Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

EPISTOLA VI.

AD NUMICIUM.

PHILOSOPHICAL observations on the Stoic principle, nihil admirari — that is, to esteem nothing so highly that we must either obtain it or flee from the sight of it. Obedience to this rule produces that freedom from all passion which is the chief requisite to the attainment of a listless happy life. The epistle is addressed to Numicius, a young man otherwise quite unknown.

NIL admirari prope res est una, Numici,
Solaque, quae possit facere et servare beatum.
Hunc solem et stellas et decedentia certis
Tempora momentis sunt qui formidine nulla
Imbuti spectent: quid censes munera terrae,
Quid maris extremos Arabas ditantis et Indos,
Ludicra quid, plausus et amici dona Quiritis,
Quo spectanda modo, quo sensu credis et ore?
Qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem,
Quo cupiens pacto; pavor est utrobique molestus,
Improvisa simul species exterret utrumque.
Gaudeat an doleat, cupiat metuatne, quid ad rem,
Si, quidquid vidit melius pejusve sua spe,
Defixis oculis animoque et corpore torpet?
Insani nomen sapiens ferat, aequus iniqui,
Ultra quam satis est virtutem si petat ipsam.

I nunc, argentum et marmor vetus aeraque et artes

=

10

15

3. Decedentia certis tempora momentis, 'the seasons which change according to fixed motions (momentis movimentis) of the planets.' The idea is many men observe the heavens without being seized with any superstitious fear, but a glance at earthly things fills them with passion. 5, Properly the connection should be Quid? Quo modo spectanda esse credis munera terrae, etc.?-6. Maris, scil. munera; namely, pearls, which came from India by Arabia. Compare Carm. i. 29, 1, and iii. 24, 2.-7. Ludicra = ludi publici. Dona amici Quiritis; that is, offices of honour. Quiritis, singular collectively for Quiritium.-9-14. The poet shows that the fear of misfortune is as bad as the striving after wealth and fame. The term mirari or admirari includes both states of mind, and they both produce pavor; a restlessness and indecision, which prevents all true activity, and causes the torpor of line 14. His adversa; that is, poverty and dis. grace. 12. Quid ad rem = nihil interest. 13. Spes and spero express expectation' merely, not necessarily 'hope.'-15. The sense is: a man must not strive even after virtue with too much eagerness; otherwise, instead of wise he will be called mad, instead of just, unjust.-17. Marmor vetus aeraque, 'ancient statues of marble

[ocr errors]

Suspice, cum gemmis Tyrios mirare colores;
Gaude, quod spectant oculi te mille loquentem;
Gnavus mane forum et vespertinus pete tectum,
Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris

[ocr errors]

Mutus et indignum, quod sit pejoribus ortus
Hic tibi sit potius quam tu mirabilis illi.
Quidquid sub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas,
Defodiet condetque nitentia. Quum bene notum
Porticus Agrippae et via te conspexerit Appi,
Ire tamen restat, Numa quo devenit et Ancus.
Si latus aut renes morbo tentantur acuto,
Quaere fugam morbi: vis recte vivere: quis non?
Si virtus hoc una potest dare, fortis omissis
Hoc age deliciis. Virtutem verba putas et
Lucum ligna: cave, ne portus occupet alter,
Ne Cibyratica, ne Bithyna negotia perdas,
Mille talenta rotundentur, totidem altera, porro et
Tertia succedant, et quae pars quadret acervum.
Scilicet uxorem cum dote fidemque et amicos

[blocks in formation]

and brass.' 18. Cum gemmis colores colores et gemmas. Colores is said for the cloth dyed.-19. Gaude-loquentem; that is, rejoice in the admiration which is excited by thy eloquence.-20. The poet speaks of the activity of the great landowner, who comes early in the morning to market to sell, and does not go home till late in the evening.-22. Mutus, a wealthy man, otherwise unknown. Indignum ortus, a parenthetical remark, expressing the feeling of the man who wishes to outdo Mutus: it would be disgraceful, not to be tolerated, since he is of humbler descent than I.'-24. The idea is all thy external advantages will avail thee nothing; for as time brings to light what is concealed, so it conceals the glittering things of earth: thou must die.-26. Porticus Agrippae, a portico which Agrippa built in the year 25 B. c., and adorned with paintings, representing scenes from the Argonautic expedition: whence it was also called Porticus Argonautarum. It was a place where many lawyers lived; hence the sense is: although thou hast been known as an eloquent man, and one learned in the law (see line 19.) The Appian road, leading from Rome to Capua, was the place where wealthy people used to drive out for pleasure, and hence this refers to the man of line_20.-31. Hoc age; namely, ut virtutum pares. Virtutem-ligna. The sense is: if you consider virtue to be a mere name, and a grove to be nothing but a collection of trees, whilst in reality it contains a temple, with the statue of a god, which is the principal thing—if this is your notion, then by all means strive after earthly advantages.—32. Ne portus occupet alter; that is, lest any other merchant sail into the harbours before thee, and preOccupy the market with his goods. 33. Negotia Cibyratica, the trade with Cibyra' (a town of Phrygia Major, famed for its manufacture of iron), and Bithyna, with the kingdom of Bithynia.' 34. Rotundentur = expleantur. 35. Quae pars quadret acervum;

[ocr errors]

Et genus et formam regina pecunia donat,
Ac bene nummatum decorat Suadela Venusque.
Mancipiis locuples eget aeris Cappadocum rex:
Ne fueris hic tu, Chlamydes Lucullus, ut aiunt,
Si posset centum scenae praebere rogatus,

40

'Qui possum tot? ait, 'tamen et quaeram et quot habebo Mittam; post paullo scribit sibi milia quinque

Esse domi chlamydum; partem vel tolleret omnes.
Exilis domus est, ubi non et multa supersunt
Et dominum fallunt et prosunt furibus. Ergo
Si res sola potest facere et servare beatum,
Hoc primus repetas opus, hoc postremus omittas.
Si fortunatum species et gratia praestat;
Mercemur servum, qui dictet nomina, laevum
Qui fodicet latus et cogat trans pondera dextram
Porrigere. 'Hic multum in Fabia valet, ille Velina;
Cui libet hic fasces dabit eripietque curule,
Cui volet, importunus ebur. Frater, pater adde,
Ut cuique est aetas, ita quemque facetus adopta.'
Si bene qui coenat, bene vivit; lucet, eamus,
Quo ducet gula; piscemur, venemur, ut olim
Gargilius, qui mane plagas, venabula, servos,
Differtum transire forum populumque jubebat,
Unus ut e multis populo spectante referret
Emptum mulus aprum. Crudi tumidique lavemur,
Quid deceat, quid non, obliti, Caerite cera

45

50

55

60

that is, as much as completes the heap of 4000 talents.-37. Regina, in apposition with pecunia, because money can procure all the good things just mentioned. 39. The kingdom of Cappadocia, over which, in Horace's time, Archelaus ruled, was very poor and over-populous.-40. The sense is: strive not thou to be as the king of Cappadocia, who is poor, but as Lucullus, who had so much that he did not know his own wealth. 48. Repetas, always take up,' or 'go to,' with reference to the daily return of the act: Compare line 20. -49. Species et gratia, outward position and influence,' hence posts of honour.-50. Description of a nomenclator, a slave who accompanied his master when he went about to canvass for votes. 52. The nomenclator's address to his master. Fabia and Velina are names of tribes. -53. Curule ebur = sellam curulem.-54. Frater, pater adde. The candidate is to address the influential persons by these names of respect and affection, and thus, as it were, to make them relations (adoptare.) — 56. Lucet = si lucet, 'as soon as day dawns.' -61. Lavemur, in order to excite appe. tite again. 62. Caerite cera digni; that is, deserving to be treated as the people of Caere were, who received the civitas sine suffragio, and consequently bore the burdens, without enjoying the privileges of citizenship. In the same way we should deserve to endure all the miseries of life, without its pleasures, which flow from virtue

-

Digni, remigium vitiosum Ithacensis Ulixi,
Cui potior patria fuit interdicta voluptas.
Si, Mimnermus uti censet, sine amore jocisque.
Nil est jucundum, vivas in amore jocisque
Vive, vale. Si quid novisti rectius istis,
Candidus imperti; si non, his utere mecum.

65

alone. 63. Remigium, the abstract noun for the concrete remiges ; Zumpt, § 675. The remiges here are the companions of Ulysses, who, determined to have a good meal, killed the oxen of Helios, and thus brought upon themselves the greatest misfortunes. See Odyssey, xii. 297.65. Mimnermus of Colophon, a contemporary of Solon, and an elegiac poet.

EPISTOLA VIII.

AD CELSUM ALBINOVANUM.

A NOTE to the Celsus mentioned in i. 3, 15. It contains inquiries regarding his health, and complaints about Horace's own state of mind.

CELSO gaudere et bene rem gerere Albinovano
Musa rogata refer, comiti scribaeque Neronis.
Si quaeret, quid agam, dic multa et pulchra minantem
Vivere nec recte nec suaviter; haud quia grando
Contuderit vites oleamque memorderit aestus,
Nec quia longinquis armentum aegrotet in agris;
Sed quia mente minus validus quam corpore toto
Nil audire velim, nil discere, quod levet aegrum;
Fidis offendar medicis, irascar amicis,
Cur me funesto properent arcere veterno;
Quae nocuere sequar, fugiam quae profore credam;
Romae Tibur amem ventosus, Tibure Romam.
Post haec ut valeat, quo pacto rem gerat et se,
Ut placeat juveni percontare utque cohorti.
Si dicet recte, primum gaudere, subinde

=

[ocr errors]

10

15

2. Refer. As we say commonly valere aliquem jubeo, so here of the muse refer gaudere. Nero is Tiberius.-3. Minantem, jocularly pollicentem.-6. Longinquis longe alteque patentibus.-8. Aegrum, scil. animo. He was in a state when he could do nothing. 12. Ventosus, generally = vanus, 'vain;' here = levis, 'inconstant, restless.' Compare i. 19, 37.-14. Juveni; namely, Tibe.

Praeceptum auriculis hoc instillare memento:
Ut tu fortunam, sic nos te, Celse, feremus.

rius Nero, who was at this time twenty-two years old. As to the cohors, see Satires, i. 7, 23.-17. The sense is as you bear your good fortune, the favour of Tiberius; that is, if you are not elated by it, and do not become proud and overbearing, then I and your other friends shall bear with all your little foibles.

EPISTOLA IX.

AD CLAUDIUM NERONEM.

A LETTER to Tiberius, recommending to his favour Septimius, to whom the 6th ode of the 2d book is addressed.

SEPTIMIUS, Claudi, nimirum intelligit unus,
Quanti me facias: nam cum rogat et prece cogit,
Scilicet ut tibi se laudare et tradere coner,
Dignum mente domoque legentis honesta Neronis:
Munere quum fungi propioris censet amici;
Quid possim videt ac novit me valdius ipso.
Multa quidem dixi cur excusatus abirem;
Sed timui, mea ne finxisse minora putarer,
Dissimulator opis propriae, mihi commodus uni.
Sic ego majoris fugiens opprobria culpae

Frontis ad urbanae descendi praemia. Quodsi
Depositum laudas ob amici jussa pudorem,
Scribe tui gregis hunc, et fortem crede bonumque.

[ocr errors]

=

5

10

1. Nimirum, ironical, no doubt, clearly.'-3. Tradere, a common word in recommendations. See Satires, i. 9, 47.-4. Neronis, of a man with the character and sense of a Nero.'-6. Valdius magis. 8. Mea; that is, my favour and influence with thee. -9. Opis, used in the sense which the plural has in prose, 'power, influence.' -11. Frontis-praemia, 'I have availed myself of the advantages of a bold brow-a brow not covered with the blushes of rustic bashfulness;' I have tried whether I could not succeed by impudence; for frons urbana is explained by pudor depositus in line 12.-13. Scribe hunc gregis tui. The genitive is to be understood partitively, = unum gregis (cohortis.) Scribe jube esse epistola, tell him in writing.'

=

« PredošláPokračovať »