obtain this honor, to being a village champion in petty contests?

59. Plebs: a plebeian.'-At pueri ludentes: this passage is sup posed to refer to a game at ball, in which he who made the fewest failures was styled king.

62. Roscia: i. e. the law of L. Roscius Otho which assigned to the knights at the theatres and public games fourteen rows of seats next to the orchestra.

65. Qui: sc. suadet.

68. Responsare: 'to oppose.'

77. Conducere publica: 'in farming the public revenues.' 78. Crustis... avaras by little favors would gain over cov

etous widows.'

86. Cras...fabri: 'workmen, you will carry your building materials to Theanum.' This was a beautiful city of Campania. 87. Lectus... est: i. e. is he married?

91. Quid pauper ?:

how is it with the poor man?' 101. Insanire. ... me: 'you think me affected with the current madness.'

EPISTLE II.

Horace, having in his retirement read Homer with unusual care and attention, writes to his friend Lollius at Rome his reflections on this great poet. He avails himself of the occasion, while speaking of the morals contained in the poem, to set forth the worth and importance of wisdom and virtue.

2. Declamas: i. e. dicendi arte exerceris.

7. Barbaria... duello: sc. genti; to have been involved in a protracted war with a foreign nation.'-Collisa literally means, 'dashed against.' The Greeks, and, after their example, the Romans, called all nations, except their own, barbarians; which is equivalent to foreigners.

9. Antenor: Antenor recommends the restoration of Helen, and thus to remove the cause of the war..

31. Ad strepitum... curam: and by the sound of the harp to lull their cares to sleep.' Cessatum, for which there are various readings, is a supine; cessatum ducere, 'to soothe,'' to put to rest.'

34. Curres hydropicus: 'you will run when seized with the dropsy.' Running was prescribed for the dropsy by Celsus and others.

38. Si quid est animum: if anything preys upon the mind.'

EPISTLE III.

In the year of Rome 731, Tiberius was sent with an army into Dalmatia. Julius Florus, to whom this epistle is addressed, at

tended him in this expedition. Tiberius continued regulating affairs in the East, till he was ordered by Augustus into Armenia, It was at this time that Horace wrote this epistle to Florus, describing the route of Tiberius through Thrace, and requesting to be informed on various subjects of public and private nature. He also advises Florus to be on good terms with Munatius, between whom there had been some misunderstanding.

6. Quid... struit in what literary labors is the studious train engaged?' The attendants and companions of Tiberius in this expedition were literary men, studiosa cohors, studious retinue; operum is governed by quid.

9. Titius: Titius Septimius was a Roman knight of taste and talents, who was about to publish his poetic works; Romana brevi venturus in ora.

10. Non expalluit: 'feared not.'

12. Ut valet?: is he well?'

13. Auspice Musa: with the aid of the Muses.'

17. Scripta... Apollo: i. e. the writings deposited in the library in the temple dedicated to Apollo on mount Palatine.

19. Cornicula sc. sicuti: referring to the fable of the jackdaw dressed in the feathers of other birds.

30. Si tibi... Munatius: whether you have as much regard for Munatius as you ought to have.' There appears to have been some misunderstanding between Florus and his friend Munatius.

EPISTLE IV.

The poet Tibullus, to whom this ode was addressed, was a Roman knight of fortune, taste, and elegance. He espoused the cause of liberty with Brutus, and had suffered in his estate in consequence; as his lands were among those confiscated. Four books of elegies are all that remain of his works. These for sweetness and pathos are hardly surpassed by anything in the language.

1. Nostrorum sermonum: 'of my satires.'

2. In regione Pedanâ: 'in the region of Pedum,' a town of Latium, where Tibullus had a villa.

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3. Cassi Parmensis: Cassius of Parma.' He valued himself on the fertility of his genius; and regarded the number of verses he could write in a given time, rather than their excellence. This is raillery in Horace.

13. Supremum: the Epicureans inculcated this maxim, that every day was to be enjoyed as if it were the last. Then, if another were given, it would be considered a gratuity, and be the more gratefully received.

EPISTLE V.

In this epistle Horace invites Torquatus to sup with him on Cæsar's birthday. He promises a homely entertainment, but a hearty welcome.

1. Archiacis... lectis: there was one Archias, well known as the manufacturer of the cheaper kind of beds. They were shorter than the more costly kinds.

3. Supremo... manebo: 'I shall expect you at my house, Torquatus, about sunset.'

4. Iterum Tauro: sc. consule; 'in the second consulship of Taurus.'

6. Arcesse...fer: either send for it, or obey the commands I impose.'

9. Moschi: Moschus was an orator of Pergămus, whose defence Torquatus had undertaken against a charge of poisoning

some one.

12. Quo... uti: sc, prodest; the construction is, si non conceditur uti fortunâ, quo mihi prodest? 'if I am not allowed to enjoy good fortune when it comes, what good does it do me?' 14. Assidet insano: 'is next to a madman.'

20. Solutum: sc. curis.

25. Eliminet: for evulget, effutiat.

27. Et... detinet: and Sabinus, unless a prior engagement to supper, or a more agreeable companion detains him.'

28. Umbris: uninvited guests.'

29. Olida... capra: i. e. a strong scent.

EPISTLE VI.

In this epistle Horace shows to his friend Numicius the folly of extravagant and ill-timed admiration. He shows that happiness does not consist in a love of the marvellous; or in the indulgence of a taste for novelty; but in a virtuous life, and a mind elevated above the influence of admiration or surprise.

3. Et decedentia... momentis: 'and the seasons retiring at fixed periods.'

7. Ludicra quid: i. e. what do you think of public shows, of applauses, and of the honors conferred by the Roman people? in what manner are they to be regarded? with what feeling and look, do you think?

10. Pavor: disquietude of mind.'

15. Equus iniqui: sc. Vir æquus ferat nomen iniqui

22. Mutus: "homo ignobilis, uxoris dote dives factus, quicunque demum fuerit." Doer. One of no rank or eloquence, who has not risen by his own talents or industry, but by his wife's fortune.-Et indignum illi: and, what would be shameful to

happen, since he is of humbler origin, lest he should be a sub. ject of envy to you, instead of you being so to him.'

25. Quum bene: the purport of the whole passage is this: Time will bring hidden things to light, and will bury the conspicuous in oblivion. Though you now glitter in the walks of fashion, you must soon go where Numa and Anchus have gone.

31. Virtutem verba putes: 'do you think virtue consists merely of words?'

34. Totidem altera: 37. Regina pecunia:

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another thousand talents.'
sovereign money.'

38. Ac... Venusque: Persuasion and Venus grace the man of wealth.'

51. Trans pondera: i. e. who may remind you to extend your hand in salutation across the loaded wagons, &c. in the crowded

streets.

52. Hic... Velind: suppose the slave to jog his master, and to say, 'this man has great influence in the Fabian tribe, and that one in the Velinian.'

56. Lucet: it is daylight.'

61. Crudi tumidique: with stomachs full and overloaded.'

62. Cærite cerâ: the inhabitants of Care, having been admitted to all the privileges of Roman citizens, forfeited them by a revolt. They afterwards submitted, and received the rights of citizenship, except the right of voting, of which they were deprived. When any one afterwards forfeited his right of voting, he was said to be placed in the register of the Carites.

EPISTLE VII.

On retiring into the country, Horace had promised his patron that he would return in five days. But after spending the whole month of August, he writes this epistle to Mæcenas, by way of apology for breaking his engagement. The natural and easy manner in which Horace excuses himself to his illustrious friend, shows that it is possible to enjoy the favor of the great without sacrificing one's independence, or descending to servility.

2. Sextilem: the Romans began their year in March, the sixth month from which was called Sextilis. Afterwards it took the name of Augustus, mensis Augustus; as that before it did of Julius Cæsar, mensis Julius.

5. Ficus prima: the hot, unhealthy season, with its fatal effects, is briefly and beautifully expressed by the ripening of the fig, and the funeral procession.

6. Designatorem: the person who had the care of marshalling funeral processions was called designator, 'the undertaker.'

12. Contractus: 'snug in his apartment,' he will indulge in reading. There are various glosses on this passage.

14. Calaber: i. e. any rustic host. Horace was himself a Calabrian, and this circumstance increases the humor of the following dialogue.

:

16. Benignè I thank you kindly.'

21. Hæc annis: i. e. this profuse generosity always has, and always will make men ungrateful.

22. Vir... paratus: a good and wise man says that he is prepared for the deserving; i. e. he is prepared to bestow favors on those who deserve them. Paratus in the nominative is put with the infinitive by a Greek construction, for se paratum The reference is to Mæcenas.

esse.

23. Era lupinis: 'coins from lupins.' In theatrical exhibitions, lupins were so done up as to resemble coins, and used instead of them.

24. Dignum... merentis: 'I too, as the praise of my patron deserves, will show myself worthy of his favors.'

25. Reddes forte latus: i. e. you will restore my youthful vigor, the black locks that shaded my short forehead, &c. 28. Tenuis nitedula: a lean field mouse.'

29. In cumeram frumenti: into a basket of corn.'

33. Hac

...

resigno: i. e. if this fable be applied to me, I give up all your favors.

34. Satur altilium: 'when surfeited with dainties.'-Nec otia... muto: 'nor would exchange my repose, and the freedom enjoyed with it, for the wealth of Arabia.'

38. Inspice. lætus: 'try me, and see if I can cheerfully resign what you have given me.'

47. Carinas: the Carina was a part of the city where Philip and other distinguished Romans had their residence. Though not very far from the Forum, it seemed to be so to the counsellor now advanced in years.

49. Adrasum: smoothly shaved."

52. Unde domo: i. e. Romanus an hospes ; quânam ex familiâ. 56. Et properare: i. e. knowing both when to hasten, and when to relax; when to gain, and when to enjoy the fruits of his industry.

61. Benignè 'I thank your master kindly.' Vateius thus civilly declines the invitation of Philip.

64. Tunicato popello: 'to the poorer sort of people.'-Vilia scruta: these words mean, old clothes, old iron, and any trash of this kind.

67. Quòd non... eum : i. e. that he had not seen him first.

83. Sulcos... mera: 'he talks of nothing but furrows and vineyards.'-Mera: 'solely,' 'only.'