The nobility of your ancestors themselves begins to stand Against you, and to carry a clear torch before your shameful deeds. EVERY VICE OF THE MIND HAS BY SO MUCH MORE CONSPI CUOUS 140 BLAME, BY HOW MUCH HE THAT OFFENDS IS ACCOUNTED GREATER. Wherefore to me boast yourself accustomed to sign false wills In the temples, which your grandfather built, and before The triumphal statue of your father? what, if a nightly adulterer, You veil your cover'd temples with a Santonic hood? By the ashes of his ancestors, and their bones, in a swift Chariot, fat Damasippus is whirl'd along, and he, Himself, the consul, binds the wheel with many a drag. By night indeed, but the moon sees, but the conscious stars 145 Fix their eyes upon him: when the time of honour is finished, 150 Damasippus, in the clear light, the whip will Take, and no where tremble at the meeting of a friend 146. By the ashes, &c.] The poet here inveighs against the low and depraved taste of the noblemen in Rome, whose passion it was to become charioteers. The name Damasippus (from Gr. daaw, to tame, and iжños, an horse) signifies an horse-tamer, and is applicable, not merely to any single person, but to all of the same taste. Damasippus, says he, drives furiously by the ashes and bones of his great progenitors; so totally uninfluenced by their examples of true greatness, as to sink into the mean character of a coachman, or charioteer. The emperor Nero affected this, and was followed in it by many, by way of paying court to him; and indeed the poet here must be understood to glance at this. 148. Binds the wheel, &c.] The sufflamen was what they put on the wheel of a carriage to stop or stay it, that it should not go too fast down hill, or run back when going up hill. The person who attended to put this on was some slave; but Damasippus, though consul, submits to this office himself.-Multo sufflamine implies his often doing this. 149. By night, &c.] This indeed he does in the night, when he thinks nobody sees him; but the moon and stars are witnesses of the fact, which is so degrading to a man in his situation, and which would not happen had he a due regard to his own dignity. Testis signifies, lit. a witness. Hence, met. that is privy to a thing-conscious.Sat. iii. 49; and sat. xiii. 75. 150. The time of honour is finished.] When he goes out of office at the end of the year. 151. In the clear light, &c.] In open daylight he'll appear as a charioteer. Jam senis, at virgâ prior innuet, atque maniplos 155 160 165 153. Now old.] And therefore grave and sedate; yet Damasippus will feel no shame at meeting him. Make a sign, &c.] Salute him with a dexterous crack of his whip. See sat. iii. 317, 18. 154. Loosen the trusses, &c.] Will feed his horses hmself, coach. man like. Manipulum is an handful, armful, or bundle; here we may suppose it to mean a truss of hay. 155. Kills sheep, &c.] When he goes to offer sacrifices, according to the rites established by Numa, the successor of Romulus, at the altar of Jupiter. 156-7. Swears by Hippona, c.] Hippona (from is án horse) is the goddess he swears by, and in whose name he makes his VOWS. She was the goddess of horses and stables: her image was placed in the middle of the stalls, and curiously bedecked with chaplets of fresh roses. By et facies pictas, we may suppose that there were other deities, of a like kind, painted on the walls of the stables. 158. To renew the watchful taverns.] To renew his visits, and repair to the taverns, where people sat up all night. 4 159. A Syrophænician, &c.] A name of Syria and Phoenicia, from whence the finest perfumed ointments came, as did also those who prepared them best. Wet, &c.] Greasy by continually busying himself in his trade, 160. Inhabitant of the Idumaan gate.] The Idumæan gate at Rome was so called from Vespasian's and Titus's entry through it, when they triumphed over the Jews-Idumæa is a part of Syria, bordering on Judæa. This part of Rome, which was called the Idumæan gate, was probably much inhabited by these Syrian perfumers. 161. With the affectation, &c.] The innkeepers at Rome were Now old, but will first make a sign, with his whip; and trusses 155 After the manner of Numa, before the altars of Jove, he swears by Hippona, and faces painted at the stinking mangers: But when he pleases to renew the watchful taverns, A Syrophoenician, wet with a constant perfume, runs to 160 A defender of his fault will say to me, "We also have done these « things " "When young men.' "Be it so-but you left off, nor farther Some crimes should be cut off with the first beard. 165 very lavish of their flatteries and civil speeches to people who came to their houses, in order to engage their custom. This perfumer affects the same, in order to bespeak the custom of Damasippus, and flatters him with the highest titles that he can think of. 162. Nimble Cyane, &c.] The woman of the house loses no time in setting a bottle of liquor before him. Succinctus cursitat hospes. HOR. lib. ii. sat. vi. 1. 107.—Succinctus-lit. girt, trussed, tucked up, for the greater expedition. A venal flagon.] Of wine, which was sold at the tavern. 163. A defender, &c.] Some person may perhaps say, by way of excuse. 165. Let that be short, &c.] i. e. Stop short, and never persist in doing ill. 166. Should be cut off, &c.] Left off when we come to manhood. 167. Indulge favour, &c.] Make all proper allowance for the errors of youth. Damasippus, &c.] True, one would make every allowance for the follies of young men; but Damasippus is of an age to know, and to do, better. See 1. 169-71. 168. Cups of the hot baths.] The Therme, or hot baths at Rome, were places, where some, after bathing, drank very hard. Hence Epigrammatogr. lib. xii. epigr. 71. cited by Grangius, in his note ou this passage. Frangendos calices, effundendumque Falernum, A sene sed postquam nummi venêre trecenti, They also drank hot wine, while bathing, to make them sweat. Maturus bello Armeniæ, Syriæque tuendis Amnibus, et Rheno, atque Istro. Præstare Neronem Securum valet hæc ætas. Mitte Ostia, Cæsar, Mitte; sed in magnâ legatum quære popinâ. Invenies aliquo cum percussore jacentem, 170 175 180 168. The inscribed linen.] Alluding to the brothels, over the doors of which the entertainment which the guests might expect was set forth on painted linen. See sat. vi. l. 123, and note. 169. Mature for the war, &c] Damasippus is now grown up to manhood, and ripe for entering upon the service of his country. Armenia.] In the reign of Nero, Armenia excited new and dangerous tumults. 169-70. Rivers of Syria, &c.] As the Euphrates, Tigris, and Orontes, which were to be well defended, to prevent the incursions of enemies into Syria. 170. The Rhine and Ister.] The former anciently divided Germany and France: the latter means the Danube, the largest river in Europe; as it passeth by Illyricum, it is called the Ister. On the banks of both these rivers the Romans had many conquered nations to keep in subjection, and many others to fear. 171. This age is able.] Persons, at the time of life to which Damasippus is arrived, are capable of entering into the armies, which are to protect both the emperor and the empire. By Neronem any emperor may be meant-perhaps Domitian. Sat. iv. 38. Send Casar, &c.]q. d. Have you occasion, O Cæsar, for an ambassador to dispatch on business of state to Ostia, or to the coasts of the Roman provinces? Ostia was a city built by Ancus Martius, at the mouth of the river Tiber. Ostia-x, sing. or Ostiaorum, plur. 172. Seek your legate, &c.] If you should choose to employ Damasippus, you must look for him in some tavern, and among the lowest and most profligate company: 175. Makers of coffins.] Sandapila was a bier, or coffin, for the poorer sort, especially for those who were executed. 176. The ceasing drums, &c.] The priests of Cybele, in their frantic processions, used to beat drums. Here is an account of one asleep on his back, perhaps dead drunk, with his drums by him quite silent. They were called Galli, from Gallus, a river in Mature for the war of Armenia, and for defending the rivers Of Syria, and for the Rhine and Ister. To make Nero 170 Safe, this age is able. Send, Cæsar, send to Ostia, But seek your legate in a great tavern. You will find him lying by some cut-throat, Among hangmen, and makers of coffins, And the ceasing drums of a priest of Cybele lying on his back. To any one, nor a table more remote to any. What would you do, Ponticus, if you had such a slave? 176 You would surely send him among the Lucani, or the Tuscan workhouses. But you, sons of Troy, forgive yourselves, and what things 180 Phrygia, in which country Cybele was peculiarly worshipped. For a description of these, see sat. vi. 1. 511—16. 177. There is equal liberty, &c.] All are here upon one footingthey drink out of the same cup. Another couch, &c.] The Romans, at their entertainments, lay upon couches, or beds; and people of distinction had their couches ornamented, and some were raised higher than others-but here all were accommodated alike. 178. Table more remote, &c.] No table set in a more or less honour. able place-no sort of distinction made, or respect shewn, to one more than another. They were all " Hail fellow ! well met!" as we say. 179. Such a slave, &c.] If you had a slave that passed his time in such a manner, and in such rascally company-if such a one had fallen to your lot, what would you do with him? 180. The Lucani.] Lucania was a country of Italy, belonging to Naples, where the slaves were punished by being made to dig in fetters. Tuscan workhouses.] Ergastula-places of punishment for slaves, where they were made to work in chains. These were very frequent in Tuscany. 181. Sons of Troy.] A sneer on the low minded and profligate nobility, who were proud of deriving their families from the ancient Trojans, who first settled in Italy. See sat. i. 100. Forgive yourselves.] Easily find out excuses for what you do. 182. Will become the Volesi or Bruti] By these he means the no. bles of Rome, the most ancient families being derived from Valerius Volesus, who came and settled at Rome, with Tatius king of the Sabines, on the league of amity with Romulus.-Brutus also was a name highly reverenced, on account of the noble acts of some who had borne it.-Junius Brutus was the first consul after the expulsion of the kings; Domitius Jun. Brutus was one of the con |