SATIRA XIV. ARGUMENT. This is one of the poet's graver and better pieces, upon three of the most important topics of morality.-I. The first part illustrates the great parental duty of giving a virtuous example.— II. The second, the great mischief of positive instruction in vice, especially in avarice.-III. The third, by an easy and natural transition, the great folly of immoderate desire. This last part is but the fuller explanation of a head which he had slightly touched upon in his tenth satire, the true value and use of riches. The tenth excels this satire only in the grandeur of its scenery; but in originality of conception, native vigour of expression, and appositeness of illustration, nothing can excel the present piece. Owen. AD FUSCINUM. I. PLURIMA sunt, Fuscine, et famâ digna sinistrâ, 1. Famá sinistrá] Infamiâ, vituperatione. 5 2. Hasuram] Diuturnam, non facilè eluendam.-Nitidis rebus] Splendid character, rank, or fortune. M. 5. Bullatus] i. e. Adhuc puer. Vide in Sat. v. 164.—Sic, prætextatus adulter. Sat. i. 70.-Eadem movet arma] Wields the same weapons, fights the same battles. 7. Radere tubera terra] To peel truffles. See on Sat. v. 116. 8. Eodem jure] In the same gravy or sauce with the mush rooms. 9. Mergere] To souse. G.-Nebulone] Prodigo. Et canâ monstrante gulâ. Cùm septimus annus. 10 15 Mitem animum, et mores modicis erroribus æquos Præcipit, atque animos servorum et corpora nostrâ Materiâ constare putat, paribusque elementis ; An sævire docet Rutilus? qui gaudet acerbo Plagarum strepitu, et nullam Sirena flagellis Comparat, Antiphates trepidi laris, ac Polyphemus; 20 Tum felix, quoties aliquis, tortore vocato, Uritur ardenti, duo propter lintea, ferro. Quid suadet juveni lætus stridore catenæ, Quem mirè afficiunt inscripta ergastula, carcer Rusticus-Exspectas, ut non sit adultera Largæ Filia, quæ nunquam maternos dicere moechos 10. Gulá] Helluone. 25 12. Barbatos magistros] Bearded philosophers.-Though a thousand of the gravest and most learned tutors were placed on each side of him, so as to pour their instructions into both his ears at the same time, yet they would avail nothing towards reclaiming him. M. 15. Mitem animum, &c.] Ordo est, Rutilus præcipit mitem animum, &c.?"Does Rutilus instil into his children, &c.?"-Mores] Indolem. P.-Equos] Indulgent. 16. Animos servorum et corpora, &c.] i. e. Does he consider and treat his slaves as human beings, as fellow-creatures? 18. An sævire docet?] An verò potius, malo suo exemplo, filios crudeles esse docet? M. 19. Nullam Sirena] Thinks no Siren's song so sweet as the music of the lash. 20. Antiphates ac Polyphemus] Two ferocious cannibals, (celebrated by Homer,) to whom Rutilus is compared, as being the terror of his whole household. 21. Aliquis] E servis suis. M. 22. Uritur] Compare x. 183. and the note.-Duo propter lintea] i. e. For any petty theft or trifling loss. 23. Quid suadet juveni, &c.] Quid filium docet pater ille, qui lætatur, &c. 24. Afficiunt] Voluptate afficiunt, delectant.- Ergastula] The work-house put for the slaves. See on viii. 179.-Inscripta] Branded. 26. Dicere] Enumerare. Tam citò, nec tanto poterit contexere cursu, Abstineas igitur damnandis hujus enim vel Intra quæ puer est. 30 35 40 Procul hinc, procul inde, puellæ 45 Lenonum, et cantus pernoctantis parasiti! 27. Tanto contexere cursu] Tantâ rapiditate percurrere. 28. Respiret] Take breath. M.-Conscia matri] Her mother's confidante. 29. Ceras pusillas] Little billets doux. M. 30. Cinadis] Messengers, pimps. 33. Cùm] Quoniam. P.-Subeunt] Influence.-Magnis auctoribus] Magnâ vi et auctoritate.-Unus et alter juvenes junge. R. 35. Titan] Prometheus, the grandson of Titan. 36. Fugiendu] Quæ deberent fugere: prava, periculosa. 37. Monstrata diu] A parentibus nempè, et semper ante oculos puerorum posita. 38. Damnandis] Sceleribus et flagitiis. L.-Vel] At least. 39. Ratio] Causa, incitamentum. 40. Ex nobis geniti] Liberi nostri. M. 41.-43. Catilinam-Brutus, &c.] So prone is human nature to evil, so inclined to follow bad example, that a virtuous character, like Brutus, or Cato the uncle of Brutus, is hardly to be found any where; while profligate and debauched characters, like Catiline, abound all the world over. 45. Procul hinc, procul inde] The poet, to give solemnity to this sentiment, has applied a form of expression used at sacred rites: Procul, O procul este, profani: ekas, ekas eσte, bebnλul. W. 46. Pernoctantis parasati] See on Sat. i. 130.-The parasites, Maxima debetur puero reverentia. Si quid Nam, si quid dignum Censoris fecerit irâ 50 55 60 who attended at the tables of great men, used to divert them with obscene songs, and for this purpose would sit up all night long. M. 47. Maxima debetur, &c.] Plutarch relates of Cato the Censor, that he considered the presence of his children as sacred as that of Vestals. 48. Contempseris annos] Considering his presence, or knowledge of the fact, as no restraint, on account of his tender years. 50. Censoris irá] See on iv. 11. 52. Dederit] Exhibuerit.-Morum quoque filius] Hæres paternæ improbitatis. P. 55. Tabulas] Testamentum. Filium exhæredare parabis. 56. Unde tibi frontem libertatemque, &c.] Unde tibi sumas supercilium et auctoritatem parentis? 57. Vacuumque cerebro, &c.] When that brainless head of yours has long ago required the cupping-glass; a common remedy in cases of madness.-Ventosa] Cava, vacua.-Cucurbita] Properly, a gourd. The name is applied to the cupping-glass from its similarity of form. Quærat] i. e. Ought to have been applied to. The cupping-glass is poetically represented as if longing to be fixed on the foolish father's head, and thirsting for his blood. 59. Hospite venturo, &c.] When you expect a friend to make you a visit, you set all hands to work, in order to prepare your house for his reception. M.-Cessabit nemo tuorum] Nullus famulorum erit otiosus. P. 60. Nitidas ostende] i. e. Fac nitidas. 61. Arida] Macra, vel mortua et exsiccata. 62. Lave argentum] The unwrought plate, which is polished and Juv. Sat. Vox domini fremit instantis virgamque tenentis. Si facis, ut patriæ sit idoneus, utilis agris, 65 70 75 Plurimùm enim intererit, quibus artibus et quibus hunc tu 80 smooth; in opposition to that which is embossed, vasa aspera. 63. Instantis] Famulos suos urgentis et instigantis. M. 64. Trepidas] Sollicitus es; sic Hor. torquerier omni sollicitudine districtum. Sat. ii. 8. 67. 67. Scobis] With which the floor of the halls was strewed. The Emperor Heliogabalus, it is said, used to strew his porticos and galleries with gold-dust. 68. Illud non agitas, &c.] Non curas?-While so over-anxious about the external cleanness and splendour of your house, are you careless about its moral purity? While so solicitous not to offend the eyes of an occasional guest, are you regardless of injuring the tender mind of your own child, by allowing him to witness the pollutions of vice under the paternal roof? 70. Gratum est, &c.] Benè est, quod genueris filium. P. 71. Agris] Agriculturæ. L. 74. Instituas] Erudias. L. 75. Devia rura] Loca remota et deserta. M. 77. Relictis] Post prædam inde ereptam. M.-Coming away, flying back (revolant, as Dusaulx translates it,) from the dead horse, &c.-Compare x. 179. 79. Magni] Grown up. 81. Famula Jovis] Eagles, the bearers of Jove's thunder-bolts. So Horace, Ministrum fulminis alitem. Od. iv. 4. 1.-Generosa aves]· |