiarii or Mirmillones, who wore a sort of boots on their legs, it
would, in such a case, make you very happy to see your wife's boots
set to sale.
257. These are the women, 8fc.~\ He here satirizes the women, as
complaining under the pressure of their light women's attire, and yet,
when loaded with military arms, were very contented. In short,
when they were doing wrong, nothing was too hard for them ; but
when they were doing right, every thing was a burden. See before,
L 94. 102.
259. Burns.'] Juvenal, in the preceding line, says that they sweat
in a thin mantle, cyclade (made perhaps of light linen) but here,
that they complain they are quite on fire if they have a little silk on.
Delicias means, lit. delights by which we may understand their
persons, in which they delighted, and which were also the delights of
men q. d. their charms.
260. With what a noise.'] By this it should seem probable, that
the custom of making their thrusts at the adversary, with a smart
stamp of the foot, and a loud " Hah" was usual, as among us.
These seem alluded to here, as instances of the indelicacy of these
female fencers.
She can convey.~] Perfero signifies to carry, or convey to
a designed person or place hence, perferre ictus may be a technical
expression for a fencer's making his thrust, by which he conveys the
hit or stroke to his adversary.
The shewn hits.'] Monstratos ictus i. e. the artificial hits
which have been shewn her by the fencing-master who taught her.
261. How great.'] How firmly how dexterously with what an
air.
262. On her Jtams."] She squats upon her hams, to avoid the
blow which is made at her.
Her swathe, <Sfc.] Fascia signifies a swathe, band, or roller,
which the men used on their thighs and legs, instead of breeches,
AINSW. Such, on these occasions, were worn by these women.
A fold.~\ Libro quasi volumine. They could complain
when dressed like women, though in the thinnest attire ; but when
they engaged in these indecent and improper exercises, nothing was
thought cumbersome.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 225
Happy you, your wench selling her boots.
These are the women who sweat in a thin gown, whose
Delicate bodies even a little piece of silk burns.
Behold, with what a noise she can convey the shewn hits, 260
And with what a weight of helmet she can be bent; how great
She can sit on her hams : her swathe with how thick a fold :
And laugh, when, her arms laid down, a female head-dress is taken.
Say, ye grand-daughters of Lepidus, or of blind Metellus,
Or Fabius Giirges, what actress ever took 265
These habits ? when would the wife of Asyllus groan at a post ?
The bed has always strifes, and alternate quarrels,
2ft 3. Female head-dress.~\ Scaphium. From this seems derived
the Fr. escossion, which Boyer explains by coiffure de tete pour
ds femmes hence, perhaps, Engl. coif. See AINSW. Scaphium
and Marshal in loc.
Is taken.] Surnitur. i.e. When the lady puts off her heavy
helmet, (1.261.) and takes, i.e. puts on, her coif, or female head?
dress, thus changing from the appearance of a fierce gladiator to
that of a delicate female, the sight must be highly ridiculous; ride,
laugh q. d. aspice et ride. Comp. 1. 2GO.
26 1. Ye grand-daughters of Lepidus.'] The poet here intimates
how much worse the women were grown, since the days of the great
men here mentioned, who brought up their daughters to imitate
their own severe and grave manners; not to expose themselves, like
the women in more modern times; and, doubtless, it may be sup?
posed, that the daughters of these respectable persons brought up
theirs as they had been educated themselves.
By Lepidus is here meant ^Em. Lepidus, who was chosen by
the censors chief of the senate he was twice consul, pout, maxi-?
inus, and colleague with Ful vius Flaccus, as censor.
Blind lMelellus.~\ Who, when the temple of Vesta was on
fire, lost his eyes in saving the palladium from the flames. See
sat. iii. I. 139, and note.
265. Fabius Gwges.~] The son of Q. Fabius the censor ; he fined
some matrons for the crime of adultery, and with the money built
a temple to Venus. He was very extravagant when young, and his
expenses almost swallowed up his fortune hence he was named
G urges; but he afterwards grew sober, frugal, and an example of
virtue.
What actress, fyc.~\ Ever had so much impudence as to ha-
bit and exercise herself in the manner these matrons do ? Seel. 104,
and note.
2G6. The wife of 4sif!lus,~\ Asyllus was a famous gladiator and,
prize-fighter; but when did his wile ever behave as these ladies do,
fencing at a post, habited like men, and pushing at the mark with
the same noise as the men make ?
267. The bed, <$fc.'] Here the poet touches on what we call a
curtain-lecture.
VOL. i. H H
2 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. vi.
In quo mipta jacet: minimum dormitur in illo.
Tune gravis ilia viro, turic orba tigride pejor.
Cum simulat gemitus occulti conscia facti, 270
Aut odit pueros, aut ficta pellice plorat
Uberibus semper lachrymis, aemperque paratis
In statione sua, atque expectantibua illam,
Quojubeat manare modo: tu credis amorem;
Tu tibi tune, curruca, places, fletumque labellis 275
Exsorbes ; quae scripta, et quas lecturo tabellas,
Si tibi zelotypae retegantur scrinia mccchae!
Sed jacet in servi complexibus, aut equitis: die,
Die aliquem, sodes Hie, Quintiliane, colorem.
Hieremus: dicipsa: olim convenerat, inauit,
Ut faceres tu quod velles : necnon ego possem
Indulgere mihi: clames licet, et mare coelo
Confundas, ho;no sum. Nihil est audacius illis
Deprensis: iram atque aninios a crimine suimmt.
Unde haec monstra tamen, vel quo de fo.nte requiris ? 285
269. A bereared tigress."] A tigress robbed of her whelps, than
which nothing can be supposed more fierce and terrible. Comp.
Prov. xvii. 12. Hos. xiii. 8.
270. Of an hidden fnct.~\ Some secret adultery of her own in
this case she pretends sonic charge against her husband of the like
kind.
271. Ilcf.es tJie servants. ~\ Pueros pretends to be angry at them
&:, having misbehaved towards her, or perhaps as privy to their mas-
ter's amours.
A mistress being pretended .] Pretends that her husband
keeps some other woman.
273. In their station, (Sfc.] A metaphor taken from the order in
which soldiers stand ready to obey the commands of their officers
eo her tears wait upon her will, and flow as, and when, she pleases.
Wailing for her, Sfq.'] Entirely attending her pleasure-
waiting her direction.
274. You think it love ] That it is all out of pure fondness and
concern for you.
275. Hedge-sparrow ^\ The poor cuckold, Juvenal calls curruca,
or hedge-sparrow, because that bird feeds the young cuckows that
are laid in its nest. So the cuckold must bring up other people's
children.
Suck up the tears.~] Kiss them off her cheeks, and please
yourself with thinking that all this is from her passion for you.
276. What writings, #c.] What a fine discovery of billets-doux
and love-letters would be made, if the cabinet of this strumpet were
to be opened, who all this while is endeavouring to persuade you
that she is jealous of you, and that she grieves as an innocent and
injured woman.
svr. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 227
In which a wife lies: there is little sleep there.
Then she is grievous to her husband, then worse than a bereaved
tigress,
When, conscious of an hidden fact, she feigns groans, 270
Or hates the servants, or, a mistress being pretended, she weeps
With ever fruitful tears, and ahvays ready
In their station, and waiting for her,
In what manner she may command them to flow: you think (it)
love .
You then, O hedge-sparrow, please yourself, and suck up the
tears 275
With your lipe : what writings and what letters would you read
If the desks of the jealous strumpet were opened !
But she lies in the embraces of a slave, or of a knight; " Tell,
" Tell us, I pray, here, Quintilian, some colour."
" We stick fast :^ " say yourself:" " formerly it was agreed/'
says she, 280
" That you should do what you would; and I also might
" Indulge myself: though you should clamour, and confound
" The sea with heaven, I am a woman." Nothing is more bold
Than they are when discovered ; they assume anger and courage
from their crime.
Do you ask whence these monstrous things, or from what
source ? 285
278. She lies in the embraces, $c.~\ Suppose her actually caught
in the very act.
279. Tall us, Quiidilian, some colour.^ O thou great master of
language and oratory, tell us, if you can, some colour of an excuse
for such behaviour. See sat. vii. 155.
280. We stick fast."] Even Quintilian himself is at a loss. " We
" orators (Quintilian is supposed to answer) have nothing to say
" in excuse for such a fact.'
Say yourself.^ Though none other could attempt to excuse
or palliate such actions, yet women have impudence and presence of
mind enough to find some method of answering " So pray, madam,
let us hear what you can say for yourself."
283. I am a woman.'] Homo sum. Homo is a name common
to us both, and so are the frailties of human nature ; hence, having
agreed mutually to do as we liked, you have no right to complain.
Though you should bawl your heart out, and turn the world topsy-
turvy, I can say no more. Comp. sat. ii. 25, and note.
284. Anger .] To resent reproofs.
Courage.'] To defend what they have done.
So that, though, while undiscovered, they may affect a decent
appearance, yet, when once discovered, they keep no measures
with decency, either as to temper or behaviour.
285. Do you ask whence, 4"c.] The poet is now about to trac$
228 JUVENALIS SATIRE. AT . vi.
Prsestabat castas hurnilis fortima Latinos
Quondam, nee vitiis contingi parva sinebat
Tecta labor, somnique breves, et vellere Tusco
. Vexatae, duraeque inanus, ac proximus urbi
Hannibal, et stantes Coiling in turre mariti. 290
Nunc patimur longas pads mala: saevior armis
Luxuria incubuit, viotumque ulcisciturorbem.
Nullum criinen abest, facinusque libidinis, ex quo
Paupertas Romana peril: hinc fluxit ad istos
Et Sybaris colles, hinc et Rhodes, atque Miletos, 295
Atque coronatum, et petulans, madidumque Tamil um.
Prirna peregrines obscaena pecunia mores
Intulit, et turpi fregerunt secula luxu
Divitiae molles. Quid enim Venus ebria curat I
Inguinis et capitis quae sint discrimina, nescit ; 300
Grandia quae mediisjamnoctibus ostrea mordet,
the vice and profligacy of the Roman women to their true source
viz. the banishment of poverty, labour, and industry, and the
introduction of riches, idleness, and luxury. So the prophet Ezt-k.
xvi. 49, concerning the profligacy of the Jewish women.
288. Short of sleep.] Up early and down late, as we say,
The Tuscan Jieece.l The wool which came from Tuscany,
which "was manufactured at Rome by the women.
289. Hannibal vejy near the city, Sfc.~] This great Carthaginian
general marched his army so nigh to Rome, that lie encamped it
within three miles of the city, which obliged the citizens to keep
constant guard.
290. The Colline tower. ~\ One of the gate? of Rome was on an
hill, and therefore called Porta Collina here was probably some
lower or other fortification, which, when an enemy was near, was
garrisoned by the Roman people, some of which were constantly oa
duty. This made them sober and diligent.
292. Halh invaded us.] Incubuit. So Hon. lib. i. od. iii. 1. 30, 1.
Nova sebrium terris incubuit cohor*.
Avenges tfie conquered world.] Luxury, by destroying the
manners of the Romans, plunged them into miseries, which might bit
truly said to revenge the triuir.phs of the Roman anus over the rest
of the world.
293. No crime is absent, 6{c.] The banishment of poverty oc-
casioned also the banishment of that hardiness, plainness, and sim-
plicity of living, for which the ancient Romans were remarkable;
and this was the occasion of their introducing the vices of many of
those countries which they had conquered, till every species of profli-
gacy and lewdness overspread the city. Sat. ix. 131 3. As it fol-
lows
204 5. Hence flowed to these hills, 6fc.~\ i. e. The seven hills of
Rome, on which the city was built hare put for the city itself, or
rather for the people.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. $29
An humble fortune rendered the Latin women chaste
Formerly, nor did labour suffer their small houses
To be touched with vices ; short of sleep, and with the Tuscan
fleece
Their hands chafed and hard, and Hannibal very near the city,
And their husbands standing in the Colline tow"r. 290
Now we suffer the evils of a long peace ; more cruel than arms,
Luxury hath invaded us, and avenges the conquer'd world.
No crime is absent, or foul deed of lust, since
Roman poverty was lost. Hence flow'd to these
Hills, Sybaris, hence Rhodes too, and hence Miletus, 295
And the crowned, and petulant, and drunken Tarentum.
Filthy money foreign manners first
Brought in, and soft riches weakened the ages with
Base luxury. For what does a drunken woman regard ?
She knows not the difference between her top and bottom. 30o
She who eats large oysters at midnights,
295. Sy&ara.] A city of Calabria, so addicted to pleasure and
effeminacy, as to become proverbial.
-- Rhodes Miletus (or Malta).] Were equally famous for
lewdness and debauchery. See sat. iii. 69 71 ; and sat. viii, 1. 113.
290. Tarentum.^ A city of Calabria.
- Crowntd.~\ Alluding to the garlands and chaplets of flowers
which they put on at their feasts.
- Petulant.] The poet here alludes, rro*Tonly to the insolence
with which they refused to restore some goods of the Romans, which
they had seized in their port, but also to their havTng sprinkled urine
on one of the ambassadors which the Romans sent to demand them.
- Drunken.~\ This may either allude to their excessive drink-
ing, for sometimes madidus signifies drunk; or to their wetting or
moistening their hair with costly ointments. See HOR. ode iii. lib. ii.
1. 13, et al. This piece of luxury, Juvenal hpVe seems to insinuate,
was adopted by the Romans from the people of Tarentum, and was
one of the delicacies of the Romans at their feasts and convivial
meetings.
297. Filthy monei].~] Obscena pecunia so called, because of its
defilement of the minds of the people, by inviting them to luxury,
and of the obscene and vile purposes to which it is applied.
298. Soft riches.'] Molles di villa; because the introducers of soft-
ness and effeminacy of all kinds.
299. A drunken woman.] Lit. a drunken Venus q. d. a woman
adding drunkenness to lewdness.
300. She knows not, <Sfc.] Whether she stands on her head or her
heels, as the saying is.
301. Who eats large oysters,^ Which were reckoned incentive?
to lewd practices.
230 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Cum perfusa mero spumant unguenta Falerno,
Cum bibitur concha, cum jam vertigine tectum
Ambulat, et geminis exurgit mensa luceruis,
I nunc, et dubita qua sorbeat aera sauna 305
Tullia ; quid dicat notae Coilacia Maura? ;
Maura Puciicitiae veterem cum praeterit aram.
Noctibus hicponuntlecticas, micturiunt hie;
Effigiemque Deae longis siphonibus implent ;
Inque vices equitarit, ac luna teste moventur : 310
Inde domos abeunt. Tu calcas, luce reversa,
Conjugis urinam, magnos visurus amicos.
Nota Bonse secreta Deae, cum tibia lumbos
Incitat ; et cornu pariter, viuoque feruntur
Attonitae, crinemque rotant, ululantque Priapi 315
Maenades : 6 quantus tune illis mentibus ardor
Concubitus ! quse vox saltante libidine ! quautus
llle rneri veteris per crura madentia torrens 1
Lenonum ancillas posita Laufella corona
Provocat, et tollit pendentis praemia coxa? : 320
302. When ointments mixed, <Sfc.] To such a pitch of luxury were
they grown, that they mixed these ointments with their wine, to give
it a perfume. Seel. 155, and 1.418.
FoamJ] From the fermentation caused by the mixture.
303. Drinks out of a sheli^ The shell in which the perfume was
kept. So concha is sometimes to be understood. See HOR. lib. ii.
ode vii. 1. 223.
Or it may mean, here, some large shell, of which was made (OP
which was used as) a drinking cup : but the first sense seems to agree
best with the preceding line.
304. Walks round, <Sfc.] When a person is drunk, the house,
and every thing in it, seems to turn round.
With aoubit candles.'] The table seems to move upwards,
and each candle appears double.
305. Go woir.j After what you have heard, go and doubt, if you
can, of the truth of what follows.
With what a scoff, &fe.~] With what an impudent scoff she
turns up her nose, in contempt of the goddess, mentioned 1. 307 9.
306. What Coilacia may say, Sfc.'l What a filthy dialogue passes
between the impudent Coilacia and her confidant Maura. These
two, and Tullia above mentioned, were probably well-known strum-
pets in that day.
307. The old altar, <Sfc.] Chastity had an altar, and was long
worshipped as a goddess, but now despised and affronted by the
beastly discourses and actions of these women.
308. Here they put their sedans, #c.] When they went on these
nightly expeditions, they ordered their chairs to be set down here for
the purpose. See sat. i. 1. 32, and note ; and this sat. 1. 91, note.
310. The moon being witness. ~] Diana ; the goddess of chastity, i
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 231
When ointments, mixed with Falernan wine, foam,
When she drinks out of a shell, when now, with a whirl, the house
Walks round, and the table rises up with double candles.
Go now, and doubt with what a scoff Tullia sups up 305
The air; what Collacia may say to her acquaintance Maura,
When Maura passes by the old altar of Chastity.
Here they put down their sedans o' nights, here they stain
And defile the image of the goddess, and each other,
"With their impurities, the moon being witness. 310
Thence they go away home. You tread, when the light returns,
In the urine of your wife, as you go to see your great friends.
The secrets of the good goddess are known, when the pipe the
loins
Incites; and also with the horn, and with wine, the Maenads of
Priapus
Are driven, astonished, and toss their hair and howl. 315
O what unchaste desires in their minds are raised !
What a voice do they utter forth ! how great
A torrent of filthiness flows all about them.
Laufella proposes a prize among the most impudent strumpets,
And, in the impure contention, obtains the victory : 320
heaven was called Phoebe, the moon, the sister of Phasbus, or the sun.
So that this circumstance greatly heightens and aggravates their
crimes, and shews their utter contempt of all modesty and chastity.
312. Of your wife.] This is argumentum ad hominem, to make
Utsidius the less eager to marry.
To see your great friends.] People went early in the morn-
ing to the levees of their patrons. See sat. iii. 127 30, and sat. v.
769.
313. The secrets of tJie good goddess.] Secreta the secret rites
z. e. the profanation and abuse of them by these women; these
are now notorious. See before, sat. ii. 1. 86, and note,
313 14. The pipe horn ] These rites were observed with
music and dancing, which, among these adandoned women, served
to excite the horrid lewdness mentioned afterwards. See sat. ii.
1. 90.
314. Maenads of Priapus.] Maenades Priapi. The Maenades
were women sacrificers to Bacchus; called Masnades, from the
Gr. futnottett, to be mad for so they appeared by their gestures
and actions. Thus, these women, from their horrid acts of lewd-
ness, might well be called the Mienadee, or mad votaries of the
obscene Priapus.
fVita wine, <Sfc.] All these circumstances were observable
in the Maenades, in their frantic worship of Bacchus.
316. O what unchaste desires, $c.] This, and the following lines
down to 1. 333, exhibit a scene of lewdness, over which 1 have
drawn the veil of paraphrase, in t! principally of a late
ingenious translator.
232 JUVENALIS SATIR.E. SAT. vi.
Ipsa Medullinae frictum crissantis adorat.
Palmam inter dominas virtus natalibus squat.
Nil tibi per ludum simulabitur, omnia fient
Ad verum, quibus incendi jam frigidus aevo
Laornedomiades, et Nestoris hernia possit, 325
Tune prurigo morae impatiens : tune tcemina simplex;
Et pariter toto repetitus clamor ab antro :
Jam fas est, adrnitte viros : jam dormit adulter ?
Ilia jubet sumptojuvenem properare cucullo:
Si nihil est, servis incurritur: abstuleris spem 330
Servorum, veniet conduct us aquari us: hie si
Quaeritur, et desunt homines ; mora nulla per ipsam,
Quo minus imposito clunem submittat asello.
Atque utinam ritus veteres, et publica saltern
His intacta malis agerentur sacra : sed omnes 335
Noverunt Mauri, atque Indi, quee psaltria penem
Majorem, quam sint duo Caesaris Anticatones,
Illuc, testiculi sibi conscius unde fugit mus,
Intulerit; ubi velari pictura jubetur,
Quaecunque alterius sex us imitata figurara est. 340
Et quis tune hominum contemptor auminis? aut quis
Sympuvium ridere Numae, nigrumque catinum,
Et Vaticano fragiles de monte patellas
Ausus erat? sed mine ad quas non Clodius aras?
325. Priam.! The last king of Troy ; he lived to a great age,
and was slain by Pyrrhus at the siege of that city. Priam vyas
the son of Laomedon ; hence he is called Laomedpntiades.
Nestor J] King of Pylos; he is said to have lived three
a^es, and to have had an hernia, or rupture.
327. The den.] Antrum is a den, or cave, or privy lurking-
place. Such, no doubt, was chosen by these abandoned women
to meet in.
329. Hoot/.] 1. 118, note, to disguise him.
336. What singing wench, eye.] 'This, as plainly appears from
what follows, alludes to P. Clodius, who, under the disguise of
a singing-girl, in order to get at Pompeia, Caesar's wife, went into
the house of Caesar, where the women were celebrating the rites of
the Bona Dea. See a full account of this, A>"T. Univ. Hist. vol.
xiii. p. 145 7, and note 6.
The Moors and Indians."] The inhabitants of the western
and eastern parts of the world q. d. This transaction of Clodius
was public enough to be known all the world over.
337. Anticctos of C<esar.~\ J. Caesar, to reflect on the memory
of Cato Major, wrote two books, which he called Anti-Catos ; and
when they were rolled up in the form of a cylinder, as all books
then were, they made a considerable bulk.
341. Who of men teas tfien, Sfc.~] While the rites of the Bona Dea
SAT. vt. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 233
She is all in rapture when Medullina acts her part.
The more vile, the more honour they obtain.
Nothing is feigned, all things are done
To the truth, by which might be fired, now cold with age,
Priam, and the hernia of Nestor. 326
Then their situation makes them impatient: then the woman is un-
disguised,
And a clamour is repeated together thro' all the den :
" Now 'tis right, admit the men : is the adulterer asleep already]"
She bids a youth hasten, with an assumed hood:
If there be none, she rushes on slaves : if you take away the
hope 330
Of having slaves, let an hired water-bearer come: if he
Be sought, and men are wanting, there's no delay thro' her,
That she cannot prostitute herself to an ass.
I could wish the ancient rites, and the public worship,
Might at least be observed untouched by these evils : but all 335
The Moors, and Indians, know what singing wench brought
A stock of impudence, more full than the two Anticatos of Ca?sar,
Thither, from whence a mouse flieth, conscious that he is a male;
\Vhere every picture is commanded to be cover'd,
Which imitates the figure of the other sex. 340
And who of men was then a despiser of the deity? or who
Dared to deride the wooden bowl of Numa, and the black dish,
And the brittle ware from the Vatican mount?
But now at what altars is there not a Clodius ?
were observed with such decency and purity as are hinted at in the
preceding lines, where was there a man to be found hardy enough
to act in contempt of the godde.ss?
342. The iconden bowl of A 'uma .1 Numa was the second king of
the Romans ; he instituted many religious orders, and among the
rest that of the vestals, who were the appointed priestesses of the
Bona Dea : these were obliged, by vow, to chastity, which, if they
violated, they were buried alive. The sympuviutn was a wooden,
or, according to some, an earthen bowl, used in their sacrifices by
the institution of Numa. See an account of the vestals, KENNETT,
Ant. book ii. part ii. chap. 6.
The black dish. \ Some other of the sacrificial implements.
3 13. From the Vatican mount. ~\ Vessels made from the clay of
this hill, which were also used in the sacrifices, and held formerly in
the highest veneration.
344. At what altars, <$fc.] However these rites were venerated in
times past, so that no man, but the debauched and impudent Clo-
dius, would have violated them by his presence, yet, so depraved are
mankind grown, just such as he was are now every day to be found,
and who shew their impieties at every altar,
VOL. I. I t
234 JUVENALIS SATIRE. MT . Tl .
Audio quid vcteres oh'm moneatis amici : 345
Poue seram, cohibe. Sed quis custodiet ipsos
Custodes ? cauta est, et ab illis ineipit uxor.
Jamque eadem su minis pariter mmimisque libido ;
Nee melior, silicem pedibus quae content atrum,
Quam quae longoru-m vehitur cervice Syrorunu 330
Ut spectet ludos, conducit Ogulnia vesten^
Conducit comites, sellam, cervical, arnicas,
Nutricem, et flavam, cui det mandata, puellam.
Haec tainen, argentr superest quodcunque paterniy
Laevibus athletis, ac vasa novissima donat. 3 36
Multis res angusta domi est : sed nulla pudorerrt
Paupertatis habet ; nee se metitur ad ilium,
Quern dedit hasc, posuitque modum. Tamen utile quid sit,
Prospiciunt aliquando viri ; frigusque, famemque,
345. I hear, $"c.] q. d. I know what the friends of a man that
had such a wife would have advised in old times, when they might,
perhaps, have found somebody that they might have trusted ; they
would have said " Lock her up confine her don't let her go
" abroad set somebody to watch, appoint a keeper to guard her."
I answer, this might have succeeded theii, but, in our more modern
times, who will ensure the fidelity of the people that are to guard
her? Now all are bad alike therefore, whom shall we find to
watch the keepers themselves ?
347. Is sly, c^c.] And will watch her opportunity to tamper -with
the very people you set ta watch her; she will bribe them over to
her designs these she will begin with first,
348. And now.~\ Now-a-days all are corrupt alike, from the
highest to the lowest of them.
349. Wears out the black flint, <Sfc.} Who tramps the streets on
foot.
350. Who is earned, fc.~] In her chair on the shoulders of two
Syrian slaves, the tallest and stoutest of which were always selected
for this purpose. Cervix signifies the hinder part of the neck, and
sometimes the shoulders. AINSW. This is the most natural in-
terpretation of the ward in this place. See sat. i. 64; sat iii. 240,
and note.
351. May seeptayx.] May go to the public theatres.
Hires a garment.] Something finvr than she has of her
own.
352. Attendants.] Waiting-women to attend her.
A chair.] Sellam. This may mean a seat at the theatre,
as well as a chair to be carried thither.
A pillow.] Or cushion to lean upon, like other fine ladies.
. Female friends.] Who may appear as hdr clients and depen-
dents.
353. A nurse.] The rich and noble had always, among their fe-
male servants, a woman whose business it was to look after their
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 235
I hear what ancient friends would formerly advise. 345
Put a lock restrain her. But who will keep her very
Keepers ? your wife is sly, and begins from these.
And, now-a days, there is the same lust in the highest and iu th
lowest
Nor is she better who wears out the black flint with her foot,
Than she who is carried on the shoulders of tall Syrians. 350
That she may see plays, Ogulnia hires a garment,
She hires attendants, a chair, a pillow, female friends,
A nurse, and a yellow-haired girl to whom she may give her com-
mands.
Yet she, whatever remains of her paternal money,
And her last plate, gives to smooth wrestlers. 355
Many are in narrow circumstances : but none has the shame
Of poverty, nor measures herself at that measure
Which this has given, and laid down. Yet what may be useful
Sometimes mea foresee ; and cold and hunger, at length
children. Ogulaia, to exhibit this piece of expense, had such a on*
in her suite when she -went into public, and was foolish enough to
hire some woman for the purpose.
353. A yellow-haired girlJ] Shining yellow hair was reckoned a
great beauty, insomuch that flava puella is equal to pulchra puella.
JSo HOR. lib. ii. ode iv. 1. 14.
Phyllidis flavx decorent parentes.
And again, lib. iii. odeix. 1. 19.
Si flara excutitur Chloe.
To idiom sJie may give her commands.'] As to her confi-
dante, imparting some message, perhaps, to her gallant.
355. Givts to smooth wrestlers.] The end of all is, that,
after her vanity and folly are gratified, by an expensive appearance
which she CMI t afford, she spends the very last shilling to gratify
her passion for young and handsome wrestlers. By the epithet
Iseves, smooth we may understand that the wrestlers, in order to
engage the affections of the women by their appearance, plucked
off' the hairs of their beards to make their faces smooth, and to give
them an appearance of youth. It was the fashion for the ladies to
lie very fond of performers on the stage, such as actors, wrestlers,
&c. See the story of Ilippia, in this satire, 1. 82 113.
356. None, has the siiame, <$'c.l No woman dreads the disgrace
of reducing herself to poverty by her extravagance, or is possessed
wf that modest frugality which should attend narrow circumstances.
357. Measures herself, <!yc,] Metaph. from ascertaining the quan-
tity of things by measure.
358. Which this has given, Sfc.~\ However poor a woman may
be, yet she never thinks of proportioning her expenses to her cir-
cumstances, by measuring what she can spend by what she has.
236 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. TI.
Formica tandem quidam expavere mngistra. 360
Prodiga non sentit pereuntem foemina censum :
At velut exhausta redivivus pullulet area
Nummus, et e pleno semper tollatur acervo,
Non unquam reputat, quanti sibi gaudia constent.
Sunt quas eunuchi imbelles, ac mollia semper 365
Oscula delectent, et desperatio barbae,
Et quod abortivo non est opus. Ilia voluptas
Suinina tamen, quod jam calida matura juventa
Inguina traduntur medicis, jam pectine nigro.
Ergo expectatos, ac jussos crescere primum 370
Testiculos, postquam coeperunt esse bilibres,
Tonsoris damno tantum rapit Heliodorus.
Conspicuus longe, cunctisque notabilis ic.trat
Balnea, nee dr.bie custodem vitis et horti
Provocat, a domina factus spado : dqrmiat ille 3T5
Cum domina : sed tu jam durum, Posthume, jamque
Tondendum eunucho Bromium committere noli.
Si gaudet cantu, nullius fibula durat
Vocem veudentis Praetoribus. Organa semper
In manibus : densi radiant testudine tola 380
Sardonychas : crispo numerantur pectine chordae,
Quo tener Hedymeles operam dedit : hunc tenet, hoc se
360. Taught it by the ant."] Which is said to provide, and to lay
up in summer, against the hunger and cold of the winter. See HOR.
sat. i. lib. i. 1. 33 8.
365. There are some.~\ The poet, here, is inveighing against the
abominable lewduess of the women, in their love for eunuchs
but, for decency's sake, let us not enter into the paragraph above,
translated, any farther than the translation, or rather paraphrase, in
which it is kft, must necessarily lead us.
375. Keeper of the vints and gardens.^ i. e. Priapus.
378. Nn public performer, #c.j, Literally the button of non?
selling his voice to the praetors. The praetors gave entertainments to
the people at their own expense, and, among others, concerts of'
music ; the vocal parts of which were performed by youths, who
hired themselves out on these occasions, and who, to preserve their
voices, had clasps or rings put through the j--epuce, in order to pre-
vent their intercourse with women, which was reckoned injurious to
their voice these rings were called fibulas but the musical ladies
were so fond of these people, that they made them sing so much as
to hurt their voices, insomuch that they received no benefit from the
use of the fibulae.
We read supr. 1. 73. of some lewd women who loosed this but-
ton, or ring, from the singers, for another purpose, for which they
were at great expense. Seel. 73, and not:-.
379. The musifid instruments, #c.] Orraoum seems a general
SAT VI.
JUVENAL'S SATIRES.
Some have fear'd; being taught it by the ant. 360
A prodigal woman does not perceive a perishing income:
But, as if money reviving would increase in the exhausted chest,
And would always be taken from a full heap,
She never considers how much her pleasures cost her.
There are some weak eunuchs, and their soft kisses 365
Will always delight, and the despair of a beard,
Also that there is no need of an abortive. But that
Pleasure is the chief, that adults, now in warm youth,
Are deliver 'd to the surgeons, now bearing signs of puberty.
Heliodorus, the surgeon, performs the operation 870
When all is full grown, all but the beard,
Which is the "barber's loss only.
Afar off conspicuous, and observable by all, he enters
The baths, nor does this eunuch, made so by his mistress,
Doubtfully vie with the keeper oi: the vines and gardens : 375
Let him sleep with his mistress : but do you, Posthumus,
Take care how you put your boy Bromius in his power.
If she delights in singing : no public performer
Can keep himself safe. The musical instruments are always
In her hands : thick, on the whole lute, sparkle 380
Sardonyxes : the chords are run over in order with the trembling
quill,
With which the tender Hedymeles perform'd : this she keeps,
name for musical instruments. 7. d. If she be a performer herself,
she observes no moderation ; she does nothing else but play from
morning till night.
381. The i>ardonyxes.~\ The sardonyx is a precious stone, partly
the colour of a man's nail, and partly of a cornelian-colour. By
this passage it set;ns that these ladies were so extravagant, as to or-
nament their musical instruments with costly stones and jewels.
Ovid describes Apollo's lyre as adorned with gems and ivory. Met.
lib. ii. 1. 167.
The trembling quill.'] They struck the strings sometimes
v-'ith the fingers, sometimes with a piece of ivory made in form of a
quill, which was called pecten. So VIRU. JEa. vi. 1. 646, 7.
Obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum,
Jamque eadem digitis, jam pectine pulsut eburuo.
Crispus here may, like crispans. signify quivering, trembling, from
its effect upon the strings, to which it gives, and from them, in 3.
measure, receives, a vibratory motion.
38'2. Hedymeles.] Some famous harper, who was called so from
Gr. i5yj, sweet, and ttjAc?, a song. The pecten, or quill, that ho
made use of, was very highly valued, no doubt, by these fantastical
women.
Perform' d.] Operam dcdit made use of in playing.
238 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. rt.
Solalur, gratoque indulget basia plectro.
Quaedam de numero Lamiarum, ac nominis alti,
Cum farre et vino Janum, Vestamque rogabat, 385
An Capitolinam deberet Pollio quercum
Sperare, et fidibus promittere. Quid faceret plus
^grotante viro ? medicis quid tristibus erga
Filiolum ? stetit ante aram, nee turpe putavit
Pro cithara velare caput ; dictataque verba 390
Portulit, (ut mos est,) et aperta palluit agna.
Die mihi nunc, quaeso, die, antiquissime Divum.
Kespondes his, Jane pater? magna otia coeli :
Non est, (ut video,) non est, quid agatur apud V03.
Haec de comoedis te consulit : ilia tragoedum 395
Commendare volet ; varicosus fiet haruspex.
Sed cantet potius, quam totam pervolet urbem
Audax, et coetus possit quam ferre virorum ;
Cumque paludatis ducibus, praesente marito,
Ipsa loqui recti facie, strictisque maraillis, 400
383. The grateful quill.~\ Grato here signifies acceptable agree-
able. See sat iii. 1. 4. Plectro, plectrum, as well as pecten, sig-
nifies the quill, or other thing with which the strings were stricken,
(from Gr. 7r*r,<r<r*>, to strike.) The poet is setting forth the folly and
absurdity of these musical ladies, who preserved as sacred relics, and
consoled themselves in the possession of, and even bestowed kisses
on, any instruments that had belonged to some admired and favourite
performer.
384. Of the ninnber.~] i. e. Of the Lamian name or family.
O/ the Lfl?nne.J A noble family whose origin was from La-
mus, the king, ^d founder of the city of Formiae, in Campania.
385. With meal and urine J\ The usual offering.
Jnnus and Vesta.~\ The most ancient and first deities of the
Romans.
386. Pollio.'] Some favourite and eminent musician.
The Capitolinian oa/c.] Domitian instituted sports in honour
of Jupiter Capitolinus, which were celebrated every fifth year ; he
that came off conqueror was rewarded with an oaken crown.
387. Promise it to his instrument.] i. e. That he should so per-
form, as to excel all his competitors.
. Instrument.] Fidibus Fides signifies any stringed instru-
ment hence our word fiddle.
388. The physicians being sad.] Shaking their heads, and giving
over their patient
389. Her so;?.] Filiolum her little only son.
300. To veil her head. ~\ As suppliants did.
For a harp.] i. e. An harper. Metonym,
Words dictated.] Some form of prayer prescribed for such
occasions.
o ( Jl. When the lamb v:as opened.'] She trembled and grew pale
SAT. vr. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 239
With this she solaces herself, and indulges kisses to the grateful
quill,
A certain lady, of the number of the Lamiae, and of high name,.
With meal and wine ask'd Janus and Vesta, 385
Whether Pollio ought for the Capitolinian oak
To hope, and promise it to his instrument. What could she do more
If her husband were sick ? what, the physicians being sad, to-
wards
Her little son ? she stood before the altar, nor thought it shameful
To veil her head for a harp : and she uttered words dictated, 390
(As the custom is,) and grew pale when the lamb was opened.
" Tell me now, I pray, tell me, O thou most ancient of gods,
" Father Janus, do you answer these ? the leisure of heaven is
" great ;
" There is not, (as I see,) there is not any thing that is done among
" you.
" This (lady) consults you about comedians : another would re-
" commend 395
" A tragedian : the soothsayer will have swelled legs."
But rather let her sing, than audacious she should fly over the whole
Town, and than she should endure assemblies of men ;
And with captains in military attire, in the presence of her husband,
Converse, with an unembarrassed countenance, and with bar*
breasts. 400
with anxiety for the event ; for, from the appearance and state o
the bowels of the sacrifices, the soothsayers foretold future things.
392. Most ancient of gods.~\ See note above, 1. 385.
393. Do you answer these.] Such requests of such votaries.
The leisure of heaven is great, <Sfc.] The gods must surely
have very little to do if they can attend to such prayers, and to such
subjects as fiddlers and actors. Juvenal here, as in other passages,
ridicules the Roman mythology.
396. The sootlisaijer.] Who is forced to stand so often, and for
so long together, while they are oftering their prayers.
tVill have swelled ugs.1 With standing at the altar. Vari-
cosus signifies having large veins from the swelling of the dropsy
or from standing long the blood settling a good deal in the lower
parts, and swelling the veins of the legs.
397. Audacious.~\ In an impudent, bold manner, like a prostitute.
398. Ajs&nblies of men.'] Suffer herself to be in their company,
and join in free conversation with them.
399. In military attire.] Paludati= having on the paludamen-
tum, which was a general's white or purple robe, in which he inarch-
ed out of Rome on an expedition officers in their regimentals red
coats, as we should say.
400. An unembarrassed countenanced] Recta facie with her
face straight and upright, not turned aside, or held down, at any
thins she saw or heard,
240 JUVENALIS SATIILE. SAT. vi,
Haec eadem novit, quid toto fiat in orbe :
Quid Seres, quid Thraces agant : secreca novercae,
Et pueri : quis amet : quis decipiatur edulter.
Dicet, quis viduam praegnantem fecerit, et quo
Mense ; quibus verbis concumbat quaeque, modis quot. 405
Instantem regi Armenio, Parthoque Conietem
Prima videt : famam, rumoresque ilia recentes
Excipit ad portas ; quosdam facit : isse Niphatem
In populos, magnoque illic cuncta arva teneri
Diluvio: nutare urbes, subsidere terras, 410
Quocunque in trivio, cuicunque est obvia, narrat.
Nee tamen id vitium magis intolerabile, quam quod
Vicinos humiles rapere, et concidere loris
Exorata solet : nam si latratibus alti
Rumpuntur somni ; fustes hue ocyus, inqnit, 415
Afterte, atque illis dominum jubet ante feriri,
Deinde canem : gravis oceursu, teterrima vultu,
Balnea nocte subit : conchas, et castra mover!
Nocte jubet ; magno gaudet sudare tumultu :
Cum lassata gravi ceciderunt brachia massi, 420
401. Bare breasts.^ Strictis literally, drawn out -metaph. from
a sword drawn for an attack.
- Knouc-s what may be doing, fyc.~] The poet now inveighs
against the sex as gossips and tale-bearers, equally dispersing about
public news and private scandal.
402. The Seres.'] The Seres were a people of Scythia, Mho, by
the help of water, got a sort of down from the leaves of trees, and
therewith made a kind of silk.
- Thracians.~] Were a people of the most eastern part of Eu-
rope these Avere enemies to the Romans, but at length subdued by
them.
The see-rets of a step-mother, #c.J Some scandalous story
of an intrigue between a step-mother and her son-in law.
'403. Who may love, <Sfc.] i. e. Be in love. This, and the two
following lines, describe the nature of female tittle-tattle, and scan-
dal, very humourously.
406. Comet threatening, fyc.~] Instantem standing over, as it
were, and threatening, as the vulgar notion was, destruction to the
Armenians and Parthians, who were enemies to the Romans.
407. She first sees.] The poet here ridicules her pretensions to
wisdom and foresight.
- HeportJ] Famam rumour common talk scandal.
408. Ai the doors.'] Where she stands listening to have it all at
first hand.
- She makes.'] Invents out of her own head.
- The Niphates.~\ A river of Armenia.
408 9. Had gone over the people, # c.] Drowned the inhabi-
tants, and overflowed the country.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES.
This same knows what may be doing all the world over :
What the Seres and Thracians may be doing : the secrets of a step-
mother x;
And her boy : who may love : what adulterer may-be-deccfved : *&yS" t
She will tell who made a widow pregnant, and in what
Month ; with what language every woman intrigues, and in how many
ways. 405
The comet threatening the Armenian and Parthian kings
She first sees : report, and recent rumours,
She catches up at the doors ; some she makes : that the Niphates had
gone
Over the people, and that there all the fields were occupied
By a great deluge : that cities totter, and lands sink, 410
She tells in every public street, to whomsoever she meets.
Nor yet is that fault more intolerable, than that
To seize, and slash with whips her humble neighbours,
Entreated she is wont : for if by barkings her sound
Sleep is broken ; Clubs," says she, " hither quickly 415
Bring" and with them commands the master first to be beaten,
Then the dog. Terrible to be met, and most frightful in countenance,
She goes by night to the baths : her conchs and baggage she com-
mands
To be moved by night : she rejoices to sweat with great tumult ;
\Vhen her arms have fallen, tired with the heavy mass, 420
410. Cities totter lands sink.] By earthquakes.
411. Public street,] Trivium signifies a place where three ways
meet a place of common resort.
412. Nor yet is that fault, $c ] The poet here shews the pride,
impatience, and cruelty of these fine ladies, who, because they hap-
pen to be disturbed by the barking of a dog, send out their servants
with whips and clubs, ordering them to beat their poor neighbours
most barbarously, thpugh they entreat forgiveness, and then fall on
the dog.
417. Terrible to be met, &V.] Bearing the signs of anger and cruelty
in her countenance and aspect.
418. By night. ,] At a late and unseasonable hour. See note on
sat. i. 49 ; and on sat. xi. 204'. PERS. sat. iii. 4-
-- Her conchs.] Conchas may signify boxes, or shells, for oint-
ments, which were used at the baths. See before, 1. 303.
- Baggage.] Things of various sorts which were used at the
baths, which the poet humourously calls castra, from their variety and
number like camp equipage. Metaph.
419. To be moved.] To be carried after her. The word moveri
is metaphorical, and alludes to the castra.
420. When her tired arms, fcV.] They that sweated before they
bathed, swung two leader masses, or balls, to promote perspiration.
VOL. I. K K
212 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vt,
Callidtis et cristse digitos impressit aliptes,
Ac summum dominje femur exciamare coe'git,
(Convivas miseri interea somnoque fameque
Urgentur,) tandem ilia venit rubicundnla, totum
CEuophorum sitie?is, plena quod tcnditur urna 425
Admotum pedibus, de quo sextarius alter
Dnciturante cibum, rabidam facturus orexim,
Dum redit, et loto terram ferit intestine.
Marmoribus rivi properant, aut lata Falernum
Pelvis olet : nam sic tanquam aha in dolia longus 439
Deciderit serpens, bibit, et vomit. Ergo minjtus .
Nauseat, atque oculis bilem substringit opertis.
Ilia tamen gravior, quae cum discumbere coepit,
Laudat Virgilium, peritura- jgnoscit Elisae j
Committit vates, et comparat ; inde Maronem, 435
Atque alia parte in trutina suspendit Homerum.
Cedunt graa:matici, vincuntur rhetores, omnis
Turba tacet : nee causidicus, nee prseco loquatur,
Altera nee mulier : verborura tanta cadit vis j
4-21. The anointer.~\ Aliptes so called from aXiiQu, to anoint.
This was some person who attended to anoint the bathers.
423. Her miserable guests, &c.~^ The people who were invited to
tapper at her house were half starved with hunger, and tired almost
to death with expecting her return from the bath, where she staid as
if nobody was wailing for her.
424. Somewhat ruddy.~\ Flushed in the face with her exercise at
the bath, or, perhaps, from a consciousness of vyhat had happened
between her and the aliptes.
425. A 'whole flagon, SsV.J CEnophorum from e*vef, wine, and
Ctga, to bear or carry. This seems to have been a name for any ves-
sel in which they brought wine, and was probably of a large size.
426. Another sextary.] i. e. A second implying that she had
drunk off one before. The sextarius held about a pint and an half.
AINSW.
427- To provoke an eager aftfiet'tte.~\ Orexim from g|<?, an eager
desire, quod ab. agsya^m, appeto to desire earnestly.
It was usual for the Roman epicures to drink a sort of thin and
sharp Falernan wine, (sat xiii. 1.216.) to make them vomit, before
meals, that the stomach, being cleared and empty, might be more
sensibly affected with hunger, and thus the party enabled to eat the
more. See sat. iv. 67. This wine was called tropes, from rgo^ij, ver-
sio.
Bibit ergo tropen, ut vomat. MART. lib. xii. ep. 83.
428. Till it returns.^ Is brought up again.
With her washed inside.] The washing of her stomach.
429. Rivers, &c. J The wine brought up from her stomach gushee
on the marble pavement like a river or she vomits into a bason,
which smells of the wine vomited up from her stomach.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 43
And the sly anointer has played her an unlucky trick,
By taking undue liberties with her person,
( Her miserable guests in the mean time are urged with sleep and hunger,)
At last she comes somewhat ruddy, thirsting aiter
A whole flagon, which, in a full pitcher, is presented, 425
Placed at her feet : of which another sextary
Is drunk up before meat, to provoke an eager appetite,
Till it returns, and strikes the ground with her washed inside.
Rivers hasten on the pavement, or of Falernan the wide
Bason smells : for thus, as if into a deep cask a long 430
Serpent had fallen, she drinks and vomits. Therefore her husband
Turns sick, and restrains his choler with his eyes covered.
Yet she is more irksome, who, when she begins to sit at table,
Praises Virgil, and forgives Elisa about to die :
She matches the poets, and compares them ; then Virgil, 435
And, on the other part, Homer, she suspends in a scale.
The grammarians yield, the rhetoricians are overcome,
All the crowd is silent ; neither lawyer, nor crier, can speak,
Nor any other woman : there falls so great a force of words :
430 1. As if a long serpent, &c.~] PLINY, lib. x. c. 72. testi-
fies that serpents are very greedy of wine. His words are Serpen-
tes, cum occasio est, vinurn prascipue appetunt, cum alioque exiguo
indigcant potu. But this one should suppose a mere notion, a sort of
vulgar error, which, probably, Juvenal means to laugh at.
432. Restrains his choler. ~^ The husband, finding himself grow sick
at the sight, hides his eyes, that he may not any longer behold what
he finds likely to raise his choler, and resentment, which he dares not
vent. Or perhaps by bilem substringet, we may understand that
he keeps himself from vomiting up the bile from his stomach, by no
longer beholding his wife in so filthy a situation, and therefore puts
his hands before his eyes to cover them.
433. Tet she is more irksome.'] The poet now inveighs against such
of the sex as were pretenders to learning and criticism, and who af-
fected wisdom and eloquence.
4,34. Forgives Elisa, &c.'] Finds excuses, and endeavours to justify
queen Dido, &c. (called also Elisa, ./En. iv. 1. 335.) when she waa
going to destroy herself for love.
435. Mate lies. ,] See sat. i. 163, note.
436. She suspends Homer, &c.~] Runs a parallel between Homel-
and Virgil, and weighs in her opinion, as in a balance, their several
merits.
439. So great a force of words, &V-] The poet humourously re-
presents orators and grammarians as quite outdone by this learned
lady ; and that her vociferation is such, that neither a common crier,
nor a bawling lawyer, nor the company (turba) that surrounds her,
can have an opportunity to put in a syllable such a torrent of
words comes from her, that it bears down all bcfgre it.
244 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Tot pariter pelves, tot tintinnabula dicas 410
Puhari. Jam nemo tubas, nemo aera fatiget,
Una laboranti poterit succurrere Lunae.
Imponit finem sapiens et rebus honestis.
Nam quae docta nimis cupit et facunda videri,
Crure tenus medio tunicas succingere debet, 445
Caedere Sylvano porcum, quadrante lavari.
Non habeat matrona, tibi quas juncta recumbit,
Dicendi genus, aut curtum sermone rotato
Torqueat entbymema, nee historias sciat omnes :
Sed qusedam ex libris, et non intelligat. Odr 450
Hanc ego, qua repent, volvitque Palaimonis artem,.
Servata semper lege et ratione loquendi,
Ignotosque mihi tenet antiquaria versus,
Nee curanda viris Opica ca-stigat arnica:
Verba. Solcecismum liceat fecisse maritcv 455
44L Weary trumpets, &c.~\ When the moon was eclipsed,, the
Romans superstitiously thought that she was under some charms or
incantations, against which nothfng could prevail but the sound of
brass, from trumpets, basons, kettles, &c.
443. Imposes the end, &c,~\ Draws the line, as it were, nicely dis-
tinguishing, after the manner of the philosophers, on the subject
of ethics, defining the honestura, the utile, the pulchrum, and where-
each begins and ends.
445. To bind her coatt np, <:. J A lady who affects so reuch learn-
ing, should r doubtless, imitate the philosophers, as well in dress as in dis-
course, thatvshe may completely resemble them. The Peripatetic phi-
losophers wore a coat which came no lower than the mid-leg.
446. An hog of Sylvanus.] As the philosophers sought groves and
retired places, in order to have more leisure for study and contemplati-
on, they sacrificed an hog to Sylvanus, the god of the woods.
Women were not to be present at the solemnity. The poet hu,
mourously tells these philosophical ladies, that they ought undoubt-
edly to have the privilege of sacrificing, as they ranked with philo-
sophers.
To wash for a farthing.] The usual small fee which the poor
philosophers paid for bathing.
44-7. Let not the matron.^ 'The poet now satirizes another sort of
learned ladies, who affect to be skilled in logic and grammar, insomuch
that they are for ever finding fault with every little irregularity of
speech in others.
448. A method of haranguing.^ Genus dicendi a particular kind
of argumentation i. e- the art of logic.
' Ttuist t SsV.J Wind her argument into the small compass of
an enthymeme. Rotato ;'. <?. artfully turned.
44-9. Tlie thort enthymemz.~\ A short kind of syllogism, consist-
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 2*5
You would say, that so many basons, so many bells were struck 44Q
Together. Now let nobody weary trumpets, or brass kettles,
She alone could succour the labouring moon.
She, a wise woman, imposes the end to things honest.
Now she who desires to seem too learned and eloquent,
Ought to bind her coats up to the middle of her leg, 44-5
And slay an hog for Sylvanus, and wash for a farthing.
Let not the matron, that joined to you lies by you, have
A method of haranguing, nor let her twist, with turned discourse,
The short enthymeme, nor let her know all histories :
But some things from books, and not understand them. I hate 450
Her who repeats, and turns over, the art of Palsemon,
The law and manner of speaking being always preserved,
And, an antiquarian, holds forth to me unknown verses,
And corrects the words of her clownish friend
Not to be noticed by men. Let it be allowable for her husband to
have made a solecism. 455
ing only of two propositions, a third being retained in the mind
tv S-jpa, whence the name.
419. Know all histories.'] Aim or pretend to be a perfect historian.
450. Some things from looks.] q. d. I allow her to have some taste
for books, and to know a little about them.
Not understand them."] /'. e. Enter too deeply into them.-
She should not understand too much.
451. The art o c Pal&mon.~\ He was a conceited grammarian, who
said that learning would live and die with him.
452. The law and manner of speaking, &c.~\ The poet means to
say, that he hates a woman who is always conning and turning over
her grammar-rules, like a pedant, and placing her words exactly in
mood and tense.
453. An antiquarian, CSV."] One who is studious of obsolete words
and phrases, and so quoting old-fashioned verses, that nobody knows
any thing of.
454. Her clownish friend.] Opicus signifies rude, barbarous,
clownish it is derived from the most ancient people of Italy, who
were called Opici, from ops, the earth, from which they were said to
spring. See sat. iii. 1. 207.
This learned lady is supposed to be so precise, as to chastise her
neighbours, if they did not converse in the most elegant modern
manner, and to find fault with any words which looked like barba-
risms, such as men would not observe.
455. To have made a solecism. ] So called from the people of Solos
or Sola, a city of Cilicia, who were famous for incongruity of speech
against grammar.
Let her not quarrel with her husband for speaking a little false Latin.
246 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Nil non permittit mulier sibi ; turpe putat nil,
Cum virides gemmas collo circumdedit, et cum
Auribus extensis magnos commisit elenchos.
Intolerabilius nihil est quam foemina dives.
Interea foeda aspectu, ridendaque multo 460
Pane tumet facies, aut pinguia Poppasana
Spiral, et hinc miseri viscantur labra mariti;
Ad mcechum veniet lota cute : quando videri
Vult Formosa domi ? moechis foliata parantur ;
His emitur, quicquid graciles hue mittitis Indi. 465
Tandem aperit vultum, et tectoria prima reponit :
Incipit agnosci, atque illo lacte fovetur,
Propter quod secum comites educit asellas,
Exul Hyperboreum si dimittatur ad axem.
Sed qux mutatis inducitur, atque fovetur 479
Tot medicaminibus, coctsque siliginis offas
Accipit, et madidae ; facies dicetur, an ulcus ?
Est opene pretium penitus cognoscere toto
The Soli were a people of Attica, who, being transplanted to Ci-
licia, lost the purity of their ancient tongue, and became ridiculous to
the Athenians for their improprieties therein. CHAMBERS.
457. Placed green gems. ,] Put on an emerald necklace.
458. Committed, &c.~] Has put ear-rings, made of large oblong
pearls, in her ears, which are stretched and extended downwards with
the weight of them. See AINSW. Elenchus, No 2.
459. Nothing is more intolerable, csV.J The poet is here satirizing
the pride, in dress, and behaviour, of wives who have brought their
husbands large fortunes ; which by the laws of Rome, they having
a power of devising away by will to whom they pleased, made them
insufferably insolent. See 1. 139,40.
461. S'wells 'with much fiaste.] Appears beyond its natural big-
ness, by a quantity of paste stuck upon it, by way of preserving or
improving her complexion. See sat. ii. 1. 107.
Fat Pofip<an.~\ Poppsea, the wife of Nero, invented a sort of
pomatum to preserve her beauty, which invention bore her name.
462. Are glued together J\ On kissing her owing to the viscous
quality of the pomatum with which she had daubed her face.
463. To an adulterer, &C.] She will wash her face when she is to
meet her gallant.
464. Handsome at home.'] When will she take half these pains to
appear handsome in the eyes of her husband ?
Perfumes."^ Foliatum was a precious ointment made of spike-
nard. Comp. Mark xiv. 3. John xii. 3. Called in Gr. vayiov ; nar-
dus, Lat. The using of this ointment was very expensive.
465. The slender Indians.] Thin and lean, from the continual
waste of their bodies by the heat of the climate. From India were
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 247
There is nothing a woman does not allow herself in ; she thinks no.
thing base,
When she has placed green gems round her neck, and when
She has committed large pearls to her extended ears :
Nothing is more intolerable than a rich woman.
Mean while, filthy to behold, and to be laugh'd at, her face 460
Swells with much paste, or breathes fat Poppxan,
And hence the lips of her miserable husband are glued together.
To an adulterer she will cojiie with a wash'd skin : when is she
Willing to seem handsome at home ? perfumes are prepared for her
Gallants : for these is bought whatever the slender Indians send
hither. 4-65
At length she opens her countenance, and lays by her first coverings :
She begins to be known, and is cherish'd with that milk,
On account of which she leads forth with her she-asses her attendants,
If an exile she be sent to the Hyperborean axis.
But that which is cover'd over, and cherish'd with so many changed 470
Medicaments, and receives cakes of baked and wet flour,
Shall it be called a face, or an ulcer ?
It is worth while, to know exactly, for a whole
imported various sweet essences and perfumes, as well as the nard,
which the ladies made use of. See Esther h. 12.
466. She opens her countenance, &c.~] Takes off the paste, (seel.
4-61, note,) and washes off the other materials, only smoothing her
skin with asses' milk.
Her first coverings.'] The plaster or paste.
467. She begins to be known. ,] To look like herself.
With that milk, &c.] The poet alludes here to Poppaea, the
wife of Nero, above mentioned, (1.461.) who, when she was banished
from Rome, had fifty she-asses along with her, for their milk to wash
in, and to mix up her paste with.
439. Hyp rborean axis.'] The northern pole, (from v-a-t^ supra, and
/3pjj, the north) because from thence the north wind was supposed
to come.
470 1. Changed medicaments.'] Such a variety of cosmetics, or
medicines for the complexion, which are for ever changing with the
fashions or humours of the ladies.
471. Baled ami wet Jlottr.~] Siliginis. Siligo signifies a kind of
grain, the flour of which is winter than that of wheat ; this they
made a kind of poultice or paste of, by wetting it with asses' milk,
and then applying it like a moist cake to the face. Offa denotes a
pudding, or such like, or paste made with pulse. Also a cake, or
any like composition.
472. A face, or an nicer, ~] Because the look of it, when these
cakes or poultices are upon it, is so like that of a sore, which is
treated with poultices of bread and milk, in order to assuage and
cleanse it, that it may as well be taken for the one as the other.
248 JUVENALTS SATIRE. SAT. vr.
Quid faciant, agitentque die. Si nocte maritus
Aversus jacuit, periit libraria, ponunt 4,75
Cosmetae tunicas, tarde venisse Liburnus
Dicitur, et poenas ajieni pendere somni
Cogitur : hie frangit ferulas, rubet ille flagello,
Hie scutica : sunt quas tortoribus annua prxstant.
Verberat, atque obiter faciem linit ; audit arnicas, 480
Aut 1'atum pictae vestis considerat aurum ;
Et caedens longi relegit transacta diurni.
Et caedit donee lassis caedentibus, " Exi,"
(Intonet horrendum,) " jam cognitione peracta."
Praefectura domus Sicula non mitior aula : 485
Nam si constituit, solitoque decentius optat
Ornari ; et properat, jamque expectatur in hortis,
Aut apud Isiacoe potius sacraria lenns ;
475. Turned away.] Turns his back towards her, and goes to
sleep. See below, 1. 477.
The housekeeper.] Libraria a weigher of wool or flax, (from
libra, a balance,) a sort of housekeeper, whose office it was to weigh
out and deliver the tasks of wool to the other servants for spinning.
Is undone.] Ruined turned out of doors after being cruelly
lashed .
The tire-tuomen.] Cosmetae, from Gr. xas-^aw, to adorn, were
persons who helped to dress their mistresses, and who had the care of
their ornaments, clothes, &c. something like our valets de chambre,
or lady's women.
476. Strip.] Ponunt tunicas put down their clothes from their
backs to be flogged.
The Liburnan, &c.] One of her slaves, who carried her lit-
ter. These chairmen, as we should call them, were usually from Li-
burnia, and were remarkably tall and stout. See sat. iii. 1. 240.
The lady, in her rage, doesn't spare her own chairmen these she
taxes with coming after their time, and punishes.
477> For another's sleep.] Because her husband turned his back
t o her, and fell asleep. See above, 1. 475.
478. Ferules.] Rods, sticks, or ferules made of a flat piece of
wood, wherewith children and slaves were corrected. One poor
fellow has one of these broken over his shoulders.
Reddens with the whip.] Is whipped till his back is bloody.
479. The thong.] Scutica a terrible instrument of punishment,
made of leathern thongs, though not (according to HOR. Sat. lib. i.
sat. iii. 1 19.) so severe as the flagellum. Horace also mentions the
feu :a (1. 120.) as the mildest of the three.
Tormentors.] Hire people by the year, who, like executioners,
put in execution the cruel orders of their employers.
480. He beatfi &c.] One of these tormentors, hired for this pur-
CAT, vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 249
Day, what they do, and how they employ themselves. IF at night
The husband hath lain turned away, the housekeeper is undone, the
tire-women 4*75
Strip, the Liburnan is said to have come late,
And to be punishM for another's sleep
Is compell'd : one breaks ferules, another reddens with the whip,
Another with the thong : there are some who pay tormentors by the
year.
He beats, and she, by the bye, daubs her face ; listens to her
friends, 480
Or contemplates the broad gold of an embroider'd garment :
And as he beats, she reads over the transactions of a long journal :
And still he beats, till the beaters being tir'd >' Go,"
(She horridly thunders out,) " now the examination is finished*''-^
The government of the house is not milder than a Sicilian court : 485
For if she has made an assignation, and wishes more becomingly than
usual
To be dressed, and is in a hurry, and now waited for in the gardens,
Or rather at the temple of the bawd Isis,
pose, lashes the poor slaves, while madam is employed in her usual
course of adorning her person, or convening with company, or look-
ing at some fine clothes.
482. And as he beats , &c."] The fellow still lays on, while she,
very unconcernedly, looks over the family accounts.
483. He leats-, ^sV.] Still the beating goes forward, till the
beaters are quite tired.
" Go,'' sV.] Then she turns the poor sufferers out of doors,
in the most haughty manner." Be gone, now," says she, " the
" examination is over all accounts are now settled between us."
Cognitio signifies the examination of things, in order to a discovery,
as accounts, and the like.
Cognitio also signifies trial, or hearing of a cause. If we are to
understand the word in this sense, then she may be supposed to say,
in a taunting manner " Be gone you have had your trial the
" cause is over."
485. Than a Sicilian court. ~\ Where the most cruel tyrants presid-
ed ; such as Phalaris, Dionysius, &c. See HoR. lib. i. epist. ii.
1. 58, 9.
486. An assignation-'] Constituit has appointed i. e. to meet a
gallant. See sat. iii. 12, and note.
487. In the gardens ] Of Lucullus a famous place for pleasant
walks, and where assignations were made.
488. At the temple. ~\ Sacraria places where things sacred to the
goddess were kept, which had been transferred from jEgypt to Rome.
The bawd his-"] Or the Isiacan bawd for her temple wan
the scene of all manner of lewdness, and attended constantly by pimps .
bawds, and the like. See sat. ix. 1. 22
VOL. I. L I-
'250 JUVENALIS SATIRE .AT. vi,
Componit crinem laceratis ipsa capillis
Nuda humeros Psecas infelix, nudisque mamillis. 490
Altior hie quare cincinnus ? taurea punit
Continuo flexi crimen, facinusque capilli.
Quid Psecas admisit ? quaenam. est hie culpa puellae,
Si tibi displicuit nasus tuus ? Altera laevum
Extendit, pectitque comas, et volvit in orbem. 495
Est in consilio matrona, admotaque lanis
Emerita. quse cessat acu : sententia prima
Hujus rit ; post hanc aetate, atque arte minores-
Censebunt : tanquam farnz discrimen agatur
A ut anitnae : tanti est qmserendi cura decoris. 50O
Tot premit ordinibus, tot adhue eompagibus altum.
JEdificat caput, Andromachen a fronte videbis ;
Post minor est i aliam credas, Cedo, si breve parvi
489. Unhappy Psecas.] Juvenal gives to the waiting-maid the
name of one of chaste Diana's nymphs, who attended on the person
of the goddess, and assisted at her toilet in the grotto of the vale
Gargaphic. OVID. Met. lib. iii. 1. 15.5 L72. This is very humour-
ous, if we consider the character of the lady spoken of, who is at-
tended at her toilet by her filles de chambre^ who have each, like
Diana's nymphs, a several office in adorning her person, while all these
pains, to make herself look more handsome than usual, were because
she was going to meet a gallant. The sad condition of poor Psecas
bespeaks the violence which she suffered, from her cruel mistress, on
every the least offence. However, this circumstance of her torn and
dishevelled locks seems a farther humourous parody of the account
which Ovid gives of one of Diana's nymphs, who dressed the god-
dess-'s hair :
Doctior ifris
Ismenis Crocale, sparsos per colla capillos
Colligit in noduni, quamvis erat ipsa solutis.
Ov. ubi snpr. 1. 168 7O.
491. " Why is this curl higher?"'] I e. Than it ought to be
says the lady, peevishly, to poor Pseeas.
. The bull's hide.] Taurea a leather whip made of a bull's
hide, with the strokes of which, on her bare shoulders, (Comp.
I. 490.) poor Psecas must atone for her mistake about the height of
the curl.
492. The crime, &c.] The poet humourously satirizes the mon-
strous absurdity of punishing servants severely for such trifles as set-
ting a curl either too high or too low, as if it were a serious crime
a foul deed (facinus) worthy stripes.
494. If your nose, &c.] If you happen to have a deformity in
your features for instance, a long and ugly nose is the poor girl>
Tft'ho waits on you, to blame for this ? are you to vent your displea-
ure upon her ?
49J. Tht left side.'] Another maid-servant dresses a different side
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 251
Unhappy Psecas arranges her hair, herself with torn locks,
Naked to the shoulders, and with naked breasts. 4-90
" Why is tliis curl higher ?'' The bull's hide immediately punishes
The crime and fault of a curled lock.
What has Psecas committed ? what is here the fault of the girl,
If your nose has displeased you ? Another extends
The left side, and combs the locks, -and rolls them into a circle. 495
A matron is in council, and who, put to the wool,
Ceases from the discharged crisping-pin : her opinion
Shall be first : after her, those who are inferior in age and art
Shall judge : as if the hazard of her reputation, or of her life,
W-ere in question ; of so great importance is the concern of getting
beauty. 500
She presses with so many rows, and still builds with so -many join-
ings,
Her high head, that you will see Andromache in front :
Behind she is less i you'd believe her another. Excuse her if
of the lady's head, combs out the locks, and turns them into rings.
Extendi* expresses the action of drawing or stretching out the hair
with one hand, while the other passes the comb along it.
496. A matron, ;?.] She then calls a council upon tlie subject
ef her dress first, an old woman, who has been set to the wool,
(I. e. to spit),) being too old for her former occupation of handling
dexterously the crisping-pin^ and of dressing her mistress's hair she,
as the most experienced, is to give her opinion first then the younger
maids, according to their age and experience. Emerita here is me-
taphorical ; it is the term used for soldiers who are discharged from
the service such were called milites emeriti.
500. Of so great importance, 5V.J One would think that her re-
putation, or even her life itself, was at stake, so anxious is she of
appearing beautiful.
501. She presses, fff.3 She crowds such a quantity of rows and
Stories of curls upon her towering head.
502. Andromache.'} Wife of Hector, who is described by Ovid as
very large and tall.
Omnibus Andromache visa est spatiosior ajquo,
Unus, qui modicam diceret, Hector erat. De Art. il.
503. jinother.~\ There is so much difference in the appearance of
her stature, when viewed in front, and when viewed behind, that
you would not imagine her to be the same woman you would take
her for another.
. Excuse her.~\ Cedo-da veniam understood q. <J. To be
sure one should in some measure excuse her, if she happen to be a
little woman, short-waisted, and, when she has not high shoes on,
seeming, in point of stature, shorter than a pigmy, insomuch that she
is forced to spring up on tip-toe for a kus I say, if such be the case,
252 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT.
Sortita est lateris spatium, breviorque videtur
Virgine Pygmaja,' uullis adjirta cothurnis,
Et levis erecta consurgit ad oscula plant?. ?
Nulla viri cura interea, nee mentio iiet
]Damnorum : vivit tanquam vicina mnriti :
Hoc solo propior, quod amicos conjugis odit,
Et servos. Gravis est rationibus. Ecce furentis 510
Bellonae, matrisque Deum chorus intrat, et ingens
Semivir, obscoeno facies reverenda minori,
Mollia qui rupta secuit genitalia testa :
Jampridem cui ranca cohors, cui tympana cedtmt
Plebeia, et Phrygia vestitur bucca tiara : 515
Grande sonat, metuique jubet Septembris, et austri
Adventum, nisi se centum lustraverit ovis,
Et xerampelinas veteres donaverit ipsi ;
one ought to excuse her dressing her head so high, in order to make
the most of her person. Thus he ridicules little women who meant
to disguise their stature, either by wearing high heeled shoes, or by
curling their hair, and setting it up as high as they could.
Cothurnus signifies a sort of buskin, worn by actors in tragedies,
with a high heel to it, that they might seem the taller.
505. Pygmean.] See sat xiii. 1. 168, and note.
507 8. No mention of damages.] Never takes any notice of the
expenses she is putting her husband to, and the damage she is doing
to his affairs by her extravagance, and to his comfort and reputation,
by her conduct,
508. As the neighbour, CSV.] Is upon no other footing with her
husband, than if he were an ordinary acquaintance.
509. In this only nearer^ Esfc.jJ The only difference she makes be-
tween her husband and an ordinary neighbour, i$, that she hates his
friends, detests his servants, and ruins his fortune. Gravis rationibus
may mean grievous in her expenses.
510. Behold."] The poet now ridicules the superstition of women,
and the knavery of their priests ; and introduces a procession of the
priests of Bellona, and of Cybele.
511. Bellona.'] The sister of Mars she had a temple at Rome.
Her priests were called Bellonarii ; they cut their arms and legs with
swords, and ran about as if they were mad, for which reason, per-
haps, the people thought them inspired. Thus the priests of Baal,
1 Kings xviii. 28.
The mother of the gods] Cybele, whose priests were the Co-
rybantes : they also danced about the streets with drums, labours,
and the like, in a wild and frantic manner.
A chorus enters.] A pack of these priests make their appear-
ance, led on by their chief.
512. Half -man.] Semiver an eunuch ; the priests of Cybele were
such, and were therefore called semiviri.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 253
She be allotted a short space of small waist, and seem shorter
Than a Pygmean virgin, help'd by no high- soled shoes, 505
And arises to kisses light with an erect foot.
In the mean while no concern for her husband, no mention made
Of damages : she lives as the neighbour of her husband :
In this only nearer, that she hates the friends of her husband,
And his servants ; she is grievous to his affairs.
- Behold of mad 510
Bellona, and of the mother of the gods, a chorus enters, and a great
Half-man, a reverend face with little manhood,
Who has cut his tender genitals with a broken shell :
To whom, now long, an hoarse troop to whom the plebeian labours
Yield, and his cheek is clothed with a Phrygian turbant : 515
Loudly he sounds forth and commands the^poming of September,
' and of the
South-wind, to be dreaded, unless she purify herself with an hundred
e gg s
And give to him old murrey-colour'd garments :
513. A Iroken shell."] Which he made use of by way of a knife.
5I4>. An hoarse troop.~] An assembly of attending priests, who had
bawled themselves hoarse with the noises they made.
- The plebeian tabours,"] The labours, or drums, which were beat
by the inferior plebeian priests here, by metonymy, the priests who
played on them : all these bowed to him, and submitted to his authority.
,5 15. With a Phrygian turbant.] Which covered the head and tied
under the chin : part of the high priest's dress, and called Phrygian,
because first brought from Phrygia, one of the countries in which
Cybele was first worshipped.
516. Loudly he sounds forth. ~\ Grande sonat, may not only mean
that he bawled with a loud voice, (Comp. 1. 4-S4. intonet horrendum,)
but it may also be meant to express the self-importance of his manner,
being about to utter a sort of prophetic warning, in fanatical and
bombast verses.
The coming of September, ffc.] At which time of year the blasts
of the south wind were supposed to generate fevers, and other dan-
gerous diseases. Comp. sat. iv. 1. 59.
517- She purify herself, &c.~] Eggs were used in expiations, lustra-
tions, &c. and particularly in the sacred rites of Isis. They were given
to the high priest, who, it may be supposed, took care to bestow them
chiefly upon himself, while he pretended to offer them to the goddess.
518. Old murrey- colour' d garments,"] Xerampebnus-a-um, adj.
(Gr. vjp;ot3-sA;v;, from fyge;, dry, and ^w^-gAoj, a vine,) somewhat
ruddy, like vine leaves in autumn. These garments were worn by
the priests of Cybele and Isis, and were presented to them by super-
stitious and foolish women, out of devotion, being made to be-
liove that all their sins were transferred from the votary to the vest-
ments, and thus taken away, so as to secure the party from the
254 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Ut quicquid subiti et magni discriminis instat,
In tunicas eat, et totum semel expiet annum. 520
Hybernum fracta glacie descendet in amnem,
Ter matutino Tiberi mergetur, et ipsis
Vorticibus timidum caput abluet : inde Snperbi
Totum regis agrum, nuda ac tremebunda cruentis
Erepet genibus. Si Candida jusserit I 6, 525
Ibit ad JEgypti fineni, calidaque petitas
A Meroe portabit aquas, ut spargat in aede
Isidis, antique qua proxima surgit ovili.
Credit enim ipsius domins se voce moneri,
En animam et mentem, cum qua Di nocte loquantur J 530
Ergo hie prascipuum, summumque meretur honorem,
Qui grege linigero cirqumdatus, et grege calvo
Plangentis populi, currit derisor Anubis.
Ille petit veniam, quoties non abstinet uxor
Concubitu, sacris observandisque diebus ; 535
punishment of them for a whole year together ; insomuch that they
should avoid impending dangers and judgments during that time.
By veteres we may understand that this custom was very ancient.
Some read vestes.
521. She will descend* &c.~] At the bidding of the priest, these
women will even plunge into the river Tiber in the very depth of
winter, when the ice must be broken for them.
522. The early Tiber.] i. e. The Tiber early in a cold morning.
They thought that the water of the Tiber could wash away their sins.
523. Whirlpocls .] Her superstition subdued all her fears, so that
she would venture irito the most dangerous parts of the river at the
bidding of the priest. See PEREIUS, sat. ii. 1. 15, 16.
524-. Field of the proud king.] i.e. The Campus Martius, which
once belonged to Tarquin the Proud : when he was driven out, it was
given to the people, and consecrated to Mars.
525. She will crawl over t sV.] If the priest impose this penance
on her, persuading her it is the command of the goddess lo, (the same
as Isis,) she will go naked on her bare knees all over the Campuc
Martius, till the blood comes, and trembling with cold.
- White /o.j lo was the daughter of the river Inachus, and
changed by Jupiter into a white cow ; she afterwards recovered her
shape, married Osiris, and became the goddess of ./Egypt, under the
name of Isis. She had priests, and a temple at Rome, where she was
worshipped after the Egyptian manner. See 1. 488.
.526. The end, sV.] The utmost borders.
527. From warm Meroe.~\ The Nile flows round many large islands,
the largest of which was called Mcroe, and has, here, the epithet
warm, from its being nearest the torrid '.rone.
Sprinkle them, sV.] By way of lustrations.
528. Next to the old sheejifold.] The temple of Isis stood near
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 255
That whatever of sudden and great danger impends,
May go into the clothes, and may expiate the whole year at once. 520
She will descend (the ice being broken) into the wintry river,
Three times be dipp'd in the early Tiber, and in the very
Whirlpools wash her fearful head : then, the whole
Field of the proud king, naked and trembling, with bloody
Knees she will crawl over. If the white lo should command, 525
She will go to the end of ./Egypt, and will bring waters fetch'd
From warm Meroe, that she may sprinkle them in the temple
Of Isis, which rises next to the old sheepfold.
For she thinks herself admonish'd by the voice of the mistress herself.
Lo ! the soul and mind, with which the gods can speak by night ! 530
Therefore he gains the chief and highest honour,
Who (surrounded with a linen-bearing flock, and a bald tribe
Of lamenting people) runs the derider of Anubis.
He seeks pardon, as often as the wife does not abstain
From her husband, on sacred and observable days, 535
that part of the Campus Martius, where the Tarquins, in their days,
had numbers of sheep, and which, from thence, was called the sheep-
fold.
529. Of the miitress herself.'] i. e. Of the goddess herself. Such
a power had these priests over the minds of these weak women, that
they could make them believe and do what they pleased.
530. Lo ! the soul, &V.J This apostrophe of the poet carries a
strong ironical reflection on these cunning and imposing priests. As
if he had said " Behold what these fellows are ! with whom the
gods are supposed to have nightly intercourse !" Lactantius says
Anima, qua vivimus ; mens, qua cogitamus.
531. Therefore, &c,~\ Because thes<_- deluded women are persuaded
that this priest has a real intercourse with heaven, and that all he en-
joins them comes from thence, therefore, &c.
532. A linen-bearing flack. ~\ A company of inferior priests, having
on linen vestments.
A bald tribe, &c.~] They shaved their heads, and went howl-
ing up and down the streets, in imitation of the Egyptians, who did
the same at certain periods in search of Osiris.
533. Runs.] Up and down in a frantic manner.
The derider of Anubls.~\ At these fooleries the high priest
carried an image of Anubis, the son of Osiris, whom they worshipped
under the form of a dog, the priest all the while laughing (in his
sleeve, as we say ) at such a deity, and jeering at the folly of the peo-
ple, who could join in such a senseless business.
The worship of Isis, Osiris, and Anubis, came from .^Egypt;
531. He seeks pardon, &c.~] Here the poet represents the priest
as imploring pardon for a wife who had used the marriage-bed on
some forbidden days. By which he still is lashing the priests for their
imposition, and the people for their credulity.
256 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi,
Magnaque debetur violate poena cadurco :
Et movisse caput visa est argentea serpens.
Illius lachrymz, meditataque murtnura praeslant,
Ut veniam culpse non abnuat, ansere magtio
Scilicet, et tenui popano corruptus Osiris. 54,9
Cum dedit ille locum ; cophino, foenoque relicto,
Arcanam Judaea tremens mendicat in aurem,
Interpres legum Solymarum, ct magna sacerdos
Arboris, ac summi fida internuncia coeli ;
Implet et ilia manum, sed parcius : sere minuto, 545
Qualiacunque voles Judaei somnia vendunt.
Spondet amatorem tenerum, vel divitis orbi
Testamentum ingens, calidas pulmone columbae
Tractate, Armenius, vel Commagenus aruspex :
Pectora pullorum rimatur, et exta catelli, 550
536. For a violated coverlet.] i, e. For the bed which was sup-
posed to be defiled.
537. The silver serpent, &c] In the temple of Isis and Osiris
there was an image with three heads, the middlemost like a lion, the
right side like a dog, the left a wolf ; about all which a silver serpent,
i. e. made of silver, seemed to wrap itself, bringing its head under the
right hand of the god. The nodding of the serpent (which by some
spring or other device it was probably made to do) denoted that ths
priest had his request granted.
538. His tears, &c. prevail."] This kindness of the god, and
compliance with the request made him, were wholly ascribed to the
prevalence of the priest's tears and prayers.
539 40. By a great goose, &c. corrupted.] The priest took
good care of himself all this while, by receiving from the hands of
the devotee a good fat goose and a cake, by virtue of which he pre-
tended that Osiris was brought over to compliance ; but these, no
doubt, the priest applied to his own use. Popanum signifies a broad,
round, thin cake, which they offered in old times to the gods.
541. When he hat given place.] When this knavish priest is don*
with. The poet, still deriding the superstition of the women, now
introduces a Jewish woman as a fortuneteller.
Her basket and hay] This Jewess is supposed to come out
of the wood, near the gate of Capena, into the city, to tell fortunes,
therefore won't appear as a common Jew beggar and she whispers
secretly in the lady's ear, not choosing to be overheard and detected,
the emperor having banished the Jews from Rome. See sat. iiir
1. 14, note.
542. Trembling] For fear of a refusal, or perhaps shivering with
cold, or trembling with old age, or for fear of being overheard and
charged with contempt of the gods of Rome, or of the emperor's
order.
Begty &c] Asks something to tell the lady's fortune, whis-
pering into her ear with a low voice.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 257
And a great punishment is due for a violated coverlet :
And the silver serpent seems to have moved its head.
His tears and meditated murmurs prevail,
That Osiris will not refuse pardon, by a great goose,
That is to say, and a thin cake, corrupted.
When he has given place, her basket and hay being left,
A trembling Jewess begs into the secret ear,
Interpretess of the laws of Solyma, high priestess
Of a tree, and a faithful messenger of high heaven.
And she fills her hand, but very sparingly : for a small piece of
money, 545
The Jews sell whatever dreams you may choose,
But an Armenian or Commagenian soothsayer promises
A tender love, or a large will of a childless rich man,
Having handled tbe lungs of a warm dove :
He searches the breasts of chickens, and the bowels of a whelp, 550
543. Laws of Sofyma.] The Jewish law. The Latins called Je-
rusalem, Solymae-arum, its name having been Solyma at first.
543 4. High priestess of a tree.] This is spoken in contempt of
the Jews, who lived in woods, forests, &c. arid, therefore, the poet
probably hints, in a ludicrous manner, at the priestesses of the tem-
ple in the wood of Dodona, who pretended to ask and receive answers
from oak-trees. .
514. A messenger^ Internuntius is properly a messenger between
parties^a go-between.
545. She Jills her hand, CsV.] The lady to whom she applies pre-
sents her with a small piece of money she need not give much--
See the next note.
546. Whatever dreams you may choose.] They pretended to dreams,
in which they received intelligence concerning people's fortunes
these they sold to the credulous at a very cheap rate, always accom-
modating their pretended dreams to the fancy or wishes of the parties*
See Ezek. xiii. 1723.
547. An Armenian.^ Having exposed the superstition of the wo-
men, with respect to the Jewish fortunetellers, he now attacks them
on the score of consulting soothsayers, who travelled about to impose
on the credulous.
Armenia and Syria (of which Commagena is a part) were famous
for these.
548. A large will, &c.~\ Tells the lady who consults him, that she
will be successful in love, or that some old rich fellow, who dies
without heirs, will leave her a large legacy.
549 50. Lungs of a warm dove breasts of chickens -bowels of
a whelp ] The aruspices, or soothsayers, always pretended to know
future events from the inspection of the insides of animals, which
they handled and examined for the purpose.
VOL. I. MM
2.58 JUVENALI3 SATIRE. SAT. vi.
Intcrdum et pneri : faciet quod deferat ipse,
Chaldaeis sed major erit ficUicia : quicquid
Dixerit astrologus, credent a fonte relatum
Jiammonis ; quoniam Delphis oracula cessant,
Et genus humahum damnat caligo futuri. 555
Prxcipuus tamen est horum, qui sxpius exul,
Cujus amicitia, conducendaque tabella
Magnus civis obit, et formidatus Othoni.
Jnde fides arti, sonuit si dextera ferro
Laevaque, si lon'go castrorum in carcere mansit. 560
Nemo mathematicus genium indemnatus habebit ;
Sed qui pene perit : cui vix in Cyclada mitti
Contigit, et parva tandem caruisse Seripho.
Consuht ictericae lento de funere matris,
Ante tamen de te, Tanaquil tna ; quando sororem 565
Efferat, et patruos : an sit vktuius aduiter
551. Sometimes of a child.'] Which one of these fellows would not
fcniple to murder on the occasion.
He will do what, &c.~] He will commit a fact, which, if any
body else did, he vyould be the first to inform against him, if he
conM get any thing by it-
Deferre, is to accuse or inform against hence the delatores, in-
formers, mentioned so often by our poet as an infamous set of people.
See sat. i. 33. iii. 1 16. iv. 4-8. et al.
552, Chaldeans, &c.~\ The Chaldeans, living about Babylon, were
looked up'ou as great masters in the knowledge of the stars, or, what
has been usually called judicial astrology. Some of these, like other
itinerant impostors, travelled about, and came to Rome, where they
gained great credit with silly women, such as the poet has been de-
scribing, as open to every imposture of every kind.
554-. Oj Hammon.'] From the oracle of Jupiter Hammon, of which
there were several in Lybia, and were in very high repute.
. Because the Delphic oracles cease.] It is said, that the oracle
of Apollo, at Delphos, ceased at the birth of Christ.
555. st darkness, fV.] Men were now condemned, or consigned
over, to utter ignorance of things to come, since the ceasing of the
I)elphic oracle, and this gave so much reputation to the oracle of
Jupiter Hammon.
55lS. Been oftenest, fcft.] The more wicked the astrologer, the
greater credit he gained with these women. ..
557. Hired tablet.] These astrologers used to write down on parch-
ment, pr in tablets, the answers which they pretended to come from
the stars ; in order to obtain a sight of which, people used to give
them money. Cunducenda lit. to be hired.
558. si great citizen died, &c.'] By the astrologer, mentioned in
these lines, is meant Seleucus, a famous astrologer, who had been
fccveral times banished from Rome, and by whose instigation and pre-
diction, Otho (with whom he was intimate) failing to be adopted by
Galba, caused Gaiba to be murdered.
SAT, vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 259
And sometimes of a child : he will do what he himself would betray.
But her confidence in Chaldeans will be greater : whatever
An astrologer shall say, they thiuk brought from the fount
Of Hammon ; because the Delphic oracles cease,
And a darkness of futurity condemns the human race. .555
Yet the most eminent of these, is he who has been oftenest an exile,
By whose friendship, and by whose hired tablet,
A great citizen died, and one fear'd by Otho :
Thence confidence [is given] to his art, if with iron his right hand
has clatter'd,
And his left : if he has remained in the long confinement of camps. 560
No astrologer uncondemn'd will have a genius ;
But he who has almost perished : to whom to be sent to the Cyclades
It has scarcely happened, and at length to have been freed from little
Scriphus.
Your Tanaquil consults him about the lingering death of her jaundic'd
Mother ; but, before this, concerning you : when her sister she
may 565
Bury, and her uncles ; whether the adulterer will live
5"59. With iron, C5V.] If he has been manacled with fetters on
both hands i. e. hand-cuffed. Sonuit alludes to the clinking of the
fetters.
560. Long confinement, &c .] These predicters, who foretold things
in time of war, were carried as prisoners with the army, and confined
in the camp, in expectation of the event ; in which condition they
had a soldier to guard them, and, for more safety, were lied together
with a chain of some length (which, by the way, may be intimated
by the longo carcere) for conveniency, the one end whereof was fas-
tened to the soldier's left arm, the other to the prisoner's right.
Career signifies any place of confinement.
561. Uncondemned) sV.j In short, no astrologer is supposed to have
a true genius for his art, who has not been within an ace of hanging.
563. Scarcely happened* C5V.] With the greatest difficulty ob-
tained the favour of banishment to the Cyclades, which were islands
in the Archipelago : they were accounted fifty-three in all : to some
of these criminals were banished.
564-. Tour Tanaguil.j i. e. Your wife, whom he calls so after the
name of the wife of Tarquinius Priscus, a woman skilled in divination,
who foretold her husband should be king.
Consults him, &c.~\ He lashes the wickedness of the women
of his time, who not only consulted astrologers about the death of
their husbands, but of their parents and nearest relations.
566. Whether the adulterer^ &V.] Her paramour, whose life she
not only prefers to that of her husband and relations, bat even to her
own, as if no greater blessing could be vouchsafed her, than that he
hould outlive her.
260 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. vi.
Post ipsam : quid enim majus dare numina possunt ?
Hasc tamen ignorat, quid sidus triste minetur
Saturni : quo Iseta Venus se proferat astro ;
Qui mensis damno, qua; dentur tempora lucro. 570
Ilh'us occursus etiam vitare memento,
In cujus manibus, ceu pinguia soccina, tritas
Cernis ephemeridas : quoe nullum consulit, et jam
Consulitur ; quas castra viro patriamque petente,
Non ibit pariter, numeris revocata Thrasylli. 575
Ad primum lapidem vectari cum placet, hora
Sumitur ex libro ; si prurit frictus ocelli
Angulus, inspecta genesi collyria poscit.
^Egra licet jaceat, capiendo nulla videtur
Aptior hora cibo, nisi quam dederit Petosim. 580
Si mediocris erit, apatium lustrabit utrumque
Metarum, et sortes ducet ; frontemque manumqae
Praebebit vati crebrum poppysma roganti.
568. She it ignorant of, &c.] She is so earnest about te fate of
others, that she is content to be ignorant about her own.
' 569. Saturn.] Was reckoned an unlucky planet ; and if he arose
when a person was born, was supposed to portend misfortunes.
Persius calls Saturn gravem. HOR. impium.
Propitious Venus.~\ Reckoned fortunate if she arose in con-
junction with certain others.
570. What month* &c.~\ The Romans were very superstitious
about lucky and unlucky times.
571. Remember also, &c.] The poet continues his raillery on the
superstition of women ; and now comes to those who calculate their
fortunes out of books, which they carry about with them, and con-
sult on all occasions.
'572 3. Like fat amber worn diaries] Ephemeridas signifies,
in this place, a sort of almanacks, in which were noted down the daily
rising and setting of the several constellations ; by the consulting of
which, these women pretended to know their own fortunes, and to
tell those of other people The poet represents these as thumbed
very often over, so as to be spoiled, and to bear the colour and ap-
pearance of amber that had been chafed by rubbing.
574-. The camp, and his country, &c.~] Whether being at home he
is going to the war, or being in the camp wants to return home, she re-
fuses to go with him, if her favourite astrologer says the contrary.
575. T/u numbers of Thrasyllus.~\ Numeros may here either mean
numbers, or figures, in which some mystery was set down or delivered
or some mystical verses, which it was very usual for that sort of
people to make use of. Thrasyllus was a Platonist, a great mathe.
matician, once in high favour with Tiberius ; afterwards, by his com-
mand, thrown into the sea at Rhodes.
576. To the Jirst stone.] i. e. The first mile-stone from Rome ;
SAT.TI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 261
After her : for what greater thing can the gods bestow ?
These things, however, she is ignorant of what the baleful star
Of Saturn may threaten, with what star propitious Venus may shew
herself,
What month for loss, what times are given for gain. 570
Remember also to avoid the meeting of her
In whose hands, like fat amber, you see worn
Diaries : who consults no one, and now is
Consulted : who, her husband going to the camp, and his country,
Will not go with him, called back by the numbers of Thrasyllus. 575
When she pleases to be carried to the first stone, the hour
Is taken from her book : if the rubb'd angle of her eye
Itches, she asks for eye -salve, her nativity being inspected :
Tho* she lie sick, no hour seems more apt
For taking food, than that which Petosiris has allotted. 580
If she be in a middle station, she will survey each space
Of the goals, and will draw lots : and her forehead and hand
She will shew to a prophet, who asks a frequent stroking.
for there were mile-stones on the roads, as now on ours. q. d. She
can't stir a single mile without consulting her book.
577. Of her eye, &c.] The poet puts these ridiculous instances,
to shew, in the strongest light, the absurdity of these people, who
would not do the most errant trifles without consulting the ephemeris,
to find what star presided at their nativity, that from thence they
might gather a good or ill omen.
580. Petosiris.] A famous /Egyptian astrologer, from whose writ-
ings and calculations a great part of her ephemeris, probably, was
collected.
581. She will survey, &c.~] The woman in mean circumstances runs
to the circus, and looks from one end to the other, till she can find some
of those itinerant astrologers, who made that place their haunt.
582. Draw Jots.] For her fortune. This was one instance of the Jr
superstition.
Her forehead and hand.] That by the lines in these she might
have her fortune told.
583. To a firojihet.] A fortuneteller.
j4 frequent stroking.] viz. Her hand. Poppysma signifies,
here, a stroking with the hand, which the fortuneteller made use of,
drawing his hand over the lines of her forehead and hand, as taking
great pains to inform himself aright. Or perhaps we may understand
that he did it wantonly. Poppysma signifies, also, a popping or
smacking with the lips, and at the same time feeling, and handling,
or patting the neck of an horse, to make him gentle : this word may
therefore be used here metaphorically, to express the manner in which
these chiromants felt and handled the hands of the women who con-
sulted them, perhaps smacking them with their lips.
262 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. TI,
Divitibus responsa dabit Phryx augur, et Indus
Conductus dabit, astrorum mundique peritus ; 585
Atque aliquis senior, qui publica fulgura condit.
Plebeium in Circo positum cst, ct in aggere fatum :
Quae nullis longum ostendit cervicibus aurum,
Consulit ante Phalas, Delphinorumque columnas,
An saga vendenti nubat, caupone relicto. 590
Hz tamen et partus subeunt discrimen, et omnes
Nutricis tolerant, fortuna urgente, labores :
Sedjacet aurato vix ulla puerpera lecto;
Tantum artes hujus, tantum medicamina possunt,
Quaj steriles facit, atque homines in ventre necandos 595
Conducit. Gaude, infelix, atque ipse bibendum
Porrige quicquid erit : nam si distendere vellet,
Et vexare uterum pueris salientibus, esses
584-. A Phrygian.] Tully, de Divinat. lib. i. says, that these peo-
ple, and the Cilicians and Arabs, were very assiduous in taking omens
from the flight of birds.
585. Indian^ &c.~] The Brachmans were Indian philosophers, who
remain to this day. They hold, with Pythagoras, the transmigration
of the soul. These the richer sort applied to, as skilled in the science
of the stars, and of the motions of the celestial globe, from whence
they drew their auguries.
536. Some elder. ] Some priest, whom the Latins called senior,
and the Greeks presbyter both which signify the same thing.
Who hides the public lightning,] If a place were struck by
lightning, it was expiated by a priest. They gathered what was
scorched by lightning, and praying with a low voice, hid or buried it
in the earth.
These lightnings were reckoned either public or private, as where
the mischief happened either to public buildings, or to private houses,
and the like.
Private lightnings were supposed to forebode things to come for ten
years only ; public lightnings, for thirty years.
587. Placed in the Circus.] The common sort apply to the quacks
and cheats who ply in the Circus.
In the mount] What was called Tarquin's mount, which he
cast up on the eastern side of Rome, as a defence to the city this
was also the resort of these fraudulent people, who took but small fees
for their services.
588. Shews no long gold, &c] The poet, at 1. 581, speaks of
women in middling circumstances, who go to the Circus in order to
find an itinerant fortuneteller, whom they may consult at a small price.
See the note. Then he mentions the rich, who could afford to pay-
well, and therefore employed a more expensive sort.
Here he mentions the lower order of women, which, in contradis-
tinction to the former, he describes as wearing no gold as ornaments
about their necks. Hence I think nullis cervicibus aurum the right
SAT. v/, JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 263
To the rich a Phrygian augur wiH give answers, and an hired
Indian, skilled in the stars and sphere, will give them; 585
And some elder who hides the public lightning.
The plebeian fate is placed in the Circus, and in the mount :
She who shews no long gold on her neck,
Consults before the Phalse and the pillars of the dolphins,
Whether she shall marry the blinket-seller, the victualler being
left. 590
Yet these undergo the peril of child-birth, and bear all
The fatigues of a nurse, their fortune urging them :
But hardly any lying-in woman lies in a gilded bed ;
So much do the arts, so much the medicines of such a one prevail,
Who causes barrenness, and conduces to kill men in the 595
Womb. Rejoice, thou wretch, and do thou thyself reach forth
To be drunk whatever it may be : for if she is willing to distend,
And disturb her womb with leaping children, you may be,
reading I e. nullum aurum cervicibus Hypallage. See sat. ii. 1. 90,
and note.
Reading nudis cervicibus, &c. as if the vulgar, or common sort,
wore necklaces of gold about their necks, seems a contradiction.
589. Pillars of the dolphins.] En the Circus were lofty pillars, on
which were placed the statues of dolphins, erected for ornament.
Others understand this of the temple of Cn. Domitius, in the Fla-
minian Circus, on which were the figures of Nereids riding upon
dolphins. The Phalae were wooden towers.
These places are also mentioned here as the resort of gypsies, com-
mon fortunetellers, and such sort of folks, who were consulted by
the vulgar.
590. Whether, &c.~\ She is supposed to determine, by the answers
from these wretches, which of her sweethearts she shall take, and
which leave.
59!. These undergo, &c.~\ The poet now lashes the vice of pro-
curing abortion, so frequent among the ladies of Rome, and intro-
duces it with saying, that, indeed, the poorer sort not only bring
children, but nurse them too ; but then this is owing to their low
circumstances, which will not afford them the means of abortion, or
of putting out their children to nurse.
593. Hardly any lying-in ivoman, ffTV.] / e. You'll scarce hear of
a lying-in woman among the ladies of quality, such is the power of
art, such the force of medicines, prepared by those who make it
their business to cause barrenness and abortion !
598. Rejoice, than ivrttch.~\ He calls the husband infelix, an un-
hnppy wretch, /. e. in having such a wife as is capable of having
children by others ; but yet he bids him rejoice in administering me-
dicines to make her miscarry, for that, if she went her full time, she
vould produce a spurious child.
2G4 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vi.
is fortasse pater : mox decolor haeres
Impferet tabulas, nunquam tibi mane videndns. 600
Transeo suppositos, et gaudia, votaque saepe
Ad spurcos decepta lacas, atque inde petitos
Pontifices, Salios, Scaurorum nomina falso
Corpore lauiros. Stat fortuna improba noctu,
Arridens nudis infantibus : hos fovet omries, 605
Involvitque sinu ; domibus tune porrigit altis,
Secretumque sibi mimum parat : hos amat, his se
Ingerit, atque suos ridens producit alumnos.
Hie magicos afFert cantus, hie Thessala vendit
Philtra, quibus valeant mentem vexare mariti, 610
Et solea pulsare nates. Quod desipis, inde est ;
Jnde animi caligo, et magna oblivio rerum,
Quas n.odo gessisti. Tamen hoc tolerabile, si non
Et furere incipias, ut avunculus ille Neronis,
599. Father of a blackmoor.] Forced to be reputed the father of a
child, begotten on your wife by some black slave.
QOO. Fill your if/77, &c.~\ A discoloured child, the real offspring
of a Moor, will be your heir, and as such inherit your estate after
your death (tabulas here means the pages of the last will and testa-
ment). See sat. i. 1. 63 and 68.
- Never, &c.~] To meet him in a morning woujd be construed
into an ill omen. The Romans thought it ominous to see a black-
moor in a morning, if he was the first man they met.
601. The joys and vows, &c*~] Here he inveighs against the wo-
men who deceive their husbands by introducing supposititious chil-
dren for their own.
602. At the dirty laltes.~\ Some usual place where children were
exposed.
The poor husband looks on them as his joy, and as the fruit of his
-vows and wishes, which are thus deceived by bastards, who are ex-
posed at some place in Rome, ( famous probably for such things,) and
taken from thence to the houses of the great, who bring them up,
thinking them their own, till at length they pass for the offspring of
noble families, and fill the chief offices in the city.
- Salian priests.] These were priests of Mars, and so made
from among the nobility.
603- The names of the Scauri, ff<:.] Being supposed to be nobly
born, they falsely bear the names of the nobility who bring them up
as their own.
604. Waggish Fortune.] Fortune may here properly be styled
waggish, as diverting herself with these frauds.
605. Smiling on the naked infants, &c.~\ Exposed as they were
by night, she stands their friend, and, delighting to carry on the de-
ceit, makes them, as" it were, her favourites makes their concern?
her own, and laughs in secret at the farce they are to exhibit, when
conveyed to the lofty palaces of the great, and educated there,
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 265
Perhaps, the father of a blackmoor : soon a discolour'd heir
May fill your will, never to be seen by you in a morning. 600
I pass by supposititious children, and the joys, and vows, often
Deceived at the dirty lakes, and the Salian priests fetch *d
From thence, who are to bear the names of the Scauri
In a false body. Waggish Fortune stands by night
Smiling on the naked infants : all these she cherishes, 605
And wraps in her bosom, then conveys them to high houses,
And prepares a secret farce for herself: these she loves,
With these she charges herself, and, laughing, produces her own fos-
ter-children.
One brings magical incantations, another sells Thessalian
Philtres, by which they can vex the mind of the husband, 610
And clap his posteriors with a slipper : that you are foolish, is from,
thence ;
Thence darkness of mind, and great forgetfulness of things,
Which you did but just now. Yet this is tolerable, if you don't
Begin to rave too, as that uncle of Nero,
till she produces them into the highest honours of the city. Thi
reminds one of HOR. lib. Hi. ode xxix. 1. 49 52
Fortuna, ssevo laeta negotio,
Ludum insolentem ludere pertinax
fcc.
608. She charges herself.] His se ingerit I. e. she charges herself
with the care of them. So the French say s'ingerer dans des affaires
des autres.
. Her own foster-children.] Alumnus signifies a nurse*child, or
foster-child, and may be well applied to these children, nursed, as it
were, in the bosom and lap of Fortune, who has not only preserved
them from perishing, but has contrived to make them pass for the chil-
dren of nobles, and to be educated accordingly.
609. One brings, sfr.] Now the poet inveighs against love-potions,
and magical arts, which were used by the women towards their husbands.
609 10. Thessalian fihiltres,] Philtra denotes love-potions, or
medicines causing love. For these Thessaly was famous, and the Ro-
man women either procured, or learnt them from thence. See 1. 132,
and note the first.
610. Vex the mind, &c.] So deprive him of his reason and under-
standing as to use him as they please, even in the most disgraceful
manner.
611. From thence.] i.e. From these philtres.
613. This is tolerable.] That you suffer in your understanding and
recollection is tolerable, in comparison of what is much more fatal,
that is to say, being driven into raving madness.
614. Uncle of Nero, &c.] Cassar Caligula, whom Ccesonia, his
wife, drenched with a love-potion made of the hippomanes, (a little
gkjn, or bit of flesh, taken from the forehead of a colt newly foaled,)
VOL. I. N M
266 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vr.
Cui totam treinulf frontem Csesonia pulli , 615
Infudit. Quae non faciet, quod Principis uxoiv?
Ardebant cuncta, et fracta compage ruebant,
Non aliter quam si fecisset Juno maritum
Insanum. Minus ergo nocens erit Agrippinac
Boletus : siquidem unius prsecordia pressit 620
Hie senis, tremulumque caput descendere jussit
In ccelum, et longa manantia labra saliva.
HECC poscit ferrum, atque rgnes, hsec potio torquef,
Haec lacerat rnistos equitum cum sangnine patres.
Tanti partus equae, tanti una venefica constat. 62"5
Oderunt natos de pellice : nemo repngnat,
Nemo vetat : jamjam privignum occidere fas est.
Vos ego, pupilli, moneo, quibus amplior est res
Custodite animas, et nulli credite mensae :
Livida materno fervent adipata veneno. 630
which drove him into such madness, that he would often shew her
naked to his friends. This potion of Csesonia's was infinitely worse
than Agrippina's mushroom, for that only destroyed a drivelling old em-
peror : but Caliguk, after his draught, became a merciless, cruel, and
bloody tyrant, and committed infinite slaughter without distinction.
615. A trembling colt."] Tremuli trembling with cold on being
dropped from the dam.
616. What 'woman ivill not do^ sV.] i.e. Other women, stirred
up by the example of so great a personage, will not be afraid to do
the same.
617. All things were burning.'] Alluding to the devastations of
Caligula's mad cruelty, which raged and destroyed like fire.
Fell to pieces , sV.]j A metaphor taken from an house falling
down by the beams giving way so every bond of civil and human so-
ciety was destroyed by the- tyrant, and seemed to threaten universal
ruin.
618. If Juno, &c."] The sovereign of Rome, being thus driven fnto
madness by his wife, was as destructive to Rome, as if Juno had made
Jupiter mad enough to have done it himself. Perhaps the poet al-
ludes to the outrageous fondness of Jupiter for Juno, effected by the
cestus, or girdle of Venus.
619. The mushroom of Agripp\na.~\ The wife of the emperor
Claudius, whom, that she might make her son Nero emperor, she poi-
soned with mushrooms, by contriving a subtle poison to be put among
them. See sat. v. 1. 147, 8, and note.
620. One old man.] The emperor Claudius, who was poisoned in
the sixty-fourth year of his age, very much debilitated and infirm,
from his excesses and debaucheries.
621 2. To descend into heaven.] Claudius had been canonized
by Nero after his death, and ranked among the gods. The poet
here humourously describes him a* gomg downwards to heaven, *. e.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 267
From whom Carsonia infused the whole forehead of a trembling
colt. 615
What woman will not do what the wife of a prince did ?
All things were burning, and fell to pieces, the bond
Being broken, not otherwise than if Juno had made her husband
Mad. Less hurtful therefore was the mushroom of Agrippina :
For that oppressed the bowels of one old man, 620
And commanded his trembling head to descend into
Heaven, and his lips flowing with long slaver.
This potion calls for the sword, and fire, this torments,
This tears to pieces senators, mixed with the blood of knights.
Of so great consequence is the offspring of a mare ; of so much
importance is one witch. 625
They hate the offspring of the husband's mistress : nobody opposes,
Nobody forbids it : novv-a-days it is right to kill a son-in-law.
Ye, O orphans, who have a large estate, I admonish;
Take care of your lives, and trust no table ;
The livid fat meats are warm with maternal poison. 630
to the heaven prepared for such a monster of folly and cowardice,
which could be no other than the infernal regions. See ANT. Univ.
Hist. vol. xiv. p. 370, note o.
623. Jlih potion, CsV.J For the explanation of this, and the fol-
lowing line, see before, note on 1. 614.
62. Senators, mixed, fjV.J Mixes senators and knights in one un-
distinguished carnage.
625. Tke offspring of aware.] The colt from which the hippomaties
was taken. See note on 1. 614, and 1. 132, note.
One -witch.] i. e One such woman as Caesonia.
626. Offspring of the husband's mistress.'] The husband's children
by some woman he keeps. Pellex properly denotes the concubine of
a married man.
627. No-w-a-days, &c.~] Nobody blames a wife for not liking the
husband's bastards ; but things are now come to such a pass, that it is
looked upon as no sort of crime to dispatch a husband's children
by a former wife, that their ov/n children, by those husbands, may
inherit their estates. Comp. 1. 132, 3,
628. Te, orphans."] Ye that have lost your fathers The poet
here inveighs against those unnatural mothers, who would poison their
own children, that they might marry some gallant, and their children
by him inherit what they had. Pupillus denotes a fatherless mau-
cliild, within age, and under ward.
629. Take care of your lives. ~\ Lest you be killed by poison.
. i . Trust no table.'] Be cautious what you eat.
630. The livid fat meats, &<:.'] The dainties which are set before
you to invite your appetite, are, if you examine them, black and blue
with the venom of some poison, and this prc>pa:ed by your o-.vrt
mother.
268 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. vi
Mordeat ante aliquis, quicquid ponexerit ilia
Quae peperit : timidus przgustet pocula pappas.
Fingimus haec, altum Satira sumente cothurnura,
Scilicet, et finem egressi legemque priorum,
Grande Sophocleo carmen bacchamur hiatu, 635
Montibus ignotum Rutulis, cceloque Latino.
Nos utinam vani ! sed clamat Pontia, Fcci, ,
Confiteor, puerisque meis aconita paravi,
Quae deprensa patent ; facinus tamen ipsa peregi. ,
Tune duos una, ssevissima vipera, caena ? 640
Tune duos ? septem, si septem forte fuissent.
Credamus tragicis, quicquid de Colchide saeva
Dicitur, et Progne. Nil contra conor : et illx
Grandia monstra suis audebant temporibus ; sed
Non propter nummos. Minor admiratio summis 645
Debetur monstris, quoties facit ira nocentem
Hunc sexum ; et rabie jecur incendente feruntur
Praecipites : ut saxa jugis abrupta, quibus mons
631. Let some one lite before you, sV.] Have a taster for your
meat before you eat it yourself, if it be any thing which your mother
has prepared for you.
632. The timid tutor.] Pappas was a servant that brought up and
attended children, and, as such, very likely to be in the mother's con-
fidence ; if so, he might well fear and tremble if set to be the chil-
dren's taster.
633 5. Surely we feign these things, &c.~] q. d. What I have been
saying must appear so monstrous, as to be regarded by some as a fic-
tion ; and, instead of keeping within the bounds and laws of satire,
I have taken flights into the fabulous rant of tragedy, like Sophocles,
and other fabulous writers of the drama. Hiatus, lit. a gaping an
opening the mouth wide. Hence bawling. Metaph. like actors of
high-flown tragedy.
636. Unknown to the Rutulian mountains, &c.~\ Such as no Roman
satirist ever before attempted. The Rutuli were an ancient people of
Italy Latium also a country of Italy. Or perhaps the poet's allu-
sion is to the subjects on which he writes ; which, for their enormity
and horrid wickedness, were unknown to former ages.
637. Pontia.'] The poet, to clear himself from suspicion of fiction,
introduces the story of Pontia, the daughter of Tit. Pontius, who
had done what is here mentioned of her. Holyday, in his illustrati-
ons, mentions an old inscription upon a stone, to the following pur-
pose ; viz. " JHere I Pontia, the daughter of Titus Pontius, am laid,
*' who, out of wretched covetousness, having poisoned my two sons,
" made away with myself.'*
639. " Which discovered," &V.] q. d. The fact being discovered
needs no question but yet I avow it.
SAT. TI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 269
Let some one bite before you whatever she who bore you
Shall offer you, let the timid tutor taste first the cups.
Surely we feign these things, satire assuming the lofty bivskia ;
Having exceeded the bound and law of all that went before,
We rant forth lofty verse in Sophoclean strains, 635
Unknown to the Rutulian mountains, and to the Latin climate.
I would we were false ! but Pontia cries out " I have done it !
" I confess I have prepared poisons for my boys ;
" Which discover 'd are evident : but the deed I myself perpetrat-
ed"
" Didst thou, O most savage viper, destroy two at one meal ? 640
14 Didst thou two?'' " Yes, seven, if haply seven there had been."
Let us believe whatever is said in tragedies of cruel
Colchis and Progne. I endeavour nothing against it : and those wo-
men
Dared in their day (to commit) great enormities, but
Not for the sake of money. But little wonder is due 615
To the greatest enormities, as often as anger makes this sex
Mischievous, and, rage inflaming the liver, they are
Carried headlong : as stones broken off from hills, from which the
mountain
642. Let us believe, &c.~\ q. d. After such a fact as this we may
believe any thing.
613. Colchis .j Medea, the daughter of yta, king of Colchis,
who fled away with Jason, and, being pursued by her father, cut her
brother Absyrtes in pieces, and scattered the limbs in her father's way,
to retard his pursuit.
Progne.] Daughter of Pandion king of Athens, and wife to
Tereus king of Thrace, who having ravished her sister Philomela,
she, in revenge, killed her son Itys, and served him up to her husband
to eat.
/ endeavour nothing against it ~] If you say you believe these
things, I shall offer nothing to the contrary.
615. Little wonder is due, tsV.j To be sure those women did
monstrous things, but then not for the sake of money, which is the
case with our women ; this still is almost incredible : as for what the
sex will do through anger, or revenge, or malice, there is nothing
that they are incapable of, when thoroughly provoked. See 1. 13*
note.
618. As stonet, &c.] Women as naturally precipitate into mis*
chief and cruelty, when in a pasaion, as stones fall down from the top
of an eminence, when that which supports them is removed from un-
der them.
The poet supposes large stones, or rocks, on the summit of a high
cliff on the top of a mountain, and, by an earthquake, the moun-
tain sinking, and the cliff receding froro under the bases of the rocks :
of course these must not only fall, but threaten ruin wherever they
270 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. vi.
Subtrahitur, clivoque latus pendente recedit.
Illam ego non tulerim, quse computat, et scelus ingens 650
Sana facit. Spectant subeuntem fata mariti
Alcestim ; et, similis si permutatio detur,
Morte viri cupcrent animara servare catellae.
Occurrent multae tibi Belides, atque Eriphylae :
Mane Clytemnestratn nullus non vicus habebit. 655
Hoc tantum refert, quod Tyndaris ilia bipennem
Insulsam et fatuam, dextra laevaque tenebat :
At nunc res agitur tenui pultnone rubetae ;
Sed tamen et ferro, si praegustarit Atrides
Pontica ter victi cautus medicamina regis. 660
alight. This simile is very apt and beautiful to illustrate his descrip-
tion of women, who, when provoked, so that all reserve is taken
away, their mischief will fall headlong, (like the rock from the top
of the cliff,) and destroy those on whom it alights.
651. While, in her sound mind. ] In cold blood, as we say.
Alceste, cS^.] The wife of Admetus, king of Thessaly, who
being sick, sent to the oracle, and was answered that he must needs
die, unless one of his friends would die for him : they all refused,
and then she voluntarily submitted to die for him.
The ladies of Rome saw a tragedy on this subject frequently re-
presented at the theatres ; but, so far from imitating Alceste, they
would sacrifice their husbands to save the life of a favourite puppy-
dog.
654. Belides.~\ Alluding to the fifty daughters of Danaus, the son
of -Belus, who all, except one, slew their husbands on the wedding-
night. See HOR. lib. iii. ode xi. 1. 25 40.
Erifihyl<e.~\ i. e. Women like Eriphyla, the wife of Ampin-
arus, who for a bracelet of gold discovered her husband, when he hid
himself to avoid going to the siege of T*oy, where he was sure he
should die.
655. Clytemnesira.] The daughter of Tyndarus, and wife of
Agamemnon, who living m adultery with JEgysthus, during her hus-
band's absence at the siege of Troy, conspired with the adulterer to
murder him at his return, and would have slain her son Orestes also ;
but Electra, his sister, privately conveyed him to king Strophius.
After he was come to age, returning Jo Argos, he slew both his mo-
ther and her gallant.
656. What Tyndaris.] i. e. That daughter of Tyndarus Clytem-
nestra. Juvenal, by the manner of expression ilia Tyndaris
means to insinuate, that this name belonged to others beside her viz,
to many of the Roman ladies of his time.
SAT. vi. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 271
Is withdrawn, and the side recedes from the hanging cliff.
I could not bear her, who deliberates, and commits a great
crime 650
While in her sound mind. They behold Alceste undergoing the
fate
Of her husband, and, if a like exchange were allowed,
They would desire to preserve the life of a lap-dog by the death of an
husband.
Many Belides will meet you, and Eriphylse :
No street but will have every morning a Clytemnestra. 655
This is the only difference, that that Tyhdaris held a stupid
And foolish axe, with her right hand and her left :
But now the thing is done with the small lungs of a toad ;
But yet with a sword too, if cautious Atrides has beforehand tasted
The Pontic medicines of the thrice-conquer'd king. 660
5567. Held a stupid and foolish axe, &c.~] The only difference
between her and the modern murderers of their husbands, is, that
Clytemnestra, without any subtle contrivance, but only with a foolish,
bungling axe, killed her husband. Comp. HOR. lib. i. sat. i. 99,
100. Whereas the Roman ladies, with great art and subtlety, destroy
theirs, by insinuating into their food some latent poison, curiously ex-
tracted from some venomous animal. See sat. i. 70.
659. With a sword too y &c.~\ Not but they will go to work as
Clytemnestra did, rather than fail, if the wary husband, suspecting
mischief, has prepared and taken an antidote to counteract the poison,
so that it has no effect upon him.
Atr'ides.~\ Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. Juvenal uses
this name, as descriptive of the situation of the husband, whom the
modern Clytemnestra is determined to murder, for the sake of a gal-
lant. Thus he carries on the severe, but humourous parallel bet ween
the ancient and modern scenes of female treachery, lust, and cruelty.
660. The Pontic medicines, SsV.] Mithridates, king of Pontus, in-
vented a medicine, which, after him, was called Mithridate here the
Pontic medicine, an antidote against poison.
Thrice conquer 'd king ] He was conquered by Sylla, then by
Lucullus, and then by Pompey. After which, it is said, he would
have poisoned himself, but he was so fortified by an antidote which he
had invented, and had often taken, that no poisoji would operate upon
him.
END OF THE SIXTH SATIRE.
SATIRA VII.
ARGUMENT.
This Satire is addressed to Tdesimts, a poet. Juvenal laments the
neglect of encouraging learning. Tliat Casar o/z/y is the patron of
the fine arts. As for the rest of the great and nolle Romans, they
gave no heed to the protection of poets, hislonans, laivyers, rheto-
spes, et ratio studiorum in Csesare tantum :
Solus enim tristes hac tempestate camoenas
Respexit ; cum jam celebres, notique poe tae
Balneolum Gabiis, Romse conducere furnos
Tentarent : nee foedum alii, nee turpe putarent 5
Prxcones fieri ; cum desertis Aganippes
Vallibus, esuriens migraret in atria Clio.
Nam si Pieria quadrans tibi nullus in umbra
Ostendatur, amesuomen, victumque Machaerae ;
Et vendas potius, commissa quod auctio vendit 10
Line 1. The hope and reason, &c.~] i. e. The single expectation of
learned men, that they shall have a reward for their labours, and the
only reason, therefore,, for their employing themselves in liberal stu-
dies, are reposed in Caesar only. Domitian seems to be meant ; for
though he was a monster of wickedness, yet Quintilian, Martial, and
other learned men, tasted of his bounty. Quintilian says of him
*' Quo nee praesentius aliquid, nee studiis magis propitnim numen
est." See 1. 20, 1.
2. The mournful Muses."] Who may be supposed to lament the sad
condition of their deserted and distressed votaries-
4. Bath at Gabli, &c."\ To get a livelihood by. Gabii was a lit-
tle city near Rome. Balneolum a small bagtn'o.
Ovens.] Public bakehouses, where people paid so much for
baking their bread.
6. Criers."] Praecones whose office at Rome was to proclaim pub-
lic meetings, public sales, and the like a very mean employment ;
but the poor starving poets disregarded this circumstance *' any
* thing rather than starve'' and indeed, however meanly this occu-
pation might be looked upon, it was very profitable. See sat. iii.
1. 157, note.
dganipfie.'] A spring in the solitary part of Boeotia, conse-
crated to the nine Muses.
Hungry Clio.'] One of the nine Muses the patroness of heroic
SATIRE VII.
ARGUMENT.
ricians, grammarians, fyc. These last -were not only ill paid, but
even forced to go to law, for the poor pittance which they had
earned, by the fatigue and labour of teaching school.
>OTH the hope, and reason of studies, is in Caesar only :
For he only, at this time, hath regarded the mournful Muses,
When now our famous and noted poets would try
To hire a small bath at Oabii, or ovens at Rome :
Nor would others think it mean, nor base, .5
To become criers ; when, the vallies of Aganippe
Being deserted, hungry Clio would migrate to court-yards.
For if not a farthing is shewn to you in the Pierian shade,
You may love the name, and livelihood of Machsra j
And rather sell what the intrusted auction sells 10
poetry : here, by melon, put for the starving poet, who is forced, by
his poverty, to leave the regions of poetry, and would fain beg at
great men's doors. Atrium signifies the court, or court-yard, before
great men's houses, where these poor poets are supposed to stand,
like other beggars, to ask alms.
8. In the Pierian shade.~\ See sat. iv. 1. 35, note. q, d. If by
passing your time, as it were, in the abodes of the Muses, no reward
or recompense is likely to be obtained for all your poetical labours.
Some read area but Pieria umbra seems best to carry on the humour
of the metonymy in this and the preceding line.
9. Love the name, &c.] Machsera seems to denote the name of
some famous crier of the time, whose business it was to notify sales
by auction, and, at the time of sale, to set a price on the goods, on
which the bidders were to increase hence such a sale was called auc-
tio. See AINSW. Prceco, No. 1.
q. d. If you find yourself pennyless, and so likely to continue by
the exercise of poetry, then, instead of thinking it below you to be
called a crier, you may cordially embrace it, and.be glad to get a
livelihood by auctions, as Machaera does.
10. Intrusted.] So Holyday. Commissus signifies any thing com-
mitted to one's charge, or in trust. Comp. sat. ix. 1. 93 96.
Goods committed to sale by public auction, are intrusted to the
auctioneer in a twofold respect first, that he sell them at the beat
VOL. t. o o
27* JUVENALIS SATJRJC. SAT. rn.
*
Stantibus, cenophorum, tripodes, armaria, cistas*
Alcithoen Pacci, Thebas et Terea Fausti.
Hoc satius, quam si dicas sub judice, Vidi,
Quod non vidisti : faciant equites Asiani.
Quanquam et Cappadoces faciant, equdtesque Bithyni, 15
Altera quos nudo traducit Gallia talo.
Nemo tamen studiis indignum ferre laborem
Cogetur posthac, nectit quicunque canoris
Eloquium vocale modis, laurumque momordit.
Hoc agite, 6 Juvenes : circumspicit, et stimulat vos, - 20
Materiamque sibi ducis indulgentia quaerit.
Si qua aliunde putas rerum expectanda tuarum.
Praesidia, atque ideo croceae membrana tabelks
price ; and, secondly, that he faithfully account with the owner for
the produce of the sales.
Commissa may also allude to the commission, or licence, of the ma-
gistrate, by which public sales in the forum were appointed.
Some understand commissa auctio in a metaphorical sense alluding
to the contention among the bidders, who, like gladiators matched in
fight commisaij (see sat. i. 163, note,) oppose and engage against
each other in their several biddings*
11. To the stawkrs t>y.~] i. e. The people who attend the auction,
as buyers.
12. The Alcithoe the Thebes, &c.~\ Some editions rend Alcyonem
Bacchi, &c. These were tragedies written by wretched poets, which,
Juvenal supposes to be sold, with other lumber, at an auction.
13. Than if you said, CsV.J This, mean as it may appear, is still
getting your bread honestly, and far better than hiring yourself out
as a false witness, and forswearing yourself for a bribe, in open court.
1 4>. The Asiatic knights^ This satirizes those of the Roman nobi-
lity, who had favoured some of their Asiatic slaves so much, as to
enrich them sufficiently to be admitted into the equestrian order.
These people were, notwithstanding, false, and not to be trusted.
Mincris Asiae populis nullam fidein esse adhibendam Cic. pro Flacco.
15. The Cafifiadorlans.'] Their country bordered on Armenia
They were like the Cretans, (Tit. i. 12.) lyars and dishonest to a pro*
verb ; yet many of these found means to make their fortunes at Rome.
The knights of Blthynta.] Bithynia was another eastern pro-
vince, a country of Asia Minor, from whence many such people, ai
are above described, came, and were in high favour, and shared in ti
ties and honours.
16. The other Gaul, sV.} Gallo-Grsecia, or Galatia, another coun-
try of Asia Minor : from hence came slaves, who, like others, were
exposed to sale with naked feet. Or it may rather signify, that these
wretches (however afterwards highly honoured) were so poor, when,
they first came to Rome, that they bad not so much as a shoe to
their feet.
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 275
To the slanders by, a pot, tripods, book-cases, chests,
The Alcithoe of Paccius, the Thebes and Tereus of Faustus.
This is better than if you said before a judge, ' I have seen,"
What you have not seen : tho* the Asiatic knights
And the Cappadocians may do this, and the knights of Bithynia, 15
Whom the other Gaul brings over barefoot.
But nobody to undergo a toil unworthy his studies
Hereafter shall be compelled, whoe'r he be that joins, to tuneful
Measures, melodious eloquence, and hath bitten the laurel.
Mind this, young men, the indulgence of the emperor 20
Has its eye upon, and encourages you, and seeks matter for itself.
If you think^ protectors of your affairs are to be expected
Prom elsewhere, and therefore the parchment of your saffron-colour'd
tablet
The poet means, that getting honest bread, ia however mean a way,
was to be preferred to obtaining the greatest affluence, as these fellows
did, by knavery.
16. Brings over.~\ Traducit signifies to bring, or convey, from one
place to another. It is used to denote transplanting trees, or other
plants, in gardens, &c. and is a very significant word here, to denote the
transplanting, as it were, of these vile people from the east to Rome.
IS. That joins, &c.~\ The perfection of heroic poetry, which seems
here intended, is the uniting grand and lofty expression, eloquium
vocale, with tuneful measures modis canoris.
Vocalis signifies something loud making a noise therefore,
when applied to poetry, lofty high-sounding. q. d. No writer,
hereafter, who excels in uniting loftiness of style with harmony of
verse, shall be driven, through want, into employments which are be-
low the dignity of his pursuits as a poet. Comp. 1. 3 6.
19. Bitten the laurel."^ Laurum momordit. It was a notion that,
when young poets were initiated into the service of the Muses, it was
a great help to their genius to chew a piece of laurel, in honour of
Apollo. Some think that the expression is figurative, and means
those who have tasted of glory and honour by their compositions ;
but the first sense seems to agree best wich what follows.
20. Mind this.'] Hoc agite lit. do this /. e. diligently apply
yourselves to poetry.
Of the emperor.] Ducis is here applied to the emperor, as the
great patron and chief over the liberal arts.
21. Seeks matter for itself .~\ Carefully endeavours to find out its
own gratification by rewarding merit.
23. Therefore the parchment, &c.] They wrote on parchment,
which sometimes was dyed of a sattroli-colour ; sometimes it was
white, and wrapped up in coloured parchment. The tabellss were
the books themselves /. e, the pages on which their manuscript*
were written.
If, says the poet, you take the pains to write volumes full, in
276 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vn,
Impletur ; lignorum aliquid posce ocyus, et quae
Componis, dona Veneris, Telesine, marito : 25
Aut claude, et positos tinea pertunde libellos.
Frange miser calamos, vigilataque prajlia dele,
Qui facis in parva sublimia carmina cella,
Ut dignus venias hederis, et imagine macra.
Spes nulla ulterior : didicit jam dives avarus 30
Tantum admirari, tantum laudare disertos,
Ut pueri Junonis avem. Sed defluit aetas,
Et pelagi patiens, et cassidis, atque ligonis.
Taedia tune subeunt animos, tune seque suamque
Terpsichoren odit facunda et nuda senectus. 35
Accipe nunc artes, ne quid tibi conferat iste,
Quern colis : Musarum et Apollinis jede relicta,
Ipse facit versus, atque uni cedit Homero,
Propter mi lie aniros. At si dulcedine famae
Succensus recites, Maculonus commodat xdes ; 40
hopes of finding any other than Caesar to reward you, you had better
prevent your disappointment, by burning them as fast as you can.-
Lignorum aliqu'd posce ocyus lose no time in procuring wood for
the purpose.
2j. Tehsinus.] The poet to whom this Satire is addressed.
The husband of Penus.] Vulcan, the fabled god of fire here
put for the fire itself. He was the husband of Venus.
q. d. Put all your writings into the fire.
26. Or shut uft, and tore, &c ] Lay by your books, and let the
moths eat them. /
27. Tour 'watched battles.] Your writings upon battles, the de-
scriptions of which have cost you many a watchful, sleepless night.
28. ^ small cell."] A wretched garret, as we say.
29. Worthy of i-vy, f/V.] That, after all the pains you have taken,
you may have an image, t. c. a representation of your lean and starved
person, with a little paltry ivy put round the head of it, in the temple
of Apollo.
30. There is no farther hope.] You can expect nothing better-
nothing beyond this.
32. As boys the bird of Juno.] As children admire, and are de-
lighted with the beauty of a peacock, (see AINSW. tit. Argus,) which
is of no service to the bird ; so the patrons, which you think of get-
ting, however rich and able to afford it they may be, will yet give
you nothing but compliments on your performances : these will do
you no more service, than the children's admiration does the peacock.
32 33. Tour age passes away.] You little think that, while
yoif are employing yourself to no purpose, as to your present subsist-
ence, or provision for the future, by spending your time in writing
verses, your life is gliding away, and old age is stealing upon you
your youth, which is able to endure the toils and dangers of the
sea, the fatigues of wars, or the labours of husbandry, is decaying,
SAT. vii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 277
Is filled, get some wood quickly, and what
You compose, Telesinus, give to the husband of Venus : 25
Or shut up, and bore thro' with the moth your books laid by.
Wretch; break your pens, and blot out your watched battles,
Who makest sublime verses in a small cell,
That you may become worthy of ivy, and a lean image.
There is no farther hope : a rich miser hath now learnt, 30
As much to admire, as much to praise witty men,
As boys the bird of Juno. But your age, patient of the sea,
And of the helmet, and of the spade, passes away.
Then weariness comes upon the spirits ; then, eloquent
And naked old age hates both itself and its Terpsichore. 35
Hear now his arts, lest he whom you court should give you
Any thing : both the temple of the Muses, and of Apollo, being
forsaken,
Himself makes verses, and yields to Homer alone,
Because a thousand years [before him.] But if, with the desire of
fame
Inflamed, you repeat your verses, Maculonus lends a house ; 40
34>. Then.'j When you grow old.
Weariness, &V.] You'll be too feeble, in body and mind, to
endure any labour, and become irksome even to yourself.
35. Hates both itself and its Terpsichore. ^ Your old age, how-
ever learned, clothed in rags, will curse itself, and the Muse that
has been your undoing Terpsichore was one of the nine Muses,
who presided over dancing and music : she is fabled to have invented
the harp here, by meton. lyric poetry may be understood.
36. His arts, ffc.] The artifices which your supposed patron will
use, to have a fair excuse for doing nothing for you.
37. The temple, &V.J There was a temple of the Muses at Rome
which was built by Martins Philippus, where poets used to recite their
works. Augustus built a library, and a temple to Apollo, on Mount
Palatine, where the poets used also to recite their verses, and where
they were deposited. See PERS. prol. 1. 7. and HOR. lib. i. epist.
iii. I. 17.
Among the tricks made use of by these rich patrons, to avoid giv-
ing any thing to their poor clients^ the poets, they affected to make
verses so well themselves, as not to stand in need of the poetry of
others ; therefore they deserted the public recitals, and left the poor
retainers on Apollo and the Muses to shift as they could.
38. Tields to Homer alone.] In his own conceit ; and this only
upon account of Homer's antiquity, not as thinking himself Ho-
mer's inferior in any other respect.
39. If 'with the desire of fame, CsV.] If you don't want to get mo-
ney by your verses, and only wish to repeat them for the sake of
applause.
4-0. MstuJonus, v3V-} Some rich man will lend you his house.
278 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. vn.
Ac longe ferrata domus servirejubetur,
In qua sollicitas imitatur janua portas. ,
Scit dare libertos extrema in parte sedentes
Ordinis, et magnas comitum disponere voces.
Nemodabit regum, quanti subsellia constent, 45
Et qure conducto pendent anabathra tigillo,
Quaeque reportandis posita est orchestra cathedris,
Nos tamen hoc agimus, tenuique in pulvere sulcos
Ducimus, et littus sterili versamus aratro.
Nam si discedas, laqueo tenet ambitiosi 50
Consuetude mali : tenet insanabile multos
Scribendi cacoethes, et aegro in corde senescit.
Sed vatem egregium, cui non sit publica vena,
Qui nihil expositum soleat deducere, nee qui
Communi feriat carmen triviale moneta ; 55
Hunc, qualem nequeo monstrare, et sentip tantum,
41. Strongly larr'd."\ Longe-^lit. exceedingly very much
q. d. If you are thought to want money of him for your verses, the
doors of his house will be barred against you, and resemble the gates
of a city when besieged, and under the fear and anxiety which the
besiegers occasion ; but if you profess only to write for fame, he
will open his house to you, it will be at your service, that you may
recite your verses within it, and will procure you hearers, of his own
freedmen and dependents, whom he will order to applaud you.
43. He knows how to place, &c.] Dare lit. to give q. d. He
knows how to dispose his freedmen on the farthest seats behind the
rest of the audience, that they may begin a clap, which will be fol-
lowed by those who are seated more forward, Ordo is a rank or row
of anything, so of benches or seats.
44. And to <Itspote t &c.~] How to dispose his clients and follow-
ers, so as best to raise a roar of applause euge ! bene ! bravo !
as we say, among your hearers. All this he will do, for it costs him
nothing.
46. The stairs, &c.~] These were for the poet to ascend by intQ
bis rostrum, and were fastend to a little beam, or piece of wood,
which was hired for the purpose.
47. The orchestra, &c>] The orchestra at the Greek theatres was
the part where the chorus danced- the stage. Among the Romans
it was the space between the stage and the common seats, where the
senators and nobles sat to see plays acted. The poor poet is here
supposed to make up such a place as this for the reception of the
better sort, should any attend his recitals ; but this was made up of
hired chairs, by way of seats, but which were to be returned as soon
as the business was over.
48. Tet we' still go on."] Hoc agimus lit. we do this we stiH
pursue our poetical studies. Hoc agere is a phrase signifying tq
SAT. tu. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 279
And the house strongly barr'd is commanded to serve you,
In which the door imitates anxious gates.
He knows how to place his freedmen, sitting in the extreme part
Of the rows, and to dispose the loud voices of his attendants.
None of these great men will give as much as the benches may cost, 45
And the stairs which hang from the hired beam,
And the orchestra, which is set with chairs, which are to be carried
back.
Yet we still go on, and draw furrows in the light
Dust, and turn up the shore with a barren plough.
For if you would leave off, custom of ambitious evil 50
Holds you in a snare : many an incurable ill habit of writing
Possesses, and grows inveterate in the distemper 'd heart.
But the excellent poet, who has no common vein,
Who is wont to produce nothing trifling, nor who
Composes trivial verse in a common style, 55
Him (such a one I can't shew, and only conceive)
mind, attend to, what we are about. See TER. And. act. I. sc. ii.
1. 12. So before, 1. 20. hoc agite, O Juvenes.
48. Draw furrows, CjV.] We take much pains to no purpose,
like people who should plough in the dust, or on the sea-shore.
Comp. sat. i. 157, note.
50. Would leave off.~\ Discedas if you would ayxirt from the
occupation of making verses. 3|>
'- Custom of ambitious evil.'] Evil ambitionpwhich it is so'
customary for poets to be led away with
51. An incurable ill habit. ~\ Cacoethes (from Gr. xx$, bad, and
*?, a custom or habit) an evil habit. Many are got into such an
itch of scribbling, that they cannot leave it oft. Caooethes also sig-
nifies a boil, an ulcer, and the like.
52. Grows inveterate, tfr.] It grows old with the man, and roots
itself, as it were, by time, in his very frame.
53. No common vein."] Such talents as are not found among the
generality.
54. Nothing trifling.] Expositum common, trifling, obvious
nothing in a common way.
55. Trivial verse, &c.~j Trivialis comes from trivium, a place where
three ways meet, a place of common resort : therefore I conceive the
meaning of this line to be, that such a poet as Juvenal is describing
writes nothing low or vulgar ; such verses as are usually sought after,
and purchased by the common people in the street. The word feriat
is here metaphorical. Ferio literally signifies to strike, or hit ; thus
to coin or stamp money hence to compose or make (hit off, as we
say) verses ; which, if done by a good poet, may be saitfo.be of no
common stamp. Moneta is the stamp, or impression, on money
bence, by metaph. a style in writing.
280 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. VM.
Anxietate carens animus facit, omnis acerbi
Impatiens, cupidus sylvarum, aptusque bibendis
Fontibus Aonidum : neque enim cantare sub antro
Pierio, thyrsumve potest contingere sana 60
Paupertas, atque aeris inops, quo nocte dieque
Corpus eget. Satur est, cum dicit Horatius, Euhoe !
Quis locus ingenio : nisi cum se carmine solo
Vex ant, et dominis Cirrhas, Nisaeque feruntur
Pectora nostra, duas non admittentia curas ? 65
Magnae mentis opus, nee de lodice paranda
Attonitae, currus et equos, faciesque Deorum
Aspicere, et qualis Rutulum confundit Erinnys.
Nam si Virgilio puer, et tolerabile desit
Hospitium, caderent omnes a crinibus hydri : 7O
Surda nihil gemeret grave buccina. Poscimus ut sit
Non minor antiquo Rubrenus Lappa cothurno,
57- A mind, &c.~\ I. e. Such a poet is formed by a mind that is
void of care and anxiety.
58. Imfiatient."] That hates all trouble, can't bear vexatio>n.
Desirous of <woods.~\ Of sylvan retirement.
59. Fountains of the Muses.] Called Aonides, from their supposed
habitation in Aonia, which was the hilly part of Bceotia, and where
there were many springs and fountains sacred to the Muses. Of
these fountains good poets were, in a figurative sense, said to drink,
and by this to be assisted in thsir compositions.
59 60. In the Pierian cave, &c.] Pieria was a district of Mace-
don, where was a cave, or den, sacred to the Muses.
GO. Thyrsus.~\ A spear wrapt about with ivy, which they carried
about in their hands at the wild feasts of Bacchus, in imitation of
Bacchus, who bore a thyrsus in his hand. The meaning of this pas-
sage is, that, for a poet to write well, he should be easy in his situ-
ation, and in his circumstances : for those who are harassed with po-
verty and want cannot write well, either in the more sober style of
poetry, or in the more enthusiastic and Rightly strains of composition.
By sana paupertas, the poet would insinuate, that no poor poet, that
had his senses, would ever attempt it.
62. Horace is sat'nf.ed, sV.] It might be objected, that Horace
was poor when he wrote, therefore Juvenal's rule won't hold, that a
poor poet can't well write. To this Juvenal would answer, " True,
*' Horace was poor, considered as to himself; but then remember
" what a patron he had in Mecasnas, and how he was enabled by
" him to avoid the cares of poverty. When he wrote his fine Ode
" to Bacchus, and uttered his sprightly Evae or Euhoe he, doubt-
less, was well sated with good cheer." See lib ii. ode xix. 1. 5 P.
64-. The lords of Cirrha and Nisa.~\ Apollo and Bacchus, the tu-
telar gods of poets. Cirrha was a town of Phocis, near Delphktg, (_
where Apollo had an oracle.
SAT. vii. JUVENAL'S "SATIRES. 281
A mind free from anxiety makes ; of every thing displeasing
Impatient, desirous of woods, and disposed for drinking the
Fountains of the Muses : for neither to sing in the
Pierian cave, or to handle the thyrsus, is poverty, 60
Sober, and void of money, (which night and day the body wants,)
Able. Horace is satisfied, when he says Euhoe !
What place is there for genius, unless when with verse alone
Our minds trouble themselves, and by the lords of Cirrha and Nisa
Are carried on, not admitting two cares at once ? 65
It is the work of a great mind, not of one that is amazed about
Getting a blanket, to behold chariots, and horses, and the faces
Of the gods, and what an Erinnys confounded the Rutulian ;
For if a boy, and a tolerable lodging had been wanting to Virgil,
All the snakes would have fallen from her hairs : 70
The silent trumpet have groan'd nothing disastrous. Do we require
That Rubrenus Lappa should not be less than the ancient buskin,
Nisa, a den in Arabia, where Bacchus was educated by the nymphs,
when sent thither by Mercury. From hence Bacchus was called
Dionysius ex Ale?, and Nisa ; Gr. Atowo-ios.
65. Carried on.] i. e. Inspired, and assisted.
66. Not of one, &c .] q. d. It is the work of a greaL-and power,
ful mind, above want, not of one that is distracted about getting a
blanket for his bed, to fix the eye of the imagination, so as to con-
ceive and describe horses and chariots, and godlike appearances, in
such a manner as to do justice to these sublime subjects of heroic
verse. See VIRG. JEn. xii. 1. 326, 7.
68. And 'what an Erinrys.] How Alecto looked when she asto-
nished the Rutulian king Turmis when she filled him with terror, by
throwing her torch at him. jEn. vii. 1. 456, 7. Erinnys is a name
common to the three furies of hell, of which Alecto was one.
70. All the snakes iv wild have fallen > EsV.J q. d. Had Virgil been
poor, and without his pleasures and conveniences, he never would have
been able to describe, in the manner he has done, the snaky tresses of
Alecto. See -<En. vii. 1. 450. All this had been lost to us.
71. The silent trum[iet.~\ Surdus not only means to express one
who does not hear, but that also which gives no sound. See sat. xiii.
1. 194.
Juvenal alludes to JEn. vii. 1. 519, 20, 1.
72. Rubrenus Lajipa, &c.~\ An ingenious, but poor and miserable
tragic poet, who lived in Juvenal's time.
Less than the ancient busLin.~\ Not inferior to the old writers
of tragedy. Cothurno, per metonym. put here for the tragic poets,
as it often is for tragedy.
VOL. t. ? o
282 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT . VII .
Cujus et alveoles et tanam pignerat Atreus ?
Non habet infelix Nuraitor, quod mittat amico ;
Quintillae quod donet, habet : nee defuit illi, 75
Unde emeret multa pascendum carne leonem
Jam domitum. Constat leviori bellua sumptu
Nimirum, et capiunt plus intestina poetae.
Contentus fama jaceat Lucanus in hortis
Marmoreis : at Serrano, tenuique Saleio 80
Gloria quant alibet, quid erit, si gloria tantum est ?
Curritur ad vocem jucundam, et carmen amicae
Thebaidos, laetam fecit cum Statins urbera,
Promisitque diem : tanta dulcedine captos
Afficit ille animos, tantaque libidine vulgi 85
Auditur : sed cum fregit subsellia versu,
Esurit, intactam Paridi nisi vendat Agaven.
73. dtreus Jiad laid In pa<wn.~\ It has been observed by Ainsworth,
against Stephanus and other lexicographers, that pignero does not
mean to take, or receive, a thing in pawn, but to send it into pawn.
In this view we may understand Atreus to bfr the name of some tra-
gedy, on the subject of Atreus, king of Mycenae, which met with
such bad success as to oblige poor Rubrenus to pawn his clothes and
furniture. Stephanus and others understand pignerat in the sense of
taking to pawn, and suppose Atreus to be the name of the pawnbro-
ker, to whom Rubrenus had pawned his goods.
The first sense seems to have the best authority ; but with which-
ever we may agree, the thought amounts to the same thing in sub-
stance viz. Can it be expected that this poor poet should equal the
fire and energy of the old tragic writers, while his clothes and furni-
ture were pawned, in order to supply him with present necessaries to
keep him from starving ? A man in such distress, whatever his ge-
nius might be, could not exert it.
74. Numitor.'] The name Numitor may stand, here, for any rich
man, who would let a poet starve for want of that money which he
lays out upon his mistress, or in buying some useless curiosity, such
as a tame lion. Infelix is here ironical.
78. Doubtless^ y^.j Ironically said. No doubt it would cost
more to maintain a poet than a lion.
79. Lucan, tff.] A learned and rich poet of Corduba in Spain,
who, coming to Rome, was made a knight. He wrote, but lived
Hot to finish, the civil wars between Caesar and Pompey, in an heroic
poem, called Pharsalia. He was put to death by Nero. See more,
AINSW. Lucanus.
May lie in gardens, sV.] Repose himself in ease and luxury,
fame being sufficient for one who wants nothing else. Marmoreis
adorned with fine buildings of marble.
80. Serranut, and to thin Saleius, &c.~] These were two poor
peetg in Juvenal's time. Of the latter Tacitus says " Who takes
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. . 283
Whose platters, and cloke, Atreus had laid in pawn ?
Unhappy Numitor has not what he can send to a friend ;
He has what he can give to Quintilla : nor was there wanting to him 75
Wherewithal he might buy a lion, to be fed with much flesh,
Already tamed. The beast stands him in less expense,
Doubtless, and the intestines of a poet hold more.
Lucan, content with fame, may lie in gardens adorn 'd with
Marble : but to Serranus, and to thin Saleius, 80
What will ever so much fame be, if it be only fame ?
They run to the pleasing voice, and poem of the favourite
Thebais, when Statius has made the city glad,
And has promised a day : with so great sweetness does he affect
The captivated minds, and is heard with so much eager desire 85
Of the vulgar : but when he has broken the benches with his verse,
He hungers, unless he should sell hia untouched Agave to Paris.
" any notice of, or even attends or speaks to, our excellent poet
** Saleius r"
These men may get fame by the excellence of their compositions ;
but what signifies that, if they get nothing else ? fame won't feed
them.
Perhaps the poet calls Saleius tenuis thin, from his meagre ap-
pearance .
82. They run.] Curritur, here used impersonally, like concurritur.
HOR. sat. i. 1. 7.
The pleasing voice.] i. e. Of Statius, when he reads over his
Thebais in public.
84. Promised a day] i. e. Appointed a day for a public recital
of his poem on the Theban war.
86. Broken the .benches , fc?<r.l By the numbers of his hearers, who
flocked to attend him when he recited his Thebais, Notwithstanding
this he must starve, for any thing the nobles will do for him.
87. His untouched Agave.] His new play called ^gave, which
has never been heard, or performed. This play was formed upon the
story of Agave, the daughter of Cadmus, who was married to Echion
king of Thebes, by whom she had Penthseus, whom she, and the rest
of the Menades, in their mad revels, tore limb from limb, because he
would drink no wine, and for this was supposed to slight the feasts of
Bacchus. AINSW. See HOR. Sat. lib. ii. sat. Hi. 1. 303; and
OVID, Met. iii. 71'5 8.
Paris.] A stage-player, in high favour with Domitian ; in-
somuch that Domitian fell in love with him, and repudiated his wife
Domitia for his sake.
What Juvenal says here, and in the three following lines, in a
seeming complimentary way, was no more than a sneer upon Paris
the player, and, through him, upon the emperor, who so understood
284- JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. vir.
Ille et militue multis largitur honorem ;
Sernestri vatum digitos circumligat auro.
Quod non dant proceres, dabit histrio. Tu Camerinos 90
Et Bareas, tu nobilium magna atria curas ?
Pnefectos Pelopea facit, Philomela tribunes.
Hand tamen invideas vati, quern pulpita pascunt.
Quis tibi Mecaenas ? quis nunc erit aut Proculeius,
Aut Fabius ? quis Cotta iterum ? quis Lentulus alter ? 95
Tune par ingenio pretium : tune utile multis
Pallere, et vinum toto nescire Decembri.
Vester porro labor foecundior, historiarum
it, and turned our author's jest into his punishment, for in his old age,
he sent him into ./Egypt, by way of an honorary service, with a mi-
litary command. This shews that this Satire was written in the time
of Domitian, and he is meant by Cassare, 1. 1.
However, it is very evident, that Juvenal meant to rebuke the no-
bles for their parsimony towards men of genius, by shewing how ge-
nerous Paris was to them, insomuch that they ought to be ashamed to
be outdone by a stage* player.
89. Semeslrlan gold.] Semestris not only means a space of six
months, (sex mensium), but the half or middle of a month. The
moon is called semestris, when she is arrived at the middle of her
month, and is quite round in form.
The aurum semestre, here, means gold in a round form, /. e. a
ring ; such as was worn by knights, to which dignity some poets
had been raised, through the interest of this stage-player with the
emperor. But qu. If there be not here an allusion to the winter
and summer rings ? See sat. i. I. 28.
91. Cdmerini and Bare*, &c.] Some rich nobles, whose levees the
poor poets might attend in vain.
92. Pelopea makes prefects.'] The tragedy of Pelopea, the daughter
of Thyestes, who was lain with by her own father, and produced
JEgysthus, who killed Agamemnon and'Atreus.
Philomela tribunes.] The tragedy of Philomela, the daugh-
ter of Pandion king of Athens, ravished by Tereus, who had mar-
ried her sister Progne. See more, AINSW. tit. Philomela.
The poet seems here to insinuate, that the performance of Paris,
in these tragedies, ee charmed the emperor, and gave the actor such
an ascendancy over him, as to enable Paris to have the great offices
of state at his disposal, so that they were conferred on whomsoever he
pleased.
93. Envy not, &c.~] q. d. Though, in some instances, great things
have been done for some individuals, through the influence and interest
of Paris, yet, in general, those who have nothing else to depend on
but writing for the stage, are left to starve, and therefore are hardly
(haud) to be envied. Pulpita see sat. iii. 1. 174-, note.
94-. Mecanas] Who is the rich man that is such a patron to you,
as Mecaenas was to Horace ? who not only enriched him, but made
SAT. vii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 285
He also bestows military honour on many ;
He binds round the fingers of poets with Semcstrian gold.
What nobles do not give, an actor will. Dost thou trouble thine 90
Head about the Camerini and Bareae, and the great courts of nobles ?
Pelopea makes prefects, Philomela tribunes.
Yet envy not the poet whom the stage maintains.
Who is your Mecanas ? who now will be either a Proculeius,
Or a Fabius ? who a second Cotta ? who another Lentulus ? 95
Then reward was equal to genius : then 'twas useful to many
To be pale, and to know nothing of wine for a whole December.
Moreover your labour, ye writers of histories, is more
him his friend and companion, and introduced him to the favour of
the emperor Augustus.
94-. Procuhius.] A Roman knight, intimate with Augustus. He
was so liberal to his two brothers, Scipio and Murena, that he shared
his whole patrimony with them, when they had been ruined by the
civil wars. See HOR. lib. iu ode ii. 1. 5, 6.
95. Fabius.^ The Fabius is, perhaps, here meant, to whom Ovid
wrote four epistles in his banishment, as to a noble and generous pa-
tron of men of genius. Or it may relate to Fabius Maximus, who
sold his estate, in order to redeem some Romans who had been taken
captives by Hannibal.
Gvita.~j A great friend to Ovid, who wrote to him three
times from Pontus, as to a constant patron. Ovid says to him :
Cumque labent alii, jactataque vela relinquant,
Tu laceras remanes anchora sola rati :
Grata tua est igitur pietas. Ignoscimus illis,
Qui, cum fortuna, terga dederc fugx.
Lenluluf.~\ A man of great liberality, to whom CiC. epist.
vii. lib. i. ad famii. thus writes : Magna est hominum opinio de te,
magna commendatio libcralitatis.
96. Reward was equal, &c.~] When there were such men as these
to encourage genius, and to be the patrons of learning, then reward
was equal to merit.
97. To be fta/e.l With constant study and application, which were
then sure to be profitable. Comp. HOR. epist. iii. 1. 10. PERS,
sat. i. 121'.
.' To know nothing of wine, &c.'] The feast of the Saturnalia
was observed in the month of December, with great festivity and jol-
lity, with plenty of wine and good cheer : all this it was worth a
poet's while to give up entirely for his study : and rather than not
iinish what he was about, not taste so much as a single drop of wine
during the whole festival, knowing that be was certain to be well
paid for his pains. .
98. Tour labour, &c.~\ He now speaks of the writers of history,
whose labour and fatigue are beyond those of other writers, and yet
they are equally neglected.
2S6 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vn.
Scriptores : petit liic plus temporis, atque olei plus :
Namque oblita modi millesima pagina surgit 100
Omnibus, et crescit multa damnosa papyro.
Sic ingens rerurn numerus jubet, atque operum lex.
Qua? tamen inde seges ? terras quis fructus apertas ?
Quis dabit historico, quantum daret acta legend ?
Sed genus ignavum, quod lecto gaudet et umbra. 105
Die igitur, quid causidicis civilia praestent
Officia, et magno cornices in fasce libelli ?
Ipsi magua sonant : sed tune cum creditor audit
Prascipue.- vel si tetigit latus acrior illo,
Qui venit ad dubium grandi cum codice nomen : 110
Tune immensa cavi spirant mendacia folles,
Conspuiturque sinus. Verum deprendere messem
98 9. Is more abundant, &c.~] The subject-matter more various
and extensive.
99. More oil.] Alluding to the lamps which they used to write
by, in which they consumed a great quantity of oil. See sat. i.
1. 51, note.
100. Forgetful of measure.] The subjects are so various, and the
incidents crowd in so fast upon the historian, that he passes all bounds,
without attending to the size of his work it rises to a thousand
pages before you are aware.
101. Ruinous with much paper.] So much paper is used, as to
ruin the poor historian with the expense of it.
102. The great number of things.] i. e. Which are treated.
' The law of such works.] The rules of history, which oblige
the historian to be particular in his relation of facts, and, of course,
diffuse.
103. What harvest, &c.] What profit do ye reap ?
The far extended ground.] The wide and boundless field of
history. Comp. VIRG. Geor. iii. 194, 5 ; and Geor. ii. 280.
Some think that this expression of terras apertse, taken in connexion
with the seges, is, as that is, metaphorical, and alludes to the labour
of the hu&bandman, in opening the ground by tillage, in order to pre-
pare it for the seed. So the historian ploughs, and digs, and labours,
as it were, in the field of history, in hopes of reaping profit thereby.
10i. A collector of the registers.] The acta were journals, regis-
ters, acts of the senate, or the like records. The clerk, who wrote
or collected them, was called actuarius. He was a sort of historian
in his way.
105. They are an idle race, fcfr.] But perhaps it may be said,
that, though they write much, yet that they write at their ease ; that
they, as well as the poets, are a lazy set of fellows, who write lol-
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 287
Abundant : this demands more time, and more oil ;
For the thousandth page, forgetful of measure, arises 100
To ye all, and increases ruinous with much paper :
Thus the great number of things ordains, and the law of (such) works*
What harvest is from thence ? what fruit of the far extended ground ?
Who will give an historian as much as he would give to a collector
of the registers ?
But they are an idle race, which rejoices in a couch or a shade. 105
Tell me then, what civil offices afford to the lawyers,
And the libels their attendants in a great bundle ?
They make a great noise, but especially then, when the creditor
Hears, or if one, more keen than he, has touched his side,
Who comes with a great book to a doubtful debt : 110
Then his hollow bellows breathe out prodigious lies,
And his bosom is spit upon. But if you would discover the
ling upon their couches, or repose themselves in shady places. Hence
HOR. lib. i. ode xxxii. 1. 1.
Poscimus. Si quid vaeui sub umbra
Lusimus tecum.
And again :
Somno gaudentis et umbra. Epist. ii. lib. ij. I. 78.
106. Civil offices, sV.] What they get by their pleading for their
clients in civil actions.
107. The libels, &c.~\ Their bundles of briefs which they carry
with them into court.
108. si great noise,] Bawls aloud magna, adverbially, for mag-
nopere. Gnecism. bee sat. vi. 516. Grande sonat.
108 9. Especially when the creditor hears.~[ Creditor signifies
one that lends, or trusts, a creditor.
The lawyer here spoken of must be supposed to be of council with
the plaintiff, or creditor, who makes a demand of money lent to ano-
ther. If the lawyer observes him to be within hearing, he exerts
himself the more.
109. One more keen.~] If another, of a more eager disposition, and
more earnest about the event of his cause, who sues for a book-debt of
a doubtful nature, and brings his account-books to prove it, thinks
that the lawyer does not exert himself sufficiently in hif-cause, and in-
timates this to the pleader, by a jog on the side with his elbow then,
&c. See AINSW, Codex, No. 2 ; and Nomen, No. 5.
111. His hollow bellows. ~\ i. e. His lungs.
Breathe out prodigious //.] In order to deceive the court,
and to make the best of a bad cause.
112. Is s/iit upon.'] Is slavered all over with his foaming at the
mouth.
If you would discover, }V.] Were it possible to compute
the gains of lawyers, you might put all they get in one scale, and in
288 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. ru,
Si libet ; hinc centum patrimonia causidicorum,
Parte alia solum russati pone Lacertas.
Consedere duces : surgis tu pallidus Ajax, 115
Dicturus dubia pro libertate, Bubulco
Judice. Rumpe miser tensum jecur, ut tibi lasso
Figantur virides, scalarum gloria, palmas.
Quod vocis pretium ? siccus petasunculus, et vas
Pelamidum, aut veteres, Afriorum epimenia, bulbi ;
Aut vinum Tiberi devectum : quinque lagenae,
Si quater egisti. Si contigit aureus unus,
Inde cadunt partes, ex foedere pragmaticorum.
the other those of Domitian's coachman, and there would be no com-
parison, the latter would so far exceed.
As some understand by the russati Lacertae, a charioteer belonging
to Domitian, who was clad in a red livery, and was a great favourite
of that emperor ; so others understand some soldier to be meant, who,
as the custom then was, wore a red or russet apparel : in this view the
meaning is, that the profits of one hundred lawyers, by pleading, don't
amount in value to the plunder gotten by one soldier. So Mr. C.
DR.YDEN :
Ask what he gains by all this lying prate.
A captain's plunder trebles his estate.
So Joh. Britannicus Russati Lacerta.'j Lacerta, nomen militis,
fictum a poeta : nam milites Romani usi sunt in praelio vestibus rus-
satis, c.
115. The chief i, CsV.] Consedere duces The beginning of Ovid's
account of the dispute, between Ulysses and Ajax, for the armour of
Achilles. OVID, Met. lib. xiii. 1. 1. Here humourously introduced to
describe the sitting of the judges on the bench in a court of justice.
Thou risest a pale j4jax.~] Alluding to OVID, lib. xiii. 1. 2.
Surgit ad hos clypei dominus septemplicis Ajax
by way of ridicule on the eager and agitated lawyer, who is supposed
to arise with as much fury and zeal in his client's cause, as Ajax did
to assert his pretensions to the armour in dispute.
116. Doubtful freedom. ] The question in the cause'is supposed to
be, whether such or such a one is entitled to the freedom of the city ;
there were many causes on this subject.
116 17. Subitkus being judge.'] This may mean C, Attih'us
Bubulcus, who was consul. Or, by BubuJcus, the poet may mean
some stupid, ignorant fellow, who was fitter to be an herdsman, than
to fill a seat of justice. And thus the poet might satirize the ad-
vancement of persons to judicial offices, who were totally unqualified
and unfit for them.
117. Break your stretched liver. J Which, with the other contents in
the region of the diaphragm, must be distended by the violent
exertions of the speaker : or it may mean the liver distended by
SAT. vii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 289
Profit, put the patrimony of an hundred lawyers on one side,
And on the other that of the red-clad Lacerta only.
The chiefs are set down together, thou risest a pale Ajax, 115
In order to plead about doubtful freedom, Bubulcus
Being judge : break, wretch, your stretched liver, that to you fa-
tigued,
Green palms may be fixed up, the glory of your stairs.
What is the reward of your voice ? a dry bit of salt bacon, and a vessel
Of sprats, or old bulbous roots which come monthly from Africa, 12O
Or. wine brought down the Tiber : five flagons,
If you have pleaded four times If one piece of gold befals,
From thence shares fall, according to the agreement of pragmatics.
anger. So Horace on another occasion fervens difficiii bile tumet je-
cur. HOR. ode xiii. lib. i. 1. 4?.
118. Green fialms, &c.] It was the custom of the client, if he
succeeded in his cause, to fix such a garland at the lawyer's door.
The glory of your stairs.'] By which the poor lawyer ascended
to his miserable habitation.
120. Of your voice."] Of all your bawling What do you get by-
all the noise which you have been making ?
Of sjirats.] Pelamidum. It is not very certain what these fish
were ; but some small and cheap fish seem to be here meant. Ains-
worth says they were called pelamides, a Gr. 7r^As-, lutum clay or
mud. Most likely they were chiefly found in mud, like our grigs in
the Thames, and were, like them, of little worth.
Old bulbout roots, &c.~] Perhaps onions are here meant, which
might be among the small presents sent monthly from Africa to Rome.
See AINSW. Epimenia. PLIN. xix. 5. calls a kind of onion, epime-
nidium, from Gr. urtftwdioi. AINSW. Epimenidium. Those sent to
the lawyer were veteres old and stale.
121. Wine brought down the Tiber.] Coming down the stream from
Vejento, or some other place where bad wine grew.
Five jlagons.~\ Lagena was a sort of bottle in which wine
vas kept. The five lagenaj cannot be supposed to make up any great
quantity. Five bottles of bad wine, for pleading four causes, waa
poor pay.
122. A fnece of gold, ?<:.] If it should so happen, that you should
get a piece of gold for a fee. The Roman aureus was in value about
11. 4s. 3d. according to Pliny, lib. xxxiii. c. 3. See post, 1. 243.
1 23. Thence shares fall, &c .] This poor pittance must be divided
into shares, and fall equally to the lot of others besides yourself.
According to the agreement, $5*r.J Ainsworth says, that the
pragmatici were prompters, who sat behind the lawyers while they
were pleading, and instructed them, telling them what the law, and
the meaning of the law, was. For this, it may be supposed, that
the pragmstici agreed with the lawyers, whom they thus served, to
share in the fees. We use the word pragmatical, to denote busily-
meddling and intruding into others' concerns hence foolishly talk-
VOL. r. Q Q
290 JUVENALIS SATIRJK. SAT. TII.
JEmilio dabitur, quantum petet, et melius nos
Egunus : hujus enim stat currus aheneus, alti 125
Quadrijuges ia vestibulis, atque ipse feroci
Bellatore sedens curvatum hastile minatur
Eminus, et statua meditatur praeb'a lusca.
Sic Pedo conturbat,~Matho deficit: exitus hie est
Tongilli, magrK) cum vhinocerote lavari 130
Qui solet, et vexat lutulenta balnea turba
Perque forum juvenes longo premit assere Medos*
Empturus puerns, argentum, myrrhina, villas ;
Spondet enim Tyrio stlataria purpura filo*
Et tamen hoc ipsis est utile : purpura vendit 135
Causidicum, vendunt amethystina : convenit illis
ative, impertinent, saucy. PHILLIPS.- Gr. ?rg*y*;eTtf solers in
negotiis agendis.
12*. To JEmiliiii tvilllt given, life.] We may suppose that this
^Emilias was a rich lawyer, who, though of inferior abilities to ma-
ny poor pleaders, yet got a vast deal of money by the noble and
splendid appearance which he made.
1 24- 5. We h&<ve pleaded better.] Though there be some among
\js who are abler lawyers.
125. A brazen chariot ; v5V.] He had a large brazen statue, a fine
bronze, as we should call it, of a chariot, drawn by four horses,
placed in his vestibule, or entrance to his house, which made a mag-
nificent appearance. Quadrijugis signifies four horses harnessed to-
gether, and drawing in a chariot.
126 7. Himself sitting, ?<:.] There was also an equestrian sta-
tue of jEmilius himself, mounted on a war-horse, in the very action
of bending back his arm, as if ready to throw a javelin.
128. A blinking statue.] The statue represents ^Emilius as meditat-
ing some great stroke against an enemy, and having one eye shut, in
order to take aim with the other. Or perhaps jEinilius had but one
eye, which the statue represented. All these things, v.-hich can add
no real worth or ability to the owner of them, yet strike the vulgar
with high veneration for ^Emilius, and engage them to employ him in
preference to others, insomuch that he may have what fees he pleases.
See 1. 124.
129. Thus Pedo breaks.] Conturbat ruins himself by wanting
to appear rich, in order to draw clients.
Mat/io fails.'] Becomes bankrupt, as it were, by the expense
he puts himself to on the same account.
i 30. Of TongHhtt.] This was some other lawyer, who ruined him-
elf by wanting to seem rich and considerable.
With large rhinoceros.] The richer sort used to go to the
baths, with their oil in a vessel made of the horn of a rhinoceros,
which was very expensive. Tongillus did this in order to be thought
rich. So ivory is called elephant. Geor. iii. 26. Melon.
131. H'tth a dirty crowd,] Who followed him through the dirty ,
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 291
i
To ,<Emilius will be given as much as he will ask ; and we have
Pleaded better : for a brazen chariot stands, and four stately 1 25
Horses in his vestibules, and himself on a fierce
War-horse sitting, brandishes a bent spear
Aloft, and meditates battles with a blinking statue.
Thus Pcdo breaks Matho fails : this is the end
Of Tongilius, who to bathe with large rhinoceros 130
Is wont, and vexes the baths with a dirty crowd j
And thro' the forum presses the young Medes with a long pole,
Going to buy boys, silver, vessels of myrrh, and villas ;
For his foreign purple with Tyrian thread promises for him.
And yet this is useful to them : purple sells 135
The lawyer, violet-colour'd robes sell him : it suits them
streets, as his attendants, and therefore were themselves muddy and
dirty, and, of course, very offensive to the gentry who resorted to
the public baths.
1 3 '2. Presses ike young Medes, CsV.] He rides through the forum
in a litter, set upon pcJes which rested on the shoulders of the bearers.
Toung Medes.] The Romans were furnished with slaves from
Media a;id Pt < sia, who were very tall and robust these were chiefly-
employed in carrying the leeticse, or litters, in which the riciier people
were carried through the streets of Rome.
1 33. Going to buy, &c.~] Appearing thus, as some great man who
was going to hy out money in various articles of luxury. Pueros,
here, means young slaves.
134-. His foreign purple, 3r.] His dress was also, very expensive,
and was such as the nobles wore
Promises for him.'] i. e. Gains him credit. Spondeo properly
signifies to undertake, to be surety for another, and it is here used in a
metaphorical sense ; as if the expensive dress of Tongillus was a surety
for him as being rich, because by this he appeared to be so.
Foreign purple.] Stlatarius (from stlata, a ship or boat) signi-
fies outlandish, foreign, as imported by sea from a foreign country.
Tyrian thread."] The thread, of which the garment of Ton-
gillus was made, was dyed in the liquor of the murex, a shell-fish, of
which came the finest purple dye, and the best of which were found
near Tyre ; therefore we often read of the Tyrian purple, bee
JEn. iv, 262. HOR. epod. xii. 1. 21.
135. This is useful, t3V.] All this parade of appearance is a mean
of recommending the lawyers to observation, and sometimes to em-
ployment, therefore may be said to have its use where it succe'-ds.
135 0. Purple sells the lawyer] His fine appearance is often
the cause of his getting employment, in which, for the price of his
fee, he may be said to sell himself to his client.
J36. Violet '-coloured robes.] Amethystina. The amethyst is a
292 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. T:J,
Et strepitu, et facie majoris vivere censfis.
Sed finem impensse non servat prodiga Roma.
Ut redeant veteres, Ciceroni nemo ducentos
Nunc dederit nummos, nisi fulserit annulus ingenSi 140
Respicit hoc primum qui litigat, an tibi servi
Octo, decem comites, an post te sella, togati
Ante pedes. Ideo conducta Paulus agebat
Sardonyche, atque ideo pluris, quam Cossus agebat,
Quam Basilus. Rara in tenui facundia panno. 145
Quando licet flentem Basilo producere matrem ?
Quis bene dicentem Basilum ferat ? accipiat te
Gallia, vel potius nutricula causidicorum
Africa, si placuit mercedem imponere linguae.
precious stone of a violet-colour. This colour also the gentry among
the Romans were fond of wearing ; and this, therefore, also recom-
mended the lawyers to observation, and sometimes to employment.
137. With the lust/e, &V.] They find it suitable to their views of
recommending themselves, to live above their fortunes, and, of course,
to be surrounded with numbers of attendants, &c. and, from this, and
the appearance of their dress, to seem richer than they were : this, as
the next line imports, because nobody was looked upon that was not
supposed able to afford to be extravagant ; such was the monstrous
prodigality of the times, that the expenses of people were boundless.
139. Nobody would give Cicero, ffc.] Such is the importance of
fashionable and expensive appearance, that even Tully himself, (if he
could return from the dead,) though the greatest orator that Rome
ever saw, as well as the ablest advocate, nobody would give him a fee,
though ever so small, unless he appeared with a ring of great value glit-
tering upon his finger ducentos nummos. The nummus argenti was
a sesterce, the fourth part of a denarius, but seven farthings of our
jnoney.
141. He that litigates, 3V.] He that wants to employ counsel, in-
stead of first inquiring into the abilities of the man whom he employs,
first asks how many servants he keeps, and in what style he lives.
141 2. Eight tervants.~\ i. e. Slaves to carry your litter. The
litters were more or less respectable, as to their appearance, from the
number of bearers which carried them some had six. See sat. i.
1. 6i, and note. These were called hexaphori, from Gr. i|, six and
to bear.
Laxior hexaphoris tua sit lectica licebit.
MART. lib. ii. ep. 81.
Quum tibi non essent sex millia, Caeciliane.
Ingemi late vectus es hexaphoro.
MART. lib. iv. ep. SO,
Tranquillus writes, that Caligula was carried in a litter borne by
SAT. v-u. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 29S
To live with the bustle and appearance of a greater income.
But prodigal Rome observes no bounds to expense.
Tho' the ancients should return, nobody would give Cicero
Now-a-days two hundred sesterces, unless a great ring shone. 110
He that litigates regards this first, whether you have eight
Servants, ten attendants, whether a chair is after you,
Gownsmen before your steps. Therefore Paulus pleaded with an hired
Sardonyx, and therefore pleaded at a higher fee than
Cossus or than Basilus. Eloquence is rare in a mean clothing. 1-45
When can Basilus produce a weeping mother ?
Who will bear Basilus (tho') speaking well ? let Gallia
Receive you, or rather, that nurse of lawyers,
Africa, if it has pleased you to set a reward upon your tongue.
eight octophoro. This piece of state might afterwards be affected
by those who wished to make a great and splendid appearance.
142. Ten attendants.] Comites attendants upon him. It was the
custom, says Grangius, not only for princes, but for others, who
were carried in litters, to have a number of people attending them,
who were called comites.
Jyhether a chair, &c.^ Whether, though you may walk on
foot, you have a litter carried atter you, that you may get into it when
you please.
Goivnsmen, sV.] Poor clients, called togati, from the gowns
which they wore. See sat. i. 1. 3, and note: and sat. iii. 1. 127
note. Numbers of these were seen walking before the great, on
whom they were dependent.
Therefore Paulus, &c.~\ Some poor lawyer, who, though he
could not afford to buy a ring set with a sardonyx, yet hired one to
make his appearance with at the bar ; and by this mean got greater
fees than those who appeared without some such ornament.
145. Cossus or Baiilus.~\ Two poor^ but, probably, learned law-
yers of the time.
Eloquence is rare, &c.~\ Nobody will give a man credit for
being eloquent, if he appears in rags, at least very rarely.
146. When can Basilus produce, &V.] When will Basilus, or any
man with a mean appearance, be employed in a cause of great conse-
quence, as Cicero for Fonteius, where a mother was produced in court,
weeping, and supplicating for the life of her son.
147. Who will bear Basilus, &c ] i. e. Let a lawyer be ever so
able, or speak ever so well, nobody will pay him the least attention, if
his appearance be poor and shabby.
Let Gallia, &c.~] France and Africa were remarkable, at that
time, for encouraging eloquence, and had great lawyers, who got
large fees. See Mr. C. Dryden's note.
Comp. sat. xv. 1. 111. Ainsw. explains nutricula a breeder, a
bringer-up.
149. If if has pleased you, csV.] i. e. If you make a point of get-
ting money by your eloquence at the bar.
29* JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vu.
Declamare doces ? 6 ferrea pectora Vecti 1 150
Cum perimit ssevos classis numerosa tyrannos :
Nam quaecunque sedens modo legerat, haec eadem stans
Proferet, atque eadem cantabit versibus isdem.
Occidit miseros crambe repetita magistros.
Quis color, et quod sit causae genus, atque ubi summa 155
Quasstio, quse veniant diversa parte sagittae,
Scire volunt omnes, inercedem solvere nemo.
Mercedem appellas ? quid enim scio ? culpa docentis
Scilicet arguitur, quod Iseva in parte mamillas
150. Do you teach, f7V.] Having shewn how badly the lawyers
were off, in this dearth of encouragement given to liberal sciences, and
of rewarding real merit and abilities, he now proceeds to shew, that the
teachers of rhetoric, who opened schools for the laborious employ-
ment of instructing youth in the knowledge and art of declamation,
were, if possible, still worse off.
the iron heart, &c."] q. d. O the patience of Vectius ? One
would think that his mind was insensible of fatigue, quite steeled, as it
were, against the assaults of impatience or weariness. See sat. i. 1. 31.
Vcctius^ The name of some teacher of rhetoric, or perhaps
put here for any person of that profession.
151. When a numerous class, sV.] Classis here signifies a number
of boys in the same form, or class, every one of which was to repeat
over a long declamation to the master, on some particular subject
which was given out to them as a thesis.
Destroyed cruel tyrants.] Alluding to the subject of the de-
clamation, as " Whether tyrants should not be destroyed by their
" subjects ?** The declaimers are supposed to hold the affirmative.
Comp. sat. r. 15 17, and note on 1. 15.
Some refer this to Dionysius, the tyrant of Sicily, who, after he was
deposed, went to Corinth and set up a school, where Juvenal humour-
ously supposes him to be killed by the fatigue of his employment ; but
the first sense, which is given above, seems to be the most natural.
152. For whatever, sitting, 9V.] It is probable, that the rhetori-
cians first taught their scholars the manner of pronunciation and utte-
rance, which they might do, when their scholars read over their decla-
mations sitting ; but when they instructed them in gesture and action,
then they were made to stand up, still repeating the same things over
and over again, and the master exerting himself, to shew them the best
method of speaking and action.
153. Rehearse over, t?c.~] Canto lit. signifies to sing or chant.
Perhaps the ancients, in their declamation, used a kind of singing, or
chanting, to mark the cadences of their periods. Canto also signifies
to repeat the same thing over and over again, in the same letters and
syllables nothing more than this seems to be meant here. Versus, as
veil as a verse, signifies a line, even in prose. AIN.SW. Versus,
No. 5.
SAT. vu. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 295
Do you teach to declaim ? O the iron heart of Vectius ! 1 50
When a numerous class hath destroy 'd cruel tyrants :
For whatever, sitting it has just read, these same things standing,
It will utter, and rehearse the same, over and over, in the same verses.
The cabbage repeated kilk the miserable masters.
What the colour, and what the kind of cause, and where 155
The chief question, what arrows may come from the contrary party,
All would know, nobody pay the reward.
Do you call for your reward ? what, forsooth, do I know ? The fault
of the teacher
You may be sure is blamed, because in the left part of the breast
154. The cnblage, &V.] Crambe a kind of cole wort, or cabbage.
The poet means (in allusion to the Greek saying A< x.^^n Syr;)
that the hearing the same things for ever (like cabbage warmed up, and
served at table many times to the same persons) must be nauseous and
surfeiting, enough to tire and wear the masters to death.
Others read Cambre, a town near mount Gaurus, in Campania,
where a battle had been fought between the Campanians and the peo-
ple of Cumae. This had been made the subject of a declamation,
which the scholars repeated so often in the schools, for their exercises,
as to tire their masters almost to death.
155. What the colour."] That which the ancients called the colour,
was that part of the declamation which was introduced by way of
cause, or reason, for the thing supposed to be done, and by way of
plea or excuse for the action. As Orestes, v/hen he confessed killing
his mother. " I did it," says he, " because she killed my father.''
What the kind of cause.] Deliberative, demonstrative, or ju-
dicialor whether defensible or not.
1 56. The chief question.] That on which the whole cause must turn.
What arrows, &c.~\ What arguments may come from the
other side. Metaph. from shooting arrows at a mark.
157. All would know, &c.] Every body is willing enough to be
taught these things, but very few choose to pay the master for his
pains in teaching them.
158. Do you call for your reward ?] i. e. What do you mean by
asking for payment ? (says the scholar. ) What do I know more
t"han before ? This is supposed to be the language of the scholar, when
the master demands payment for his trouble. The dull and inappre-
hensive scholar, who gets no benefit from the pains of the master, lays
his ignorance upon the master, and not upon his own inattention or stu-
pidity ; and therefore is supposed to blame the master, and to think
that he deserves nothing for all the pains he has taken.
159. In the left part of the breast, pV.] The heart is supposed to
296 JUVENALIS SATIRJS. SAT. vn.
Nil salit Arcadico juveni, cujus mihi sexta 160
Quaque die miserum dirus caput Hannibal iraplet.
Quicquid id est, de quo deliberat ; an petal urbem
A Cannis ; an post nimbos et fulmina cautus
Circumagat madidas a tempestate cohortes,
Quantum vis stipulare, et protinus accipe quod do, 165
Ut toties ilium pater audiat. Ast alii sex
Et plures uno conclamant ore sophists
Et veras agitant lites, raptore relicto :
Fusa venena silent, malus ingratusque maritus,
Et quas jam veteres sanant mortaria caecos. 170
Ergo sibi dabit ipse rudem, si noslra movebunt
Consilia, et vitas diversum iter ingredietur,
be in the left part of the breast, and to be the seat of understanding
and wisdom ; in both which the youth, here spoken of, seems to be as
deficient, as if his heart were almost without motion, without that
lively palpitation which is found in others. Lit. nothing leaps to the
Arcadian youth in the left part of the breast.
160. Arcadian youth. ~\ Arcadia was famous for its breed of asses,
to which, by the appellation Arcadico, this young man is compared,
whose dulness had prevented his profiting under the pains which his
master took with him. See PERS. sat. iii. 1. 9.
Whose dire Hannibal, sV.] No theme was more common, in
the Roman schools, than the adventures of Hannibal. Every week,
says the master, does the story of Hannibal torment my poor head
upon a declaiming day.
162. Go to the city.] March directly to Rome, after the battle of
Cannae.
164-. Wheel about his troops <wet, 5^.] Hannibal, when within about
<hree miles from Rome, was assaulted by a dreadful tempest. Maher-
bal, his general of horse, persuaded him to go on, and promised him
that he should, that night, sup in the capitol : but Hannibal delibe-
rated, whether he should not lead his troops back into Apulia, as they
were so assaulted and dismayed by the violence of the tempest.
These circumstances are supposed to be the constant subjects of de-
clamations in the schools.
165. Bargain for, fcfc.] Ask what you please, I will give it you,
if you can get this stupid boy's father to hear him as often as I do :
then I think he would be persuaded of his son's dulness, and think also
that I deserve to be handsomely paid for what I have gone through in
hearing him. See AINEW. Stipulor.
166 7. Six other sofihists, &c.~] Sophists: meant at first learned
men (from Gr. o-o?tc t wise) ; afterwards it meant pretenders to learn-
ing, prating cavillers. It also signifies orators : in this last sense it
seems used here, where the poet means to say, that many of these
teachers of rhetoric had left the schools, where fictitious matters were
only declaimed upon, for the bar, where real causes were agitated.
SAT. vii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 297
The Arcadiaa youth has nothing that leaps, whose dire Hanni-
bal, 160
Every sixth day, Jills my miserable head :
Whatever it be concerning which he deliberates, whether lie should
go to the city
From Cannas, or after showers and thunder cautious,
He should wheel about his troops wet with the tempest.
Bargain for as much as you please, and immediate-ly take what I
give, 165
Ttat, his father should hear him as often. But six other
Sophists, and more, cry together with one mouth,
And agitate real causes, the ravisher being left :
The mixed poisons, are silent, the bad and ungrateful husband,
And what medicines now heal old blind men. 170
Therefore he will discharge himself, if my counsels will
Move ; and he will enter upen a different walk in life,
167- Cry together <wi:h one mouth.] i.e. All agree with one con-
sent to take this step viz. to have done with teaching school, and
to go to the bar.
168. The ravisher leing left.~\ i.e. Leaving the fictitious subjects
of declamation, such as some supposed ravisher, or perhaps the rape
of Helen, Proserpine, &c.
169. The mixed polsens aretilent.~\ Nothing more is said about the
poisons of Medea. Fusa poured and mixed together.
Ungrateful husband.] Jason, who having married Medea, left
her, and married another.
170. What medicines now heal, ff<r.] Mortaria mortars. Per met.
medicines brayed in a mortar. What medicines recovered old jfEson
to his youth, and sight again. Or. Met. lib. vii. 1. 287 93.
Grangius thinks that this alludes to a story of a son, who made
up some medicines to cure his father's eyes, and who was accused by
his mother-in-law of having mixed up poison, which the father be-
lieving, disinherited him. So Farnaby.
171. Therefore.] Ergo q. d. As the profession of teaching
school is so miserable, and without profit, I would therefore advise
those, who have left the shadowy declamation of the school for the
real contention of the bar, to follow a new course of life, and never
think of returning to teaching rhetoric again, lest they should have
nothing left to buy bread with this seems to be the sense of the
passage.
Discharge himself. ~\ Sibi dabit ipse rudem literally, he will give
himself the wand.
The rudis was a rod, or wand, giver, to sword -players, in token of
a discharge, or release, from that exercise. Hence the phrase dare
rudem, to give a discharge to dismiss.
See HOR. ep. i. 1. 2. donatum jam rude dismissed. Francis. JUT.
sat. vi. I. 113, and note.
He will discharge himself from keeping school.
VOL. I. R R
298 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vii.
Ad pugnam qui rhetorica descendit ab umbra,
Summula ne pereat, qua viljs tessera venit
Vrumenti : quippe haec merces lautissima. Tenta J75
Chrysogonus quanti doceat, vel Pollio quanti
Lautorum pueros, artem scindens Theodori.
Balnea scxcentis, et pluris porticus, in qua
Gestetur dominus quoties pluit : anne serenum
Exspectet, spargatvc Into jumenta recenti ? 180
Hie potius : namque hie mundae nitet ungula mul<s,
Parte alia longis Numidarum fulta columnis
Surgat, et alger.tern rapiat cccnatio splciri.
Quanticunque domus, veniet qui fercula docte
Componit, veniet qui pulmentaria condit. J85
Hos inter sumptus sestertia Quintiliano,
Ut multum, duo sufficient ; res nulla minoris
Constabit patri, quam filius. Unde igitur tot
Quintilianus habet saltus ? exempla novoruir4
173. The rhetorical shadow, sV.] From the poor empty declama-
tions in the schools, which at best are but a shadow of reality, and
are but shadows in point of profit.
Real engagement. ~\ To engage in pleading causes at the bar,
vhich have reality for their subject, and which, he hopes, will pro-
duce real profit. Descendit ad pugnam a military phrase.
174 5. A vile wheat-ticket.] In any dole made by the emperor,
or by one of the city-magistrates, for distributing corn, the poor ci-
ti/ens had each a tally, or ticket, given them, which they first shew-
cJ, and then received their proportion, according to the money they
brought to buy wheat from the public magazines, at a lower than the
market price. This tally, or ticket, was called tessera, it being four-
square : it was made of a piece of wood, or of lead hence Juvenal
calls it vilis.
175. A most splendid reward."] Though they should get only a
wheat-ticket for a fee, yet this is noble, in comparison of what they
get by teaching rhetoric.
176. Chrysogonus Pollio.'] Rhetoric-masters, who read to their
pupils the works of Theodorus Gadareus, an excellent orator, born
at Gadara, a city of Syria, not far from Ascalon.
177- The quality.] The nobility, the rich fathers of the poor rhe-
toricran's pupils.
Dn.-ia'/ng.'] Scindens -dividing, taking to pieces, and thus
opening and explaining the several parts.
Baths are at six hundred sestertia."] Which they built for
themselves, and maintained at a great expense. See sat. i. I. 106, note.
A fiijrlico at more."] They were still more expensive in their
porticos, or covered ways, where they used to ride in rainy or dirty
weather.
179. Can he .*;>, &c.~\ Should these great people be forced to.
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 299
Who has descended from the rhetorical shadow to real engagement,
Lest the small sum should perish, from which cometh a vile
Wheat-ticket : for this is a most splendid reward. Try 175
For how much Chrysogonus teaches, or Pollio the children
Of the quality, dividing the art of Theodorus.
Baths are at six hundfed sestertia, and a portico at more, in which
The lord is carried when it rains : can he wait for
Fair weather, or dash his cattle with fresh mud ? ISO
Here rather, for here the hoof of the clean mule shines.
In another part, propp'd with tall Numidian pillars,
A supper-room arises, and will snatch the cool sun.
Whatever the house cost, one will come who composes skilfully
Dishes of meat, and one who seasons soups. 185
Amidst these expenses, two sestertiums, as a great deal,
Will suffice for Quintilian. No thing will cost a father
Less than a son. Whence, therefore, hath
Quintilian so many forests ? The examples of new fates
stay at home till fine weather came, or else go out and splash them-
selves, and their fine horses, with dirt ?
181. Here rather, &c.~] To be sure he will use the portico, where
not only he, but his very mules, are protected from having their feet
soiled.
182. Tall Numidian pillars.] The room raised high on pillars of
marble from Numidia, which was very elegant and expensive.
183. A tufifier-room. ] A dining-room we should call it : but coe-
natio, among the Romans, signified a room to sup in, for their enter-
tainments were always at supper.
Snatch the cool sun.] The windows so contrived as to catch
the sun in winter-time. The Romans were very curious in their
contrivances of this sort. They had rooms toward the north-east, to
avoid the summer sun ; and toward the south-west, to receive the "
sun in winter.
184-. Whatever the house cost."] They little regarded the expense
they were at in building.
One will come, &c.~\ They'll be sure to have their tables
sumptuously furnished by cooks, confectioners, &c. Pulmentaria
seems used, here, for victuals in general. AINSW.
186. Amidst these expenses, &c.~\ Which they squander away in
buildings, eating, and drinking, they think two poor sestertiums
(about J5l.) enough to pay Quintilian (the great rhetorician) fur
teaching their children.
187 8. Will cost a father less, &c.~] They laid out their money
with cheerfulness on their gluttony, &c. but grudged ever so little ex-
pense for the education of their children : therefore nothing costs
them so little.
188 9. Hath QulntiHan, sV.] If these things be so, how comes
300 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vii.
Fatorum transi : felix et pulcher et acer, 190
Felix et sapiens et nobilis et generosus,
Appositam nigrae lunam subtex.it alutae :
Felix, orator quoque maximus, et jaculator,
Et si perfrixit, cantat bene. Distat enitn, qu*
Sidera te excipiant, modo primos incipientem 195
Edere vagitus, et adhuc a matre rubentem.
Si Fortuna volet, fies de rhetore consul :
Si volet base eadem, fies de console rhetor.
Ventidius quid enim ? quid Tullius ? anne aliud quam
Sidus, et occulti rniranda potentia fati ? 200
Servis regna dabunt, captivis fata triumphos.
Felix ille tamen, corvo quoque rarior albo.
Peenituit multos vanse sterilisque cathedrae,
Sicut Thrasymachi probat exitus, atque Secundi
Carrinatis ; et hunc inopem vidistis, Athenar, 205
Nil praetor gelidas ausae conferre cicutas.
Di majorum umbris teauem, et sine pondere terram,
Quintilian to have so large an estate, and to be the owner of such a
tract of country ?
189. Examples of new fates \ &c.] There is nothing to be said of
men, whose fortunes are so new and singular as this : they must not
be mentioned as examples for others. As if he had said Who but
Quintilian ever grew rich by the cultivation of the liberal arts ? It
is quite a novelty. The Ramans called an unusual good fortune nova
fata.
1 90. The fortunate is handsome, &c] In these lines the port is say.
ing, that '< luck is all ;" let a man be but fortunate, and he will be
reckoned every thing else.
Acer sharp, 33 \ve say acer ingenio.
192. The moon, &c.] The hundred patricians, first established
by Romulus, were distinguished by the numeral letter C fixed on
their shoes, which, from its resemblance to an half moon, was called hi-
na. This was continued down to later times, as a mark of distincti-
on among the patricians : they wore a sort of buskin made of black
leather. HOR. lih. i. sat. vi. 1. 27. By this line the poet means to
say, that the fortunate may become senators and nobles. Aluta lit.
tanned leather : by meton. any thing made thereof hence a leather
shoe, or buskin.
193. A dart-thrower.] This is the literal sense of jaculator: but
we must here suppose it to mean, one skilful in throwing out, or
darting, arguments /. e. a great disputant 1. 156.
191. There is a dffirence, &c.] The Romans were very supersti-
tious, and thought that the fortune of their future life mainly depend-
ed on the stars, or constellations, which presided over their natal
hour. See sat. ix. I. 32 4-, et al.
196. Red from your mother.] i. i. Just born. Before the blood
contracted from the birth is washed a\<ay.
SAT. vii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 301
Pass over: the fortunate is handsome, and witty, 190
The fortunate is wise, and noble, and generous,
And subjoins the moon set upon his black shoe.
The fortunate is also a great orator, a dart -thrower,
And, if he be hoarse, sings well : for there is a difference what
Stars receive you, when you first begin 195
To send forth crying, and are yet red from your mother.
If Fortune please, you will from a rhetorician become a consul :
If this same please, you will from a consul become a rhetorician.
For what was Ventidius ? what Tullius ? was it other than
A star, and the wonderful power of hidden fate ? 200
The fates will give kingdoms to slaves, triumphs to captives.
Yet that fortunate person is also more rare thaiv a white crow.
Many have repented the vain and barren chair,
As the exit of Thrasymachus proves, and of Secundus
Carrinas, and him whom poor you saw, O Athens, 205
Daring to bestow nothing but cold hemlock.
Grant, ye gods, to the shades of our ancestors thin earth, and
without weiglTt,
198. Tins same."] Fortune.
199. Vent'uiius.'] Bassus, son of a bondwoman at Ascalon. He
was first a carman, then a muleteer ; afterwards, in one year, he was
created praetor and consul.
Tullius J The sixth king of Rome, born of a captive.
199 200. Other than a star.~] i. e. To what did these mh owe
their greatness, but to the stars which presided at the birth, and to
the mysterious power of destiny ?
202. More rare, f)V.] However, that same fortunate and happy-
man is rare to be met with. Comp. sat. vi. 164'.
203. Many have re/iented, &c .] Of the barren and beggarly em-
ployment of teaching rhetoric- which they did, sitting in a chair,
desk, or pulpit.
204-. Thrasymachus.] Who hanged himself. He was a rhetorician
of Athens, born at Carthage.
204* 5. Secundus Carrinas ] He came from Athens to Rome,
and, declaiming against tyrants, was banished by Caligula.
205. Him whom poor you sa<w t f5V.] Soeratea, whom you saw,
ungrateful Athenians ! almost starving, and paid him nothing for his
lectures, but the barbarous reward of cold hemlock, with which he was
poisoned by the sentence of his judges. Hemlock has such a refrige-
rating quality over the blood and juices, as to cause them to stagnate,
and thus occasion death ; it is therefore reckoned among the cold poi-
sons. The word ausae, here, is very significant, to intimate the daring
insolence and cruelty of the Athenians, who, to their own eternal in-
famy, could reward such a man in such a manner.
207. Grant, 5V.] This sentence is elliptical, and must be supplied
with some verb to precede umbris, as give, grant, or the like.
. ... Thin earth, bV-] It was usual with the Romans to express
302 JUVENALIS SATIRE, SAT. vn.
Spirantesque crocos, et in urna perpetuum ver,
Qui praeceptorem sancti voluere parentis
Esse loco. Metuens virgas jam grandis Achilles 210
Cantabat patriis in montibus : et cui non tune
Eliceret risum citharoedi cauda magistri ?
Sed Ruffum, atque alios csedit sua quseque juventus :
RufFum, qui toties Ciceronem Allobroga dixit.
Quis gremio Enceladi, doctique Palamonis affert '2 15
Quantum grammaticus meruit labor ? et tamen ex hoc,
Quodcunque est, (minus est autem, quam rhetoris sera,)
Discipuli custos praemordet Acocnitus ipse,
Et qui dispensat, frangit sibi. Cede,. Palaemon,
Et patere inde aliquid decrescere, non aliter, quam 220
Institor hybernae tegetis, niveique cadurci :
their good wishes for the dead, in the manner here mentioned, that the
earth might lie light upon them. So MARTIAL :
Sit tibi terra levis, mollique tegaris arena.
208. Breathing crocuses."] Breathing forth sweets. Crocus, lit.
saffron ; also the yellow chives in the midst of flowers. What we call
a crocus blows early in the spring-
Perpetual spring^ &c.^ Map flowers be perpetually grow-
ing and blooming, as in the spring of the year. They were fond of
depositing the urns of their deceased friends among banks of flowers.
209. Who would have a preceptor, fjV.] Who venerated their mas-
ters and teachers as if they were their parents ; and esteemed them,
as standing in the place of parents.
210. Achilles, sV.] The famous son of Thetis, when almost a
man, was in great awe of his tutor Chiron the Centaur.
21 1. Sang."] Practised lessons in vocal and instrumental music under
his tutor.
In his paternal mountains."] The mountains of Thessaly,
from whence came Peleus the father of Achilles.
212. Would not the tall, &c.~\ The upper part of Chiron was like
a man, the lower like an horse. His figure must be ridiculous enough,
with a man's head and with an horse's tail, and would have been laughed
at by most people ; but Achilles had too much reverence for his master,
to make a joVe of his figure, as more modern scholars would have done.
Harper his master.^ Chiron is said to have taught music, as
well as medicine and astronomy.
213. But Rnjfui, &c.~] Now, so far from the masters receiving
veneration from their scholars, it is a common practice for the scholar to
beat the master, as had been the case of Ruffus and others. So
PLAUTUS, Bacch. iii. 3. 37. Puer septuennis ptedagogo tabula
dirumpit caput.
214. Rujfus, &c.~] This Ruffus charged Cicero with writing bar-
barous Latin, like an Allobrogian, or Savoyard. Even this great
grammarian could not obtain respect from his scholars.
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 309
And breathing crocuses, and perpetual spring upon their urn,
Who would have a preceptor to be in the place of a sacred
Parent. Achilles, now grown up, fearing the rod, 210
Sang in his paternal mountains ; and from whom then
Would not the tail of the harper his master have drawn forth laughter ?
But Ruffus, and others, each of their own young men strike,
Ruffus, who so often called Cicero an Allobrogian.
Who brings to the lap of Enceladus, or of the learned Palsmpn, 21 5
As much as grammatical labour has deserved ? and yet from this,
Whatever it be, (but it is less than the money of the rhetorician,)
Acoenitus himself, the keeper of the scholar, snips,
And he who manages, breaks off some for himself. Yield, Palaemon,
And suffer something to decrease from thence, not otherwise than 220
A dealer in winter, rug, and white blanket.
215. Who brings, &c.~] Who pays Enceladus a reward equal to
his labours ? He was a famous grammarian. Gremio here denotes a
loose cavity, or hollow, formed by the doubling of the robe or gar-
ment. q. d. A lap, into which things were put. Gr. xeAares.
Comp. Luke vi. 38.
The learned Pal<emon.~\ Rhemnius Palaemon, a very learned
and distinguished grammarian, but who was so conceited, as to say,
that learning would live and die with him. See SUET, de Gramm.
23. See sat. vi. 1. 451.
217. Whatever It be, sV.J After all, small as the pay of a gram-
marian may be, (which at the most is even smaller than that of a
rhetorician,) there are sad defalcations from it.
218. Acxmtus the keeper, sV.] This Acoenitus is a feigned name
for some pedagogue, (Gr. fetif, a boy, and y, to lead,) who was a
sort of servant, that followed his young master, took care of his be-
haviour, and particularly attended him to his exercise, and to school.
He is properly called, here, discipuli custos. He insisted on hav-
ing part of the poor grammarian's pay, as a perquisite. The word
praemordet is here peculiarly happy, and intimates that the pedagogue,
who, perhaps, carried the, pay, took a part of it before he delivered
it to the master \ .Ijke'a person who is to give a piece of bread to
another, and bit<;s.a piece ofT first for himself.
219. He whir-manages, &c.~\ Qui dispensat, i e. dispensator, the
steward, or housekeeper ; either that belonging to the grammariaii,
into whosg hands the money is paid, retains some part of it for his
wages, or the"- steward of the gentleman who pays it, , retains a part
of it by way of poundage, or perquisite, to himself. Frangit.
ittetaph. from breaking something that was entire.
Tield Pnl<emon, CSV.] Submit to these abatements, and be
glad to have something, though less than your due, as it fares with
tradesmen who are willing to abate something in their price, rather
than not sell their goods. See AINSW. InstUor,
304- JUVENALIS SATIRE, SAT. vn.
Dummodo non pereat, medis quod noctis ab hora
SeJisti, qua nemo faber, qua nemo ssdcret,
Qui docet obliquo lanam deducere ferro :
Dummodo non pereat totidem olfecisse lucernas, 225
Quot stabant pueri, curn totus decolor esset
Flaccus, et haereret nigro fuligo Maroni.
Rara tamen merces, qua: cognitione Tribuni
Non egeat. Sed vos saevas imponite leges,
Ut praeceptori verborum regula constet, 230
Ut legat historias, auctores noverit omnes,
Tanquam ungues digitosque suos : ut forte rogatus
Dum petit aut thermas, aut Phcebi balnea, dicat
Nutricem Anchisa;, nomen, patriamque novercae
Archemori : dicat quot Acestes vixerit annos, 235
Quot Siculus Phrygibus vini donaverit urnas.
Exigite, ut mores teneros ceu pollice ducat,
Ut si quis cera vultum facit : exigite, ut sit
222. Let it not be lost, cff<r. ] Only take care to have something for
your trouble ; let not all your pains, which you have taken, be thrown
away, in rising at midnight to teach your boys a fatigue that no
common mechanic would undergo.
224-. To draw out wool, &c.~\ To comb wool, which they did, as
we find by this passage, with a card having crooked teeth made of
iron like those now in use.
225. To have smelt, &c.~\ Let it not be for nothing that you have
been hall poisoned with the stink of as many lamps as you have boy$
standing round you to say their lessons before it is light, and therefore
are each of them with a lamp in his hand to read by.
226 7. Horace all discolour' d.~\ With the oil of the lamps, which
the boys, through carelessness, let drop on their books.
227. Black Virgil.] Made black with the smoke of the lamps,
which the boys held close to their books, when they were reading and
construing their lessons.
228. Tet pay it rare, which, ff<r.] Though little is left of the
pay to the grammarian, after all the deductions above mentioned, yet it
is very rare that they get any thing at all, unless they go to law for
it. The tribune here means the judge who tried civil causes.
229. But impose ye, fcfc.] Though the poor grammarian labours
under all these difficulties, be sure, you that send your sons to them,
to impose all the task upon them that ye can : make no abatement in his
qualifications : expect that he knows every rule of grammar.
231. Read histories, fcf<:.] That he should be a good historian:
that he should know all authors at his fingers' ends ad unguem as
the saying is.
233. The hot baths.] There were thermae, hot baths, in Rome,
as well as cold baths, balnea : to the former they went to' sweat, in
the other they washed. Now this poor grammarian wa* expected
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. SOS
Only let it not be lost, that from the midnight hour
You have sat, in which no smith, in which nobody would sit,
Who teaches to draw out wool with the crooked iron :
Only let it not be lost to have smelt as many lamps 225
As boys were standing, when all discolour'd was
Horace, and soot stuck to black Virgil.
Yet pay is rare which may not want the cognizance
Of the Tribune. But impose ye cruel laws,
That the rule of words should be clear to the preceptor: 230
That he should read histories, should know all authors
As well as his own nails and fingers ; that by chance, being ask'd
While he is going to the hot baths, or the baths of Phoebus, he
should tell
The nurse of Anchises, the name and country of the step-mother
Of Archemorus : should tell how many years Acestes lived : 235
How many urns of wine the Sicilian presented to the Phrygians.
Require, that he should form the tender manners as with his thumb,
As if one makes a face with wax : require, that he should be
to be ready to answer any questions which were asked him, by people
whom he met with, when he went either to the one or the other.
233. Phoebus] The name of some bath-keeper.
234-. The nurse of Anchises] The poet here, perhaps, means to
ridicule the absurd curiosity of Tiberius, who used to be often teasing
the grammarians with silly and unedifying questions ; as, Who was
Hecuba's mother ? What was the name of Achilles when dressed in
woman's clothes ? What the Sirens sung ? and the like. See Suet.
in TIBERIO, cap. Ixx.
Such foolish questions might be asked the grammarian, when ha
met with people at the baths ; and he was bound to answer them,
under peril of being accounted an ignoramus.
Caieta, the nurse of ./Eneas, is mentioned, ./En. vii. 1,2; but there
is no mention of the nurse of Anchises : perhaps Juvenal means to ri-
dicule the ignorance of the querist, as mistaking Anchises for ./Eneas.
234 5. Of the stefi-mother of Archemorus] For Anchemolus,
(see ./En. x. 1. 389.) who seems here meant ; but perhaps the querist
may be supposed to call it Archemorus.
235. Acute*.] JEn. i. 199; and JEn. v. 73.
236. The Sicilian.] Meaning Acestes, who was king of Sicily, of
his giving wine to the Trojans. See JEn. i. 199, 200.
237. Require.] Exigite, exact that, beside his teaching your
children, (and, in order to that, he be perfectly learned,) he also should
watch over their morals, and form them with as much nicety, care and
exactness, as if he were moulding a face in wax with his fingers. Ducat
metaph. taken from statuaries, Comp. VIRG, JEti. vi. 1. 818.
VOL. i. s s
306 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. TIT.
Et pater ipsius ccetus, ne turpia ludant,
Ne faciant vicibus. Non est leve tot puerorum 240
Observare maims, oculosque in fine trementes.
HEBC, inquit, cures ; sed cum se verterit annus,
Accipe, victori populus quod poatulat, aurum.
239. A father of hit flock.] Require also, that he should be as
anxious, and as careful of his scholars, as if he were their father.
' Lest they should play, &c] Lest they should fall into lewd
and bad practices among themselves. This is the substance of this,
and the two following lines, which had better, as some other passage*
in Juvenal, be paraphrased than translated.
242. When the year, csV.J When the year comes round at the
end of the year.
243. Accept a piece of gold.] Aurum. The Roman aureus (ac-
cording to Ainsw. Val. and Proportion of Roman coins) was about
I/. 9d. of our money : but, whatever the precise value of the aurum
mentioned here might be, the poet evidently means to say that the
grammarian does not get more for a whole year's labour in teaching,
and watching over a boy's morals, than a victorious fencer, or sword-
player, gets by a single battle won upon the stage viz. about 4/. (01
rather about 5/. of our money, which Marshal, after Vet. Schol.
says, was the stated sum, and which was not to be exceeded.
SAT. vn. JUVENAL'S SATIRES: 307
Even a father of his flock, lest they should play base tricks,
And corrupt each other : it is no light matter to watch 240
The conduct of so many boys, and their wanton looks.
These things, says he, take care of but when the year turns itself,
Accept a piece of gold, which the people require for a conqueror.
24*3. Which the people require."} When a fencer, or gladiator, came
off victorious, the Roman people required the quinque aurei to be
given to him by the praetor, tribune, or other persdn, who gave and
presided at the show. This passage is, by some, referred to MART.
lib. x. epigr. 74. where he mentions one Scorpus, a famous charioteer,
who, by being victor in a chariot-race, carried off, in one hour's time,
fifteen sacks full of gold. But this does not seem to agree with what
Juvenal says of the gains of the poor grammarian, which the poet
evidently supposes to be no more than the perquisite of a common
gladiator that had come off conqueror : even this was five times as
much as a lawyer got by a cause. Comp. 1. 122.
Thus Juvenal concludes this Satire, having fully accomplished his
purpose ; which was to shew, by many instances, the shameful neg-
lect of learning and science, as well as of the professors of them,
which then prevailed among the nobility of Rome.
END OF THE SEVENTH SATIRE.
S A T I R A VIII.
ARGUMENT.
In, this Satire the Poet proves, that true noliltty does not consist in sta-
tues and pedigrees, but in honourable and good actions. And, in op-
position to persons nobly lorn, who are a disgrace to their family, he
OTEMMATA quid facumt ? quid prodest, Pontice, longo
Sanguine censeri, pictosque ostendere vultus
Majorum, et stantes in cunibus ./Emilianos,
Jit Curios jam dimidios, humeroque minorem
Corvinum, et Galbam auriculus nasoque carentem ? 5
Cjuis fructus generis tabula jactare capaci
Corvinum, et post hunc mujta deducere yirga
Fumosos equitum cum Dictatore Magistros,
Si coram Lepidis male vivitur ? effigies quo
Tot bellatorum, si iuditur alea pernox 10
Ante Numantinos ? si dormire incipis ortu
Line 1 . What do pedigrees ?~\ i. e. Of what use or service are they,
merely considered in themselves ?
" Ponticus.] There was a famous heroic poet of this name,
much acquainted with Propertius and Ovid : but the person here
mentioned, to whom this Satire is addressed, was probably some man
of quality, highly elevated by family pride, but whose manners dis-
graced his birth.
2. By a long descent.] Longo sanguine a descent through a long
train of ancestors of noble blood.
Painted countenances, Cffr.] It was customary among the
Romans to have their houses furnished with family-pictures, images,
&c. and it was no small part of the pride of the nobility.
3 4 5. The JEmUll CuriiCorvinus.] Were noble Romans,
the founders of illustrious families, and an honour to their country.
3. Standing in chariots.] Triumphal cars, as expressed in the tri-
iimphal statues.
4. Now half.] i. e. Half demolished by length of time.
4. 5. Less by a shoulder Corvinus.] His statue thus mutilated by
time and accident.
5. Gall/a.] The statue of Sergius Galba, a man of consular dig-
nity, and who founded an illustrious family, was also defaced and mu-
tilated by time.
SATIRE VIII.
ARGUMENT.
displays the worth of many -who were meanly born, as Cicero, Ma-
rius, Serv. Tullius t and the Deal.
VV HAT do pedigrees ? what avails it, Ponticus, to be valued
By a long descent, and to shew the painted countenances
Of ancestors, and ^Emilii standing in chariots,
And Curii now half, and less by a shoulder
Corvinus, and Galba wanting ears and nose ?
What fruit to boast of Corvinus in the capacious table
Of kindred, and after him to deduce, by many a branch,
Smoky masters of the knights, with a Dictator,
If before the Lepidi you live ill? whither (tend) the effigies
Of so many warriors, if the nightly die be played with 10
Before the Numantii ? if you begin to sleep at the rising of
6. What fruit. ~\ L e. Of what real, solid use, can it be?
The capacious table.] viz. A large genealogical table.
7. By many a branch.] The genealogical tables were described
in the form of trees : the first founder of the family was the root-
his immediate descendants the stem and all the collaterals from them
were the branches. So among us.
8. Smoky masters of the knights.] Images of those who had been
rnagistri equitum, masters or chiefs of the order of knights, now
tarnished, and grown black, by the smoke of the city.
With a dictator,] An image of some of the family who had
filled that office. He was chief magistrate among the Romans, vested
with absolute power, and from whom lay no appeal. Twenty-four
axes were carried before him. He was never chosen but in some
great danger or trouble of the state ; and commonly at the end of
six months was to resign his office.
9. If before the Lepidi, &c .] i.e. If before the images of those
great men you exhibit scenes of vileness and infamy ?
10. The nightly die, sV.] Pernox signifies that which lasts through
die night. What avails it, that your room is furnished with busts,
pictures, &c. of your noble ancestors, if, in that very room, before
fheir faces, as it were, you are gambling and playing all night at dice ?
11. If you legin to sleep, sV.] If you, after a night's debauch,
310 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vm.
Luciferi, quo signa Duces et castra movebaut ?
Cur Allobrogicis, et magna gaudeat ara,
Natus in Herculeo Fabius lare, si cupidus, si
Vanus, et Euganea quantumvis mollior agna ? 15
Si tenerum attritus Catinensi pumice lumbum
Squallentes traducit avos : emptorque veneni
Frangenda miseram funestat imagine gentem ?
Tota licet veteres exornent undique ceras
Atria, NOBILITAS SOLA EST ATQUE VNICA VIRTUS. 20
Paulus, vel Cossus, vel Drusus moribus esto :
Hos ante effigies majorum pone tuorum :
Praecedant ipsas illi, te consule, virgas.
Prinia mihi debes animi bona. Sanctus haberi.
Justitiasque tenax factis dictisque mereris ? 25
Agnosco procerem : salve, Getulice, seu tu
-are going to bed at day-break, the very time when those great ge-
nerals were setting forth on their march to attack an enemy.
13. Fabius, CsV.J Why should Fabius, the son of Qu. Fab. Max-
imus, who overcame the Allobroges, boast in his father's achieve-
ments, and in the origin of his family's descent from Hercules, the
care of whose altar was hereditary in that family. If he be covetoui
and vain, and unworthy of the honour which he claims ?
15. Softer than an Euganean lamb.] The sheep bred upon the Eu-
ganean downs had the finest and softest fleeces in all Italy. To have
a very soft and delicate skin was a mark of great effeminacy ; but
more especially if, as the following line supposes, it was made so by art.
16. Catinensian pumice .] The best pumice-stones were gathered ia
Sicily, at the foot of Mount ./Etna ; with these the effeminate Ita-
lians used to smooth their skins. Catina (now Catania) was a city
liear Mount JEtna, almost ruined by an earthquake, 1693. Here
were the finest pumice-stones.
J 7. He shames, &c.~] He dishonours the old and venerable pic-
tures, or images, of his rough and hardy ancestors, now dirty with
the rust of time, and thus disgraces the memory of those great men.
Traduco signifies to expose to public shame. AINSW. No. 5.
18. An image to be broken.] If he should cast a sadness over the
whole family, as it were, by having his own image placed among
those of his ancestors, when he does such things as to deserve to have
his image broken If any one, who had an image of himself, was
convicted of a grievous crime, his image was to be broken to pieces,
and his name erased from the calendar, either by the sentence of the
judge, or by the fury of the people. Comp. sat. x. 1. 58. Such
must, most likely, be the case of a man who dealt in poisons to des-
troy people.
19. Old waxen Jigures] Images and likenesses of ancestors, made
in wax, and set up as ornaments and memorials of the great persons
from which they were taken.
SAT. vni. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. sil
Lucifer, at which those generals were moving their standards and
camps ?
Why should Fabius, born in a Herculean family, rejoice
In the Allobroges, and the great altar, if covetous, if
Vain, and never so much softer than an Euganean lamb ? 15
If, having rubb'd his tender loins with a Catinensian pumice,
He shames his dirty ancestors and, a buyer of poison,
He saddens the miserable family with an image to be broken ?
Tho' the old waxen figures should adorn the courts on all sides,
VIRTUE is THE ONLY AND SINGLE NOBILITY.- 20
Be thou in morals Paulus, or Cossus, or Drusns :
Put these before the effiges of your ancestors :
Let them, you being consul, precede the fasces themselves.
You owe me first the virtues of the mind do you deserve
To be accounted honest, and tenacious of justice, in word and
deed ? 25
I acknowledge the nobleman : Hail, Getulian f -or thou,
20. Virtue, &c.~] AH the ensigns of grandeur and nobility are no-
thing without this it is this alone which stamps a real greatness up-
on all who possess it.
21. Paulus.'] JEmil'ms, who cotiqured Perses king of Macedonia,
and led him and his children in triumph : he was a man of great fru-
gality and modesty.
Cossus.] He conquered the Getulians, under Agustus Cjesar
hence was called Getulicus. See 1. 26.
Drusus.] There were three of this name, all of which deserv-
ed well of the republic.
22. Put these before, 9*r.] Prefer the examples of those good men
before the statues of your family.
23. Let them, f?V.] If ever you should be consul, esteem them
before the fasces, and all the ensigns of your high office.
24. You owe me, 5*r.] The ornaments bona, the good qualities
. of the mind, are what I first insist upon ; these I expect to find in
you, before I allow you to be indeed noble.
25. Honest.] Sanctus is an extensive word, and here may include
piety to the gods, as well as justice, honesty, and truth towards men.
See sat. iii. 1 37.
26. I aclnovaledge , sV.] I then acknowledge you as a man of qua-
lity.
Hall, Getulian!] I salute you as if you were Cossus, the
conqueror of Getulia hence called Getulicus, 1. 21, note.
Or thou, &c.~\ Silanus was a noble Roman, who conquered
Ma^on the Carthaginian general, took Hannon, another commander,
prisoner, and did other great services to his country.
a. J. If, besides your personal private virtues, (1. 24, 5.) you
shew yourself a rare and choice citizen, eminently serviceable and
useful to your country, like Silanus of old, from whatever blood
you may derive your pedigree, however mean it may be, yet your
312 JUVENALIS SATlRJE. SAT. vm.
Silanus, quocunque alio de sanguine rarus
Civis, et egregius patriaj contingis ovanti.
Exclamare libet, populus quod clamat Osiri
Invento : quis enim generosum dixerit hunc, qui SO
Indignus genere, et prasclaro nomine tantum
Insignis ? nanum cujusdam Atlanta vocamus :
./Ethiopem cygnum : parvam extortamque puellam,
Europen : canibus pigris, scabieque vetusta
Lasvibus, et siccae lambentibus ora lucernae. 35
Nomen erit pardus, tigris, leo ; si quid adhuc est
Quod fremat in terns violentiils. Ergo cavebis,
Et metues, ne tu sic Creticus, aut Camerinus.
His ego quern monui ? tecum est mihi sermo, Rubelli
Plaute : tumes alto Drusorum sanguine, tanquam 40
Feceris ipse aliquid, propter quod nobilis esses ;
Ut te conciperet, qtis sanguine fulget Iiili>
Non quae ventoso conducta sub aggere texit.
Vos humiles, inquis, vulgi pars ultima nostri,
country will rejoice that such a man has fallen to its lot and ex-
claim, as the ./Egyptians did, when they found Osiris.
29. Osiris, &c.J The chief deity of JEgypt, which the ./Egypti-
ans worshipped under the form of a bull, or ox. This said bull was
supposed to be inhabited by Osiris : but they used, once in a few
years, to put this bull to death, and then go, with their priests, howl-
ing, and making lamentations, in search of another Osiris, or Apis,
with the same exact marks as the former had ; which, when they had
found, they shouted for joy, and with loud acclamations, called out
'Ev^xct^tiv ! 'Evgtx.ct{tiv \ we have found him ! we have found him !
Zyy%<g|tv '. let us rejoice together !
31. An illustrious name.] Or title, derived from some great and
illustrious ancestor.
32. The diuarf of some one."] The people of quality used to keep
dwarfs for their amusement.
Atlai.~\ A high hill in Mauritania, so high that the poets
make a person of it, and feign that he was the brother of Promethe-
us, and turned into this mountain by Perseus, at the sight of the
gorgon's head. From its height it was fabled to support the celestial
globe. See Vi RG. ^n. iv. 1. 481, 2.
33. An ^Ethiopian a s<wan.~\ i. e. Black white.
34. Europa.~\ The beautiful daughter of Agenor, king of the
Phoenicians, whom Jupiter in the form of a bull carried into Crete.
From her the quarter of the globe, called Europe, is said to take its
name. See HOR. lib. iii. ode xxvii. 1. 75, 6.
Slow dogs.] Slow hounds that are unfit for the chase.
35. Smooth.] Having all their hair eaten off by the mange.
Licking the mouths, tiff.'] So hungry and starved as to lick
the stinking oil off the edges of lamps. Giving the titles of nobili-
ty, and calling those noble who are, by their evil manners, and bad
SAT. viu. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. SIS
Silanus, from whatever other blood, a rare, and
Choice citizen, thou befallest thy triumphing country*
We may exclaim, what the people call out to Osiris
When found. But who would call him noble, who is 30
Unworthy his race, and for an illustrious name only
Remarkable ? We call the dwarf of some one Atlas :
An ^Ethiopian a swan : a little and deformed wench
Europa : to slow dogs^ and with an old mange
Smooth, and licking the mouths of a dry lamp, 35
The name of lion, leopard, tiger shall belong : and if there be yet
Any thing on earth that rages more violently. Therefore beware,
And dread, lest thou shouldst thus be CreticuSj or Camerinus.
Whom have I admonished by these things ? with thee is my dis-
course, 4O
Rubellius Plautus : you swell with the high blood of the Drusi, as if
You yourself had done something, from which you should be noble ;
That she should have conceived you, who shines with the blood of
liilus,
Not she who, being hired, has woven under the windy mount.
Ye are low," say you, " the last part of T>ur common people ;
actions, a disgrace to their families, is calling a dwarf a giant ; a
blackmoor a fine white swan ; a crooked deformed wench Eu-
ropa : we may as well call a pack of mangy, worthless hounds-
tigers, leopards, and lions ; or by the name of nobler beasts, if no-
bler can be found.
37. Beware^ &c."\ Cavebis metues lit. you will be cautious,
and will fear, lest the world flatter you with the mock titles of Cre-
ticus and Camerinus in the same way. See sat. ii. 1. 67.
Publ. Sulpitius Camerinus was an illustrious and virtuous Roman,
who was sent by the senate, with Posthumius and Manlius, to Athens,
to copy the laws of Solon, as well as those of other cities.
39. By these things.'] By what I have been saying.
40. Rubellius Plautus.] Some read Plancus, others Blandus ; but
Plautus seems to be right. Rubellius Blandus was his father, who
married Julia the daughter of Drusus, son of Livia, wife of Augustus.
Of the Drusi."] You are very proud of your descent on your
mother's side. Compare the preceding note.
41. Done something, ffc.] As if you yourself had done something
to make you illustrious, and deserving the honour of a mother of the
Julian line.
43. Not she, &c.~] Instead of being the son of some poor creature
who knitted stockings for her bread under the town-wall. The ag-
ger, here mentioned, is the mount raised by Tarquin, for the defence
of the city, a place much resorted to by low people. See fat. vi.
587 It was much exposed to the weather.
Some read sub acre, /'. e. sub dio in the open air.
41-. The last part ', fcff.J The very dregs of our plebeians.
KOL. I, T T
314- JUVENALtS SATIRE. SAT.VIM.
Quorum nemo queat pacriam monstrare parentis :
Ast ego Cecropides. Vivas, et originis hujus
Oaudia longa feras : tatnen ima ex plebe Quiritera
Facundum invenies : solet hie defendere causa
Nobilis indocti : veniet de plebe togata,
Qui juris modos, et legum snigmata, sotvat. 50
Hie petit Euphraten juvenis, domitique Batavi
Custodes aquilas, armis industrius : at tu
Nil nisi Cecropides, truncoque simillimus Hermae :
Nullo quippe alio vincis discrimine, quam quod
IlII marmoreum caput est, tua vivit imago. 55
Die mini, Teucrorum proles, animalia muta
Quis generosa putet, nisi fortia ? nempe volucrera
45. Of ' <wliom none, &c.~\ Of such obscure parentage, as to be un-
able to trace out the birth place of your parents.
46. I am a Cccrop.\an.~\ Descended from Cecrops, the first king
of Athens.
Thi-9 is an insolent speech, which some proud noble is supposed
to make, in seorn and derision of those whom he thought his infe-
riors.
May you Uvf, f>V.} Sir, I wish you much joy of your noble
descent. Ironically spoken. Viva I as the Italians say.
47. Tet from the lowest, sV.] Much as you despise them, there
have been men of the highest talents and abilities from among them
some who have defended the causes of ignorant nobles, when they
themselves could not have defended them.
49. The gowned people, ,] /. e. The common people, called togati,
from the gowns which they wore. See sat. i. 1. 3, and note.
50. Who can untie, &c.~] Some great and eminent lawyer, able
to solve all the difficulties, and unfold all the perplexities of jurispru-
dence.
51. Sects the Euphrates, &'c.~] Another goes into the East, and
distinguishes himself as a soldier.
Conquer'd Batavus.~\ The Batavi, or Hollanders, conquered
by Domitian when a youth.
52. T7ie guardian eagles."] The eagles mean the Romaa troops,
which had the figures of eagles on their standards, and were set tu
keep the newly conquered Batavi from revolting.
Another of the common people distinguishes himself as a useful
person to his country, by joining the troops that were sent on this
occasion.
53. But a Cecrofnan.] As for you, when you have called your-
self a Cecropian, you have no more to say and this most properly
belongs to you, from your resemblance to one of the Hermz at
Athens, that is made of marble ; so, in point of insensibility, are
you : that has neither hands nor feet ; no more have you, in poiut
of Hsefulness, to your country, yourself, or to any body else.
SAT. VMI. JUVENAL'S SATIRES, 315
"Of whom none can shew the country of his parent : 45
" But I am a Cecropian/' May you live and long enjoy the hap-
piness
Of this origin : yet, frois the lowest of the people, an eloquent Romaa
You will find : this is used to defend the causes of an
Unlearned nobleman : there will come from the gowned people
Another, who can unde the knots of right, and the riddles of the
laws. Q
This youth seeks the Euphrates, and of conquer'd Batavus
The guardian eagles, industrious in arms ; but thou
Art nothing but a Cecropian, and- most like to a mutilated Herma ;
For you excel from no other difference, than that
lie has a marble head, your image lives. 55
Tell me, thou offspring of the Trojans, who thinks dumb animals
Noble, unless strong ? for thus a swift
53. A mutilated Herma.~\ Herma-ae-^signifies a statue of Her-
mes, or Mercury. Mercury was called Hermes, from Gr. sg^i-et^y,
to interpret ; because he was the supposed inventor of speech, by
which men interpret their thoughts to each other. See Hou.. lib. i.
ode x. 1. 1 3.
It was a piece of religion at Athens, to have a figure of Mer-
cury fixed up against their houses, of a cubic form, without hands
or feet ; this was called Herma. The poet, therefore, humorouely
compares this Rubellius Plautus, who boasted of his descent from Ce-
crops, and therefore called himself a Cecropian, to the useless figures
of Mercury, which were set up at Athens, or, perhaps, to the posts
on which they stood. In this sense he might call himself Cecropian.
54. Tou excel. ~\ You have no preference before him in point of
utility to your country, or in any thing else, than that you are %
living statue, and he a dead one.
56. Thou offspring of the Trojans.'] Meaning Rub. Plautus, who
though he boasted himself of being descended from Cecrops the first
king of Athens, and who is supposed to have lived before Deucalion's
flood, yet likewise might boast, that he was also descended from an-
cestors, who derived their blood, in latter times, from the Trojans
who first settled in Italy.
Some think that we may read this, ye Trojans meaning the chief
people of Rome in general, who prided themselves on their descent
from the Trojans, and to whom he may be supposed to address him-
self. Comp. sat. i. 100, where he calls them Trojugenas. But see
1. 71, post.
57. Strong."] Fortia vigorous, courageous, fit for the purposes
QF which they are wanted.
316 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vui.
Sic laudamus equum, facilis cui plurima palms
Fervet, et exultat rauco victoria circo.
Nobilis hie, quocunque venit de giamine, cujus 60
Clara fuga ante alios, et primus in sequore pulvis.
Sed venale pecus Corythae, posteritas et
Hirpini, si rara jugo victoria sedit.
Nil ibi majorum respectus, gratia nulla
Umbrarum : dominos pretiis mutare jubentur 65
Exiguis, tritoque trahunt epirhedia collo
Segnipedes, dignique molam versare Nepotis.
Ergo ut miremur te, non tua, primum aliquid da,
Quod possim titulis incidere prater honores,
Quos illis damus, et dedimus, quibus omnia debes. 70
Haec satis ad juvenem, quem nobis fama superbum
Tradit, et inflatum, plenumque Nerone propinquo.
Rarus enim ferme aensus communis in ilia
Fortuna. Sed te censeri laude tuorum,
Pontice, noluerim, sic ut nihil ipse futurae 75
Laudis agas : MISERUM EST ALIENEE INCUMBERE FAM/E,
Ne collapsa ruant subductis tecta columnis.
Stratus humi palmes viduas desiderat ulmos.
58. Many a kind hand, s*r.] They used to clap their hands, i
token of applause, at the public shows and sports.
59. The hoarse circus.] i. e. The people in the circus, hoarse with
their applauding acclamations.
60. From -whatever pasture.] Lit. grass q. d. wherever bred,
61. Whose dust is first, &c.~] Who keeps before the others, so
that the first dust must be raised by him.
62. The Cattle of Corytha.] The breed, or stock, of a famous
jnare, so called, are sold.
63. Hirpinus.] A famous horse, so called from the place where
he was bred, being a hill in the country of the Sabines.
If rare victory, fff.] If they seldom win in the chariot race.
65. Of shades.] No regard to the ghosts of their departed ancestors.
To change their masters, &c.] Their present master disposes
of them very cheaply to others.
66. With a -worn neck.] They are put into teams, and the hair
is all worn off their necks, which are galled with the harness with
which they are fastened to the carriage. See Epirhedium. AINSW.
67- Of Nepos.] The name of some miller, who ground corn in
horse-mills.
68. Admire you> not yours, 3V.] That we may admire you per-
sonally for your own sake, and not merely for your family, or for-
tune, or title.
Shew something, &c.] Give us some proof, by some noble
3AT. viu. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. SH
Horse we praise, for whom many a kind hand
Glows, and victory exults in the hoarse circus.
He is noble from whatever pasture he comes, whose flight 60
Is famous before the others, and whose dust is first on the plain.
But the cattle of Corytha are set to sale, and the posterity of
Hirpinus, if rare victory sits on their yoke.
There is no respect of ancestors, no favour
Of shades ; they are commanded to change their masters 65
For small prices, and draw waggons with a worn neck,
Slow of foot, and worthy to turn the mill of Nepos.
Therefore that we may admire you, not yours, first shew something,
Which I may inscribe among your titles besides your honours,
Which we give, and have given, to them to whom you owe all. 70
These things are enough to the youth, whom fame delivers to us
Proud, and puffed up, and full of his kinsman Nero.
For common sense is, for the most part, rare in that
Condition. But to have thee esteemed from the praise of your ancestors
Ponticus, I should be unwilling, so as that yourself should do 75
Nothing of future praise : 'TIS MISERABLE TO REST OH ANOTHER'S
FAME,
Lest the house fallen, by the pillars being taken away, should turn-
ble into ruins.
The vine strow'd on the ground wants the widow'd elms.
and worthy actions, of true nobility, which, besides your high titles,
may be recorded with honour to yourself.
70. Which ive give, &c.~] i. e To your ancestors, to whom, as
things are at present, you stand solely indebted for every mark of res-
pect that is bestowed upon you.
71. To the youth, <7V.] q. d. So much for Rubellius Plautus, a
youth (as fame represents him, &c.)
72. His kinsman, Nero."} His relationship to Nero. Comp, note
on 1. 40.
73. Rare, &c .] Very seldom found in such a situation of life.
7-5. Ponticus, sV.] See 1. 1. of this Sat. and note.
The poet tells the person to whom he addresses this Satire, that he
should be sorry to have him esteemed merely on account of his ancestors.
76. Nothing of future praise."] That he should do nothing himself,
in order to raise his own character, in times to come.
77. Lest the house fallen, ff<r.] Metaph. i. e. lest, like a building
which tumbles into ruins, when the pillars which support it are re-
moved, so you, if you have no other support to your character, than
what your ancestors have done, if this be once put out of the ques-
tion, should fall into contempt.
78. The vine, 5V.] If you owe the support of your fame entirely to
that of others, let that be removed, and you will be like a vine which
wants the support of an elm to keep it from crawling along the ground.
JUS JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. vm.
Esto bonus miles, tutor bonus, arbiter idem
Integer : ambigua si quando citabere testi 30
Iricertasque rei, Phalaris licet imperet ut sis
Falsus, et admoto dictet perjuria tauro,
SUMMUM CREDE NEFAS ANIMAM PRAFERRE PUDORI,
Et propter vitam vivendi perdere causas.
Dignus morte perit, coenet licet ostrea centum 85
Gaurana, et Cosmi toto mergatur aheno.
Expectata diu tandem provincia cum te
Rectorum accipiet, pone iras froena, moduraque
Pone et avaritiz : miserere inopum sociorum.
Ossa vides regum vacuis cxhausta medullis. 90
Respice, quid moneant leges, quid curia mandet ;
Praemia quanta bonos maneaat ; quam fulmine justo
They used to fasten up their vines, by tying them to the trunks of
elm-trees. See sat. vi. 149. VIRO. Geor. i. 1. 2.
If by any accident the vines broke from the trees, and lay upon the
ground, they called the trees viduas ulmos, alluding to their having
lost the embraces of the vine, as a widow those of her husband when
he dies.
79. A good soldier^ Serve your country in the army.
A faithful tutor. ~\ Quasi tuitor a trusty guardian to some
minor, having the charge of his person and affairs, till he comes of
age to manage for himself.
79 80. An uncorrupted umpire.] When called upon to decide a
cause by your arbitration, distinguish yourself by the utmost impar-
tiality.
80. A 'witness, f7V.] If called upon as a witness in some dark and
difficult matter, let your testimony be true, fair, and unbiassed.
81. Phalaris, &c.~\ One of the most cruel of all the Sicilian ty<-
rants ; he had a brazeu bull, in which he inclosed people, and burnt
them to death.
Though this tyrant were to bring his bull, and threaten to put you
to death, by burning you alive, if you would not speak falsely, yet
x let not even this make you deviate from the truth.
83. The highest imfiiety, &c.] Esteem it a crime of the deepest
dye, to value your life, so as to preserve it in a dishonourable way, at
the expense of your reputation and honour. Pudor fame, reputa-
tion. AINSW.
84-, To lose, &c.~] i. t. The only causes which make life valuable,
the purposes for which it was ordained, and for which it should be
desirable, honour, truth, and surviving fame.
85. lie perishes > &c.~\ Such a wretch, who would 'prefer his safety
to his innocence, deserves to perish utterly, and, when he dies, to have
his memory perish with him, however sumptuously he may have lived.
86. Gauran: oysters."] Lucrine oysters, taken about the port at
Baisr, near the mountain Gaurus, in Campania.
SAT. vm; JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 319
Be you a good soldier, a faithful tutor, an uncorrupted
Umpire also : if you are summoned as a witness in a doubtful 80
And uncertain thing, tho' Phalaris shou'd command that you
Shou'd be false, and should dictate perjuries with the bull brought to
you,
BELIEVE IT THE HIGHEST IMPIETY TO PREFER LIFE TO REPUTA-
TION,
And, for the sake of life, to lose the causes of living. 85
He perishes worthy of death, tho' he should sup on an hundred
Gaurane oysters, and should be immersed in the whole caldron of
Cosmus.
When at length the province, long expected, shall receive you
Governor, put checks to anger, and measure also
Put to covetousness : pity the poor associates.
You see the bones of kings exhausted, with empty marrow. 90
Regard what the laws may admonish, what the state command ;
How great rewards may await the good; with how just a stroke
86. Immersed, sV.] The Romans gave particular names to par-
ticular perfumed ointments ; sometimes they named them after the
countiy from whence they came, sometimes (as probably here) after
the name of the confectioner, or perfumer, who prepared them.
They had an ungueatum Cosmianum, so called from one Cosmus,
who, by boiling various aromatics together, produced his famous
ointment. The poet here means, that, if the person spoken of were
not to anoint himself, as others, but could afford to purchase, and
dip himself in a whole kettle full at once of this rare perfume, yet
his name would deservedly rot with his carcase. It is not living
sumptuously, but living well, that gives reputation after death.
87. The province ', &c.~] He now advises Ponticus as to his beha-
viour towards the people he is to govern, when in possession of the
government of one of the conquered provinces, which he had long
expected.
88. Put checks, sV.] Frocna literally, bridles q. d. Bridle
your anger, keep your passion within proper bounds.
89. Put to covetousness.'] Restrain your avarice, set bounds to
your desires.
-- The poor associates."] The poor people who have been re-
duced by conquest, and now become the allies of the Romans.
90. The bones of kings, &c.~] i. e. You see some of the kings
which we conquered, unmercifully squeezed, and the very marrow,
as it were, sucked out of their bones. Ossa vacuis medullis i. e.
ossa vacua a medullis. Hypallage.
91. The state."} Curia literally signifies a court, more especially
where the senate or council assembled : here ( by metonym. ) it may
ftand for the senate itself Curia pro senatu Campus pro comitiia
Toga pro pace, &c. appellatur. Cic. de Orat. iii. 42. It was
usual for the senate to give a charge to new governors, on their de-
parture to the provinces over which they were appointed-
92. How just a stroke.] How justly they were punished by
320 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT.
Et Capito et Tutor ruerint, damnante senatu,
Piratae Cilicum : sed quid damnatio confert,
Cum Pansa eripiat quicquid tibi Natta veliquit? 95
Prasconem, Chaerippe, tuis circumspice pannis*
Jamque tace ; furor est post omnia perdere naulum.
Non idem gemitus olim, nee vulnus erat par
Damnorum, sociis florentibus, et modo victia.
Plena domus tune omnis, et ingens stabat acervus 100
Nummorum, Spartana chlamys, conchylia Coa,
Et cum Parrhasii tabulis, signisque Myronis,
Phidiacum vivebat ebur, nee non Polycleti
Multus iibique labor : raras sine Mentore mensae.
Inde Dolabella est, atque hinc Antonius, inde 105
Sacrilegus Verres. Referebant navibus altis
a decree of the senate, which fell on them like a thunder-
bolt.
94-. Robbers of the Cilicians.'] Cossutianus Capito, and Julius
Tutor, had been successively prefects, or governors, of Cilicia, and
both recalled and condemned by the senate for peculation and extor-
tion.
95. Pansa can seize, C5V.J Where is the use of making examples
of wicked governors, when, if you punish one, his successor will
still seize on all he left behind him, and thus complete the ruin which
he began.
96. Chttrlfifius.'] He introduces Chsenppus, a subject of this
plundered province, whom he advises to make a sale of his clothes,
and the rest of his poor rags, which he had left, before the successor
comes with a fresh appetite, and devours all, supposing that if he
turhed what he had into money, it might be better concealed. See
tat. vii. 6, note.
97. Be silent.] Say nothing of the money, for fear the new go-
vernor should seize it.
Tour freight. ~\ Naulum signifies the freight, or fare, paid for
a passage over the sea in a ship. The poet seems here to mean, that
it would be no better than madness, to let the governor know of the
money which the goods sold for ; for, by these means, even this
would be seized, and the poor sufferer not have enough left to pay his
passage to Rome, in order to lodge his complaint before the senate
against the oppressor.
98 9. The wound of losses, &c.~] The hurt or damage received
by the rapine of governors, with respect to the property of individu-
als.
99. Associates."] Sociis. The conquered provinces were allied with
the Romans, and called socii.
100. Every house was full.~\ i. e. Of valuable things, as well as of
large sums of money, which the conquerors left untouched.
JOL A Spartan cloai.] A garment richly dyed with the purple
SAT. vin. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 321
Both Capito and Tutor fell, the senate condemning*
The robbers of the Cilicians : but what does condemnation avail,
When Pansa can seize whatever Natta left you ? 95
Look about for a crier, Chserippus, for your rags,
And now be silent : it is madness, after all, to lose your freight.
There were not the same complaints formerly, nor was the wound of
Losses equal, when our associates flourished, and were just conquer'd,
Then every house was full, and there was standing a great heap 100
Of money, a Spartan cloak, purples of Cos,
And with pictures of Parrhasius, statues of Myron,
The ivory of Phidias was living, also every where
Much of the labour of Polycletus : few tables without Mentor.
Thence is Dolabella, and thence Antony, thence 105
The sacrilegious Verres: they brought in lofty ships
of the murex taken on the shore of Laconia, a country of Pelopon-
nesus, the chief city of which was Sparta.
101. Purples of Cos.] Cos, or Coos, was an island in the jEgean
sea, near which the fish, from whence the purple dye was taken, was
also found. Sat. iii. 1. 81, note.
102. Parrhasius.] A famous painter of Greece, who contended
with Zeuxis, and gained the prize. See HOR. ode viii. lib. iv. 1. 6.
Myron.] An excellent statuary, whose works were in high
esteem, especially his brazen cow, which exercised the pens both of
the Greek and Roman poets. Ut similis verae vacca Myronis opus.
Ov. e Pont. iv. 1. 3k
103. Phidias.] A famous painter and statuary: he is here said to
have wrought so curiously in ivory, that his figures seemed to be alive.
See also AINSW. Phidias.
104-. Polycletus.] A Sicyonian, a famous statuary and sculptor.
There were many of his works among this collection.
Mentor] A noble a/tist in chasing and embossing plate.
We are to understand here, that there were few tables, /'. e. enter-
tainments, where, in the courses and services of the table, there were
not some cups, dishes, plates, &c. of Mentor's workmanship.
AH these fine ornaments were permitted to remain in the houses of
the owners by their first conquerors ; but the avarice and rapine of
the governors who succeeded stripped them of all.
105. Thence.] These things left by the conquerors proved a source
of rapine and plunder to the prefects who succeeded.
Dolalella.] A proconsul of Asia, accused by Scaurus, and
condemned, for plundering the province over which he presided.
Antony.] C. Antonius, a proconsul of Achaia, likewise con-
demned for plundering the province.
106. Sacrilegious Verres.] The plunderer of Sicily, who spared not
even sacred things. The province prosecuted him, and, Tully under-
taking the cause, he was condemned and banished. Vid. Cic. i
Verrem.
YOU i. v v
322 JUVENALIS SATIRE. BAT. vin.
Occulta spolia, et plures de pace triumplios.
Nunc sociis juga pauca bourn, et grex parvus equarum;
Et pater armenti capto eripietur agello :
Ipsi deinde Lares, si quod spectabile signum, 110
Si quis in sedicula Deus unicus : haec etenim sunt
Pro summis ; nam sunt hasc maxima. Despicias tu
Forsitan imbelles Rhodios, unctamque Corinthum :
Despicias merito : quid resinata juventus,
Cruraque totius facient tibi Isevia gentis ? 115
Horrida vitanda est Hispania, Gallicus axis,
Illyricumque latus. Farce et messoribus illis,
Qui saturant urbem, circo, scenaeque vacantem. 1
Quanta autem inde feres tarn diraj praemia culpfc,
Cum tenues nuper Marius discinxerit Afros ? 120
107- Hidden sfioi!s.~\ Which they kept, as much as they could,
from public view ; not daring to expose them, as was usual by fair
conquerors in their triumphs.
More triumphs, fcsV.} Than others did from war. q. d. They
got a greater booty, by stripping the poor associates, now at peace,
and in amity with Rome, than the conquerors of them did, when they
subdued them by open war.
109. The father of the herd, sV.] Mr. Stepney, in his poetical
translation of this passage, has well expressed the sense of it ; viz.
our confederates, now,
Have nothing left but oxen for the plough,
Or some few mares reserv'd alone for breed;
Yet, lest this provident design succeed,
They drive the father of the herd away,
Making both stallion and his pasture prey.
110. The very household gods, SsV.J These plunderers of the pro-
vinces are so merciless and rapacious, that they refrain not even from
the lares, or little images, of those tutelar deities which were placed iu
people's houses ; and, particularly, if any of these .struck their fancy,
as a handsome, well-wrought image spectabile signum. Nay, though
there were but one single image, they would take even that. See
AINSW. Lar.
112. For chief s.~\ Pro summis, i.e. viris. q. d. These sacrilegi-
ous depredations are for Roman chiefs to commit, because they are
the most enormous (maxima, the greatest) crimes of all (scelera un-
derstood) such as no others would be guilty of.
Other senses are given to this passage ; but the above seems best to
agree with the poet's satire on the Roman chiefs, who plundered the
conquered provinces after their alliance with Rome.
113. The -weak Rhodians.~\ A people infected with sloth and effe-
minacy. See sat. vi. 295.
Anointed Corinth."] So called from its luxury and use of per-
fumed ointments a sure sign of great effeminacy.
You may safely, and indeed with good reason, despise such peo
SAT. vin. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 323
Hidden spoile, and more triumphs from peace.
Now the associates have a few yokes of oxen, and a small herd of mares,
And the father of the herd will be taken away from the captured field. .
Then the very household gods, if any remarkable image, HO
If any one single god be in the small shrine. But these (crimes) are
For chiefs, for these are greatest. You may despise,
Perhaps, the weak Rhodians, and anointed Corinth :
You may deservedly -despise them : what can an effeminated youth,
And the smooth legs of a whole nation do to you ? 115
Rough Spain is to be avoided, the Gallic axis,
And the coast of Illyria : spare also those reapers
Who supply the city, intent upon the circus, and the theatre.
But how great rewards of so dire a crime will you bring from thence,
Since Marius has lately stripp'd the slender Africans ? 120
pie as these ; for you have nothing to fear, either from their resistance,
or from their revenge.
114-. An effeminated youth."] A race of youth, or young men,
wholly sunk into effeminacy. Resinata juventus literally, the youth
(of Corinth) who are resined i. e. bedaubed all over with perfumes
and essences of aromatic resins or gums. See AINSW. Resinatus.
115. Smooth legs, &V.J It was customary for the delicate young
men to remove, as much as possible, the hair which grew on their
limbs, and indeed from every part of the body, to make them lovely
in the eyes of their beastly paramours. The poet here means, that an
oppressive governor could have nothing to fear from such people as
these, who could not have spirit, or courage enough, to attempt any
resistance,
116. Rough Spain."] Then a hardy and brave people, who would
not tamely submit to injuries done them by the Roman prefects.
Gallic axis.] The Gauls fought from chariots.
117. The coast oj Illyria>~\ Latus lit. the side. The Illyrians in-
habited the right side of the Adriatic gulph, including Dalmatia and
Sclavonia ; a hardy race of people. Their country was over against
Italy.
Those reapers, tfr.] Meaning the people of Africa, who sup-
plied Rome with corn.
118. The city.'] Rome.
Intent, &3V.] Vacantem empty of all other employment, and
minding nothing else but the public diversions of the circus, and of
the theatres.
1 1 9. How great rewards, &c .] But suppose you oppress the
poor Africans, what can you get by it ?
120. Marius.'] Priscus, who being proconsul of Africa, pillaged
the people of the province, for which he was condemned and banish-
ed. See sat. i. 1. 49.
Stri/iji'd.~\ Discinxerit lit. ungjrded a metaphorical ex.
pression, alluding to the act of those who take away the garments
324- JUVENALIS SATIR^E. SAT, TIU.
Curandum imprimis, ne magna injuria fiat
Fortibus et miseris, tollas licet omne quod usquam est
Auri atque argenti ; scutum gladiumque relinques,
Etjacula, et galeam : spoliatis arma supersunt.
Quod modo proposui, non est sententia ; renim 125
Credite me vobis folium recitarc Sibyllae.
Si tibi sancta cohors comitum ; si nemo tribunal
Vendit acersecomes : si nullum in conjuge crimen ;
Nee per conventus, et cuncta per oppida curvis
Unguibus ire parat nummos raptura Celaeno ; 130
Tune licet a Pico numeres genus ; altaque si te
Nomina delectent, omnem Tkanida pugnam
Inter majores, ipsumque Promethea ponas :
De quocunque voles proavum tibi sumito libro.
Quod si praecipitem rapit ambitus atque libido, . 135
Si frangis virgas sociorum in sanguine, si te
Delectant hebetes lasao lictore secures :
of others, and who begin by loosening the girdle by which they are
fastened.
122. The brave and miserable > &c.] Beware of provoking such by
any unwarrantable oppression ; they will certainly find some way to
revenge themselves. Though you pillage them of all their money and
goods, yet remember they have arms left, with which they can revenge
their wrong.
Entirely."] Omne quod usquam lit. every thing which (is)
any where.
126. Leaf of a Sibyl.] The Sibyls were supposed to be inspired
with knowledge of future events, which came to pass as they foretold.
See sat. iii. 1. 3, and note.
Don't think, says Juvenal, that I am here giving you a mere ran-
dom opinion of my own No; what I say is as true* as an oracle,
as fixed as fate itself, and will certainly come to pass ; therefore re-
gard it accordingly.
127. A virtuous set, &c.~] Cohors here signifies cohors praetoria
those that accompanied the magistrate who went into a province.
See AINSW. Cohors, No. 5. q. d. If the persons of your retinue,
who attend you as your officers and ministers within your province,
are virtuous and good.
If no favourite i &c."\ Acersecomes was an epkhet of Apollo,
(Gr. ccK^o-txaft,;-^, intonsus,) and was transferred to the smooth-faced
boys, which great men kept for their unnatural purposes.
These favourites had great interest and influence with their masters,
and people used to give them bribes to obtain their interference with
the prefect when he sat in judgment, so as to incline him to favour
their friends in his decisions.
128. No crime be in your wife."] It was too frequent for the go-
vernors of the provinces to be influenced by their wives in their deter-
mination of causes.
SAT. vnr. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 325
First care is to be taken, lest great injury be done
To the brave and miserable ; tho' -you may take away entirely every
thing
Of gold and silver, you will leave the shield and sword,
And darts, and helmet : arms remain to the plunder'd.
What I now have proposed is not a mere opinion, but 125
Believe me to recite to you a leaf of a Sibyl.
Jf you Ijave a virtuous set of attendants ; if no favourite
Sells your seat of judgment ; if no crime be in your wife ;
Nor thro' the districts, and thro' the towns, with crooked '
Talons, does she, a Celseno, contrive to go to seize money ; 130
Then, you may reckon your lineage from Picus, and, if high names
Delight you, you may place the whole Titanian battle,
And Prometheus himself, among your ancestors :
Take to yourself a great grandfather from whatever book you please.
But if ambition, and lust, hurry you headlong, 185
If you break rods in the blood of the allies, if thee
Blunt axes delight, the lictor being tired,
129. Districts. "\ See AINSW. Conventus, No. 3. It being put
here with oppida seems to mean those districts into which the pro-
vinces were divided, like our counties, wherein the people were sum-
moned by the magistrate to meet for the dispatch of judicial business.
In each of these the prefect held a court, something like our judges
on the circuits, to try criminal and civil causes. So likewise in the
cities, which were districts of themselves, like some of ours. This
custom is very ancient see 1 Sam. vii. 16. On these occasions the
prefect's, or judge's wife, might attend, with no small advantage to
herself, if she were inclined to extort money from the suitors, to in-
fluence her husband in their favour.
129 30. Crooked talons, EsV.] Like an harpy, seizing on all she
could get. Of Celaeno, and the other harpies, read ./En. iii. I.
ail 18, 24.5, 36,5, 703.
131. Picus.~\ The first king of the Aborigines, an ancient people
of Italy, who incorporated themselves with the Romans. He was
said to be the son of Saturn.
132. Titanian battle. ] All the Titans, who were set in battle-
array against Jupiter, these were sons of Saturn also,
133. Prometheus himself. ,] The son of lapetus, one of the Titans,
and Clynaene, whom the poets feigned to have been the first former
of men out of clay, and then to have animated them by tire stolen from
heaven. See sat. iv. 133,
134'. Whatever book, sV.] /. e. From whatever history of great
and famous men you please. q. d. You are welcome to this if you
are yourself a worthy man and a good magistrate,
136. Brealt rods, sV.] If you break the rods, which you prepare
for the allies over which you preside, on their bloody backs ;. e. if
you cruelly torment them with scourges.
137. The liftor, fcfr.] If you delight in putting the ppor people
326 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. VMK
Incipit ipsorum contra te stare parcntum
Nobilitas, claramque facem praeferre pudendis.
OMNE ANIMI VITIUM TANTO CONSPECTIUS IK SE 140
CRIMEN HABET, QUANTO MAJOR, QUI PECCAT, HABETTJR.
Quo milii te solitutn falsas signare tabellas
In templis, quas fecit avus ; statuamque parentis
Ante triumphalem ? quo, si nocturnus adulter
Tempora Santonico velas adoperta cucullo ? 145
Prseter majorum cineres, atque ossa volucri
Carpento rapitur pinguis Damasippus : et ipse,
Ipse rotam stringit multo sufflarniue Consul :
Nocte quidem ; sed luna videt, sed sidera testes
Intendunt oculos. Finitum tempus honoris 150
Cum fuerit, clara Damasippus luce flagellum
Sumet, et occursum nusquam trepidabit amici
to death, till the very axes are blunted by frequent use, and the exe-
cutioner himself be tired out with the number of executions.
138. The nobility, &c."] So far from the nobility of your family's
reflecting any honour upon you, it rises, and stands in judgment, as
it were, against you, and condemns you for your degeneracy.
139. A clear torch, Cffr.] Makes your foul deeds the more con-
spicuous, and exposes your shame in a clearer light. . * ." ' ,
140. Every vice.'] Such as cruelty, avarice, and the like. Pravi-
tates animi, vitia recte dicnntur. Cic.
More conspicuous, Cffc.] So far from deriving any sanction
from high and noble birth, the vices of the great are the more blame-
able, and more evidently inexcusable in proportion to the greatness of
their quality their crimes are the more notorious, their examples
the more malignant.
142. Wherefore, &c.~] Jactas is here understood Quo mihi jactas
te solitum, &c. q. d. " It is of very little consequence, that you,
who are in the habit of forging wills, should be boasting to me
" your nobility to what end, intent, or purpose, can you do it ?"
Quo, here, has the sense of qnorsum.
143. In the temples.] It was usual to sign, as a witness to a will,
in the temples of the gods, to put men in mind that they were obliged
by religion to be true and faithful. See sat. i. 1. 67, 8.
Tour grandfather built.'] Fecit lit. made. The piety of
your ancestors reflects no honour upon you.
144. The triumphal jtatue, &c.] Which being set up in the temple,
is, as it were, a witness of your villainy.
A nightly adulterer.] Taking advantage of the night to con-
ceal your deeds of darkness. See Job. xxiv. 15 17.
145. Tour temples.] Your head and face, of which the temples
are a part. Synec.
A Santonic hood.~\ The Santones were a people of Acquitain,
a part of France, from whom the Romans derived the use of hoods,
or cowls, which covered the head and face. Comp. sat, vi. 1. 328,9.
SAT. vin. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 827
The nobility of your ancestors themselves begins to stand
Against you, and to carry a clear torch before your shameful deeds.
EVERY VICE OF THE MIND HAS BY so MUCH MORE CONSPI-
CUOUS 14,0
BLAME, BY HOW MUCH HE THAT OFFENDS is ACCOUNTED GREATER.
Wherefore to me boast yourself accustomed to sign false wills
In the temples, which your grandfather built, and before
The triumphal statue of your father ? what, if a nightly adulterer,
You veil your cover'd temples with a Santonic hood? 145
By the ashes of his ancestors, and their bones, in a swift
Chariot, fat Damasippus is whirl' d along, and he,
Himself, the consul, binds the wheel with many a drag.
By night indeed, but the moon sees, but the conscious stars
Fix their eyes upon him : when the time of honour is finished t 150
Damasippus, in the clear light, the whip will
Take, and no where tremble at the meeting of a friend
146. By the ashes, &?<:.] The poet here inveighs against the low
and depraved taste of the noblemen in Rome, whose passion it was to
become charioteers, The name Damasippus (from Gr. Ixpetu, to
tame, and /V/Tor, an horse) signifies an horse-tamer, and is applicable,
not merely to any single person, but to all of the same taste. Da-
masippus, says he, drives furiously by the ashes and bones of his gres.t
progenitors ; so totally uninfluenced by their examples of true great-
ness, as to sink into the mean character of a coachman, or charioteer.
The emperor Nero affected this, and was Jfollo\vejl in jt by many, by
way of paying court to him ; and indeed the poet here must be un-
derstood to glance at this.
148. Binds the wheel, &c.~] The sufHamen was what they put on
the wheel of a carriage to stop or stay it, that it should not go too
fast down hill, or run back when going up hill. The person who
attended to put this on was some slave ; but Damasippus, though
consul, submits to this office himself. Multo sufflamine implies his
often doing this.
149. By nighty sV.] This indeed he does in the night, when h>
thinks nobody sees him ; but the moon and stars are witnesses of the
fact, which is so degrading to a man in his sit nation, and which would
not happen had he a due regard to his own dignity. Testis signifies,
lit. a witness. Hence, met. that is privy to a thing conscious.
Sat. iii. 49 ; and sat. xiii. 75.
150. The time of honour is fniihed.^ When he goes out of office
at the end of the year.
151. In the clear light ', &V] In open daylight hell appear as a
charioteer.
328 JUVENALIS SATIJUE. SAT. vin.
Jam senis, at virga prior innuet, x atque maniplos
Solvet, et infundet jumentis hordea lassis.
Interea dum lanatas, torvumque juvencum 155
More Numae csedit Jovis ante altaria, jurat
Hipponam, et facies olida ad prassepia pictas.
Sed cum pervigiles placet instaurare popinas, -
Obvius assiduo Syrophoenix udus amomo
Currit, Idumsea: Syrophcenix incola portas, 160
Hospitis afFectu Dominum, Regemque salutat,
Et cum venali Cyane, succincta lagena.
Defensor culpx dicet mihi : fecimus et nos
Hasc juvenes. Esto ; desfsti nempe, nee ultra
Fovisti errorem. Breve sit, quod turpiter audes. 16,>
Quaedam cum prima resecentur crimina barba.
Indulge veniam pueris : Damasippus ad illos
Thermarum calices, inscriptaque lintea vadit,
153. Now old.] And therefore grave and sedate ; yet Damasip-
pus will feel no shame at meeting him.
- Make a sign, &c.] Salute him with a dexterous crack of his
whip. See sat. iii. 317, 18.
154. Loosen the trusses, sfc.] Will feed his horses hmself, coach-
man like. Manipulum is an handful, armful, or bundle ; here we
may suppose it to mean a truss of hay.
155. Kills sheep, &c.~] When he goes to offer sacrifices, accord-
ing to the rites established by Numa, the successor of Romulus, at
the altar of Jupiter.
156 7- Swears by Hifipona, CSV.] Hippona (from /V^ro? an
horse) is the goddess he swears by, and in whose name he makes his
vows. She was the goddess of horses and stables : her image was
placed in the middle of the stalls, and curiously bedecked with chap-
lets of fresh roses. By et facies pictas, we may suppose that there
were other deities, of a like kind, painted on the walls of the stables.
158. To renew the watchful taverns,] To renew his visits, and re-
pair to the taverns, where people sat up all night.
159. A Syrofihamc'ian, 3V.] A name of Syria and Phoenicia,
from whence the finest perfumed ointments came, as did also those
who prepared them best.
Wet, I3c.~\ Greasy by continually busying himself in his trade.
160. Inhabitant of the Idumxan gate.~\ The Idumsean gate at Rome
was so called from Vespasian's and Titus's entry through it, when
they triumphed over the Jews Idumsa is a part of Syria, bordering
on Judaea. This part of Rome, which was called the Idumasan gate,
was probably much inhabited by these Syrian perfumers.
161. With the affectation, &c.~\ The innkeepers at Rome were
SAT. VIM. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. S29
Now old, but will first make a sign, with his whip ; and trusses
Of hay will loosen, and pour in barley to his tired beasts.
Mean time while he kills sheep, and the fierce bullock, 155
After the manner of Numa, before the altars of Jove, he swears by
Hippona, and faces painted at the stinking mangers :
But when he pleases to renew the watchful taverns,
A Syrophoenician, wet with a constant perfume, runs to
Meet him, a Syrophoenician inhabitant of the Idumasan gate ; 160
With the affectation of an host, he salutes him lord and king j
And nimble Cyane with a venal flagon.
A defender of his fault will say to me, " We also have done these
" things
" When young men." " Be it sp but you left off, nor farther
" Cherish 'd your error. Let that be short which you shamefully
'< adventure." 165
Some crimes should be cut off with the first beard.
Indulge favour to boys. Damasippus goes to those
Cups of the hot baths, and to the inscribed linen,
very lavish of their flatteries and civil speeches to people who came to
their houses, in order to engage their custom. This perfumer affects
the same, in order to bespeak the custom of Damasippus, and flatters
him with the highest titles that he can think of.
162. Nimble Cyane, sV.] The woman of the house loses no time
in setting a bottle of liquor before him. Succinctus cursitat hospes.
HOR. lib. ii. sat. vi. 1. 107. Succinctus lit. girt, trussed, tucked
up, for the greater expedition.
A venal flagon.] Of wine, which was sold at the tavern.
163. A defender, &c.~] Some person may perhaps say, by way of
excuse.
165. Let that be short, sV.] I. e. Stop short, and never persist
in doing ill.
166. Should be cut off", &c.~\ Left off when we come to manhood.
167. Indulge favour, &c.~\ Make all proper allowance for the er-
rors of youth.
Damasippus, sV.] True, one would make every allowance
for the follies of young men ; but Damasippus is of an age to know,
and to do, better. See 1. 16971.
168. Cups of the hot baths.'} The Therms, or hot baths at Rome,
were places, where some, after bathing, drank very hard. Hence
Epigrammatogr. lib. xii. epigr. 71- cited by Grangius, in his note on
this passage.
Frangendos calices, effundendumque Falernum,
Clamabat, biberet, qui modo lotus eques.
A sene sed postquam nummi venere trecenti,
Sobrius a Thermis nescit abire domum.
They also drank hot wine, while bathing, to make them sweat.
VOL. i. xx
330 JUVENALIS SATIRJt. SAT. vnr,
Maturus bello Armeniae, Syriaeque tuendis
Amnibus, et Rheno, atque Istro. Praestare Neronem 170
Securum valet haec aetas. Mitte Ostia, Caesar,
Mitte ^ sed in magna legatum quare popina.
Invenies aliquo cum percussore jacentem,
Permistum nautis, aut furibus, aut fugitivis>.
Inter carnifices, et fabros sandapilarum, ITS
Et resupinatf cessantia tympana Galli.
./Equa ibi libertas, communia pocula, lectus
Non- all us cuiquam,. nee mensa remotior ulli. "
Quid-facias, talem sortitus, Pontice, servum ?
Nempe in Lucanos, aut Thusca ergastula mittas. 180
At vos, Trojugenae, vobis ignoscitis, et quae
Turpia cerdoni, Volesos Brutosque decebunt.
168. The Inscribed linen.] Alluding to the brothels, over the doora
of which the entertainment which the guests might expect was set
forth on painted linen. See sat. vi. 1. 123, and note.
169. Mature for the tvar, &c J Damasippus is now grown up to
manhood, and ripe for entering upon the service of his country.
Armenia.] In the reign of Nero, Armenia excited new and
dangerous tumults.
169 70. Rivers of Syria, sV.} As the Euphrates,. Tigris)- and
Orontes, which were to be well defended, to prevent the incursions of
enemies into Syria.
170. The Rhine and Ister.J The former anciently divided Germany
and France : the latter means the Danube, the largest river in Europe j
as it paaseth by Illyricum, it is called the Ister. On the banks of
both these rivers the Romans had many conquered nations to keep in
subjection, and many others to fear.
171. Thit age is abk.~} Persons, at the time of life to which Da-
masippus is arrived, are capable of entering into the armies, which
are to protect both the emperor and the empire. By Neronem any
emperor raay be meant perhaps Domitian. Sat. iv. 38.
Send Casar, sV.j q. d. Have you occasion, O Caesar, for an
ambassador to dispatch on business of state to Ostia, or to the coasts
of the Roman provinces? Ostia was a city built by Ancus Martius,
at the mouth of the river Tiber. Ostia-se, sing, or Ostiaorum, plur.
1 72. Seek your legate, &c.~] If you should choose to employ Da-
tnasfppus, you must look for him in some tavern, and among the lowest
and most profligate company^
175. Ma&ers of coffins. ~\ Sandapila was a bier, or colO&n, for the
poorer sort, especially for those who were executed.
176. The ceasing drums, CsV.] The priests of Cybele, in their
frantic processions, used to beat drums. Here is an account of one
asleep on his back, perhaps dead drunk, with his drums by him
-quite silent. They were called Galli, from Gallus, a river in
SAT. VIM. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. S31
Mature for the war of Armenia, and for defending the rivers
Of Syria, and for the Rhine and Ister. To make Nero 1 70
Safe, this age is able. Send, Caesar, send to Ostia,
But seek your legate in a great tavern.
You will find him lying by some <Hit-throaf"
Mix'd with sailors, or thieves, or fugitives,
Among hangmen, and makers of coffins, 175
And the ceasing drums of a priest of Cybele lying on his back.
There is equal liberty, cups in common, not another couch
To any one, nor a table more remote to any.
What would you do, Ponticus, if you had such a slave ?
You would surely send him among the Lucani, or the Tuscan work-
houses. 1 80
But you, sons of Troy, forgive yourselves, and what things
Are base to a cobbler, will become the Volesi or Bruti.
Phrygia, in which country 'Cybele was peculiarly worshipped. For
a description of these, see sat. vi. 1. 511 16.
177. There is equal liberty, sV/J AH are here upon one footing-
they drink out of the same cup.
Another couch, C3V.] The Romans, at their entertainments,
lay upon couches, or beds j and people of distinction had their
conches ornamented, and some were raised higher than others but
here all were accommodated alike.
178. Table more remote, sV.J No table set in a more or less honour,
able place no sort of distinction made, or respect shewn, to one more
than another. They were all " Hail fellow ! well met V as we say.
179. Such a slave, csV.] If you had a slave that passed his time
in such a manner, and in such rascally company if such a one had
fallen to your lot, what would you do with him ?
ISO. The LucdnL'] Lucania was a country of Italy, belonging to
Naples, where the slaves were punished by being made to dig in fetters.
Tuscan workhoujet.] ./Ergastula places of punishment for
slaves, where they were made to work in chains. These were very
frequent in Tuscany.
181. Sons cfTroy.] A sneer on the low minded and profligate no-
bility, who were proud of deriving their families from the ancient
Trojans, who first settled in Italy. See sat. i. 100.
forgive t/ourteli>es.~] Easily find out excuses for what you do.
182. Will become the Volesi or Bruti ] By tliese he means the no-
bles of Rome, the most ancient families being derived from Valerius
Volesus, who came and settled at Rome, with Tatius king of the Sa-
bines, on the league of amity with Romulus. Brutus also was Jt '
name highly reverenced, on account of the noble acts of some
who had borne it. Junius Brutus was the first consul after the ex-
pulsion of the kings ; Domitius Jun. Brutus vas one of the con-
332 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vin.
Quid, si nunqaam adeo foedis, adeoque pudendis
TJtimur exemplis, ut non pejora supersint ?
Consumptisopibus vocem, Damasippe, locasti
Sipario, clamosum ageres ut Phasma Catulli.
Laureolum Velox etiam bene Lentulus egit,
Judice me, dignus vera cruce. Nee tamen rpsl
Ignoscas populo : populi frons durior hujus,
Qui sedet, et spectat triscurria patriciorum : 190
Planipedes audit Fabios, ridere potest qui
Mamercorum alapas. Quanti sua funera vendant,
Quid refert ? ve"ndunt nullo cogente Nerone,
Nee dubitant celsi Ptaetoris vendere ludis.
Finge tamen gladios inde, atque hinc pulpita pone : 1 95
Quid satius ? mortem sic cjuisquam exhorruit, ut sit
spirators against Jul. Caesar j these were the chiefs of a noble family
in Rome, who bore the name of Brutus.
The poet here observes, that the Roman nobility were got to such
a state of shameless profligacy, that they gloried in actions and prac-
tices, which a low mechanic would have been ashamed of, and which
would have disgraced even a cobbler.
183. If ive never, sV.] q. d. What will you say, if after the
examples which I have produced, so infamous and shameful, there
should remain yet worse ?
185. Damatippus.'] See his character, 1. H7 180. At last he
is supposed to have ruined himself, and to go upon the stage.
1 86. The stage.] Siparium, properly, is the curtain of a theatre :
here, by synec. it denotes the theatre itself.
. Phasma*] Catullus wrote a play, intitled Phasma, or the Vi-
sion ; so called from Gr. (pajvo^i appareo. Probably the work of
some scribbler of that name, full of noise and rant.
187. Velox Lentulus.~\ Another of these profligate noblemen.
Laureolus.~] The name of a tragedy, in which the hero
Laureolus, for some horrid crime, is crucified.
188. Worthy^ &c.] Richly deserving to be crucified in earnest, for
condescending to so mean a thing as to turn actor upon a public stage.
I being judge.] In my opinion in my judgment.
189. The very people, ~\ Even the commonalty who attend at these
exhibitions.
The front of this people, &c.~] The spectators are still, if
possible, more inexcusable, who can impudently sit and divert them,
selves with such a prostitution of nobility.
190. Buffooneries.] Triscurria, from tris (Gr. rg/s) three times,
and scurra, a buffoon the threefold buffooneries of persons acting so
out of character.
Patricians.] Noblemen of the highest rank.
191. Barefooted Fabii.'] Planipes an actor, or mimic, that acletl
without shoes, or on the plain ground.
SAT. vin. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 333
What, if we never use so foul, and so shameful
Examples, that worse cannot remain ?
Thy riches consumed, thy voice, Damasippus, thou hast hired to 185
The stage, that thou mightest act the noisy Phasma of Catullus.
Velox Lentulus also acted well Laureolus,
Worthy, I being judge, a real cross. Nor yet can you
Excuse the very people ; the front of this people is still harder,
Who sits, and beholds the buffooneries of patricians : 190
Hears barefooted Fabii who can laugh at the slaps
Of the Mamerci. At what price they may sell their deaths
What does it signify ? they sell them, no Nero compelling,
Nor doubt to sell them to the shows of the haughty pretor.
But imagine the swords there, and put the stage here : 195
Which is best ? has any one so feared death, that he shou'd be
A fine piece of diversion, for the spectators to behold a man, de-
scended from one of the first families, acting so low a part !
192. Of the Mamerci.] A great family in Rome, descended from
Mamercus ./Emilius, who, when dictator, subdued the rebels at Fi-
denae.
A curious entertainment, truly, to see a descendant of this family,
suffering kicks, and slaps on the face, like a merry-andrew, on a pub-
lic stage, for the diversion of the people !
Sell their deaths, ff<:.] /. e. Expose their persons to be put
to death. q. d. No matter for what price these nobles run the ha-
zard of their lives ; they do it voluntarily, therefore nobody will pity
them if they be killed. He now proceeds to satirize the noble gladi-
ators.
193. No Nero com/idling, sV.] Alluding to the cruelty of Nero,
who commanded four hundred senators, and six hundred knights, to
fight in the amphitheatre : these were excusable, for they could not
help it ; but this was not the case with those the poet is here writing
of, who, of their own accord, exposed their lives upon the stage for
hire, like common gladiators ; which we may understand by vendunt.
1 94. Nor doubt, &c .] They make no scruple to engage in the
shows of gladiators given by the pretor, who sat on high, exalted in
a car, to direct and superintend the whole. See sat. x. 1. 36. They
hire themselves, as it were, for this purpose.
195. Imagine the swords, &C.] Suppose you were to choose, put
the lists for sword-playing on one hand, the stage on the other, which
should you think best which would you choose ?
196. Hat any one, &c.~] Has any one known the fear of death
so much, as not to risque his life in a combat, rather than to play
the fool as an actor.
We are to understand the poet here to say, that it is more
shameful to act upon the stage, than to fight as a gladiator, though
at the hazard of life j for who would net detest to play the part
S34 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. tin.
Zelotypus Thymeks ; stupidi collega Corinthi ?
Res haud mira tamen, citharcedo principe, mimus
Nobilis : hzc ultra, quid erit nisi ludus ? et illic
Dedecus urbis habes : nee mirmillonis in armis, 20Q
Nee clypeo Gracchum pugnantem, aut falce supina,
(Damnat enim tales habitus, sed damnat et odit,)
Nee galea frontem abscondit : raovet ecce tridentem,
Postquam librata pendentia retia dextra
Nequicquam efFudit, nuduro ad spectacula vultum 20$
Erigit, et tola fugit agnoscendus arena.
Credamus tunicas, de faucibus aurea cum se
of the cuckold Latinus, the jealous husband of Thymele, or be
a fellow-actor with that stupid fellow Corinthus a low mimic and
buffoon.
197. Thymete.] See sat. i. 1. 36, and note.
198. Prince a harper. ~\ No wonder a nobleman, born under the
reign of Nero, who turned actor and harper himself, should be influ-
enced by, and follow the example of the emperor.
The poet is here shewing the mischief which accrues from the evil
example of princes. So before, sat. vi. 616.
199. After these things, Sffr.J After this, what can you expect,
but that it should become a general fashion, and that nothing should
be found, in the polite world, but acting plays and prize-fighting.
Ludus signifies both.
There.] i. c. In that manner of employment, so unworthy
the nobility of Rome, you have Gracchus, &c. Some read illud,
agreeing with dedecus q. d. You have Gracchus, that disgrace, &c,
200. The disgrace, &c.~\ A severe rebuke of Gracchus, a noble-
man of one of the greatest families in Rome, who debased himself,
to the scandal of even the city itself, in fighting upon the stage. Ju*
venal censures him for three enormities at once.
1st. For his baseness in such a condescension.
2ndly. For his impudence, in not choosing an habit which might
have disguised him.
Srdly. For his cowardice in running away, and meanly shewing
himself to the people to obtain their favour,
Gracchus*] See sat. ii. 14-3, &c.
' Mirmillo.J There were two sorts of gladiators among tlie
Romans, which had different names according to the arms and habit
which they appeared in. One fought with a sword, or falchion,
shaped like a scythe (falce) in his right hand, a target on his left
arm, and an helmet on his head ; he was called Mirmillo, (from uveuor,
an ant, which is covered with scales like armour. See AINSW.) or
Secutor : the other wore a short coat without sleeves, called tunica ;
% hat on his head ; he carried in his right-hand a javelin, forked
like a trident, called fuscina ; on his left arm a net, iu which he
SAT. vnr. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 535
Jealous of Thymele ; the colleague of stupid Corinthus ?
Yet it is not surprising, when the prince is a harper, that the noble
Is a mimic : after these things, what will there be but a play ? and
there
You have the disgrace of the city : Gracchus, neither in the arms of
a Mirmillo, 200
Nor fighting with the shield, or held up scythe,
(For he condemns such habits, but he condemns and hates them,)
Nor hides his forehead with an helmet ; behold he moves a trident,
After the nets, hanging from his balanced right-hand,
He has cast in vain, his countenance naked to the scaffolds 205
He erects, and flies to be acknowledged over the whole arena.
Let us trust to his tunic, since a golden wreath from hia jaws
endeavoured to catch his adversary, and from thence was called Re-
tiarius. Sat. ii. 1. 143, note.
Now Gracchus did not take the arms of the Mirmillo, which would
have covered him from being so easily known, but took the habit of
the Retiarins, and impudently exposed his person to the knowledge
of the beholders.
203. A trident.] The fuscina. See note on I. 200.
204. After the nets, fjV.J It was the play of the Retiaritis to throw
his net over the Mirmillo, and so, confining him, to have him in his
prower : to this end he took the best aim he could, balancing the net
as exactly as possible, that it might cover his mark. But Gracchua
missed it, and then fled to escape his antagonist.
205. The scaffolds.] Spectacula the scaffolds on which the spec-
tators sat to behold the shows. Spectacuium sometimes signifies a
beholder. AINSW. No. 4.
206. Acknowledged, &c.~] Be known by the spectators, that, seeing
who he was, they might not make the signal for his being put to death,
as a bad and cowardly gladiator. See sat. iii. 1. 36, note 2.
Arena] Literally, signifies sand ; but, by metonymy, the
part of the ampitheatre where the gladiators fought, because strewed
with sand, to keep them from slipping, and to drink up the blood.
See sat. ii. 1. 144.
207. Trust to his tunic] The Retiarius wore a sort of coat with-
out sleeves, called tunica hence Gracchus is called tunicatus. Sat. ii.
143. his was so rich and magnificent, as plainly to shew what he
was. Some, instead of credamus read cedamus, let us yield/, e* to
the evidence of his habit, to prove his rank.
- Since, &V.] Cum here used as quandoquidem forasmuch
as -seeing that.
- A golden wreath] The spira was a band, or twisted lace,
which was fastened to the hat, and tied under the chin, to keep it
upon the head. This band, or lace, also, being of gold, plainly
shewed that he was no common gladiator.
335 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. TIM,
Porrigat, et longo jactetur spira galero.
Ergo ignominiam graviorem pertulit omni
Vulnere, cum Graccho jussus pugnare secutor. 210
Libera si dentur populo suffragia, quis tarn
Perditus, ut dubitet Senecam prseferre Neroni ?
Cujus supplicio non debuit una parari
Simia. nee serpens unus, nee culeus unus.
Par Agamemnonidae crimen ; sed causa facit rera 215
Dissimilem : quippe ille Deis auctoribus ultor
Patris erat caesi media inter pocula : sed nee
Electrae jugtilo se polluit, aut Spartani
Sanguine conjugii : nullis aconita propinquis
Miscuit : in scena nunquam cantavit Orestes :
Troi'ca non scripsit. Quid enim Virginius armia
See,
" His coat and hat-band shew his quality." STEPNET.
208. Stretches itself, fff.] Being untied, hangs down on each side
of his face porrigat de faucibus loosely from the hat, or cap,
which, having an high crown, appeared of a considerable length from
the base to the top longo galero.
Is tossed.] Blown to and fro by the air, in his running from
the Mirmillo.
209. The Secutor.] Or follower. The Mirmillo was so called from
his following the Retiarius to kill him, after the latter had missed
with his net, unless his life were begged.
An heavier ignominy, &c] The gladiator who fought with
so inexperienced and cowardly a fugitive, got more dishonour in fight-
ing with him, though he overcame him, than if he had himself re-
ceived a wound from a brave and experienced antagonist.
211. If free suffrages, &c.] If the people were allowed to give
their votes freely. See sat. x. 77 81.
212. Seneca to Nero.] Lucius Seneca, uncle to Lucan the poet,
and appointed tutor to Nero by Agrippina, who recalled him from
banishment. He was an orator, poet, philosopher, and historian.
He was put to death by Nero q. d. Who is so lost to all sense of
virtue who so abandoned, as even to doubt whether he should pre-
fer Seneca to Nero ?
213. For whose punishment.] i.e. For Nero's.
213 14. Not one ape, &c.] A parricide, by the Roman law, wag
$ewn up in a sack, with a cock, a serpent, an ape, and a dog, and
thrown into the sea.
The poet means, that Nero's many parricides deserved more than
one death.
215. Of Orestes] Agamemnonidae, the son of Agamemnon and
Clytemnestra.
Crime equal] He slew his mother, and therefore was a par-
ricide as well as Nero, who slew his mother Agrippina, by whose
means he got the empire.
SAT. vni. JUVJNA.L'S SATIRES. 337
Stretches itself, and is tossed from his long cap.
Therefore the Secutor bore an heavier ignominy than any
Wound, being commanded to fight with Gracchus. 210
If free suffrages were allowed the people, who is so
Lost, as that he should doubt to prefer Seneca to Nero ?
For whose punishment there ought not to be prepared
One ape, nor one serpent, nor one sack.
The crime of Orestes was equal ; but the cause makes the thing 215
Unlike, for he, the gods being commanders, was the avenger
Of a father slain in the midst of his cups : but he neither
Polluted himself with the throat of Electra, nor with the blood
Of Spartan wedlock : poison for none of his relations
Did he mix. Orestes never sang upon the stage : 220
Never wrote Tro'ics : for what ought Virginius with his arms
215. The cause makes, &c.~] Tke occasion and the motive from
which Orestes acted were very different from that of Nero, and
therefore make a great difference as to the act itself.
216. Was the avenger, f?V.] Orestes killed his mother Clytem-
nestra, because she, with her paramour ^Egysthus, had murdered his
father Agamemnon ; therefore Orestes might be looked upon as a
minister of divine justice, to execute the vengeance of the gods, and
to act, as it were, by their command.
217. In the midst of his cu/is.] Homer Odyss. S. and A. is of
Juvenal's opinion, that Agamemnon was slain at a banquet, when he
little expected such treatment.
Homer, as well as Juvenal, justifies this revenge, as being under-
taken by the advice of the gods.
218. Throat of Electra.'] Orestes did not kill his sister Electra, as
Nero did his brother Britannicus. HOR. lib. ii. sat iii. 1. 137 40.
219. Spartan wedlock.] He did not kill his wife Hermione, the
daughter of Menelaus king of Sparta, as Nero murdered his wives
Octavia, Antonia, and Poppsea.
Poison for none, &c.~] As Nero did for his brother Britan-
nicus, and for his aunt Domitia.
220. Never sang, &V.] Orestes, (see sat. i. 1. 5, note,] mad as he
was, never sang upon the stage, as Nero did, who not only sang
upon the theatre among the ordinary comedians, but took a journey
to Greece, on purpose to try his skill among the most famous artists,
from whom he bore away the garland, and returned to Rome in
triumph, as if he had conquered a province.
221. Never wrote Troics.'} Nero had also the vanity of being
thought a good poet, and made verses on the destruction of Troy,
called Troica ; and, it is reported, that he set Rome on fire, in order
to realize the scene better. It is also said, that he placed himself,
dressed in a theatrical habit, on an eminence in Rome, and sang a
part of his Troica to his harp, during the conflagration.
. What ought Virginia , fcfr.] Nero's niOiistrous fiolicks and
VOL. i. v,y
338 JUVENALIS SATIRE SAT. viu.
Debuit ulcisci magis, aut cum Vindice Galba ?
Quid Nero tarn saeva, crudaque tyrannide fecit ?
Haec opera, atque hae sunt generosi principis artes,
Gaudentis foedo peregrina ad pulpita cantu 225
Prostitui, Graizque apium meruisse coronse.
Majorum effigies habeant insignia vocis,
Ante pedes Domiti longum tu pone Thyestae
Syrma, vel Antigones, seu personam Menalippes,
Et de marmoreo citharam suspende colosso. 230
Quis, Catilina, tuis natalibus, .atque Cethegi
Inveniet quicquam sublimius ? arma tamen vos
Nocturna, et flammas domibus templisque parastis,
Ut Braccatorum pueri, Senonumque minores,
cruelties could not but make the people weary of his government.
Virginius Rufus, his lieutenant-general in Gaul, by the assistance of
Junius Vindex, (a nobleman of that country,) soon persuaded the
armies under his command to fall from their allegiance, and solicited
Sergius Galba, lieutenant-general in Spain, to do the like, by offer-
ing him the empire in favour of mankind, which he at last accepted,
upon intimation that Nero haa issued secret orders to dispatch him,
and marched, with all the forces he could gather, towards Rome.
Nero, not being in a condition to oppose such troops, fell into de-
spair, and endeavoured to make his escape ; he put himself in dis-
guise, and crept, with four attendants only, to a poor cottage, where,
perceiving he was pursued, as a sacrifice to public vengeance, and
fearing to fall into the hands of the people, with much ado he re-
solved to stab himself.
223. What did Nero, CsV.] What, among all his acts of cruelty
and tyranny, has he ever done worthy a prince ? what has he achiev-
ed by them ? or, indeed, what beside these can be said of him.
224>. These are the works, ff<r.] If you ask me, says an answerer,
I will tell you all that can be said of him ; -viz. That it was his de-
light to prostitute the dignity of a prince, to the meanness of a com-
mon fiddler, by exposing himself on the public stages of Greece
that, instead of glorying in real crowns of triumph, his ambition was
to get a garland of parsley (the reward of the best fiddler) in the
Nemsean games, from the Grecian music-masters These games were
celebrated to the memory of Archemorus, the young son of Ly-
curgus.
227. lc Let the statues," sV.] As such were your exploits, O Nero,
and you have no other trophies wherewith to ornament the statues
of your ancestors, let the parsley-crown, which you won by sing-
ing, be placed before them. Insigne plur. insignia signifies all
marks and tokens of honour, such as crowns, robes, &c.
228. " Of Domitius."'] Thy grandfather and father, both of which
were named Domitius. His father was Caius Domitius Ahenobar-
bus, consul, and afterwards governor of Transalpine Gaul ; he was
sjain in the war with Pompey.
SAT, viiu JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 339
Rather avenge, or Galba with Vindex ?
What did Nero in a tyranny so savage and bloody ?
These are the works, and these the arts of a noble prince,
Rejoicing, with shameless song, on foreign stages to be 225
Prostituted, and to have deserved the parsley of a Grecian crown.
" Let the statues of your ancestors have the tokens of your voice,
" Before the feet of Domitius do thou place the long garment
* Of Thyestes j or of Antigone ; or the mask of Meiialippe ;
' And suspend an harp from a marble colossus." 230
Who, Catiline, will find out any thing more noble than your birth,
Or than that of Cethegus ? but yet, nocturnal
Arms, and flames, for the houses and temples ye prepared,
As sons of the Gauls, or the posterity of the Senones,
229. " Of Thyestes ; or of Antigone ?'~\ i. e. The dress which you
wore when you played in the tragedies so called. Syrma, a long gar-
ment which tragic players used.
" The mask of Menalippc."~\ The mask which you wore when
you acted the part of Menalippe, the sister of Antiope, queen of the
Amazons, in the comedy of Euripides, written on her story. She
was taken captive by Hercules, and given Theseus to wife.
230. " Suspend an harp,*' &c.~] Nero, according to Pliny, erected
a colossal statue of Augustus, one hundred and ten feet high, (accord-
ing to Suetonius, one hundred and twenty). Suetonius, de Ner. ii.
10. says, that Nero honoured highly a harp that was given him by the
judges, (in his contest with the Grecian musicians,) and commanded
it to be carried to the statue of Augustus. This the poet alludes to
in this place.
The apostrophe to Nero, in the above four lines, is conceived with
much humour, and at the same time with due severity these are
greatly heightened by the ironical use of the word in; tgnia, !. 227.
231. Caliline.~] The conspirator, whose plots and contrivances were
found out and defeated by Cicero. He was so debauched and profli-
gate, that his name is frequently used to denote the vilest of men.
So Juvenal, sat. xiv. 4-1, 2.
Catilinair,
Quocunque in populo videas, quocunque sub axe.
Yet he was well born.
232. Celkegus.] Caius, one of the conspirators with Catiline, a
man of senatorial dignity.
232 3. Nocturnal arms.'] Meditated the destruction of the people
of Rome by night, and armed yourselves accordingly, with torches,
and other instruments of mischief.
23i. Sons of the Gauls.'] Braccatorum. The Gauls were called
Braccati, from the breeches, or trowsers, which the people of Narbonne
and Provence used to wear. See sat. ii. 169, note.
340 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SA T. vm.
Ausi quod liceat tunica punire molesta : 235
Sed vigilat consul, vexillaque vcstra coercet.
Hie novus Arpinas, ignobilis, et moclo Romae
Municipalis eques, galeatum ponit ubique
Presidium attonitis, et in omni gente laborat.
Tantum igitur muros intra toga contulit illi 2^0
Nominis et tituli, quantum non Leucade, quantum
Thessaliae campis Octavius abstulit udo
Csedibus assiduis gladio. Sed Roma parentem,
Roma patrem patriag Ciceronem libera dixit.
Arpinas alius Volscorum in monte solebat 24:5
Poscere mercedes alieno lassus aratro j
234. Sencnes."] A people of the ancient race of the Celtae, inha-
biting the Lionnois in Gaul.
These people, under Brennus their general, sacked and burnt Rome,
and besieged the capitol, but, by the conduct and valour of the dicta-
tor Camillus, were defeated.
235. A pitched Mat. ~\ Tunica molesta. This was a coat, or gar-
ment, bedaubed and interwoven with pitch and other combustibles,
and put on criminals, who were chained to a post, and thus burnt alive.
See AINSW. Molestus. This instrument of torture was expressed
by the phrase tunica molesta.
The emperor Nero, after charging the Christians with setting
Rome on fire, publicly tortured and slew them on the stages in the
day-time, and at night put tunicas molestae on their bodies, and light-
ed them up, by way of torches, in the night time. Comp. sat, i. 1.
155, note 2.
236. The consul."] Cicero was then consul.
Restrains your banners.^ Under which many wicked and
desperate men had inlisted : but the fury of their arms was restrained by
the vigilance of the consul, who watched all their motions.
237. Neiu man.] The Romans gave this name to those who were
the first dignified persons of their family, and who themselves were of
obscure birth. Catiline, in derision, urged this name in contempt
against Cicero.
Arpinum.~\ An ancient town of the Volsci in Italy, famous
for being the birth-place of Tully.
Arpinas signifies one of Arpinum.
Ignoble.'] Of mean extraction.
238. A municipal tnight.'] Municipalis signified one who belonged
to a town free of the city of Rome ; this was the case with Tully,
who was born at Arpinum, and had been, soon after his coming to
Rome, admitted into the equestrian order. Catiline caUed him there-
fore municipalis equcs, in contempt.
He!meied.~] Armed. Synec. like galeatus, sat. i. 169 ; and
caligatus, sat. iii. 312.
SAT. VIM. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 341
Attempting what it would be right to punish with a pitched coat : 235
But the consul is vigilant, and restrains your banners.
This new man of Arpinum, ignoble, and lately at Rome
A municipal knight, puts every where an helmeted
Safeguard for the astonished people, and labours every where.
Therefore the gown conferr'd on him, within the walls, more fame 240
And honour, than Octavius brought away from Leucas, or from
The fields of Thessaly, by his sword wet
With continual slaughters : but Rome, the parent,
Rome set free, called Cicero the father of his country.
Another Arpinian, in the mountain of the Volsci, used 245
To demand wages, tired with the plough of another man ;
239. Astonished people.] Who were dreadfully terrified by the de-
signs and attempts of the conspirators.
Labours every where.] Bestirs himself in all quarters, for the
security of the city.
I take in omni gente in this place, to mean something like
ubique gentium, which signifies every where, in what part of the
world soever.
And indeed Tully not only shewed his activity within the city, but
he disposed guards and spies throughout all Italy, as well as among
every tribe of the Roman people finding out, by the Allobroges,
and others, the designs of the traitors.
240. The gown.] His robe of office ; but here, by metonym. his
prudence and wise counsels. Toga here is opposed to gladio, 1. 243.
241. Octavius.] Caesar, afterwards called Augustus,
Leucas.] A promontory of Epirus, called also Leucate,
near which Octavius Caesar defeated Antony and Cleopatra, in a
bloody naval battle.
24-2. Fields of Thessaly ', csV.] Philippi, in Thessalia, where he
defeated Brutus and Cassius.
244. Rome set free.] Delivered and set free from the dangers that
threatened it, and restored to its laws and liberties, which for a while
Lad been suspended by the public troubles.
Father of his country.] This honourable title was given to
Cicero, after the defeat of Catiline's conspiracy. He was the first
who bore it. It was afterwards given to some of the emperors ; but
much more from flattery, than because they deserved it.
245. Another Arpinian.] C. Marius, who also came from Arpinum,
was a poor ploughman there, who hired himself out to plough the
ground of others.
Of the Fohci.] Arpinum was an ancient city in the country
of the Volsci, now called Arpino, between Tuscany to the west, and
Campania to the eastt
342 JUVENALIS SATIRJE, SAT. vm.
Nodosam post haec frangebat vertice vitem,
Si lentus pigra muniret castra dolabra .
Hie tamen et Cimbros, et summa pericula rerum
Excipit, et solus trepidantem protegit urbem. 250
Atque ideo postquara ad Cimbros, stragemque volabant,
Qui nunquam attigerent majora cadavera, corvi,
Nobilis ornatur lauro collega secunda.
Plebeiz Deciorum animae, plebeia fuerunt
Nomina : pro totis legionibus hi tamen, et pro 255
Omnibus auxiliis, atque omni plebe Latina
Sufficiunt Dis infernis, Terraeque parenti :
Pluris enim Decii, quam qui servantur ab illis.
Ancilla natus trabeam et diadema Quirini,
Et fasces meruit, regum ultimus ille bonorum. $60
Prodita laxabant portarum claustra tyrannis
24"7. He broke a knotty vine, &c.~] The Roman centurions used to
carry a piece of tough vine-branch in their hands, with which they cor-
rected the soldiers when they did amiss. Marius was once a private
soldier, and had had the centurion's stick broke upon his head, for being
lazy at his work, when set to chop with an axe the wood used in forti-
fying the camp against the enemy. See sat. v. 154-, 5.
249. The Cimbri.~] The Teutones and Cembri, neighbouring na-
tions, joined their forces, and marched towards Rome, by which they
struck a terror throughout Italy : but C. Marius, with Q, Catullus
the proconsul, marched out against them, sustained their attack, antf
totally defeated them.
Dangers of affairs.] When the affairs of Italy, of Rome espe-
cially, seemed to be in the utmost danger from these powerful enemies.
250. Andalonei &c.~\ Though Q. Catullus was with Marius in this
victory, yet Marius was the commander in chief in the Cimbrian war,
therefore the whole honour of the victory was ascribed to him..
Com. 1. 253.
251. After the crows t &c.~] And other birds of prey, which, af-
ter the battle, came to feed upon the slain. See HOM. II. i. 5. ii.
393, et. al y. d After the battle was ended. See sat. iv. 1. 111.
252. Greater carcases."] The Cimbri were, in general, men of
large stature.
253. Hit noble colleague.'] Q. Catullus, who had been second in
command, and was of noble birth.
ft adorned with the second laurel."] Received only the second
honours of the day.
254r. The Dfcii, &c ] These, though originally of low extraction,
yet gained immortal honours, by sacrificing their lives for their coun-
try the father in the Latin war, the son in the Hetruscan, and the
giandson in the war against Pyrrhus.
255. ll'h:le legions t CfV.j The Romans had a superstition, that u
SAT. viii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 343
After this he broke a knotty vine with .his head,
If, idle, he fortified the camp with a lazy axe.
Yet he both the Cimbri, and the greatest dangers of affairs,
Sustains, and alone protects the trembling city. 250
And so, after to the Cimbri, and to the slaughter, the crows
Flew, who had never touched greater carcases*
His noble colleague is adorned with the second laurel.
The souls of the Decii were plebeian, their names
Plebeian : yet these, for whole legions, and for all 25.5
Our auxiliaries, and for all the Latin common people,
Suffice for the infernal Gods, and parent Earth :
For the Decii were of more value than those who were saved by them.
Born from a servant maid, the robe and diadem of Romulus,
And the fasces, that last of good kings deserved. 260
The youths of the consul himself were opening the fastenings
their general would consent to be devoted to death, or sacrificed to
Jupiter, Mars, the Earth, and the infernal Gods, all the misfortunes
of his party would be transferred on their enemies. This opinion
was confirmed by several successful instances, particularly two, in the
pei-sons of the Decii, father and son. The first being consul with
Manlius in the wars against the Latins, and perceiving the left wing,
which he commanded, give back, called out to Valerius the high
priest to perform on him the ceremony of consecration, (LivY, hb.
viii.) and immediately spurred his horse into the thickest of the ene-
mies, where he was killed, and the Romans gained the battle. His
son afterwards died in the same manner in the war against the Gauls,
with the like success.
257. Suffice."] i. e, To appease, and render them propitious to
the Roman arms.
258. More value, &c.] Such men as these are to be more highly
prized than all the army and people for whom they thus nobly sacri-
ficed their lives.
259. Born from a servant maid."] Servius Tullius, born of the
captive Oriculana. But Livy supposes her to have been wife to a
prince of Corniculum, (a town of the Sabines in Italy,) who was
killed at the taking of the town, and his wife carried away captive
by Tarquinius Priscus, and presented as a slave to his wife Tanaquil,
in whose service she was delivered of this Tullius.
i. The robe, ?<:.] The ensigns of royalty are here put for the
kingdom, or royalty itself so the fasces, for the highest offices in
the state. See sat. iii. 128, note.
Romulus*] Called Quirinus. See sat. iii. 1. 67 note on
< O Quirinus."
260. Last of good kings.] Livy says that, with him, justa ac
legitima regna ceciderunt.
26 1, Touths of th: consul, sV.] The two sons of L. Junius
Brutus, Titus and Tiberius, who, after their father had driven Tar-
:j, and his whole race, out of Rome, and taken an oath of the
344 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. vim
Exulibus juvenes ipsius consulis, et quos
Magnum aliquid dubia pro libertate deceret,
Quod miraretur cum Coclite Mutius, et quse
Imperil fines Tiberinum virgo natavit. 265
Occulta ad patres produxit crimina servus
Matronis lugendus : at illos verbera justis
Afficiunt poenis, et legura prima securis.
Malo pater tibi sit Thersites, dummodo tu sis
./Eacidae similis, Vulcaniaque arma capessas, 270
Quam te Thersitae similem producat Achilles.
Et tamen, ut longe repetas, longeque revolvas
Nomen, ab infami gentem deducis asylo.
Majorum primus quisquis fuit ille tuorum,
Aut pastor fuit, aut illud, quod dicere nolo. 275
Romans never more to suffer a king, entered into a conspiracy to
restore the Tarquins ; the sum of which was, that the gates of the
city should be left open in the night-time for the Tarquins to enter ;
to this purpose they sent letters, under their own hands, with pro-
mises to this effect.
261. The fastenings, &c.~] The bars of the city gates, which were
to be betrayed to the Tarquins.
262. Exiled tyrants.'} The Tarquins.
263. Some great thing, &c.~\ It would have been becoming these
sons of the patriot Brutus to have stricken some great stroke, that
might have tended to secure the public liberty ; which, under the
new government, after the expulsion of the kings, must have been
in a doubtful and uncertain state not as yet established.
264. Muttus."] Scsevola, who, when Porsenna, king of Tuscany,
?iad entered into an alliance with the Tarquins, to restore them by
force, went into the enemy's camp with a resolution to kill their
king Porsenna, but, instead of him, killed one of his guards ; and,
being brought before the king, and finding his error, burnt off his
right hand, as a penalty for his mistake.
Codes.'] Horatius, being to guard a bridge, which he per-
ceived the enemy would soon be master of, he stood and resolutely
opposed part of their army, while his own party repassed the bridge,
and broke it down after them. He then threw himself, armed as he
\vas, into the Tiber, and escaped to the city.
265. Who swam, CsV.] Clelia, a Roman virgin, who was given
to king Porsenna as aa hostage, made her escape from the guards,
and swam over the Tiber. King Porsenna was so stricken with these
three instances of Roman bravery, that he withdrew his army, and
courted their friendship.
266. A slave."] Vindicius, a slave who waited at table, overhear-
ing part of the discourse among the conspirators, went strait to the
consuls, and informed them of what he had heard. The ambassadors
from the Tarquins were apprehended and searched ; the letters above
mentioned were found upon them, and the criminals seized.
SAT. vin. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 345
Of the gates, betrayed to the exiled tyrants, and whom
Some great thing for doubtful liberty might have become,
Which Mutius, with Codes, might admire, and the virgin
Who swam the Tiber, the bounds of our empire. 265
A slave, to be bewailed by matrons, produced their hidden crimes
To the fathers : but stripes affected them with just
Punishment, and the first axe of the laws.
I had rather thy father were Thersites, so thou art
,L,ike Achilles, and take in hand the Vulcanian arms, 270
Than that Achilles should produce thee like Thersites.
And yet, however far you may fetch, and far revolve
Your name, you deduce your race from an infamous asylum.
Whoever he, the first of your ancestors, was,
Either he was a shepherd, or that which I am unwilling to say. 275
266. Bewailed by matrons, &c."] By the mothers of such of the
conspirators as were put to death, as the sad cause of their destruc-
tion, by accusing them to the senate.
Produced-] Produxit brought out discovered.
267. But stripes, CsV.] The proof being evident against them,
they suffered the punishment (which was newly introduced) of being
tied naked to a stake, where they were first whipped by the lictors,
then beheaded ; and Brutus, by virtue of his office, was unhappily
obliged to see this rigorous sentence executed on his own children.
See JEn. vi. 817 23.
26S. First axe of the laws."] /'. e. The first time this sentence had
been executed since the making of the law.
269. Thersites.] An ugly buffoon in the Grecian army before
Troy. See ROM. II. C. 1 21622.
270. Achilles] ^Eacides-ae, or -is, so called from his grandfather
^Eacus, who was the father of Peleus, the father of Achilles.
The Vulcanian arms."] Or armour, that was made by Vulcan,
at the request of Thetis, the mother of Achilles, which could be
pierced by no human force.
271. Than that Achilles* &c.] The poet here still maintains his
argument, viz. that a virtuous person, of low and mean birth, may
be great and respectable : whereas a vicious and profligate person,
though of the noblest extraction, is detestable and contemptible.
272. However far, &c.] Juvenal here strikes at the root of all
family pride among the Romans, by carrying them up to their ori-
ginal. Revolve, roll or trace back, for however many generations.
273. An infamous asylum."] Romulus, in order to promote the
peopling of the city, in its first infancy, established an asylum, or
sanctuary, where all outlaws, vagabonds, and criminals of all kinds,
who could make their escape thither, were sure to be safe.
275. Either he -was a shepherd.] As were Romulus and Remus,
and, their bringer up, Faustulus.
Unwilling to sou-] As the poet does not speak his own
8*6 JUVENALIS SATIRE. S^T. TILL
meaning, it may not be very easy to determine it : but it is likely that
he would insinuate, that none of the Romans had much to brag of
in point of family grandeur, and that none of them could tell but
that they might have come from some robber, or cut-throat, among
the first fugitives to Rome, or even from something worse than that,
if worse could be : and indeed Romulus himself, their founder,
parricide) for he is said to have killed hia brother Remus*
*AT.VIII. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 34-7
Thus Juvenal concludes this fine Satire on family-pride, which he
takes "every occasion to mortify, by shewing, that what a man is in
himself, not what his ancestors were, is the great matter to be consi-
dered.
Worth makes the man, the want of it the fellow ;
" The rest is all but leather or prunello." Pott.
END OF THE EIGHTH SATIRE.
ARGUMENT.
Juvenal, in this Satire, exposes and censures the detestable vice then prac-
tised at Rome. Some have thought that this is done too openly. So
Farnaby Obscanam cintedorum et pathicorum turpitudinem acriter,
at nimis aperte insectatur. Marshall says, that on account of cer-
tain expressions in this Satire, Jul- C* Scaliger advised every man
of probity to abstain from the -whole work of Juvenal. But, sure-
ly, this is greatly mistaking the matter, and not adverting duly to the
difference between such writers as exert their genius in the cause of
vice, and so write upon it, as if they wished to recommend it to the
imagination, and thus to the practice of mankind, (as Horace among
the Romans, and Lord Rochester among us,) and such a writer as
velim, quare toties mihi, Naevole, tristis
Occurras fronte obducta, ceu Marsya victus,
Quid tibi cum vultu, qualem deprensus habcbat
Ravola, dum Rho dopes uda terit inguina barb a ?
Nos colaphum incutimus lambent! crustula servo. 5
Non erat hac facie miserabilior Crepereius
Pollio, qui triplicem usuram praestare paratus
Circuit, et fatuos non invenit. Unde repente
Line 1. Ntevolus."] The poet, as an introduction to this Satiie,
in which he exposes and condemns the monstrous impurities then reign-
ing in Rome, brings to view, as an example of their evil consequences,
one Nsvolus, a monster of vice, who appears in a most shabby, and
forlorn condition, more like an outcast than a member of civil society;
ruined by those very vices by which he had thought to have enriched
himself. Juvenal is supposed to have met him often, lately, in a state
of the utmost dejection and misery, and now he asks him the reason
fit.
2. Marsyas.~\ A Phrygian musician, who challenged Apollo, but
was overcome by him, and flayed alive.
4-. Ravola.~\ Some impure wretch, who, being detected with his
mistress, in the situation here described, was confounded with shame
at the discovery.
5. Biscuits.'] Crustula wafers, or such-like things ; or little sweet
cakes, which used to be given to children. So Ho*, sat. i. 1. 25, 6,
SATIRE IX.
ARGUMENT*
Juvenal, who exerted a Jine genius, and an able fien, against vice,
and in particular, against that which it the chief object of this Satire f
in ivhich he sets it forth in such terms as to create a disgust and abhor-
rence, not only of those monsters of leiudness tuho practised it, tut
also of the vice itself; so that both might be avoided by the indignant
reader, and be held in the highest detestation and horror. Such were
our Poet's views in 'what he wrote, and therefore the plainness of
his expressions he, doubtless, thought much more conducive to thit
desired end, as tending to render the subject the more shocking, than
If he had contented himself with only touching it with the gentler hand
of periphrasis, or circumlocution.
JL WOULD know, why so often, Naevolus, you meet me,
Sad, with a clouded brow, like the conquered Marsyas.
What have you to do with a countenance, such as Ravola had
Discovered in his lewd commerce with Rhodope ?
We give a box on the ear to a servant who licks biscuits. 5
Not more miserable than this face was Crepereius
Pollio, who ready to pay triple interest,
Went about, and found not fools. Whence on a sudden
Ut pueris olim dant crustula blandi
Doctor es, elemcnta velint ut discere prima.
As masters fondly sooth their boys \o read
\Vith cakes and sweetmeats. FEAKCII.
Crustula may here be understood of sweetmeats in general.
The thought seems to be If a slave be beaten because he so far
indulges his liquorish appetite, as to lick the cakes, or sweetmeats,
as he brings them to table, how much more worthy of punishment are
such wretches as Ravola, who indulge, without restraint, in the most
slnmeful impurities ?
6 7- Crepcriitis Pol/ic.'] A noted spendthrift, who could not
borrow any more money, though he offered triple interest for it.
8. Went abot't.] Hunting after money-lenders.
Fi,und net fools.~\ Could not meet with any who would be
fools enough to trust him with their money.
S50 -JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. ir.
Tot rugae ? certe modico contentus agebas
Vernam equitem, con-viva joco mordente faceius, 10
Et salibus vehemens intra pomoeria satis.
Omnia nunc contra : vultus gravis, horrida siccz
Sylva comae 4 nullus tola nitor in oate, qualem
Praestabat calidi cireumiita fascia visci 5
Sed fruticante pilo neglecta et squallida crura. ia
Quid macies aegri veteris, quern tempore longo
Torret quarta dies, olimque domestica febris ?
Deprndas animi tornoenta latent is in a:gro
_^ O
Corpore, deprendas et gaudia : sumit utrumque
Inde habitum fades : igitur flexisse videris 30
Propositum, et vitae contrarius ire priori.
Nuperenitn (ut repeto) fanum Isidis, et Ganymedem
Pacis, et advectse secreta palatia matris,
Et Cererem (nam quo non prostat fccmina templo ?)
10. The knight-like flaw."] i. e. Though an home-born slave, yet
thou didst live as jolly and happy as if thou hadst been a knight.
Verna eques was a jocose phrase among the Romans, to denote
slaves who appeared in a style and manner above their condition ;
these they ludicrously called vernae equites, gentlemen slaves, as we
should say The phrase seems to be something like the French bour-
geois gentilhomme the cit-gentleman.
In Falstaff's humourous account of Justice Shallow and his ser-
vants, he says, " they, by observing him, do bear themselves like
' foolish justices ; he, by conversing with them, is turned into a
** justice-like serving man."
11. Witticisms, &c.~] Pomcerium (quasi post murum) was a space
about the walls of a city, or town, as well within as without, where
it was not lawful to plough or build, for fear of hindering the defence
of the city hence, melon, a limit, or bound.
By witticisms born, or brought forth, within the pomoeria, or li-
mits of the city, Juvenal means those of a polite kind, in contradis-
tinction to the provincial, coarse, low-born jests of the common
slaves. Hence urbanitas, from urbs, a city, means courtesy, civility,
good manners, or what we call politeness.
13. Of dry hair.] Instead of your hair being dressed, and moist-
ened with perfumed ointments, it now stands up, without form or or-
der, like trees in a wood,
14. Warm glue ~\ This viscus was a composition of pitch, wax, re-
sin, and the like adhesive ingredients, which, being melted together
and spread on a cloth, were applied warm to those parts of the body
where the hair grew. After remaining some time, the cloth, which
had been rolled round the part in form of a bandage, was taken off,
bringing away the hair with it, and leaving the skin smooth. Thib
practice was common among the wretches whom the poet is here sa-
tirizing.
SAT.tr. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. S5I
So many wrinkles ? certainly, content with little, you acted
The knight-like slave, a facetious guest with biting jest, 10
And quick with witticisms bora within the limits of the city.
All is now contrary t a heavy countenance, a rough wood
Of dry hair : no neatness in all your skin, such as
A bandage of warm glue daubed about you procured ;
But your legs are neglected, and filthy with hair growing. 15
What means the leanness, of an old sick man, whom for a long time
A fourth day parches, and a fever, long since familiar ?
You may discover the torments of a mind lurking in a sick
Body, and you may discover joys : each habit the face
Assumes from thence. Therefore you seem to have turned 20
Your purpose, and to go contrary to your former life.
For lately (as I recollect) the temple of Isis> and the Ganymede
Of (the temple of) Peace, and the secret courts of Cybele,
And Ceres, (for in what temple does not a woman stand for hire ?'}
16. The leanness, &c.~\ What is the meaning of that lean and
sick appearance which thou dost exhibit ? like that of an old inva-
lid, who has long been afflicted, and consuming with a quartan ague
and fever ; so long, that it may be looked upon as domesticated, and
as become a part of the family.
18. Tou may discover ', &c.~] The body is an index to the mind
a sickly, pale, languid countenance, bespeaks vexation- and unhappi-
ness within.
A cheerful,, gay, and healthy look, bespeaks joy snd peace.
Sorrow nor joy can be disguis'd by art ;
Our foreheads blab the secrets of our heart. HAEVET.
20. From thence*"] From the mind. q. d. The countenance as-
sumes the appearance of sorrow er joy, from the state of the mind.
Turned, &c.~] By thy sad and miserable appearance, I do
suppose that some turn or change has happened, and that your for-
mer way of life is quite altered.
22. The temfile of /w.} See sat. vi, I. 488, and note.
The Ganymede, &c.~\ The statue of Ganymede, in the tern-
pie of Peace, was also a place of rendezvous for all manner of lewd
and debauched persons,
23. Cybele.] Is described in the text by the phrase advectz matris,
because the image of this mother of the gods, as she was called, was
brought to Rome from Phrygia. Seesat.iii. 1. 138. and note.
24-. Ceres."] In former times the temple of Ceres was not to be
approached but by chaste and modest women ; but as vice and lewd-
ness increased, all reverence for sacred places decreased, and now even
the temple of Ceres (see sat. vi 1. 50, and note) was the resort of
the impure of all denominations.
JUVENALIS SATHUE. SAT. u.
Notior Aufidio moechus celebrare solebas, 25
(Quod taceo) atque ipsos etiam inclinare maritos.
N*v. Utile et hoc multis vitae genus : at mihi nullum
Inde operae pretium : pingues aliquando lacernas,
Munimenta togae, duri crassique colons,
Et male percussas textoris pectine Galli, SQ
Accipimus. Tenue argentum, venaeque secundas.
Fata regunt homines. Fatum est in partibus illis
Quas sinus abscondit : nam si tibi sidera cessant,
Nil faciet longi mensura incognita nervi :
Quamvis te nudum spumanti Virro labello 35
Viderit, et blandae, assiduae, densaeque tabellae
Sollicitent : AVTOS yg I?>AK6T* v2gse nitaido;.
Quod tamen ulterius monstrum, quam mollis avarus ?
Haec tribui, deinde ilia dedi, mox plura tulisti.
Computat, et cevet. Ponatur calculus, adsint 40
Cum tabula pueri : numera sestertia quinque
25. Aufidius~\ Some most notorious debauchee.
It is but lately, says Juvenal, that you used to haunt all these fa-
mous abodes of lewdness and prostitution, and so to play your part,
as to render yourself more noted than any body else how comes it,
Nasvolus, that I perceive such a wonderful change in your looks and
behaviour ?
27. This kind of life, &c.] Here Navoliis begins his answer to
Juvenal's inquiries, and accounts for the shabby and miserable ap-
pearance which he made, by shewing what poor wages such wretches
worked for, unless highly favoured by their stars.
28. Coarse, sV. J Pingues here means coarse, made of the wool as
it came off the sheep's back, full of grease and filth $ not washed and
combed, like that of which the finer cloths were made.
Garments.] Lacernas here signifies cloaks to keep off the
rain and wind in bad weather ; they were (like our great coats) put
over the other garments, to keep them dry ; hence he calls them, in
the next line, munimenta togae defences of the gown, or upper gar-
ment.
30. The slay, &c .] A weaver's slay is that part of the loom which
is drawn with force against the threads of the woof, to drive them
close together, and to consolidate them with the warp. The cloth
here described had had very little pains taken in the making of it, and
therefore was very coarse and bad. This sort of cloths was made :n
Gaul, and from thence carried to Rome, probably for the cheap and
ordinary wear of the common people.
31. Thin money. ~\ Light, not of due weight.
The second vein."] In mines there are finer and coarser veins
of silver ; the former, less mixed with other bodies : the latter, more :
hence this is called silver venz secundx, or of the second vein, being
less pure, and, of course, less valuable than the other ; of this the
smaller ajid less valuable coins were made,
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. S53
An adulterer ; more known than Aufidius, you used to frequent, 25
And (which not to mention) to intrigue even with the very husbands.
N/EV. And this kind of life is useful to many, but I have no
Reward of my pains from thence. Sometimes coarse garments,
Defences of the gown, of an harsh and homely colour,
And badly stricken with the stay of a Gallic weaver, 30
We receive. Thin money, and of the second vein.
The fates govern men. Fate attends even our
Bodily accomplishments, for, if your stars fail you,
The greatness of these is of no service?
Tho' Virro himself should view you with the utmost 35
Desire, and kind, assiduous, and numerous letters should
Solicit : for such a man entices others.
But what monster can be beyond an effeminate miser ?
* These things I bestowed, then those I gave, soon you received
" more.''
He computes, and sins on Let a reckoning be made, let the
" slaves 40
*' Come with the ledger : number five sestertiums
32. The fates, &c.~\ By putting this dogma of the Stoics into the
mouth of Naevolus, the poet artfully insinuates, that many profes-
sors of stoicism, with all its austerities, practised the vice which, in
this Satire, is so stigmatized. See sat. ii. 1. 8 15, and notes; also
sat. ii. 1. 65, and note.
35. f^irro."] We often meet with this name in sat. v. and if the
same person be here meant, he was not only a very rich man, but a
sensualist of the basest and most unnatural sort. I should think it
most probable, that here, as in many other places, Juvenal, though
he makes use of a particular name, yet means to express the whole
tribe of delinquents in the same way.
Tho' Virro himself 'should ', sV.] The poet proceeds in his ri-
dicule of the Stoicids, (as he calls them, sat. ii. 1. 65.) supposing
them to make their doctrine of fatalism subservient even to their
enormous vices.
36. Numerous letters, ,] Densae tabellas See sat. i. 120, note on
densissima ; and sat. ii. 50, note on tabulas.
39. ' These things, &JV.] Here N^volus represents Virro as up-
braiding him for demanding a recompence, and computing what Nas-
volus had received of him from time to time.
40. " Let a reckoning," &c.~\ " Let an account be stated between
us, says Virro let one of the slaves come with my account-book,
tabula i. e. accepti et expensi, my ledger-book, or journal, where
my daily accounts are kept, and you'll find that you have had of
me, reckoning every thing, (omnibus in rebus, comp. 1. 39,) five
sestertia (about 40/. It. !</.) surely I owe you nothing!" See
AINSW. Tabula, No. 5.
VOL. I. 4 A A
354- JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT..IX.
Omnibus- in rebus ; numerentur deinde labores.
An facile et pronum est agere intra viscera penem
Legitimum, atque illic hesterns occurrere coenae ?
Servus ent minus ille miser, qui foderit agrum, 45
Quam domir.um. Sed tu sane tener, et puerum te,
Et pulchrum, et dignum cyatho cceloque putabas.
Vos humih asseclae, vos indulgebitis unquam
Cultori, jam nee morbo donare parati ?
En cui tu viridem umbellam, cui succina mittas 50
Grandia, natalis quoties redit, aut madidum ver
Incipit ; et strata positus longaque cathedra
Munera fcemineis tractat secreta calendis.
Die, passer, cui tot montes, tot praedia servas
Appula, tot milvos intra tua pascua lassos ? 55
Te Trifolinus ager foecundis vitibus implet,
Suspectumque jugum Cumis, et Gaurus inaais.
42. " My laloun."] Labores pains, drudgery " now, reckon
*' these," says Nsevolus, " on the other side of the account."
43. " Is it an easy," &c-~] Here the poet, in language too gross
for literal translation, but well suited to his purpose, exposes the
unnatural and horrid filthiness of that detestable vice, which it is
the business of this Satire to lash, and to condemn, in the severest
and most indignant terms.
46. " Delicate," &c.~] g. d. Perhaps you will represent yourself
as so engaging, that I ought not to have expected any thing for mi-
nistring to your pleasures.
47. " Heaven and the cufi.~\ Alluding to the story of Ganymede,
the fabled minion of Jupiter, snatched up by Jupiter from mount Ida,
and carried to heaven, where he was made cup-bearer to the gods in-
stead of Hebe. See sat. xiii. 43, 4. AH this is ironical, and con-
tains a most bitter sarcasm on Virro, now old and infirm, and almost
vorn out in vice.
48. " An attendant."} A follower, an hanger-on, as the poor
clients were, to rich men. A like character is to be understood of
the other word, cultori, which signifies a worshipper, one that makes
court to, or waits upon another ; such as cultivate, by attention and
assiduity, the favour of great men. The Italians, at this day, use
the phrase padron colendissimo - colendissimo padrone.
Jf you are so sparing of your liberality towards those who minister
to your pleasures, you (vos, /. e. such as you) will hardly be gene-
x rous to those who want your charity.
49. " On your disease."] Morbus, in a mental sense, denotes any
odd humour, unreasonable passion, or vice, which may well be styled
a disease of the mind. See sat. ii. 1. 17. and 1. 50.
50. Behold him, &c.~\ The sarcasm on Virro still continues. See
this beautiful Ganymede, to whom you are expected to make pre-
sents on his birth-day, such as a green umbrella to keep off the sun
h'm spoiling his complexion, and amber toys and gewgaws, which
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 355
" In every thing" " then let my labours be reckon 'd
" Is it an easy and ready matter to engage in so much filth,
" And to rake into the recesses of the most horrid abomination ?
" The slave that digs the field will be less miserable. 45
" But truly you are delicate, and thought yourself young,
*' And beautiful, and worthy heaven and the cup.
Will ye ever be kind to an humble attendant, to one who makes
His court, who are now not ready to bestow on your disease >'*
Behold him, to whom you must send a green umbrella, to whom
g reat 50
Pieces of amber, as often as his birth-day returns, or the moist spring
Begins : placed on a chair, both strowed and long,
He handles secret gifts in the feminine calends.
Say, sparrow, for whom so many mountains, so many Appulian
Farms you keep, so many kites tired within your pastures ? 55
A Trifoline field fills you with fruitful vines,
And the hill seen aloft at Cumae, and empty Gaums.
women are so fond of. It was usual, among the Romans, to make
presents on birth-days.
51. Moist tpring.] The birth of Venus was celebrated on the
calends of March, (our March 1.) They then celebrated the Ma-
tronalia, when the Roman ladies, dressed up, sat in chairs, or re-
clined on couches, and received presents from their admirers. This
was imitated by the effeminate Virro.
52. Placed.] Seated, or reclined, like the women.
. Slrowed and long.] Longa cathedra, from its form, seems to
denote a couch, on which a person can recline at length these,
among the fine ladies, were usually strowed, or spread, with carpets
and other ornaments, such as fine-wrought and easy pillows, &c.
53. Handles.] Fingers them, as \ve say. I read tractat not
tractas which last seems not to answer the cui, 1. 50, or, indeed,
to make sense. See BRITAN. in loc.
54. Sparrow.] It is said that sparrows are the most salacious of
all birds hence he gives this name to Virro. A bitter sarcasm.
54.__5. ^jifuilijn farms.] Appulia was reckoned the most fertile
part of Italy ; though mountainous and barren near the sea coast.
See sat. iv. '26, 7.
55. So many kites, cS^.] He represents Virro's estate to be so la^ge
as to tire the kites in flying over it. See PERSIUS, sat. iv. I. 26.
56. Trifoline fehL] A part of Campania, famous for producing
vast quantities of grass called trefoil, and some of the finest vines.
Fills yon.] Implet. This well expresses the vast supply of
wine.
57. Seen aloft, &?<:.] Mount Misenus, so called from Misenus,
the companion and trumpeter of ./Eneas (see Jlin. vi. 234 6'.)
356 JUVENALIS SATIRE. S AT. ix.
Nam quis plura Unit victuro dolia musto ?
Quantum erat exhausti lumbos donare clientis
Jugeribus paucis ? meliusne hie rusticus infans 60
Cum matre, et easulis, et cum lusore catello,
Cymbala pulsantis legatum fiet amici ?
Jmprobus es, cum poscis, ait ; sed pensio clamat,
Posce : sed appellat puer unicus, ut Polyphemi
Lata acies, per quam solers evasit Ulysses : 65
Alter emendus erit ; namque hie non sufficit ; ambo
Pascendi. Quid agam bruma spirante ? quid, oro,
Quid dicam scapulis puerorum mense Decembri,
Et pedibus ? durate, atque expectate cicadas ?
Verum ut dissimules, ut mittas caetera, quanto 70
now Capo Miseno ; it hangs, as it were, over the city of Cuma, as
if it threatened to fall upon it. It was famous for good vines.
57. Empty Gaurus.] A mountain of Campania, near Puteoli.
Some think that the poet gives it the epithet inanis void or empty
on account of the void parts of it, which were occasioned by nu-
merous caverns or hollows. Hence Holyday rendered inanis Gaurus
hollow Gaurus. This also was famous for its wine.
58. Stops up, tu:.] Lino signifies, literally, to besmear, or daub,
and is applied to the manner of stopping up the bungs or mouths of
their wine vessels with pitch or plaister, in order to keep the air from
the liquor. See HOR. od. xx. lib. i. 1. 1 3.
Lively to live.'] i. e. To be very sparingly bestowed, and
so to endure to a great age. Mustum signifies new wine, as it comes
from the press to the cask.
59. How muck, &c,~] After mentioning the large estate of Virro,
Nffivolus represents it as no great matter for him to bestow a few
acres on an old slave, worn out in his service.
The loins. ~\ This insinuates the horrid services which Naevo-
lus had performed.
60. Is it better, Sfft.] The little sketch of rustic simplicity, in
these two lines, is very pretty.
62. A friend beating the cymbals J\ By this periphrasis is meant
one of the Galli, or priests of Cybele. See sat. vi. 1. 510 15;
sat. viii. 1. 176. and PERSJUE, sat. v. 1. 186- They were eunuchs,
and most impure in their practices. Naevolus uses the word amici
here, in order to denote the infamous and intimate connexion which
Virro had with one of these. Would it be better, says he, to leave
a small farm, and its little appurtenances, to one of those lewd
priests, that are living in sloth and plenty, than to me, your poor
drudge, who have been worn out in your service ?
63. " Ton are impudent," cffr.J In vain does Naevolus plead his
services, in vain does he argue the ease, that he may get some reward
for them. Instead of this, Virro abuses him, and calls him an impu-
dent fellow, for asking any thing more than he has already had,
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 357
For who stops up more casks with wine likely to live ?
How much had it been to present the loins of an exhausted client
With a few acres ? Is it better that this rustic infant, 60
With its mother and their cottage, and with the cur their playfellow,
Should become the legacy of a friend beating the cymbals ?
" You are impudent when you ask," says he. ' But rent calls out,
"Ask : but my only slave calls, as Polypheme's
" Broad eye, by which crafty Ulysses escaped : 65
" Another will be to be bought, for this does not suffice both
" Are to be fed. What shall I do when winter blows ? what I pray,
{ What shall I say to the shoulders of my slaves in the month of
" December,
*' And to their feet ? Stay,- and expect the grasshoppers \"
But however you may dissemble, however omit the rest, at how
great a 70
63. " But rent," &c.~] q. d. You may call me what you please
for asking, but my necessities force me to be thus importunate.
I have rent to pay a slave to maintain and soon must have another
these things bid me beg on.
64 5. " Polyjihemet eye"\ A giant of Sicily, and one of the
Cyclops, who had but one eye, and that in his forehead, which
Ulysses, by craft, put out, and escaped from him. See ./En. iii.
1. 6357.
q. d. As the anguish of Polypheme's wounded eye, made him roar
out for revenge against Ulysses, so the wants of my poor servant
make him call out upon me for a supply. Appello sometimes signi-
fies to call upon for a thing to dun. AINSW*
Harvey has rendered this passage :
My single boy (like Polyphemus's eye)
Mourns his harsh fate, and weeps for a supply.
66. " Another;' ?<:.] I must purchase another slave, then I shall
have two to keep ; and when the cold winter pinches them, what
shall I say to their naked shoulders, or to their shoeless feet, if I
get nothing for myself '. Shall I bid them wait the return of spring ?
Jbixpectate cicadas. Meton. Grasshoppers here stand for the time
of year when they chirp, i. e. spring.
70. Dissemble, &c.~] q. d. Dissemble as you please your sense of
my deserts for what's past ; nay, though you say nothing of the rest
of my good services, what, if I had not been entirely devoted to
you a'nd your interest, would have become of your marriage : You
know full well, that if I had not supplied your place, your wife,
finding you impotent and debilitated, would have destroyed the
marriage-writings tabulas (see sat. x. 1. 336, and note) : nay, she
was actually upon the brink of signing fresh articles with another
(signabat) but I prevented it, by my assiduous services on your
behalf.
JUVENALIS SATIRE.
AT . ix.
Metiris pretio, quod, ni tibi deditus essem,
Devotusque cliens, uxor tua virgo manerct ?
Scis certe quibus ista modis, quain sxpe rogaris,
Et qtiE pollicitus : fugientem sspc puellam
Amplexu rapui ; tabulas quoque ruperat, et jam 75
Signabat : tota vix hoc ego nocte redemi,
Te plorante foris. Tcstis mihi Icctulus, et tu,
Ad quern pervenit lecti sonus, et dominac vox.
Instabile, ac tlirimi coeptum, et jam pene solutum
Conjugium in multis domibiis servavit adulter. SO
Ouo te circumagas ? quae prima, aut ultima ponas ?
Nullum ergo mcritum cst, ingrate ac perflde, nullum,
Quo tibi filiolus, vcl filia nascitur ex me ?
Tollis enim, ct libris actorum spargere gaucks
Argumenta viii. Foribus suspende coronas ; 85
Jam pater es : dedimus quod fams opponere possis.
Jura 1 parentis habes ; propter me scriberis haeres;
Lcgatum omne capis, nee non et dulce caducum.
Commoda praeterea junguntur multa caducis,
The whole of this passage is to set forth the dreadful debauchery
and profligacy of the times, when men, of Virro's character, could
marry young women, liberorum procreandorum gratia, as it was
expressed in the marriage- writings, and then, to save their state of
debility from being known, to prevail on their wives to throw them-
selves into the arms of adulterers, that they might be gotten with
child, and thus prevent also the dissolution of the marriage-contract
for the husband's impotency, by which they would have lost the
wife's fortune, which, after the divorce, ehe might give to another.
The 79th and SOth lines speak the frequency of such torrid deeds.
Barrenness and impotency were causes of divorce among the Romans.
7 '! TheJIytag girl>~\ Virro's young wife, who often attempted to
elope, and was as oiten stopped by the blandishments of Nsevolus.
See sat. ii. 59, and note.
75. Broken the tables.] Cancelled the marriage-contract, written
on thin tablets of wood, by breaking them. See sat. ii. 58, note 2.
81. Whither, sV.] Circumago is to turn round, or about, and.
here intimates the situation of a person surrounded with difficulties,
as Virro is supposed to be by Naevolus, so as not to be able to an-
swer his arguments, or, as we say in English, not to know which
way to turn himself, or where to begin his defence.
Si. Tou bring them ;ip.~\ See Ainsw. Tollo, No. 4.
i Boots of tits acts.] The public registers, in which, by an
ordinance of Scrviu? Tullius, all children were to be set down, toge-
ther with their names and time of their birth.
85. Arguments of a mar..] Though the child be mine, yet, bcit.r;
born of your wife, it is registered as yours, and thus becomes an ar-
gument of your manhood.
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 359
Price do you reckon it, that, unless I had been to you a resigned,
And a devoted client, your wife would remain a virgin ?
You ^certainly know by what methods how often you asked those
things,
And what you promised : how often the flying girl
I caught in my embrace ; she had broken the tables, and* now 7o
Was signing. I hardly redeemed this in a whole night,
You weeping without-doors : the bed is my witness, and thou,
Who wast thyself ear-witness of every circumstance.
Unstable wedlock, and begun to be broken^off, and almost dissolved,
An adulterer, in many houses, has preserved. JjO
Whither can you turn ? what can you place first or last ?
Is it therefore no merit, ungrateful and perfidious, none,
That a little son or a daughter is born to you by me ?
For you bring them up, and in the books of the acts you delight to
publish
Arguments of a man. Suspend garlands at your doors 85
You are now a father : I have given what you may oppose to report.
You have the rights of a parent : by my means you are written heir,
You receive all the legacy : not to say some sweet windfall.
Moreover many conveniences are joined to windfalls,
85. Sus fiend garlands, fcfr .] This was usual on all festal occasions,
and particularly on the birth of children.
86. / have given, &c."] As I have occasioned your being reputed
a father, I have conferred that upon you which will stop the mouth of
all scandalous reports concerning your impotency. Dedirr.us (synec.)
for dedi ; or dedimus may be meant to apply to the wife as well as
Naevolus, who together had brought all this to-pass.
87. Written heir, &c.] If a legacy were left to a single man, it
was void by the Papian law ; and if to a married man having no
children, he could take but a part of it, the rest fell to the public
treasury ; but if the legatee had children, he took the whole.
88. Windfall.] Caducum was a legacy left upon condition, as of
a man's having children, or the like : on failure of which it fell to
some person whom the testator had substituted heir i. e. the person
appointed heir, in case of the failure of the condition, in the room of
the first legatee. This was something like what we call a windfall.
Metaph. from fruit blown off a tree by the wind figuratively, a lucky
chance, some estate, or profit unexpectedly come to one. PHILLIPS.
89. Many conveniences, &c,~] Added to this, you will be entitled
to -many convenient privileges if I should have three children by
your wife, for they will all pass for yours. The jus trium liberorum
exempted a man from being a guardian, a situation of much trouble,
(see KENNETT, Antiq. Rom. book III.c. 133.) a priority in offices,
and a treble proportion of corn (see ib. c. 30.) on its monthly dis-
tribution. These, and other conveniences, are joined junguntur
/". e. are to be reckoned, as annexed to the contingencies which accru
to the man who has three children.
360 JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. ir.
Si numerum, si tres implevero
P. Justa doloris, 90
Nasvole, causa tui : contra tamen ille quid afFert ?
N. Negligit, atque alium bipedem sibi quierit asellum.
Haec soli commissa tibi celare memento,
Et tacitus nostra intra te fige querelas ;
Nam res mortifera est inimicus pumice laevis. 95
Qui modo secretum commiserat, ardet, et odit ;
Tanquam prodiderim quicquid scio : sumere ferrum,
Fuste aperire caput, candelam apponere valvis
Non dubitat. Nee contemnas, aut despicias, quod
His opibus nunquam caraest annona veneni. 100
Ergo occulta teges, ut curia Martis Athenis.
P. O Corydon, Corydon, secretum divitis ullum
Esse putas ? servi ut taceant, jumenta loquentur,
Et canis, et postes, et marmora : claude fenestras,
Vela tegant rimas, junge ostia, tollito lumen 105
E medio, taceant omnes, prope nemo recumbat :
This was where the parents lived in Rome : if they lived elsewhere
in Italy, they were to have five children if in any of the Roman
provinces, seven ; otherwise they could not claim the advantages of
the jus trium liberorum.
In all this seemingly serious remonstrance of Nsevolu? with Virro.
the old and impotent debauchee, Juvenal most seriously lashes all such
characters as are here described, with which it is plain that Rome at
that time abounded.
90. The cause, CSV.] The poet here interrupts Naevolus, by ob-
serving that, to be sure, his complaints were just ; and then, by
means of Naevolus, to carry on his satire against such characters as
Virro 's, he demands what answer Virro could make to all this.
92. He neglect s y fcjV.] The poet here shews the true spirit and
temper of these wretches towards the drudges of their infamous
pursuits and pleasures. When they begin to be importunate for
money, and upbraid them with their services, they cast them off,
and, on the least surmise of their revealing what has passed, will
not scruple to assassinate them.
Another two-legged att.~\ i. e. Another poor drudge, who,
like me, will be fool enough to be in the situation in which I have been.
95. Smooth with pumice, &c.~] These effeminate wretches, in or-
der to make their skins smooth, rubbed themselves with a pumice-
stone, to take off the hair. By this periphrasis Naevolus describes
such as Virro, whose means, as well as inclination, to revenge,
would make them dangerous enemies, if provoked.
96. He -who lately, &c.~\ Virro, who made me privy to his secret
practices, is full of fear lest I should discover them, and therefore
burns with anger and hatred against me, almost as much as if I had
betrayed him therefore take care that you don't reveal what I have
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. . 361
If I should fill up the number, the number three.
Juv. The cause of your grief, Naevolus, 90
Is just. But what does he bring against it ?
N*v. He neglects me, and seeks another two legged ass for himself.
Remember to conceal these things committed to you alone,
And silent fix within thee my complaints ;
For an enemy, smooth with pumice-stone, is a deadly thing. 95
He who lately committed the secret, burns, and hates,
As if I had betray'd whatever 1 know : to take the sword,
To open my head with a club, to put a candle to my doors,
He doubts not. Neither contemn nor despise, that,
To these riches, the provision of poison is never dear. 100
'Therefore you conceal secrets, as the court of Mars at Athens.
Juv. O Corydon, Corydon, think you there is_any secret
Of a rich man? if the servants should be silent, the cattle will speak,
And the dog, and the posts, and the marbles: shut the windows,
Let curtains cover the chinks, close the doors, take the light 105
Out of the way, let all be silent, let nobody lie near:
said, for he will stick at nothing to be revenged. See sat. iii, 1. 49
52, and 113.
99. Neither contemn, Sffr.] Don't make light of what I am going
to say; but such rich men as Virro, if offended, never think they
buy poison too dear to gratify their revenge.
1 01 . Conceal secrets, sV.]j g. d. Therefore one is forced to be as ser
cret as the Areopagus. The judges of this court gave their suffrages
by night, and in silence, by characters and alphabetical letters ; and
it was a capital crime to divulge the votes by which their sentence
was past. See Areopagus. AINS\V.
102. Cort/Jon, &c.~] Juvenal humorously styles Naevolus, this
paramour of old Virro, Corydon, in allusion to VIR.G. Eel. ii. 1, 2.
Think you, ffc.] Do you think that any thing which a man
does, who is rich enough to have a number of servants, can be kept
secret ? If it can't be proved that the servants have been blabbing,
yet every thing will be known by seme means or other, however un-
likely, or remote from our apprehension.
103. The cattle, tffc.] By this and the following hyperbolical ex-
pressions, is held forth the nature of guilt, which, however secretly
incurred, will yet, some how or other, especially in persons of high
stations, come to be known. So the prophet Habakkuk, speaking
of those who build fine houses for themselves by rapine and destruc-
tion, says, " The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out
" of the timber shall answer it." Ch. ii. 9 11.
A like sentiment occurs, Eccl. x. 20.
105. Talc the light, &c.~] That nobody may see what is doing.
106. Let all be silent.^ Every thing hushed into midnight siiei:ce.
Some read clament here, but surely taceant best agrees vvilh the rest
of the passage.
VOL. I. B E 8
362 JtTVENALIS SATIRE, SAT. ix.
Quod tamen ad cantum galli facit ille secundi,
Proximus ante diem caupo sciet, audiet et quae
Finxerunt pariter librarius, archimagin,
Carptores: quod enim dubitant componere crimen 110
In dominos? quoties rumoribus ulciscuntur
Baltea? nee deerit, qui te per compita quaerat
Nolentem, et miseram vinosus inebriet aurem.
IIlos ergo roges, quicquid paulo ante petebas
A nobis. Taceant illi, sed prodere malunt 115
Arcanum, quam subrepti potare Falerni,
Pro populo faciens quantum Laufella bibebat.
107. What he does>&c.~\ What the rich man does in secret, un-
der the darkness and covert of the night, will yet be known before
it is quite day. Holyday has a long note on the crowing of the
cock, to which I refer the reader. Juvenal set-ms to be the best
commentator on this cantum galli secundi, and directs us to under-
stand it of the season just before the day breaks ante diem, 1. 108;
intimating the small space of time between the act and the know-
ledge of it. We often meet with mention of the different times of
cock-crowing, to mark different periods between midnight and day-
break. Coinp. Markxiv. 30, 72, with Mark xv. 1.
Shakespeare marks an early season, after midnight, by " the first
' cock/' 1 Hen. IV. act ii. scene i. It is certain, however, that
cocks croxv, earlier or later, at different times of the year. See
HOR. lib. i. sat. ij. 10.
108. The next vintner.] The taverns at Rome were not only places
of public resort, but, like our coffee-houses, the marts for news
of all kinds. These were opened very early, and probably were
the resort of servants in great families, before their lords were stir-
ring.
10,9. The stevjarc!.] Librarius signifies a book-writer, a Iran*
scriber also a keeper of books of accounts. As this is the occu-
pation of the steward in a great family, I have yet therefore so ren-
dered it.
Master -cooks. ~\ Or head-cooks, from Gr. ot^or, the princi?
pal or chief, and /ttosys^o?, a cook.
Carvers.] Carptores these were also servants in great fa-
milies, whose occupation it was to help to set the dishes on the table,
and then to carve for the company. See sat. v. 120 4.
We are to suppose these head servants of a rich family getting
together at the tavern to take a morning whet, and there inventing lies
against their, master.
111. Straps.] Baltea belts, or straps made of leather, with
which the masters corrected their slaves in revenge for which,
there was nothing which the slaves would not invent against their
masters.
112. The streets.] Compitum denotes a cross-way, or street
where several ways meetj here the country people met together to
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 363
Yet what he does at the crowing of the second cock,
The next vintner will know before day, and will hear what
The steward, the master-cooks, and carvers have together
Invented : for what crime do they hesitate to frame against 110
Their masters ? how often are straps revenged
By rumours ? Nor will there fail one who will seek thee thro' the streef s
Unwilling, and, smelling of wine, will inebriate your wretched ear.
Therefore you should ask them, what a little before you sought
From me : let them be silent : but they had rather betray 1 1 5
A secret, than drink of stolen Falernan,
As much as Laufella, sacrificing for the people, drank.
keep their wakes after they had finished their husbandry. See
sat. xv. 1. 4-2, and note. The greatest concourse of people being in
such places, the fellow, here mentioned, was most likely to find
somebody to tell his tale to.
113. Untu\lling.~\ i. e. However unwilling you may be to listen to
him.
Smelling of owni.1 Vinosus. Some drunken fellow will
think it a good frolick to find you out, and attack you in the street.,
Comp. sat. iii. 278.
Will inebriate, ffc.] The ear is metaphorically said to drink
tlie sounds which are poured into it. PROPERT. eleg. vi. lib. iii.
Suspensis auribus ista bibam.
And HOR. ode xiii. lib. ii.
Densura humeris bibit aure vulgus.
When the ear is filled and overcharged with impertinent discourse,
it is said to be inebriated. The French say of a talkative person, il
m'enyvre de son caquet.
11 4-. Ask them, &."] My being silent will do you little service,
unless you could silence these slanderers. Enjoin these to silence, as
just now you did me.
116. Stolen Falernan.] Filched from their masters, and therefore
the more delicious. See Prov. ix. 17.
117. Laufella.] A priestess of Vesta, who in celebrating the rites
of the Bona Dea, together with the women worshippers, drank her-
self into drunken fury. See sat. vi. 1. 313 20. Some read Sau-
feia.
Sacrificing.^ The verb facio, to do, standing singly, in this
connexion, has always this sense. VIRG. Eel. iii. 77.
Cum faciam vituli pro frugibus, ipse venko.
The word sacra is understood.
So operari, VIRG. Geor. i. 339 Laetis operatus in herbisr /'.
cacris operatus. See sat. xii. 1. 92.
So the Greek ge, and the Heb. nwr which, in their primary
Sense, signify to make or do, are also used for sacrificing.
36* JUVENALIS SATIRE. SAT. it.
Vivendum recte, cum propter plurima, turn his
Praecipue causis, ut linguas mancipiorum
Contemnas : nam lingua mali pars pessima servi, 120
Deterior tamen hie, qui liber non erit, illis
Quorum animas et farre suo custodit, et sere.
N. Idcirco, ut possim linguam contemnere servi,
Utile consilium modo, sed commune, dedisti :
Nunc mihi quid suades post damnum temporis, et apes 125
Deceptas ? FESTINAT ENIM DECURRERE VELOX
FLOSCULUS ANGUST^, MISER^QUF. BREVISSIMA VITJE
PORTIO : dum bibimus, dum serta, unguenta, puellas
Poscimus, obrepit non intellecta senectus.
P. Ne trepida : nunquam pathicus tibi deerit amicus, 130
Stantibus et salvis his collibus : undique ad illos
Conveniunt, et carpentis et navibus, omnes
Qui digito scalpunt uno caput : altera major
Spes superest,, tu tantum erucis imprime dentem.
N. Htaec exempla para felicibus : at mea Clotho 13,3
E Lachesis gaudent, si pascitur inguine venter.
O parvi, rojtrique Lares, quos thure minuto,
118. Live rightly J^ This is the best way to silence slander, or to
despise its malice. See 1 Pet. ii. 12; and iii. 16.
119. Tongues of slaves.'} Comp. 1. 10911.
121. He is worse, &c.] The tattling of servants about the mas-
ter's secrets is bad enough ; but worse still is that master, who by
delivering himself up to the practice of secret vices, puts himself into
the power of his servants, and lives under a perpetual bondage, for
fear they should discover what they know of him.
122. Whote lives, &c.~] i. e. Whom he maintains and nourishes.
. . Corn.~\ Far signifies all manner of corn, meal, or flour ;
and here may stand for the food in general which the slaves ate, and for
which the master paid, as for their clothes and other necessaries.
123. N.IEV. Therefore, &c.] The poet represents Naevolus as con-
fessing the goodness of his advice in general, but wants to know what
is to be done in his particular case, who is growing old under loss of
time and disappointment.
126. Ths hasty little fo<wer, CsV.] See Is. xl. 6, 7. James i. 10,
11, 1. Pet. i. 2*.
128. Chaplets, ointments, &c.~\ In the midst of all our festal mirth.
See HOR. lib. ii. ode vii. 1, 6 S. Wisd. ii. 1 9.
130. Fear not, &c.~] The poet, in his answer to what Naevolus had
said, aggravates, if possible, his satire on the lascivious Romans, by-
representing Rome as the common rendezvous of the lewd and effemi-
nate from all parts ; not only of Italy, but of regions beyond the
seas : the former are represented as coming in vehicles by land ; the
latter, in ships by sea.
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 365
One should live rightly, as on many accounts, so especially
For these causes, that the tongues of slaves you may
Contemn : for the tongue is the worst part of a bad servant. 120
Yet he is worse, who shall not be free, than those
Whose lives he preserves, both with his corn and money.
Nv. Therefore, that I may despise the tongue of a servant,
You have just now given useful, but common counsel :
Now what do you persuade me to, after loss of time and hopes 125
Deceived? for THE HASTY LITTLE FLOWER, AND VERY SHOUT
PORTION
Or A MISERABLE LIFE, HASTENS TO PASS AWAY:
While we drink, and chaplets, ointments, girls,
We call for, old age, unperceived creeps upon us.
Juv. Fear not : you will never want a pathic friend, 130
These hills standing and safe .- from every where to them
There come together, in chariots and ships, all
Who scratch the head with one finger : another greater
Hope remains, do thou only impress thy tooth on rockets.
N.*v. Prepare these examples for the fortunate ; but my Clotho 1 35
And Lachesis rejoice, if I barely live by my vices.
O my little Lares ! whom with small frankincense,
131. These hills.] Rome was built on seven hills, which here ace
put for Rome itself.
132. There come.] Conveniunt come together, convene, meet.
1 33. Who scratch, &c.~\ By this periphrasis are described those
unnatural wretches, who dressed their heads like women ; and who,
if they wanted to scratch them, gently introduced one finger only,
for fear of discomposing their hair. This phrase was proverbial, to
denote such characters.
133 4-. Greater hope, &c.] Fear not, Nzvolus, of meeting with
a pathic friend, more generous than Virro, among these strangers-
only qualify thyself for their pleasures by stimulating food.
13-i. Rockets.] Eruca signifies the herb rocket. OVID, Rem.
Am. 799. calls them erucas salaces by which we are to suppose it
an herb which had a quality of invigorating and promoting the pow-
ers of lust. " Only eat rockets," says Juvenal, " and fear not
" success :" a most bitter sarcasm on the visitants of Rome above
mentioned, 1. 132, 3.
135. Prepare, SsV.] i.e. Tell these things to happier men than I
am for my part, my destinies would have me contented with a
very little, glad if I can pick up enough to keep me from starv-
ing.
135 6. Clotho Lachesis.] These, with Atropos, are the names
of the three fates, or destinies, which th^ poets feigned to preside
over the lives and deaths of mankind.
137. Little Lares, &c.] The Lares, or household gods, were
366 JUVENALIS SATIRE. EAT. is.
Aut farre, et tenui soleo exornare corona,
Quando ego figam aliquid, quo sit mihi tuta senectus
A tegete et baculo ? viginti millia fcenus, 140
Pignoribus positis ? argenti vascula puri,
Sed qua Fabricius censor notet ; et duo fortes
De grege Mcesorum, qui me cervice locata ,
Securum jubeant clamoso insistere circo ?
Sit mihi praeterea curvus cselator, et alter, 14.5
Qui multas facies pingat cito : sufficient haec.
Quando ego pauper ero, votum miserabile, nee spes
His saltern ; nam cum pro me Fortuna rogatur,
Affigit ceras ilia de nave petitas,
small images, placed on the hearth near the fire-side, and were sup-
posed to be the protectors of the house and family; they were
crowned with small chaplets, and cakes made of pounded frankin-
cense, meal, and the like, were offered to them. See Hop., lib. iii.
ode xxiii. ad fin. It was the custom to fix with wax their vows to
the knees of these images, in order to have them granted. See sat.
x. 55, and note. Therefore Nasvolus is supposed to say When
shall I fix any thing that is, present a petition, from a favourable
answer to which I may be secured, in my old age, from rags, and
begging with a crutch ? Teges is literally a coarse rug and bacu-
lum, a stick or walking staff.
14-0. Twenty thousand interest.] When shall I be so rich as to re-
ceive annually twenty thousand sesterces, that is, twenty sestertiums
(about 156/. 5/.) for interest on money lent ? The numeral nouns
viginti millia must be understood to apply to sestertii, here ; for ap-
plying them to sestertia, would make a sum too enormous to agree
with the rest of what Naevolus is wishing for.
141. Pledget set down.] i. e. With good and sufficient sureties,
set or written down in the bond, to secure the principal.
142. Fabricius.] It is said of C. Fabricius, that when he war,
censor, he accused Corn. Ruffinus of prodigality, and removed him
from the senate, because he found, in his house, silver vessels of ten
pounds weight, esteeming it as a notorious example of luxury. Nae-
volus is wishing for vascula, small vessels of pure silver, but not so
small as to be below the notice of Fabricius.
143. Herd of the Mast.] For Moesia, see AINSW. The Mcesians
were remarkably robust, ai-d therefore in great request at Rome, as
chairmen or carriers of the sedans and litters in which the fine peo-
ple rode along the streets. See sat. i. 1. 64, and note.
Shoulders.] Cervix lit. means the hinder part of the neck
the neck and sometimes, as we may suppose here, the shoulders.
AINSW. Nasvolus, among other things, is wishing to afford two
stout Mcesians, who, by putting their shoulders under him, might
carry him through the crowd at the circus, to some safe and conve-
nient situation, where he could enjoy the diversion, at his ease and
amid all the tumult and uproar of the place.
SAT. ix. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. 367
Or with meal, and a slender chaplet, I use to adorn,
When shall I fix any thing, by which old age may be secure to me
From the rug and staff? Twenty thousand interest 140
With pledges set down ? little vessels of pure silver,
But which the censor Fabricius would note and two strong ones
From the herd of the Mcesi, who, with shoulders placed [under
me]
May command me to stand secure in the noisy circus ?
Let me have besides a skilful engraver and another 14.5
Who can quickly paint many faces : these things will suffice.
Since I shall be poor, a wretched wish ! Nor is there hope
Only for these ; for when Fortune is petitioned for me,
She affixes wax, fetched from that ship,
Where on their brawny shoulders mounted high, -j
While <he brave youth their various manhood try, C
I would the thrones of emperors defy. 3 HARVET.
144. May command.] Jubeant may command, or order imply-
ing the superior strength and power of these fellows, who could so
make their way, as to place their master wherever they chose.
145. S&ilful engraver.] Curvus signifies crooked that hath turn-
ings and windings and this latter, in a mental sense, denotes cunning,
which we often find used for skilful, in our older English. See Exod.
xxxviii. 23, and several other places of our translation of the Bible.
Some are for understanding curvus, as descriptive of the bending or
stooping attitude, in which the engraver works at his business.
146. Quickly paint, sV.] An artist, who can soon paint a number
of portraits, which I may hang about my house, as pictures of some
great men who were my ancestors. Comp. sat. viii. 1. 2, and note.
. These things 'will suffice, ff<r. J All this would just serve to
make me as rich and happy as I could wish. Here I think this part
of the subject comes to a period. Naevolus then recollects himself
his evil destiny occurs to his mind, and he breaks out in an exclama-
tion on the vanity and misery of his wishes, since poverty and want
are the only lot which he can expect. This seems to unite the four
last lines, with the utmost consistency and propriety.
147. A wretched wish, &c.~] Since (qnando) I am doomed to po-
verty by my destinies, (comp. 1. 135, and note,) my wretched wishes,
and all my hopes, are vain, and I cannot expect even what I have now
been wishing for, much less any thing farther.
149. She affixes wax, &c.] i, e. Fortune is deaf to all petitions on
my behalf. This is expressed by an allusion to the story of Ulysses,
who, when sailing by Sicily, and being forewarned of the danger of
listening to the Sirens on the coast, stopped his mariners' ears with
wax, and so sailed by them securely. He commanded that he himself
should be tied to the main-mast. HOMER, Odyss. xii.
Thus end the complaints of this n:iserablc wretch ! The poet has,
368 JUVENALIS SATIRJE. SAT. 11.
Qux Siculos cantus efFugit remige surdo. 150
under the character of Naevolus, strongly marked the odiousness of
' vice, and has set forth the bitter consequences which attend those
who look for happiness and prosperity in the ways of wickedness,
that they will fail in their expectations, and, at last, be consigned to
$he sad refuge of unavailing petitions for deliverance from that state
$AT. ii. JUVENAL'S SATIRES. S69
Which escaped the Sicilian songs, with a deaf rower. 150
of irremediable want and misery, into which they have plunged them-
selves, and which they find, too late, to be the sad, but juit recom*
pense of their obstinate perseverance in evil-doing.
We may see this alarming and awful subject adequately treated in
the sublime words of heavenly wisdom, Prov. i. 24r 31.
END OF THE NINTH SATIRE.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
ll H J
,11,'
V
155572
A 000155572 1