Redditum Cyri solio Phraaten Dissidens plebi numero beatorum Vocibus; regnum et diadema tutum Deferens uni propriamque laurum, Quisquis ingentes oculo inretorto Spectat acervos. ODE III. TO Q. DELLIUS. The commentator in Cruquius has Gellius for Dellius, assuming the person addressed to be L. Gellius Poplicola, brother of Messalla, the famous orator. But the common supposition is that the poem is addressed to Q. Dellius, to whose changeful and adventurous life its admonitions would be very appropriate. Dellius sided first with Dolabella, then went over to Cassius, then to M. Antony and Cleopatra. To Cleopatra he is said to have dictated the advice that With a mind undisturbed take life's good and life's evil, Whether all that is left thee of life be but trouble, Say, for what do vast pine and pale poplar commingle Friendly boughs that invite to their welcoming shadow ? 1 Wherefore struggles and murmurs the rill Stayed from flight by a curve in the shore ? 2 Thither, lo, bid them bring thee the wine and the perfumes, And the blooms of the pleasant rose dying too swiftly; 'The oldest and best MSS. have "quo," which signifies "to what purpose;" as, "Quo mihi fortunam, si non conceditur uti?" (Epp. 1. v. 12). He seems to mean, "What were the stream and the cool shade given for? Bring out the wine and let us drink."-MACLEANE. that she should rather subjugate M. Antony than be subjugated by him. Not long before the battle of Actium, he gave some offence to Cleopatra, probably more serious than that which has been assigned-viz., a sarcasm on the meagreness of her entertainments-and deserted Antony for Augustus, by whom he was cordially received. Like so many other public men of his time he cultivated literature, and wrote a history (now lost) of the war against the Parthians, in which he served under Antony. A terse sketch of his versatile career will be found in Estré, 'Pros. Horat.,' 314. CARM. III. Æquam memento rebus in arduis Lætitia, moriture Delli, Seu mæstus omni tempore vixeris, Interiore nota Falerni. Quo pinus ingens albaque populus Huc vina et unguenta et nimium breves Yonge, in his notes, cites parallels from English poets with the elegance of taste which characterises his edition. 'Laborat-trepidare.' The stream struggles or labours to hurry on (trepidare), being obstructed by the curve in the bank (obliquo rivo), from which delay comes its pleasant murmur.'—ORELLI. While thy fortune, and youth,' and the woof Of the Three Fatal Sisters allow. Woodlands dearly amassed2 round the home proudly builded, For no victim has Death either preference or pity, Yonder sky,-'tis the same to the Grave. Driven all to that fold; 3 in one fatal urn shaken, 1 To the sweet native land never more. Atas,' which Acron translates 'youth,' an interpretation ap proved by Estré and Macleane. It more accurately, however, means 'the time of life,' including every period before that in which old age deadens the sense of such holiday enjoyments. Dellius was not young at the date of this poem; but, at years more advanced, M. Antony was young enough to enjoy the present hour rather too much. 36 Cogimur.' Gregis instar compellimur '—' we sheep.'-ORELLI. are driven like Dum res et ætas et Sororum Cedes coëmptis saltibus, et domo, Villaque, flavus quam Tiberis lavit, Cedes, et exstructis in altum Divitiis potietur heres. Divesne prisco natus ab Inacho, Omnes eodem cogimur ;3 omnium Sors exitura, et nos in æternum |