The Satires of Juvenal, Persius, Sulpicia, and Lucilius
Cf. Plaut., Ps., I., ii., 22, "Nunquam edepol vostrum durius _tergum_
erit quam _terginum_ hoc meum."
[1889] The story of Polemon entering intoxicated into the school of
Xenocrates, and being suddenly converted by that philosopher's lecture
on temperance, is told by Diogenes Laertius (in Vit., i., c. 1), and
referred to by Horace, ii., Sat. iii., 253, "Faciasne quod olim mutatus
Polemon? ponas insignia morbi Fasciolas, cubital, focalia, potus ut
ille dicitur ex collo furtim carpsisse coronas postquam est impransi
correptus voce magistri." He afterward succeeded Xenocrates; and Zeno
and Arcesilaus were among his hearers. Cic., Orat., iii., 18.
[1890] _Viscatis manibus._ Cf. Sen., Ep. viii., 3, "Quisquis nostrum
ista _viscata_ beneficia devitet."
[1891] To whom these vituperative alliterations (_vatia_, _vatrax_,
_vatricosus_) are applied is uncertain. The Fabian gens are most
probably alluded to. The reading "verrucosus," therefore, has been
suggested, to identify the person with the great Fabius Cunctator.
(Aur. Vict., Vir. Ill., 43.) But this violates the metre, and still
leaves the two other epithets unaccounted for. Three famous men of the
gens had the prænomen Quintus, Æmilianus, his son Allobrogicus, and his
grandson. Gerlach considers the last to be the object of the Satire, as
his profligacy and licentiousness were notorious. Cf. Val. Max., III.,
v., 2.
[1892] Of the numerous repartees of Aristippus to Dionysius, mentioned
by Diogenes Laertius in his Life, it is difficult to say to which
Lucilius alludes. Cf. Hor., ii., Sat. iii., 10; i., Epist. xvii., 13,
_seq_.
[1893] Cf. Hor., Epod. xvii., 1, "Jam jam efficaci _do manus_ scientiæ."
[1894] _Armillum_, "a wine-pot," vini urceolus, vas vinarium; so
called quia armo, i. e., humero deportatur. Old women being naturally
wine-bibbers (vinibuæ), "anus ad armillum" passed into a proverbial
expression. Cf. Prov., xxvi., 11. 2 Pet., ii., 22.
[1895] _Nullo honore._ Cf. Scott's Lay of Last Minstrel, "Unwept,
unhonored, and unsung."
[1896] _Committere_, Nonius explains by "conjungere, sociare." Cf.
Virg., Æn., iii., "Delphinum caudas utero commissa luporum." Ov., Met,
xii., 478, "Quà vir equo commissus erat."
[1897] Nonius quotes this passage as an instance of "convenire" used in
the sense of "interpellare."
[1898] _Altilium._ Cf. Juv., v., 168, "Ad nos jam veniet minor
altilis." Hor., i., Ep. vii., 35, "Nec somnum plebis laudo satur
altilium." Cf. iv., Fr. 5.
[1899] _Argutamini._ Cf. Enn. ap. Non., "Exerce linguam ut argutarier
possis." Næv., ibid., "totum diem argutatur quasi cicada." Plaut.,
Amp., I., i., 196, "Pergin argutarier?" Bacch., I., ii., 19, "Etiam me
advorsus exordire argutias?"
[1900] _Percitus_ is commonly used by the comic writers for the
excitement of any strong passion, as love, anger, etc.
[1901] _Centenarias._ So pondere centenario. Plin., vii., 20. Cf. ad
lib. v., Fr. 22.
[1902] Hopelessly corrupt. Dusa proposes _puer_.
[1903] _Confectores._ Connected probably with Fr. 20, and referring to
the violent entrances lovers used to effect into the houses of their
mistresses. Cf. lib. iv., Fr. 15; xxix., Fr. 47. Hor., iii., Od. xxvi.,
7. Where Zumpt explains _vectes_ as instruments which "adhibebantur ad
fores effringendas." _Conficere_, i. e., frangere. Nonius.
[1904] _Subsecivus_ is properly applied to that which is "cut off and
left remaining over and above," as land in surveying, etc. So horæ
subsecivæ, tempus subsecivum, "leisure hours, odd times," used by
Cicero and Pliny. So Seneca says of philosophy, "Exercet regnum suum:
dat tempus non accipit. Non est _res subseciva_: ordinaria est, domina
est: adest et jubet." Cf. the Greek phrase ἐκ παρέργου.
[1905] _Concredidit._ Plaut., Aul., Prol., 6.
[1906] _Sarcinator._ Plaut., Aul., III., v., 41. _Cento_, "a patchwork
coverlet." Juv., vi., 121. Vid. Fest in voc. "prohibere." The phrase
_centones sarcire_ also means, "to impose upon a person by falsehoods."
Cf. Plaut., Epid., III., iv., 19, "Quin tu alium quæras quoi centones
sarcias."
[1907] The emendations of this Fragment are endless. The reading of the
text is approved by Merula and Gerlach.
[1908] _Statura._ Cf. Cic., Phil., ii., 16, "Velim mihi docas, L,
Turselius, qua _facie_ fuit, quâ _staturâ_."
[1909] _Fulmenta_, "any prop or support." Hence "a bed-post." Whence
the proverb, "Fulmenta lectum scandunt." Plautus also uses it for the
"heel of a shoe," "fulmentas jubeam suppingi soccis?" Trin., III., ii.,
94, _seq_. Lib. iv., Fr. 19.
[1910] _Lutum_ for "lutulentum."
[1911] Gerlach thinks _Hymnis_, here and in lib. xxvii., Fr. 43, may be
a proper name.
[1912] _Hic corpus._ "Verba conciliatricis Lenæ." Dusa. (Cf. Arist.,
Acharn., 1199).
[1913] Given up even by Gerlach.
[1914] _Destinet._ Cf. Plaut., Rud., Prol., 45, "Amare occœpit, ad
lenonem devenit minis triginta sibi puellam destinat." Pers., IV.,
iii., 80. Mart., III., i., 109; IV., iii., 35. _Destinare_ is properly
"to set one's mind upon a thing." So _obstinare_. Plaut., Aul., II.,
ii., 89.
BOOK XXIX.
ARGUMENT.
The remains of this book are so mutilated and so diversified, that,
as Gerlach says, "one might be disposed to imagine that the very
essence of the subject was its unconnected variety." Both he and
Merula, however, consider that it contained a long episode on
the state of morality in the good old days; when the war with
Hannibal rendered a luxurious indulgence incompatible even with
personal safety. (Cf. Juv., vi., 291. Sulpic., 51, 52.) An old
man is introduced inveighing bitterly against the sloth, the
luxury, and immoderate extravagance of the young men of his day;
of their unscrupulousness as to the means by which the money was
acquired, which was squandered on their licentious pleasures.
He then describes one of these scenes of dissipation; and shows
how young men, once entangled in the snares of their worthless
paramours not only become lost to every principle of virtue and
sense of shame, but are so completely enslaved and enthralled
by their passions, that they are able to refuse nothing,
however unworthy of them, which is exacted by their tyrannical
mistresses. This corruption extends itself, also, not only to
the courts of law, where justice has become a matter of barter,
both with advocates and judges, but its fatal effects may also
be traced in the debasement and deterioration of literature, of
poetry, and of the public taste.
1 When he has done this, the culprit will be handed over along
with others to Lupus: he will not appear. He will deprive the
man of both primary matter and elements: when he has prohibited
him from the use of water and fire, he has still two elements:
he would have preferred ... still he will deprive him--[1915]
2 ... and rest assured in your mind, that it will be a very
weighty reason indeed with me, which would draw me away from
any thing that would serve you.
3 ... who communicates to me what the difference is between the
race of mankind and brutes, and what it is connects them
together.
4 Apollo is the deity who will not suffer you to bring disgrace
and infamy on the ancient Delians.[1916]
5 For he swears a great oath that he has written, and will not
write afterward.... and return into fellowship.
6 ... when you have learnt, you may pass your life without care.
7 ... at the close of the year, days of mourning, sorrow, and
ill-luck.[1917]
8 ... and loved all; for he makes no difference, and separates
them by a white line....
So in love, and in the case of young men of rather better face, he
marks.... and loves nothing.[1918]
9 Why do you give way to excessive anger? You had better keep
your hands off a woman!
10 ... you could not take it away before you took the spirit of
Tullius from the man, and killed the man himself.[1919]
11 We heard he appealed to his friends, with that rascal Lucilius.
12 besides that you would wish us to direct, and apply our minds
to your words
13 So, I say, was that crafty fellow, that old wolf, Hannibal,
taken in.[1920]
14 But they are not alike, and do not give. What if they would
give? Would you accept, tell me?
15 ... convey him, like a runaway slave, with handcuffs, fetters,
and collar.[1921]
16 ... who will both beg you for less, and grant their favors much
better, and without disgrace.[1922]
17 If you wish to detain him....
18 Albinus, in grief, confines himself to his house, because he
has divorced his daughter....[1923]
19 ... to foment another's hungry stomach with ground barley like
a poultice.[1924]
20 I know for certain it is as you say: for I had thoroughly
examined into all.
21 ... she will bring you youth and elegance, if you think that
elegance.
22 ... first opposite.... if there is any garret to which he can
retire.
23 ... and in the gymnasium, that after the old fashion you might
retain spectators.
24 ... where there was a scout to shut him out from you, and nip
his passion in the bud.[1925]
25 When he sees me, he wheedles and coaxes, scratches his head,
and picks out the vermin.[1926]
26 What will it profit me, when I am now sated with all things.
27 ...[1927]
28 Go on, I pray; and if you can, make me think myself worthy of
you.
29 ... this he would have found the only thing for the man's
disease.
30 This is their way of reckoning: the items are falsified: the
sum total roguishly balanced.[1928]
31 These fellows will balance their accounts exactly in the same
way--[1929]
32 Come, now, add up the expenditure, and then add on the debts.
33 ... suffering from a Chironian and not a mortal sore and
wound.[1930]
34 ... what you have hired at a great price is dear; though with
no great loss.[1931]
35 ... all their hope rests in me, that I may be bilked of my
money.[1932]
36 ... would not return ... and banish her poor wretch.[1933]
37 ... we have all been plundered.
38 ... distribute, scatter, squander, dissipate....
39 ... collect assistance, though she does not deserve I should
bring it.
40 ... you think me your patron, friend, and lover....
41 ... that in this matter, you should bring me aid and assistance
42 ... Do you, meantime, bring a light, and draw the
curtains.[1934]
43 ... thank me for introducing you.
44 ... then he subjoins that which is even now well known.
45 I will hit his leg with a stone, if he strikes you....
46 Let no one break these double hinges with iron....[1935]
47 I will break through the hinges with a crowbar and two-edged
iron.
48 I shall pass quickly through each winter.[1936]
49 Sends forth his pent-houses, prepares sheds and mantlets.[1937]
50 ... add all the rest in order, at my peril.
51 ... for a little while, they will devour me; while she, like a
very polypus....[1938]
52 ... rise, woman, draw not a bad outline....[1939]
53 ... since while they are extricating others, they get into the
mud themselves--
54 ... he came here, on his way, while he was traveling elsewhere.
55 ... what? he would himself share for learning what is
good.[1940]
56 ... as if he had not got what he wished for.
57 ... nor the cloudless breezes favor with their blast--[1941]
58 ... whence he can scarcely get home, and hardly get clear out.