The Satires of Juvenal, Persius, Sulpicia, and Lucilius
15 ... the cheese has a flavor of garlic--[1777]
16 ... and scraggy wood-pigeons.[1778]
17 ... chalk....
FOOTNOTES:
[1766] Gerlach's reading is followed, "quod pane et viscere vivo." In
the next line he thinks there is something of the same kind of pun as
in Ovid, Met., xv., 88, "Heu quantum scelus est in viscera viscera
condi."
[1767] _Lucifugus_, "one who shuns the light, because his deeds are
evil." So Nebulo and Tenebrio are used for one who would gladly cloak
his deeds of falsehood and cunning under the mist of darkness. Cic.,
de Fin., i., 61, "Malevoli, invidi, difficiles, _lucifugi_, maledici,
monstrosi." Nebulo is also applied to a vain empty-headed fellow, of no
more solidity than a mist; and then to a spendthrift, who had devoured
all his substance and "left not a wrack behind." Vid. Ælium Stilum ap.
Fest., in voc. Who this desirable person was, is doubtful. Gerlach
thinks that Lucilius' quarrel with him began at the siege of Numantia,
and that this Fragment is part of a speech which the poet puts into
the mouth of Scipio respecting his quæstor. _Tuditanus_ was a cognomen
of the Sempronian gens, from the "mallet-shaped" head of one of the
family. _Pavus_ may have been derived from the taste shown by one of
them for feeding and fattening peacocks. There was a Publius Sempronius
Tuditanus consul with M. Cornelius Cethegus in B.C. 204, and a Caius
Semp. Tuditanus consul B.C. 129, the year of Scipio Africanus' death.
Cicero speaks highly of his eloquence (Brut., c. 25), and Dionysius
Halicarnassus of his historical powers (i., p. 9).
[1768] Corpet supposes the allusion to be to the game called "duodecim
scripta," which resembled our backgammon; the alveolus being a kind
of table on which the dice were thrown, with a rim to prevent their
rolling off. Cicero tells us P. Mutius Scævola was a great adept at
this game. (Or., i., 50.) Gerlach supposes it to be a Fragment of the
speech of some plain countryman, who couples all these things together,
to show that they do not tend to make life happier. _Calces_ will be
the white lines marked on the stadium.
[1769] ἢ πᾶσιν, κ. τ. λ. Part of Achilles' speech to Ulysses in the
shades below, where he declares he would rather submit to the most
menial offices on earth, than rule over all the shades of departed
heroes. Odyss., xi., 491. Cf. Attii Epinausimache, "Probis probatum
potius quam multis fore."
[1770] The prætor may probably be C. Cæcilius Metellus Caprarius, with
whom Scipio was so wroth at Numantia, as Cicero tells us (de Or., ii.,
66); to whom Gerlach also refers Fr. incert. 96, 97.
[1771] This Fragment is hopeless. Even Gerlach does not attempt to
explain it.
[1772] _Cercurum._ Cf. ad viii., 4.
[1773] _Prosecta_, the same as _prosiciæ_ (from prosecando, as insiciæ
from insecando). The gloss in Festus explains it by αἱ τῶν θυμάτων
ἀπαρχαί. Cf. Arnob. adv. Gent., vii., "Quod si omnes has partes quas
prosicias dicitis, accipere Dii amant, suntque illis gratæ." Scaliger
reads _prosiciem_.
[1774] Cf. iv., Fr. 12, and Pomponius Pappo ap. Fest. in v., "Nescio
quis ellam urget, quasi asinus, uxorem tuam: ita opertis oculis simul
manducatur ac molet:" which is perhaps the sense here.
[1775] _Gradarius_ is said of a horse "trained to an easy, ambling
pace," like that expressed by the word _tolutim_, cf. ix., Fr. 6
(exactly the contrary to succussator, ii., Fr. 10), xv., Fr. 2. Hence
"pugna gradaria," where the advance to the charge is made at a slow
pace. So Seneca (Epist., xl.) applies the term to Cicero's style of
oratory, "lentè procedens, interpungens, intermittens actionem."
[1776] _Puncto._ So στιγμὴ χρόνου. Cf. Terent., Phorm., act. I., iv.,
7, "Tum temporis mihi punctum ad hanc rem est."
[1777] _Allium olet_; instead of the old reading, "allia molliet."
[1778] _Macros._ So Horace, "Sedulus hospes pæne macros arsit dum
turdos versat in igni." i., Sat. v., 72.
BOOK XV.
ARGUMENT.
None of the commentators on Lucilius have ventured to give a
decisive opinion on the subject of this book, with the exception
of Duentzer; who says that the poet intended it as a defense
of true tranquillity of mind, in opposition to the precepts
and dogmas of the Stoics. In the sixth Fragment we certainly
have mention made of a philosopher; but it is only to assert
that many common and homely articles in daily and constant use
are of more real value than any philosopher of any sect. This,
however, may be supposed to be the opinion of some vulgar and
ignorant plebeian, or of a woman. In the fifth Fragment we have
the character of a wife portrayed, such as Juvenal describes
so graphically in his sixth Satire. Indolent and slatternly in
her husband's presence, she reserves all her graces of manner
and elegance of ornament for the presence of strangers. We have
besides a notice of the wonders in Homer's narratives, the
praises of a good horse, a picture of a usurer, an account of a
soldier who has seen service in Spain, a eulogy of frugality and
other matters; how all these can possibly be arranged under one
head, is, as Gerlach says, a matter of the greatest obscurity.
1 Men think that many wonders described in Homer's verses are
prodigies; among the chief of which is Polyphemus the Cyclops,
two hundred feet long: and then besides, his walking-stick,
greater than the main-mast in any merchantman--[1779]
2 ... no high-actioned Campanian nag will follow him that has
conquered by a mile or two * * * *[1780]
3 ... moreover, as to price, the first is half an as, the second
a sestertius, and the third more than the whole bushel.
4 ... in the number of whom, first of all Trebellius ... fever,
corruption, weariness, and nausea....[1781]
5 When she is alone with you, any thing is good enough. Are any
strange men likely to see her? She brings out her ribbons, her
robe, her fillets--[1782]
6 A good cloak, if you ask me, or a hackney, a slave, or a
litter-mat, is of more service to me than a philosopher--[1783]
7 ... besides, that accursed usurer, and Syrophœnician, what used
he to do?[1784]
8 ... not a single slave ... that, just as though he were a
slave, no one can speak his mind freely.[1785]
9 ... since he has served as a soldier in the Iberian land, for
about eighteen years of his life--....[1786]
10 ... that in the first place, with them, you are a mad,
crack-brained fellow.[1787]
11 ... he knows what a tunic and toga are....
12 a huge bowl, like a muzzle, hangs from his nostrils.[1788]
13 ... a bell and twig-baskets of pot-herbs.[1789]
14 ... he sets him low, and behind....[1790]
15 ... or who with grim face, pounces upon money.[1791]
16 ... there is no flummery-maker inferior to you--[1792]
17 ... their heads are bound; and their forelocks float, high, and
covering their foreheads, as their custom was.[1793]
18 ... which compelled ... to drink gall, and wrinkle the belly by
coarse bread, and inferior oil, and a loaf from Cumæ.[1794]
FOOTNOTES:
[1779] _Polyphemus._ Hom., Odyss., ix., 319, Κύκλωπος γὰρ ἔκειτο
μέγα ῥόπαλον παρὰ σηκῷ . . ὅσσον θ' ἱστὸν νηὸς ἐεικοσόροιο μελαίνης,
φορτίδος εὐρείης.
_Corbita_, "navis oneraria," so called, according to Festus, because
a basket (corbis) was suspended from the top of the mast. Cf. Plaut.,
Pæn., III., i., 4. The smaller swift-sailing vessels were called
Celoces (a κέλης), hence "Obsecro operam celocem hanc mihi ne corbitam
date." Cf. Plant., Pseud., V., ii., 12.
[1780] _Sonipes._ Cf. Virg., Æn., xi., 599, "Fremit æquore toto
insultans sonipes, et pressis pugnat habenis." Catull., lxiii., 41,
"Sol pepulit noctis umbras vegetis sonipedibus." _Succussor._ Cf. ii.,
Fr. 10. _Milli_ is apparently an old ablative of the singular form.
[1781] The whole Fragment is so corrupt as to be hopeless. Gerlach's
interpolations are scarcely tenable. _Senium_, we learn from Nonius,
is equivalent to tædium. So Persius, "En pallor seniumque." i., 26.
_Vomitus_ seems to be applicable to a _person_, "an unclear, offensive
fellow." So Plaut., Mostell., III., i., 119, "Absolve hunc, quæso,
vomitum, ne hic nos enecet."
[1782] Cf. Juv., vi., 461, "Ad mœchum lotâ veniunt cute: quando videri
vult formosa domi? mœchis foliata parantur. Interea fœda aspectu
ridendaque multo pane tumet facies ... tandem aperit vultum et tectoria
prima reponit, incipit agnosci." _Spiram._ Cf. Juv., viii., 208.
_Redimicula._ Juv., ii., 84. Virg., Æn., ix., 614.
[1783] _Pænula._ Cf. Juv., v., 79. _Canterius._ Cf. ad lib. iii., Fr.
9. _Segestre_, a kind of straw mat (from seges) used in litters.
[1784] Gerlach's reading is followed. τοκογλύφος is one who calculates
his interest to a farthing; a sordid usurer. _Syrophœnix._ Cf. iii.,
Fr. 33.
[1785] _Ergastulum_ is put sometimes for the slave himself, sometimes
for the under-ground dungeon where, as a punishment, he was set to
work. Cf. Juv., vi., 151, "Ergastula tota." viii., 180, "Nempe in
Lucanos aut Tusca ergastula mittas." xiv., 24, "Quem mire afficiunt
inscripta ergastula." Nonius says that the masculine form, ergastulus,
is used for the "keeper of the bridewell," custos pœnalis loci.
[1786] The war in Spain may be dated from the refusal of the Segedans
to comply with the directions of the senate, and to pay their usual
tribute. The failure of M. Fulvius Nobilior in Celtiberia took place
B.C. 153, exactly twenty years before the fall of Numantia.
[1787] _Cerebrosus._ "Qui cerebro ita laborat ut facile irascatur."
Plaut., Most., IV., ii., 36, "Senex hic cerebrosus est certe." Hor.,
i., Sat. v., 21, "Donec cerebrosus prosilit unus, ac mulæ nautæque
caput lumbosque saligno fuste dolat."
[1788] _Postomis_ (ab ἐπιστομίς), or, as some read, prostomis, is a
sort of muzzle or "twitch" put upon the nose of a refractory horse. To
this Lucilius compares the drinking-cup applied for so long a time to
the lips of the toper, that it looks as though it were suspended from
his nose. Cf. Turneb., Adversar., 17, c. ult. _Trulla._ Cf. Juv., iii.,
107.
[1789] _Sirpicula_ is a basket made of twigs or rushes, for carrying
flowers or vegetables. By _tintinnabulum_ Scaliger understands "genus
vehiculi." But sirpiculæ (a sirpando) are also "the twigs with which
bundles of fagots, etc., are bound together," which were also used in
administering punishment; and the allusion may be to this, as those who
were led to punishment sometimes carried bells. Vid. Turneb., Advers.,
xi., 21. Hence Tintinnaculus. Plaut., Truc., IV., iii., 8.
[1790] The MSS. vary between suffectus and sufferctus. The latter would
come from suffercio. Cf. Suet., Ner., 20.
[1791] _Inuncare_ is applied by Apuleius to "an eagle bearing away a
lamb in its talons."
[1792] _Alica_ (anciently halica) is a kind of grain, somewhat like
spelt. The ζέα or χόνδρος of the Greeks. Of this they prepared a kind
of porridge or furmety, of which the Italians were very fond; as of the
polenta, and the maccaroni of the present day. Cf. ad Pers., iii., 55.
[1793] _Aptari_ Nonius explains by nexum, illigatum. _Capronæ_ (quasi
a capite pronæ) is properly "that part of the mane which falls between
the horse's ears in front." Then, like antiæ, applied to the forelocks
of women. Vid. Fest. in v.
[1794] _Galla_ is properly the gall-nut, or oak-apple, used, from its
astringent qualities, in tanning and dyeing; and hence applied to any
harsh, rough, inferior wine. _Acerosum_ (cf. ad ix., Fr. 15) is applied
to meal not properly cleared from the husk or bran; the αὐτόπυρος of
the Greeks. _Decumanus_ (cf. ad iv., Fr. 2) is often applied to any