Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Bookith her. It is applied also to Thetis, Il., xviii., 407. καλλίσφυρος is applied to Danäe in the passage referred to above, and to Ino, daughter of Cadmus, Odyss., v., 333. For _mammis_ Gerlach suggests "palmis." _Compernis_ is also applied to one who, from having over-long feet or heels, knocks his ankles together, ἄκοιτιν. Odyss., xi., 266. Τυρὼ εὐπατέρειαν. Odyss., xi., 235. _Verruca_, ἀκροχορδών. _Nævus_ (quasi gnæus, or gnavus, Fest., because born with a person, hence sometimes called Nævus Maternus) is put for any disfiguring mark. Cf. Hor., i., Sat. vi., 67. Shaks., Cymb., act ii., sc. 2. [1801] _Proprium_, equivalent to _perpetuum_. Nonius. [1802] _Mediastinum._ Cf. Hor., i., Ep. xiv., 14, "Tu _mediastinus_ tacitâ prece rura petebas. Nunc urbem et ludos et balnea _villicus_ optas." Torrentius explains _mediastinus_ by "Servus ad omnia viliora officia comparatus." The Schol. Cruq. by "Servus qui stat in medio, paratus omnium ministeriis." _Commanducatus._ Cf. ad iv., Fr. 12. _Ad Incita._ Cf. ad iii., Fr. 30. [1803] _Calvitur_, from _calvus_, because the tricky old men, slaves especially, were always represented on the Roman comic stage (as the clowns in our pantomimes) with bald heads: hence "to frustrate, disappoint." "Calamitas plures annos arvas calvitur." Pacuv. So Plaut., Cas., II., ii., 3, "Ubi domi sola sum sopor manus calvitur." Hence Venus is called Calva, "Quod corda amantium _calviat_," i. e., fallat, deludat. Serv. ad Virg., Æn., i., 720. [1804] The Fragment is very corrupt. The reading of the MSS. is, "Si messes facis, Musas si vendis Lavernæ." Dusa suggests "Semissis facient." Mercer, "Si versus facies musis." Gerlach, "Semissis facies Musas si vendis Lavernæ." Semissis, a genitive like Teruncii, i. e., "Your verses will be worthless if the only Muse that inspires you is the love of gain." _Laverna_ was the Goddess of Thieves at Rome. Plaut., Cornic., "Mihi Laverna in furtis celebrassis manus." Hor., i., Epist. xvi., 60, "Pulchra Laverna, da mihi fallere, da justo sanctoque videri," where the old Schol. says she derived her name a Lavando, because thieves were called Lavatores. Scaliger thinks she is identical with the Greek goddess πραξιδίκη, which others deny. The word is also derived from latere, and λαβεῖν. Ausonius applies the term to a plagiarist: "Hic est ille Theo poeta falsus, Bonorum mala carminum Laverna." Ep. iv. [1805] Cf. Virg., Æn., v., 420, "Et magnos membrorum artus, magna ossa lacertosque Exuit." BOOK XVIII. ARGUMENT. From the small portion of this book that has come down to us, it is but mere idle conjecture to attempt to decide upon its subject. Petermann says it treated "of fools and misers." There are some lines in the first Satire of Horace's first book, which bear so close a resemblance to some lines in this book that Gerlach considers it was the model which Horace had before his eyes. The passages are quoted in the notes. 1 Take twelve hundred bushels of corn, and a thousand casks of wine....[1806] 2 In short, as a fool never has enough, even though he has everything.... 3 ... for even in those districts, there will be drunk a cup tainted with rue and sea-onion....[1807] 4 ... I enjoy equally with you--[1808] 5 ... in the transaction of the ridiculous affair itself, he boasts that he was present. FOOTNOTES: [1806] Cf. Hor., i., Sat. i., 45, "Millia frumenti tua triverit area centum." [1807] _Incrustatus._ Hor., i., Sat. iii., 56, "Sincerum cupimus vas incrustare." Where Porphyrion explains the word, "_incrustari_ vas dicitur cum aliquo vitioso succo illinitur atque inquinatur." It is sometimes applied to covering any thing, as a cup, with gold or silver (cf. Juv., v., 88, "Heliadum crustas"), or a wall with roughcast or plaster. For the _vinum rutatum_, see Pliny, H. N., xix., 45. _Scilla_ is probably the sort of onion to which Juvenal refers, Sat. vii., 120, "Afrorum Epimenia, bulbi." [1808] _Fruniscor_, an old form of fruor. Cf. Hor., i., Sat. i., 47, "Non tuns hoc capiet venter plus quam mens." BOOK XIX. ARGUMENT. The same may be said of this book as of the eighteenth. The few Fragments that remain being insufficient to furnish any data for a positive opinion as to its subject. From the 2d and 3d Fragments, Mercer supposes that the same question was discussed which Cicero refers to in the Offices (lib. ii., c. 20), "Whether a worthy man, without wealth, was to be preferred to a very rich man who had but an indifferent reputation." The second Fragment clearly contains a precept respecting the laying up a store which may be made available in time of distress; which Horace had perhaps in his eye in book i., Sat. i., l. 33, _seq_. It contains likewise a criticism on a verse of Ennius, as being little more than empty sound, devoid of true poetic sentiment; which probably was the basis of Cicero's censure in the Tusculan disputations. The study of dramatic composition is also discouraged, from the fact that the most elaborate passages are frequently spoiled by the want of skill in the Tragic actor. In the 9th Fragment, Dacke supposes there is an allusion to the Dulorestes of Pacuvius. The 7th Fragment may also probably refer to Ennius, as the principal word in it is employed by him in the eleventh book of his Annals. There is probably also a hit at those poets who adopt a style of diction quite unintelligible to ordinary readers. 1 Wrinkled and shriveled old men are in quest of all the same things.[1809] 2 So do thou seek for those fruits, which hereafter in ungenial winter thou mayest enjoy; with this delight thyself at home.[1810] 3 Will you have the gold, or the man? Why, have the man! What boots the gold? Wherefore, as we say, I see nothing here which I should greatly covet....[1811] 4 And infant children make a woman honest.... 5 So each one of us is severally affected.... 6 Choose that particular day which to you seems best. 7 ... but do not criticise the lappet[1812] 8 ... hanging from the side, sprinkling the rocks with clotted gore and black blood....[1813] 9 The tragic poet who spoils his verses through Orestes about to grow hoarse.[1814] 10 ... twenty thousand gravers and pincers[1815] 11 ... and to pluck out teeth with crooked pincers. 12 ... desire may be eradicated from a man, but never covetousness from a fool.[1816] FOOTNOTES: [1809] _Passus_ is properly applied to a dried grape; either "quod solem diutius passa est," or more probably from _pando_. [1810] Cf. Hor., i., Sat. i., 32, "Sicut parvula nam exemplo est magni formica laboris ore trahit quodcunque potest atque addit acervo quem struit, haud ignara et non incanta futuri. Quæ simul inversum contristat Aquarius annum non usquam prorepit et illis utitur ante quæsitis sapiens." [1811] The passage in Cicero stands thus, "Si res in contentionem veniet, nimirum Themistocles est auctor adhibendu |