240 Even a father of his flock, lest they should play base tricks, 243. Which the people require.] When a fencer, or gladiator, came off victorious, the Roman people required the quinque aurei to be given to him by the prætor, tribune, or other person, who gave and presided at the show. This passage is, by some, referred to MART. lib. x. epigr. 74. where he mentions one Scorpus, a famous charioteer, who, by being victor in a chariot-race, carried off, in one hour's time, fifteen sacks full of gold. But this does not seem to agree with what Juvenal says of the gains of the poor grammarian, which the poet evidently supposes to be no more than the perquisite of a common gladiator that had come off conqueror; even this was five times as much as a lawyer got by a cause. Comp. 1. 122. Thus Juvenal concludes this Satire, having fully accomplished his purpose; which was to shew, by many instances, the shameful neglect of learning and science, as well as of the professors of them, which then prevailed among the nobility of Rome. END OF THE SEVENTH SATIRE. SATIRA VIII. ARGUMENT. In this Satire the Poet proves, that true nobility does not consist in statues and pedigrees, but in honourable and good actions. And, in opposition to persons nobly born, who are a disgrace to their family, he STEMMATA quid faciunt ? quid prodest, Pontice, longo Sanguine censeri, pictosque ostendere vultus 10 Line V. What do pedigrees?] i. e. Of what use or service are they, merely considered in themselves? person here Ponticus.] There was a famous heroic poet of this name, much acquainted with Propertius and Oyid: but the mentioned, to whom this Satire is addressed, was probably some man of quality, highly elevated by family pride, but whose manners disgraced his birth. 2. By a long descent.] Longo sanguine-a descent through a long train of ancestors of noble blood. Painted countenances, &c.] It was customary among the Romans to have their houses furnished with family-pictures, images, &c. and it was no small part of the pride of the nobility. 3-4-5. The Emilii-Curii-Corvinus.] 'Were noble Romans, the founders of illustrious families, and an honour to their country. 3. Standing in chariots.] Triumphal cars, as expressed in the triumphal statues. 4. Now half. i. e. Half demolished by length of time. 4.-5. Less by a shoulder Corvinus.] His statue thus mutilated by time and accident. 5. Galba.] The statue of Sergius Galba, a man of consular dig nity, and who founded an illustrious family, was also defaced and mu tilated by time. SATIRE VIII. ARGUMENT. displays the worth of many who were meanly born, as Cicero, Marius, Serv. Tullius, and the Decii. WHAT do pedigrees? what avails it, Ponticus, to be valued By a long descent, and to shew the painted countenances 5 What fruit to boast of Corvinus in the capacious table Of kindred, and after him to deduce, by many a branch, If before the Lepidi you live ill? whither (tend) the effigies 10 6. What fruit.] i. e. Of what real, solid use, can it be? The capacious table.] viz. A large genealogical table. 7. By many a branch.] The genealogical tables were described in the form of trees: the first founder of the family was the roothis immediate descendants the stem--and all the collaterals from them were the branches. So among us. 8. Smoky masters of the knights.] Images of those who had been magistri equitum, masters or chiefs of the order of knights, now tarnished, and grown black, by the smoke of the city. With a dictator.] An image of some of the family who had filled that office. He was chief magistrate among the Romans, vested with absolute power, and from whom lay no appeal. Twenty-four axes were carried before him. He was never chosen but in some great danger or trouble of the state; and commonly at the end of six months was to resign his office. 9. If before the Lepidi, &c.] i. e. If before the images of those great men you exhibit scenes of vileness and infamy? 10. The nightly die, &c.] Pernox signifies that which lasts through. the night. What avails it, that your room is furnished with busts, pictures, &c. of your noble ancestors, if, in that very room, before their faces, as it were, you are gambling and playing all night at dice? 11. If you begin to sleep, c.] If you, after a night's debauch, Luciferi, quo signa Duces et castra movebant? 15 Tota licet veteres exornent undique cera Atria, NOBILITAS SOLA EST ATQUE UNICA VIRTUS. 20 Paulus, vel Cossus, vel Drusus moribus esto: Hos ante effigies majorum pone tuorum : Præcedant ipsas illi, te consule, virgas. 25 are going to bed at day-break, the very time when those great generals were setting forth on their march to attack an enemy. 13. Fabius, &c.] Why should Fabius, the son of Qu. Fab. Maximus, who overcame the Allobroges, boast in his father's achievements, and in the origin of his family's descent from Hercules, the care of whose altar was hereditary in that family. If he be covetous and vain, and unworthy of the honour which he claims? 15. Softer than an Euganean lamb.] The sheep bred upon the Euganean downs had the finest and softest fleeces in all Italy. To have a very soft and delicate skin was a mark of great effeminacy; but more especially if, as the following line supposes, it was made so by art. 16. Catinensian pumice.] The best pumice-stones were gathered in Sicily, at the foot of Mount Etna; with these the effeminate Italians used to smooth their skins. Catina (now Catania) was a city near Mount Etna, almost ruined by an earthquake, 1693. Here were the finest pumice-stones. 17. He shames, &c.] He dishonours the old and venerable pictures, or images, of his rough and hardy ancestors, now dirty with the rust of time, and thus disgraces the memory of those great men. Traduco signifies to expose to public shame. AINSW. No. 5. 18. An image to be broken.] If he should cast a sadness over the whole family, as it were, by having his own image placed among those of his ancestors, when he does such things as to deserve to have his image broken-If any one, who had an image of himself, was convicted of a grievous crime, his image was to be broken to pieces, and his name erased from the calendar, either by the sentence of the judge, or by the fury of the people. Comp. sat. x. l. 58. Such must, most likely, be the case of a man who dealt in poisons to destroy people. 19. Old waxen figures.] Images and likenesses of ancestors, made in wax, and set up as ornaments and memorials of the great persons from which they were taken. Lucifer, at which those generals were moving their standards and camps? Why should Fabius, born in a Herculean family, rejoice 15 20 Be thou in morals Paulus, or Cossus, or Drusus : Put these before the effiges of your ancestors: Let them, you being consul, precede the fasces themselves. To be accounted honest, and tenacious of justice, in word and deed? I acknowledge the nobleman :-Hail, Getulian !-or thou, 25 20. Virtue, &c.] All the ensigns of grandeur and nobility are no thing without this-it is this alone which stamps a real greatness up. on all who possess it. 21. Paulus.] Emilius, who conqured Perses king of Macedonia, and led him and his children in triumph :-he was a man of great frugality and modesty. Cossus.] He conquered the Getulians, under Agustus Cæsar -hence was called Getulicus. See 1. 26. Drusus.] There were three of this name, all of which deserv ed well of the republic. 22. Put these before, &c.] Prefer the examples of those good men before the statues of your family. 23. Let them, &c.] If ever you should be consul, esteem them before the fasces, and all the ensigns of your high office. 24. You owe me, &c.] The ornaments-bona, the good qualities of the mind, are what I first insist upon; these I expect to find in you, before I allow you to be indeed noble. 25. Honest.] Sanctus is an extensive word, and here may include piety to the gods, as well as justice, honesty, and truth towards men. See sat. iii. 137. 26. I acknowledge, &c.] I then acknowledge you as a man of quality. Hail, Getulian!] I salute you as if you were Cossus, the of Getulia-hence called Getulicus, 1. 21, note. conqueror Or thou, &c.] Silanus was a noble Roman, who conquered Magon the Carthaginian general, took Hannon, another commander, prisoner, and did other great services to his country. q. d. If, besides your personal private virtues, (1. 24, 5.) you shew yourself a rare and choice citizen, eminently serviceable and useful to your country, like Silanus of old, from whatever blood you may derive your pedigree, however mean it may be, yet your |