and firmness of purpose. Vagus Hercules | Minerva's wrath, not to the decision of "the roaming Hercules." Paris, but to Laomedon's perfidy. 10. Enisus-"by dint of perseverance," 22. Mihi castaeque damnatum Minervaelit. "having struggled out and out." In- "consigned for punishment to me and the nisus, or innixus-"having struggled on." spotless Minerva." Condemned by the The latter forms are found in a few MSS. | gods, and given over to these two deities Cp. Ode iv. 8, 29, and Epist. ii. 1, 5. Ig- for punishment. The idea is borrowed from neas-"starry." the Roman law, by which an insolvent debtor was delivered over to the power of his creditors. Bentley prefers damnatam, as Ilion may be feminine as well as neuter. Cp. Ode iv. 9, 18, and i. 10, 14. 11. Quos inter-An anastrophe for inter quos. Augustus-This title was conferred on Octavianus, B.C. 27, and shows that this Ode is not likely to have been written earlier. 12. Purpureo-ore-"with rosy (or empurpled) lips." Bibit-"quaffs," the present being more emphatic than the future, which is found in some MSS.; and it should be remembered that Augustus was deified before death. 24. Duce fraudulento-" their perfidious prince," referring to Laomedon, and not, as many suppose, to Priam. 25. Adulterae-Some understand this to be a dative after splendet, others a genitive after hospes. The latter appears the preferable construction, in opposition to Priami. 26. Famosus "notorious," or "infam 13. Hac (arte)—“for this.” Merentem"deserving the honour "merito-" deserv-ous." edly." 14. Vexere te-" bore thee to the skies.' Bacchus is represented by the ancient fabulists, as returning in triumph from the conquest of India and the East in a chariot drawn by tigers, the fiercest animals in India. He is now described as having ascended to the skies by the same singular species of apotheosis. Indocili" untractable," namely, by any other. 16. Martis, equis, &c -Observe the variety of diction in the phrases, arces attigit igneas; quos inter Augustus recumbens; vexere tigres; and Acheronta fugit, all expressive of the same idea, the attainment of immortality. 17. Gratum, &c.-divis-"after Juno had uttered what was pleasing to the gods, deliberating in council." Juno's speech was pleasing to the gods, because they were in favour of the proposed deification of Romulus. 18. The order of construction is, Judex fatalis incestusque, et mulier peregrina, vertit in pulverem Ilion, Ilion, damnatum mihi castaeque Minervae, cum populo et fraudulento duce, ex quo Laomedon destituit deos pacta mercede. 19. Fatalis, &c.-peregrina-"a judge, the fated (i.e., foretold by his mother's dream to be the) author of his country's ruin, and impure in his desires, and a female from a foreign land," alluding to Paris and Helen, and the apple of discord, which he assigned to Venus, in preference to Juno and Min erva. 21. Ex quo (tempore)-"from the time when." Destituit, &c.-pacta-"defrauded the gods of their stipulated reward," alluding to the fable of Laomedon's having refused to Apollo and Neptune their promised recompense for building the walls of Troy. See Hom. Il. vii. 452, &c., and xxi. 442, &c. Observe that Juno ascribes her own and 72 27. Perjura-Referring to Laomedon's crime. 28. Refringit retundit or repellit—“ repels." 29. Nostris ductum seditionibus-"protracted by our dissensions." Juno, Minerva, and Neptune favoured the Greeks; Apollo, Mars, and Venus, the Trojans. 31. Invisum nepotem-Romulus, grandson to Juno, through his father Mars. 32. Troia-sacerdos-Ilia. 34. Ducere-succòs-"to quaff the juice." Several MSS. have discere "to learn to know." 35. Quietis-"peaceful," in accordance with the Epicurean doctrine and poetically agreeing with "ranks," in preference to "the gods." Cp. Sat. i. 5, 101, and Virg. Æn. iv. 379. 37. Dum-dummodo-" provided." 38. Exsules - The Romans boasted of being the descendants of Æneas and the Trojans, and were exiles, consequently, from the land of Troy, the abode of their forefathers. 39. Qualibet-in parte" in whatever other quarter it may please them to dwell" 40. Busto insultet- trample upon the tomb," which was the greatest indignity that could be offered to the deceased. 42. Celent "conceal therein." Cp. Epode 16, 10. 43. Fulgens "in splendour." Triumphatis-" conquered," is used passively only by the poets and later prose authors. 45. Horrenda late-" an object of extensive dread," lit. "to be dreaded far and wide." 46. Medius liquor-"the intervening water," i.e., the straits of Gibraltar. 48. Arva (Egypti)-At the other extremity of the Mediterranean, which may be here regarded as measuring the Roman empire. 49. Aurum irrepertum-"the gold of the mine." The common translation, "as yet undiscovered," involves an absurdity. 50. Spernere spernendo, as in the next line, cogere cogendo. 51. Humanos in usus-"to the purposes of man." 52. Omne sacrum rapiente dextra-"with a right hand plundering every thing sacred," is only another expression for boundless cupidity, which respects not even the most sacred objects. 53. Quicunque, &c.-obstitit-"whatever limit bounds the world." The perfect here, like the aorist in Greek, denotes what has been, and still exists. 54. Tanget-"she will reach," is a prophecy: tangat-"let her reach," a permission. Both forms are found; but the former occurs in most MSS., and the latter is preferred by some editors, from its corresponding to extendat. Visere gestiens (eam partem), &c.-rores (sint)—" eagerly desiring to visit that quarter in which the Solar fires are madly raging, and that in which clouds and (lit. rainy dews) dewy rains prevail." The allusion is to the torrid and frigid zones. Cp. Ode i. 22, 17, &c. 58. Hac lege-"on this condition." Nimium pii-The piety here alluded to is that which, according to ancient ideas, was due from a colony to the mother city. 61. Alite lugubri-" under mournful auspices." Cp. Ode i. 15, 5, and Epode 10, 1. 62. Fortuna-" the evil fortune." 64. Cp. Virg. Æn. i. 47, with Hom. Il. iv. 59, &c., and xvi. 432. 65. Murus aëneus-"a brazen wall," i.e., the strongest of ramparts. 66. Auctore conditore. Meis-Juno was the tutelary deity of Argos. 70. Desine, &c.-parvis-"cease wantonly to relate the discourses of the gods, and to degrade lofty themes by lowly measures." See Notes, Ode iii. 2, 25. ODE IV.-Tricolos tetrastrophos: Metre-The Alcaic or Horatian, of which the two first verses are Greater Alcaic, the third an Archilochian, and the fourth a Lesser Alcaic; thus 1, 2 3. 4. or or -༤ SUBJECT-After invoking Calliope, the poet professes entire confidence in the protection of the Muses; and, after ascribing to their benign influence the peaceful counsels of Augustus, he concludes by showing that mental power is superior to brute force. Addressed to Calliope, and, like the preceding ones, written probably in B.C. 26, when the Emperor was meditating an expedition against the Britons on the one side, and against the Parthians on the other. 1. Et dic age tibia-"and come and sing with thy flute." See Notes, Ode i. 12, 1. 2. Regina A general term of honour, as in Ode i. 30, 1, and 35, 1, unless we refer it to Hesiod, Theog. 79, where Calliope is described as προσφερεστάτη ἁπασέων (Μουσάων). 3. Voce-acula-"with thy shrill-sounding voice. 4. Fidibus citharaque, a hendiadys for fidibus citharae-"on the strings of Apollo's lyre." 5. Auditis?-"do you hear her?" The poet fancies that the Muse, having heard bis invocation, has descended from the skies, and is pouring forth a melodious strain. Hence the question, put to those who are supposed to be standing around, whether they also hear the accents of the goddess. Fea, one of the modern commentators on Horace, gives on conjecture Audiris?-"are you heard by me?" or "do you answer my invocation?" Amabilis insania-"a fond enthusiasm." 6. Videor (mihi)-"methinks." sacros" sacred." Pios 7. Amoenae, &c. -aurea A beautiful zeugma-"through which the pleasing waters glide, and refreshing breezes blow." 9. Fabulosae-palumbes-"storied pigeons," or "doves celebrated in fable." Cp. Ode i. 22, 8. Vulture-Mount Vultur, now Monte Vulture, was situated in the neighbourhood of Venusia, the poet's native place, its southern slope being in Lucania, and the rest of it in Apulia. 10. Nutricis- ·Apuliae- -"of my native Apulia." Observe the variation of quantity in Apulo and Apuliae, of which similar examples occur in many other proper names, such as Priamus and Priămides; Sicānus, Sicănus, Sīcănăs, and Sīcāniă; Ītălūs, Itălus, and Ităliă; Servilius and Servilius; Fidenae and Fidēnae; Bătăvus and Bătāvūs. 11. Ludo fatigatumque somno-"wearied with play, and overpowered with sleep. 13. Mirum-ut-" a source of wonderhow." 14. Celsae nidum Acherontiae-"the nest of the lofty Acherontia." Acherontia, now Acerenza, was situated on a hill difficult of access, south of Forentum, in Apulia. Its lofty situation gains for it, from the poet, the epithet of nidum. 15. Saltusque Bantinos - Bantia, now Banzi, or Vanzi, a town of Apulia, lay to the south-east of Venusia. 16. Forenti-Forentum, now Forenza, lay about eight miles south of Venusia, and on the other side of Mount Vultur. The epithet humilis, "lowly," has reference to its situation near the base of the mountain. 20. Non sine dis animosus - "deriving courage from the manifest protection of the gods." Non sine dis=οὐ θεῶν ἄτερ οι οὐκ als. The deities here alluded to are the Muses. 21. Vester, Camenae-"under your protection, ye Muses." Arduos Sabinos-"the lofty country of the Sabines," alluding to the situation of his farm in the mountainous territory of the Sabines. 23. Praeneste-Præneste, now Palæstrina, was situate about twenty-three miles to the south-east of Rome, and a favourite place of resort for the wealthy Romans in summer. The epithet frigidum, in the text, alludes to the coolness of its temperature. Tibur supinum-"the sloping Tibur," so called from being on the slope of a hill. See Notes, Ode i. 7, 13. 24. Liquidae Baiae-"liquid (or bright) Baix," it being doubtful whether the epithet liquidae refers to Baie being washed by the sea, in opposition to the inland towns of Tibur and Præneste, or alludes to the clearness and purity of its atmosphere. See Notes, Ode ii. 18, 20. 25. Fontibus-The most celebrated of the springs sacred to the Muses were, Hippocrene, Castalia, Aganippe, and Pirene. 26. Philippis versa acies retro "the army routed at Philippi," in Thrace, near the gold and silver mines of Mount Pangæus. See Notes, Ode ii. 7, 9. 27. Devota (=dis inferis sacra) arbor"the accursed tree." Cp. Ode ii. 13. 28. Palinurus-A promontory on the west coast of Lucania, notorious for shipwrecks, now Cape di Palinura, and said to derive its name from the pilot of Æneas, (Virgil, Æn. vi. 380.) Nothing further is known of the poet's escape. 29. Utcunque "as long as," or "provided." 30. Bosporum-See Notes, Ode ii. 13, 14. 32. Assyrii-Syrii-The name Syria itself, which has been transmitted to us by the Greeks, is a corruption of Assyria, and was first adopted by the Ionians who frequented those coasts, after the Assyrians of Nineveh had made this country a part of their empire. The allusion in the text appears to be to the inland deserts, the Syriae Palmyrenae solitudines of Pliny, (Hist. Nat. v. 24,) more than to the coast of Syria. 33. Britannos hospitibus feros-The Britons were said to sacrifice strangers. Cp. Tacitus, Ann. xiv. 30. 34. Concanum-The Concani were a people of Cantabria, in Hispania Tarraconensis. As a proof of their ferocity, the poet mentions their drinking the blood of horses intermixed with their liquor. The same horrid custom is ascribed to the Geloni by Virgil, Geo. iii, 461. 35. Gelonos-See Notes, Ode ii. 9, 23. 36. Scythicum amnem-The Tanais, or river Don. 38. Fessas cohortes addidit oppidis-Alluding to the military colonies planted by Augustus at the close of the civil wars. The MSS. vary between addidit, abdidit, and reddidit, the last referring to disbanding troops, the others to placing them in winter quarters. 40. Pierio-antro has a figurative allusion to the charms of literary leisure. Pieria, originally a part of Thrace, formed subsequently the northern part of Macedonia, on the eastern side. It was fabled to have been the first seat of the Muses. 41. Vos, &c.-almae-"you, ye benign deities, both inspire Cæsar with peaceful counsels, and rejoice in having done so." liberal policy of Augustus, and his patronage A complimentary allusion to the mild and of letters and the arts. In reading metrically, consilium et must be pronounced consil-yet, like princip-yum, Ode iii. 6, 6. 44. Fulmine sustulerit caduco - "swept away with his descending thunderbolt." For caduco, Bentley conjectures corusco, "gleaming." 50. Fidens—brachiis, χείρεσσι πεποιθότες, -"trusting in their might," or "relying on the strength of their arms." 51. Fratres - The Aloidæ, Otus and Ephialtes. Cp. Ode i. 3, 19; Virg. Geo. i 280; and Ovid, Met. i. 151. The allusion is now to the giants, who attempted to scale the heavens. 52. Pelion-Mount Pelion in Thessaly. Olympo-Olympus, on the coast of northern Thessaly, separated from Ossa by the vale of Tempe. 53-56. The mightiest of the giants are here enumerated. The Titans and giants are frequently confounded by the ancient writers. 58. Avidus (pugnae)-"eager for battle." Cp. Virg. Æn. xii. 430. 61. Rore puro Castaliae-"in the limpid waters of Castalia." The Castalian fount on Parnassus was sacred to Apollo. 63. Lyciae - dumeta—“the thickets of Æn. iv. 143.) 66. Temperatum (consilio)—"when under its control," i.e., when regulated by judgment. Provehunt in majus-"increase." 67. Idem-" they also," lit. "the same." 68. Vires-animo moventes-"brute force (lit. revolving in its mind) meditating." 69. Gyas-See Notes, Ode ii. 17, 14. 71. Orion-The well-known hunter and giant, and one of the sons of Terra. 73. Injecta monstris-A Grecism for se injectam esse dolet, &c.-"Earth grieves at being cast upon the monsters of her own production," an allusion to the overthrow and punishment of the giants, (гnyveis) Enceladus was buried under Sicily, Polybotes under Nisyrus, torn off by Neptune from the isle of Cos, Otus under Crete, &c. (Apollod. i. 6, 2.) Partus-The Titans are now meant, who were also the sons of Terra, and whom Jupiter hurled to Tartarus. 75. Nec, &c.-Aetnam-"nor does the rapid fire consume Etna placed upon Enceladus," ie., nor is Enceladus able to liberate himself by burning Etna. Pindar (Pyth. i. 31,) and Eschylus (Prom. Vinc. 373,) place Typhoeus under this mountain. 77. Tityi-Tityos was slain by Apollo and Diana, for attempting to violate Latona. 78. Ales-The vulture. Nequitiae additus custos-"added as the avenger of his wickedness." 79. Amatorem-Pirithoum-"the amorous Pirithous," king of the Lapithæ, who, accompanied by Theseus, descended to Hades for the purpose of carrying off Proserpine, but was seized by Pluto, and bound to a rock with "countless fetters," (trecentis catenis.) Cp. Ode ii. 14, 15. ODE V.-Tricolos tetrastrophos: Metre-The Alcaic or Horatian, of which the two first verses are Greater Alcaic, the third an Archilochian, and the fourth a Lesser Alcaic: thus SUBJECT The poet commences by asserting the supremacy of Jupiter in heaven, and predicting that of Augustus on earth, after the subjugation of the Britons and Parthians, and then proceeds to commend the stubborn bravery of Regulus, and to deprecate the ransom of the prisoners who had consented to remain with the Parthians since the defeat of Crassus and his legions, in 53 B.C. Written probably in B.C. 26, when Augustus was meditating war upon the Britons and Parthians. 1. Caelo is to be joined in construction | husband by a foreign spouse." Cp. Ovid, with regnare. Cp. Lucan, iii. 318. Tonantem-"from his thundering," lit. "thundering." Credidimus, like the Aorist-"we believe, and always have believed." 2. Praesens "on earth," opposed to in caelo. Cp. Ode i. 35, 2, 3. Adjectis-being (ie., after they shall have been) added," and "not having (or since they have) been added." Augustus was deified by his abject countrymen; but he did not conquer either Britain or Parthia. He was, however, flattered about this time, as we learn from Dion Cassius and Strabo, by some of the British chiefs sending him an embassy and presents, when they heard of his intended invasion; and Phraates, the Parthian king, in B.C. 20, in return for his son, restored the standards that had been taken from Crassus and Antony. 5. Conjuge, &c.-maritus-"the degraded (Her. iv. 134,) fratre marita-"made wife by a brother." Some observe a sort of pun in vixit, as if the soldier only saved his life by marrying. To constitute a lawful marriage among the Romans, it was required that both the contracting parties be citizens and free. There was no legitimate marriage between slaves; nor was a Roman citizen permitted to marry a slave or a barbarian, such a connection being called connubium, not matrimonium. In this case the disgrace was double, the wife being a foreigner, and an enemy of Rome. 6. Hostium-"of our enemies," is in apposition to socerorum. 7. "Shame to the Senate, and our altered or degenerate character!" for tolerating such a disgrace. 8. In armis-"in the service." Q. Labi |