Ut scriptor si peccat idem librarius usque, Quemadmodum librorum de Quamvis est monitus, veniâ caret; et citha- scriptori, si idem semper erra rœdus tum admittat etiam admonitus, 355 minimè ignoscitur: et citharista Ridetur, chordâ qui semper oberrat eâdem ; deridetur, qui semper ad eandem chordam offendit: ita qui Sic mihi, qui multum cessat, fit Chorilus ille, sæpius in carmine allucinatur, Quem bis terque bonum cum risu miror: et videtur similis isti Chœrilo, idem quem bis aut ter elegantem ad Indignor, quandoque bonus dormitat Home- miror et derideo; ipsemet au rus. tem doleo, quotiescunque la359 bitur excellens Homerus. Sed Verum operi longo fas est obrepere somnum. in longo opere cespitare licet. dam tibi magis placebit, si adsis proximus; quædam verò, si re Hæc amat obscurum, volet hæc sub luce vi- motior fueris. Altera loco pau deri, Judicis argutum quæ non formidat acumen : Hæc placuit semel, hæc decies repetita placebit. 365 lùm tenebroso, altera ad lucem plenam vult spectari, scilicet quæ non timet judicis examen severum: altera semel duntaxat, altera decies spectata approbabitur. O major natu juvenum O major juvenum, quamvis et voce paternâ Pisonum, tametsi patris docuFingeris ad rectum, et per te sapis, hoc tibi mentis formaris ad id quod per dictum fectum est, et ex te sapis; hoc monitum ausculta et retine. In rebus quibusdam mediocritas toleratur, et ritè admittitur. Tolle memor: certis medium et tolerabile rebus Recte concedi: consultus juris et actor Causarum mediocris abest virtute diserti 370 Jurisperitus et causidicus mediocris longè distat ab eloquenMessalæ, nec scit, quantum Cascellius Aulus; tiâ Messale; nec tantum pollet Sed tamen in pretio est: mediocribus esse quantum Aulus Cascellius: attamen laudatur. Verùm poëtam mediocrem non ferunt Dii, non poëtis Non homines, non Dî, non concessere columnæ. homines, non tabernæ. Ut gratas inter mensas symphonia discors, NOTES. 354. Ut scriptor, &c.] As a book-transcriber, if he make, in spite of all warnings, the same mistakes, is undeserving of any indulgence, and a player on the cithara who always blunders on the same string-so the poet, who is full of faults, is with me like that Chœrilus-whom, in the midst of all my laughter at his folly, I wonder to find now and then tolerable. 357. Choerilus.] Ep. ii. 1. 233. 358. Et idem, &c.] And yet I, too, who thus act with regard to the bad poet, am impatient when the good Homer nods. 359. Quandoque.] For quando, as in Od. iv. 1. 17. and 2. 34. 360. Verum, &c.] But his is a long work, and over such it is allowable to doze. 361. Ut pictura, &c.] Poems are like pictures-some will please you most if you stand close to them, and others at a distance. 363. Hæc.] One picture loves the shade -another, which does not dread the critic's eye, the light. 365. Hæc placuit, &c.] This pleases once only-another ten times seen, still will please. Sicut lautas inter epulas incondita musica, 366-XX. O major, &c.] Middling poets are not to be tolerated. 367. Per te sapis.] And judge correctly from your own feelings. Hoc tibi, &c.] Take this maxim with you -remember this. 368. Tolerabile.] What, if not admired, may be tolerated. 369. Consultus juris.] Messala was eminent as a pleader, and Cascellius as a lawyer -a chamber-counsel. Therefore the poet must mean to make a corresponding distinction between consultus juris and actor causarum-the latter phrase would suit the modern attorney. 371. Messala.] M. Valerius Corvinus Messala. Sat. i. 10. 29. Cascellius.] Distinguished for his legal knowledge. Val. Max. viii. 12. 1. 372. In pretio ] He may be borne with he is still of some value. 373. Columna.] Where the booksellers exhibited their wares. Sat. i. 4. 71. 374. Ut gratas, &c.] Poems are like luxuries-to be enjoyed, they must be good. et vile unguentum, et papa- Et crassum unguentum, et Sardo cum melle ver cum melle Sardo mixtum respuuntur, quoniam transigi papaver 375 cœna potest sine illis: sic car- Offendunt, poterat duci quia cœna sine istis: men ad animos recreandos fac- Sic animis natum inventumque poëma juvandis, tum, si tantulùm abest à su premo, tendit ad intimum. Qui ludorum est imperitus, fugit Si paulum a summo decessit, vergit ad imum. exercitationes campi Martii: Ludere qui nescit, campestribus abstinet armis, haud solers pila vel disci, vel Indoctusque pila discive trochive quiescit, 380 frequentes circumstantes cachin- Ne spissæ risum tollant impune coronæ : nos effusè solvant: at carminum Qui nescit, versus tamen audet fingere! trochi, hæc minimè tractat; ne rudis ea nihilominus audet mo Quidni? liri. Cur non? liber est atque Liber et ingenuus, præsertim census equesingenuus, imò in censu repertus possidere opes ad equestrem trem dignitatem sufficientes, atque Summam nummorum, vitioque remotus ab omnis expers criminis. Tu verd nihil scribes aut ages, Minervâ omni! repugnante. Hoc tibi est in- Tu nihil invitâ dices faciesve Minervâ; 385 genium et judicium. At si Id tibi judicium est, ea mens: si quid tamen quidpiam aliquando scribas, committe illud auribus et exa olim mini Tarpæ, patrisque tui, et Scripseris, in Metii descendat judicis aures, Quin et reconde ad Et patris, et nostras, nonumque prematur in nostro. annos novem. Dum chartæ scrinio manebunt inclusæ, pote annum, ris emendare quod non vulga- Membranis intus positis. Delere licebit, veris at verbum editum ne- Quod non edideris: nescit vox missa reverti. quaquam redire valet. Orpheus Silvestres homines sacer interpresque deo divinus et numinum internun cius homines feros 391 rum. NOTES. 375. Crassum.] Thick-not pure and lim- be supposed, of young Piso-as if this and the pid. Papaver.] The white poppy, the seeds of which, parched, were served with honey in desserts. Sardo.] The worst honey-it had a taint of bitterness, from some acrid plants of the island. Virg. Ecl. vii. 41. 376. Duci, &c.] Protracted till a late hour. 378. Si paulum, &c.] Like any substance thrown into water-if it sink ever so little from the top, it drops to the bottom. 379. Ludere qui, &c.] The youth who has not practised gymnastics, refrains from exhibiting in the Campus Martius. 380. Indoctus pila.] Greek construction— ἄπειρος σφαίρας. other advantages could aid the poet. Præsertim.] Besides, a knight-one who is rated in the censor's registers at a knight's fee-400,000 sesterces, Ingenuus.] A gentleman-a free man, and born of a free father, &c. 384. Vitioque, &c.] I. e. purus et insons. Sat. i. 6. 69. 385. Invitá Minervá.] Cicero explainsadversante et repugnante naturá. De Off. i. 31. 386. Id tibi, &c.] Such is your judge Cædibus et victu fœdo deterruit Orpheus; avertit à cædibus et turpi vitæ ratione; propterea dictus mitigare tigres et leones ferocissiDictus et Amphion Thebanæ conditor arcis, mos. Amphion quoque TheSaxa movere sono testudinis, et prece blandâ Ducere, quo vellet. Fuit hæc sapientia quon- visse et quocunque libuit impu dam, bana arcis conditor dicitur lyræ sono suavique cantu lapides mo396 lisse. Ea fuit olim sapientia, distinguere publica à privatis, et sacra à profanis, incerta con Publica privatis secernere, sacra profanis, Sic honor et nomen divinis vatibus atque 400 rus, nubia vetare, maritis modum præscribere, urbes extruere, leges tabulis inscribere. Sic fama et dignitas sacris poëtis ac versibus contigit. Post illos inclaruit Homerus, ac Tyrtæus viriles animos ad certamina carminibus accendit; fata versibus pronunciata; et vivendi instituta tradita sunt : necnon gratia inventi Tyrtæusque mares animos in Martia bella Nec rude, quid possit, video ingenium: rius sic divite etiam ludi, atque laboris diuturni solatium: ne fortè verecundiam tibi faciant Musæ lyricorum peritæ et Phœbus ca nens. Disceptatur jamdudum, an bonum poëma sit à naturâ, an ab arte. Ego quidem non alte- video quid valeat ars sine felici 410 naturâ; vel natura, sine eruditione. Ita res una petit auxilium alterius, et mutuò juvat. Qui cupit metam exoptatam cursu attingere, à juventute multa pertulit egitque, æstum et frigus toleravit, voluptates abdicavit. Qui tibiâ canit in Pythiis, Altera poscit opem res, et conjurat amice. NOTES. their sentiments-and divinely commissioned to communicate them. &c. 392. Victu foedo, &c.] Roots, berries, acorns, 393. Ob hoc.] I. e. because he persuaded men to quit the forests, and betake themselves to social life-he was said to have tamed tigers, &c. 394. Amphion.] Son of Jupiter, by Antiope said also, for the same reason, &c. 395. Blanda prece.] That is, his musiche persuaded men to build, &c. 396. Fuit hæc, &c.] It was this wisdomthat is, the wisdom of the poets-it was the poets who of old taught, &c. 398. Prohibere.] Scil. maritos. Dare jura maritis.] To establish their authority over their wives. 399. Ligno.] On wooden tablets-before there were brazen ones. Laws were written i. e. carved or cut in pieces of wood, and placarded in public places. 402. Tyrtæus.] Of this oldest of the Athenian poets, four elegies still survive. Mares.] Manly. Ep. i. 1. 64. 403. Dicta, &c.] Oracles were delivered in verse. See Herodotus, for many instances. antè eruditus est, et magis- Tibicen, didicit prius extimuitque magistrum. Nec satis est dixisse: 66 tro subditus fuit. At nunc sufficit dicere: Ego perfectissima facio carmina: ultimum in pango: Ego mira poëmata 416 vadat scabies: pudet me post Occupet extremum scabies, mihi turpe relin alios esse, et ingenuè fateri me ignorare quæ non didici. Sicut qui est, præco plebem congregat ad Et, quod non didici, sane nescire, fateri." Ut præco, ad merces turbam qui cogit emendas, emendas merces, ita adulato res ad quæstum vocat poëta, prædiis locuples et pecuniâ ad fœenus data. Qui si lautum ve- Assentatores jubet ad lucrum ire poëta, 420 lit præbere convivium, et se Dives agris, dives positis in fœnore nummis. vadem præstare pro egeno, Si vero est, unctum qui recte ponere possit, cumque litibus obrutum expedire: mirum erit si opulentus Et spondere levi pro paupere, et eripere atris distinguere queat amicum fide- Litibus implicitum, mirabor, si sciet interlem à fallaci. Tu sive largitus Noscere mendacem verumque beatus ami sis, seu largiri quidpiam velis alicui, ne hunc gaudio exultan cum. 425 tem admoveas ad audiendum Tu, seu donâris, seu quid donare voles cui, carmen à te compositum. Is Nolito ad versus tibi factos ducere plenum enim tunc exclamabit, Optimè, Lætitiæ; clamabit enim, pulchre! bene! concinnè, egregié: ad illud ex pallescet: atque etiam lacryma recte! rum stillas aliquot amicis oculis Pallescet, super his etiam stillabit amicis effundet: tripudiabit ac saltabit. Ex oculis rorem; saliet, tundet pede ter Non secùs, ac conducti ad flen dum in exequiis, dicunt agunt ram. 430 que ferè plura quàm qui ex ani- Ut, qui conducti plorant in funere, dicunt mo lugent: ita plùs adulator Et faciunt prope plura dolentibus ex animo; afficitur, quàm sincerus approbator. Aiunt reges scyphis plurimis tentare sic Derisor vero plus laudatore movetur. NOTES. 416. Nec satis est, &c.] Nor is it enough to assume the name of poet, and exclaim-I make capital verses-let the murrain seize the hindmost-i. e. let every one take care of himself. Though I have never learned the art, I will not confess ignorance, but assert my superiority still.-The sentiments, probably, of some person well-known to the Pisos one of the class described. Ep. ii. 2. 107. 417. Occupet, &c.] Proverbial-like" the devil take the hindmost" with us. 418. Quod non didici, &c.] Comp. line 88. 419.-XXII. Ut præco, &c.] The rich poet invites flatterers round him for gain; as the præco gathers bidders for his sale, with the promise of bargains. 421. Dives agris, &c.] Sat. i. 2. 13. 422. Si vero, &c.] If the rich poet-unlike other rich men-can (i. e. force himself) treat a poor guest handsomely, &c. Unctum.] The guest-because guests at grand entertainments were usually perfumed. Here the word applies to the poor friend, and, of course, ironically. Ponere.] To place him on the triclinium conduct him there, probably, with all the attention usually paid to the great. 423. Spondere.] Give security for the poor man, whose credit is levis. 424. Mirabor, &c.] I shall wonder if he will ever distinguish the false friend from the true. The more liberal he is, the more likely to be beset and duped by flatterers. 426. Tu, &c.] But do not you, Piso-i. e. if you wish for an honest judgement-whether you have given a man any thing, or intend to do so-do not you take him, full of joy, to listen to your verses, &c. 429. Super his.] Besides. 430. Tundet, &c.] Will dance in ecstacies. 431. Dicunt et faciunt, &c] Are louder in their simulated grief than the real mourn nus sit familiaritate sud. Tu cave ne te Et torquere mero, quem perspexisse laborant et vino explorare eum quem inanem, Quin sine rivali teque et tua solus amares. Age, hoc et illud emenda. Si ses, responderes; nequaquam te posse meliús: jubebat ex recudere. Quòd si errata defendere malles quàm corrigere ; nullum ampliùs verbum, aut cu Vir bonus et prudens versus reprehendet in- ram adhibebat frustrà, ne te et ertes, 445 tua sine æmulo solus approbares. Vir probus et sagax versus languidos redarguet, asperos dam apponet transverso calamo; luxuriantes ornatus amputabit; jubebit obscura illuminare; am Culpabit duros, incomtis allinet atrum cum guet, Aut fanaticus error et iracunda Diana, 454 Quare ego amicum molestiâ hominem delusum semel et malignè approbatum. Qui sanâ mente sunt, ut quem exitiosa scabies vexat, vel furor à diis immissus, et Diana infesta; NOTES. Culullis.] Large goblets. Od. i. 31. 11. 435. Torquere mero.] Ep. i. 18. 38. 436. Si carmina, &c.] If you make verses, do not read them to parasites. 437. Vulpe.] I. e. the parasite-as if he were as cunning as a fox. Animi sub vulpe, &c.] Do not let the views that lurk in him dupe you. 438. Quintilio.] The friend, probably, whose death Horace laments in Od. i. 24. 439. Melius, &c.] Repeat si. If you said, you had tried, and could not improve them, he would bid you destroy the passage, and bring your ill-shaped lines to the anvil again. 442. Vertere.] Change or mend them. 443. Nullum, &c.] He would say no more -he would not throw away his labour. 445. Bonus.] The sincere man, who will not flatter-like Quintilius. Prudens.] Intelligent. Inertes.] Without spirit, or pith. 446. Allinet, &c.] Draw his pen across them. Reeds were used for writing on paper or parchment. 447. Ambitiosa, &c.] What is too luxuriant, as in Ep. ii. 2. 122. 448. Coget.] Scil. scriptorem. clearer. 449. Arguet.] Will point out ambiguous expressions. Od. i. 13. 7. Epod. ii. 10. 450. Aristarchus.] Proverbial for a severe critic. He was a native of Alexandria, and obelized the verses of Homer with great freedom-i. e. branded many of them with the mark called an obelus, as bad. 451. Ha nuga, &c.] These small faults will lead the poet, who has once been duped and insidiously applauded, into serious evils. He will think he has nothing to correct, and go on from bad to worse. 452. Derisum.] Compare with derisor, line 433. 453. Ut mala, &c.] Those who are wise shun the mad poet, as they do the man whom the scabies, or the jaundice, &c. possesses. Scabies.] Some cutaneous disease-supposed to be contagious. Morbus regius.] The jaundice—so called, traditionally, according to Varro, because it was curable only by mulsum, as if that was a luxury within the reach of nobody but kings. Plin. xxii. 24. Celsus, too, (iii. 24.) derives the epithet regius from the remedies being too costly for any but kings and opulent per sons. 454. Fanaticus error.] Maniacs-prompted to roam, like Orestes. Derived by some from Faunus, as the supposed inflicter of the dis ease. Diana iracunda.] Who, in her anger, inflicted madness-lunacy. |