Frangendus misero gingivâ panis inermi : Nunc damnum alterius: nam quæ cantante voluptas, si nomina quæras, 200 205 210 215 220 199. Infancy, &c.] A running and drivelling nose, like a young child. 200. Unarm'd gum.] Having lost all his teeth, he has nothing left but his bare gums, to mumble his food withal. 202. The flatterer Cossus.] Captator signifies one who endeavoureth to get or procure any thing, particularly he who flattereth a man to be his heir. (See sat. v. 1. 98, note.) This mean occupation was frequent in Rome, and this Cossus seems to have been famous for it; yet old age, like what the poet has been describing, is sufficient, says he, even to disgust Cossus himself, so as to keep him away from paying his court. 203. The palate, &c.] Every thing now grows insipid; all difference of meats and drinks is lost. See this symptom of age mentioned by Barzillai, 2 Sam. xix. 35. 210. Another part.] The hearing. 211. A harper.] Citharœdus denotes that species of musician, who sung and played the harp at the same time. Seleucus.] A noted musician, who, according to the fashion of those times, wore a rich embroidered garment when he sang upon the stage. This is meant in the next line, by aurata lacerna, as not only the case of Seleucus, but of others. Of this incapacity for relishing music, Barzillai also speaks, 2 Sam. xix. 35. 214. The cornets.] Cornicen (from cornu, an horn, and cano, to sing) signifies a blower on the horn, or cornet, the sound of which was probably very loud and harsh, as was that of the trum Bread is to be broken by the wretch with an unarm❜d gum : Tho' every means be used to restore them. 200 205 Has this important state any thing to hope for? What, but that the desire be deservedly suspected, Which, without power, affects gallantry. Now see The loss of another part-for what pleasure (has he) when a 210 What signifies it in what part of a great theatre he may sit, Beside, the very little blood, now in his cold body, Is only warm from fever: there leap around, form'd into a troop, 215 I could sooner unfold, how many adulterers Hippia has loved, 220 How many sick Themison has killed in one autumn; pets. If he be so deaf that he cannot hear these, he can't expect to hear the singers, and the softer instruments. 215. Bawling, &c.] His boy must bawl as loud as he can into his ear, when he would tell him who called to visit him, or to let him know what o'clock it was. They had not watches and clocks as we have, but sun-dials and hour-glasses, which a boy was to watch, and acquaint the master how the time went. Horas quinque puer nondum tibi nuntiat, et tu Jam conviva mihi, Cæciliane, venis. MART. lib. viii. ep. 67. 218. Warm from fever.] The blood is so cold, and circulates so slowly, that nothing can warm or quicken it, but that hectic, feverish habit, which frequently is an attendant on the decays of old age. 177 Gelidus tardante senecta EN. v. 1. 395, 6. Leap around, &c.] Surround him on all sides, ready to rush upon him, like wild beasts leaping on their prey. Form'd into a troop.] A whole troop of diseases, in array against him. Agmine facto. See VIRG. Æn. i. 86. from whence our poet borrows this expression. See sat. iii. 162, and note. 226. Hippia] See sat. vi. 82.—a woman famous for her debau cheries. 221. Themison.] A physician much commended by Pliny and Quot Basilus socios, quot circumscripserit Hirrus Suetus, hiat tantum, ceu pullus hirundinis, ad quem 225 230 235 Celsus, though here spoken of in no very favourable light. Perhaps 221. Autumn.] The autumn was usually a sickly time at Rome. See sat. iv. 1. 56, 7, and notes. 222. Allies, &c.] When the Romans had conquered any people, they reduced them into the form of a province, which, being subject to Rome, was governed by a Roman pretor, and the inhabitants were called socii, allies, and indeed, looked upon, in all respects, as such, not daring to refuse a confederacy with their conquerors. Basilus was one of these pretors, who shamefully plundered his province, Hirrus.] Some read Irus.-Whoever this was, his character is here noted, as a cheater and circumventer of youth, committed to his care and guardianship. He that had the tuition of a ward was called tutor. The ward was called pupillus. The pupilli were orphans, who had lost their parents, and thus fell under the tuition of guardians, who frequently, instead of protecting them, plundered and cheated them out of their patrimony. 223: Maura.] See sat. vi. l. 306, note. 224. Hamillus.] A school-master, famous for unnatural practices with his scholars. 226. Who clipping.] See sat. i. 25, and notes. Cinnamus was a barber at Rome, who got a knight's estate, and, growing very rich, had several villas, and lived in a sumptuous manner; but, at last, he broke, and fled into Sicily. See MART. vii, epigr. 64. 227. One is weak, &c.] That host of diseases, mentioned l. 218, 19, are here represented, as making their attacks on different parts of the body. 229. Of this.] Hujus-i. e. hominis. 1 How many of our allies Basilus, how many orphans Hirrus To Phiale: so much avails the breath of an artful mouth, 230 235 229. Take food, &c.] So feeble and childish, that he can't feed himself, and is forced to be fed by another. 230. He, at the sight, &c.] As soon as supper is served, he, as it were mechanically, stretches open his jaws; but, unable to feed himself, he only gapes, like a young swallow in the nest, when it sees the old one flying towards it with food in her mouth. This natural image is beautifully expressed. 233-4. Neither knotus.] i. e. failing. Recollects; his memory now 234. The names of servants.] The poet here brings his old man into the last stage of superannuation, when the understanding and memory fail, which, as he says, is worse than all the rest. 236. Brought up.] Though he has not only begotten, but brought up his children, so that they must have lived much with him, yet they are forgotten: he makes a will, by which he disinherits them, and leaves all he has to some artful strumpet who has got pos session of him. A cruel will.] Codex, or caudex, literally means the trunk, stem, or body of a tree. Hence by metonym. a table-book, made of several boards joined together, on which they used to writehence, any writing, as a deed, will, &c. See sat. vii. 110. 237. Forbids them.] He excludes them from inheriting his estate -i. e. he disinherits them. Are carried.] Are disposed of, conveyed by the will. 238. To Phiale.] See above, 1. 236, note the first. So much avails, &c.] Such an old dotard as this may be easily persuaded to any thing by an artful strumpet; so great an ascendency does she acquire over him by her artful and insinuating tongue. Quod steterat multos in carcere fornicis annos. Antilochi barbam ardentem: nam quærit ab omni, 240 245 250 239. Prison of a brothel.] Fornix-lit. an arch or vault in houses; also, meton. a stew or brothel, because these were in vaults or wells under ground. AINSW. Hence, from the darkness and filthiness of their situation, as well as from the confinement of the wretched inhabitants therein, who stood ready for every comer, Juvenal represents Phiale as having stood in carcere fornicis, which is describing her as a common prostitute. HOR. lib. i. sat. ii. 1. 30. alluding to the filth of these dungeons, says: Contra alius nullam nisi olenti in fornice stantem, See Juv. sat. vi. 1. 130, 1. Carcer signifies also a starting-place at the chariot races-hence, by metonym. a beginning; in this sense it may mean the entrance of a brothel, where the harlots presented themselves to the view of the passers-by. Comp. sat. iii, 1. 65, n. 1. 240. Tho' the senses, &c.] i. e. Yet allow him to retain his sen ses in full vigour, what grievous scenes of distress has he to go through! Children.] So VIRG. Æn. vi. 1. 308. Impositisque rogis juvenes ante ora parentum. 241. To be attended.] Ducere funera is a phrase peculiarly adapted to the ceremony of funerals, and probably it is derived from a custom of the friends of the deceased walking in procession before the corpse. Sat. i. 146.-See GRANG. in loc. "Ducere"verbum sepulturæ. Albinov, ad Liviam, Funera ducuntur Ro"mana per oppida Drusi.” to ashes. The Pile.] The funeral pile, on which the body was reduced 242. Urns fill'd, &c.] i. e. With their bones and ashes, which it was customary to preserve in pots (after being gathered from the funeral pile) called urns. 243. This pain, &c.] This is the sad lot of long-lived people, as it must be their fate to out-live many of their friends. |