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Pagina; descendunt statuæ, restemque sequuntur;
Ipsas deinde rotas bigarum impacta securis
Cædit, et immeritis franguntur crura caballis.
Jam strident ignes, jam follibus atque caminis
Ardet adoratum populo caput, et crepat ingens
Sejanus: deinde ex facie toto orbe secundâ
Fiunt urceoli, pelves, sartago, patellæ.
Pone domi lauros, duc in Capitolia magnum
Cretatumque bovem ; Sejanus ducitur unco
Spectandus: gaudent omnes: quæ labra? quis illi

Vultus erat? nunquam (si quid mihi credis) amavi

Hunc hominem: sed quo cecidit sub crimine? quisnam
Delator? quibus indiciis? quo teste probavit ?
Nil horum: verbosa et grandis epistola venit

A Capreis-bene habet; nil plus interrogo: sed quid
Turba Remi? Sequitur fortunam, ut semper, et odit

posing them to the envy and malice of those, in whose power and inclination it may be to disgrace and destroy them.

58. Statues descend.] Are pulled down. -Follow the rope.] With which the populace (set on work by a notion of doing what would please the emperor, who had disgraced his prime-minister Sejanus) first pulled down all the statues of Sejanus, of which there were many set up in Rome, and then dragged them with ropes about the streets.

59. The driven axe.] Impacta-driven forced against. There were some statues of Sejanus, by which he was represented on horseback; others in a trium. phal car, drawn by two horses (comp. sat. viii. 1. 3.); all which were broken to pieces, the very chariots and horses demolished, and, if made of brass, carried to the fire and melted.

60. Undeserving horses, &c.] Their spite against Sejanus, who could alone deserve their indignation, carried them to such fury, as to demolish even the inost innocent appendages to his state and dignity.

61. The fires roar, &c.] From the force of the bellows, in the forges prepared for melting the brass of the sta

tues.

-Stoves.] Or furnaces.

62. The head adored, &c.] Of Sejanus, once the darling of the people, who once worshipped him as a god.

63. Cracks.] By the violence of the

flames.

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-Second face, &c.] Sejanus was so favoured by Tiberius, that he raised him to the highest dignity next to himself.

64. Water-pots, &c.] The meanest household utensils are made from the brass, which once conferred the highest honour on Sejanus, when representing him in the form of statues.

65. Laurels, &c.] Here the poet shews the malicious triumph of envy. It was customary to adorn the doors of their houses with crowns, or garlands of laurel, on any public occasion of joy; such was the fall of poor Sejanus to his enemies.

This

66. A white bull.] The beasts sacrificed to the celestial gods were white (cretatum, here, lit. chalked, whited); those to the infernal gods were black. offering to Jupiter, in his temple on the capitol hill, must be supposed to have been by way of thanksgiving for the fall of Sejanus. A lively mark of the hatred and prejudice which the people had conceived against him, on his disgrace; as it follows

-Dragg'd by a hook, &c.] To the Scalæ Gemoniæ, and then thrown into the Tiber.

67. To be look'd upon.] As a spectacle of contempt to the whole city.

-All rejoice. At his disgrace and misery the people triumph.

-"What lips," &c.] The poet here

Statues descend and they follow the rope;

Then, the driven axe, the very wheels of two-horse cars Demolishes, and the legs of the undeserving horses are broken. Now the fires roar, now with bellows and stoves,

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The head adored by the people burns, and the great Sejanus
Cracks then, from the second face in the whole world,
Are made water-pots, basons, a frying-pan, platters.
Place laurels at your house, lead to the capitol a large 65
White bull; Sejanus is dragg'd by a hook

To be look'd upon: all rejoice: "what lips? what a countenance "He had? I never (if you at all believe me) loved

“This man :-but under what crime did he fall? who was "The informer? from what discoveries? by what witness hath "he prov'd it?”

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70

Nothing of these: a verbose and great epistle came from "Capreæ:" "It is very well, I ask no more: but what did "The mob of Remus ?"" It follows fortune, as always, and

"hates

supposes a language to be holden, which is very natural for a prejudiced, ignorant people to utter on such an occasion, us they saw him dragging along by the hands of the executioner, or perhaps as they viewed him lying dead on the bank of the Tiber, (comp. 1. 86.) before his body was thrown into it.

What a blubber-lipp'd, ill-looking fellow! say they.

69. What crime, &c.] What was charged against him (says one) that he should be brought to this.

70. Informer.] Delator-his accuser to the emperor.

-What discoveries, &c.] Of the fact, and its circumstances? and on what evidence hath he (i. e. the informer) proved the crime alleged against him?

71. "Nothing of these."] Says the answerer-i. e. there was no regular form of conviction.

—A great epistle, &c.] It, some how or other, came to the ears of Tiberius, that his favourite Sejanus had a design upon the empire, on which he wrote a long pompous epistle to the senate, who had Sejanus seized, and sentenced him to be punished, as is mentioned above: viz. that he should be put to death, then have an hook fixed in him, be dragged through the streets of Rome to the Scala Gemoniæ, and thrown at last into the

Tiber,

Tiberius was at that time at Capreæ, an island on the coast of Naples, about twenty-five miles south of that city, indulging in all manner of excess and debauchery.

The Scale Gemoniæ was a place appointed either for torturing criminals, or for exposing their bodies after execution. Some derive the name Gemoniæ from one Gemonius, who was first executed there; others from gemere, to groan, because the place rang with the groans and complaints of those who were put to death. It was on the hill Aventinus, and there were several steps led up to it, whence the place was called Scale Gemoniæ. The dead bodies of those who died under the hands of the executioner were dragged thither by an iron hook, and after they had been some time exposed to public view, were thrown into the Tiber. See ANT. Univ. Hist. vol. xii. p. 214, noteƒ.

73. Mob of Remus, &c.] i. e. The people in general; so called because descended from Romulus and Remus. How did they behave? says the querist.

-"It follows fortune," &c.] It is answered-The common people behaved as they always do, by changing with the fortune of the condemned, and treating them with the utmost spite.

Damnatos. Idem populus, si Nurscia Thusco
Favisset, si oppressa foret secura senectus
Principis, hâc ipsâ Sejanum diceret horâ
Augustum. Jampridem, ex quo suffragia nulli
Vendimus, effudit curas-nam qui dabat olim
Imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se
Continet, atque duas tantum res anxius optat,
Panem et Circenses. Perituros audio multos:
Nil dubium magna est fornacula: pallidulus mî
Brutidius meus ad Martis fuit obvius aram-
Quam timeo, victus ne pœnas exigat Ajax,
Ut male defensus! curramus præcipites, et,
Dum jacet in ripâ, calcemus Cæsaris hostem.
Sed videant servi, ne quis neget, et pavidum in jus
Cervice astrictâ dominum trahat. Hr sermones

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74. Nurscia, &c.] Sejanus was a Tuscan, born at Volscinium, where the goddess of Nurscia, the same as fortune, was worshipped. q. d. If fortune had favoured Sejanus.

75. Secure old age, &c.] If Tiberius had thought himself secure from any plot against him, and therefore had taken no measures to prevent the consequences of it.

76. Oppress'd.] By death, from the hands of Sejanus. q. d. If the plot of Sejanus had succeeded, and the emperor dethroned.

-Would, &c.] That very populace who now treat the poor fallen Sejanus so ill, would have made him emperor, and have changed his name to the imperial title of Augustus.

-This very hour.] Instead of his being put to death, dragged by the hook, and insulted by the populace, they would, at that very hour, have been heaping the highest honours upon him. So precarious, fluctuating, and uncertain, is the favour of the multitude!

77. We sell, &c.] The poorer sort of plebeians used to sell their votes to the candidates for public offices, before Julius Cæsar took from them the right of electing their magistrates, Since that time

78. I.] The populace.

-Done with cares.] Effudit, literally, has poured out, as a person empties a vessel by pouring out the liquor. The poet means, that since the right of elect

ing their magistrates was taken from them, and they could no longer sell their votes, they had parted with all their cares about the state.

-For it.] That same populace.

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-Which once gave, &c.] By their having the right of election, conferred public offices on whom they chose.

79. Authority.] Power, or government: this alludes to the great offices in the state, which were once elective by the people.

-Fasces.] Consuls and prætors, who had the fasces carried before them. -Legions.] Military prefectures. -All things.] All elective offices. 79, 80. Itself refrains.] From concerns of state.

SO. Only wishes, &c.] Now they care for nothing else, at least with any anxiety, but for bread to be distributed to them as usual, by the command of the emperor, to satisfy their hunger; and the games in the circus to divert them: of these last the populace were very fond. See sat. xi. 53.

81. "I hear many," &c.] Here begins a fresh discourse on the occasion and circumstances of the time.

I hear, says one of the standers by, that Sejanus is not the only one who is to suffer; a good many more will be cut off, as well as he, about this plot. No doubt, says the other

82. The furnace is large.] And made to hold more statues for melting than those of Sejanus. See 1. 61.

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"The condemn'd-The same people, if Nurscia had favour'd "The Tuscan-if the secure old age of the prince had been 75 Oppressed, would, in this very hour, have called Sejanus, "Augustus. Long ago, ever since we sell our suffrages "To none, it has done with cares; for it, which once gave Authority, fasces, legions, all things, now itself "Refrains, and anxious only wishes for two things,

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"Bread and the Circenses."-"I hear many are about to perish"

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"No doubt the furnace is large: my friend Brutidius "Met me, a little pale, at the altar of Mars"

"How I fear lest Ajax conquer'd should exact punishment, "As defended badly!-let us run headlong, and, while he 85 "Lies on the bank, trample on the enemy of Cæsar.

"But let the slaves see, lest any should deny it, and drag into "Law their fearful master with shackled neck :" these were the

82, 3. Brutidius met me.] This was a rhetorician and famous historian, a great friend of Sejanus, and therefore was hor ridly frightened, lest it should be his turn next to be apprehended and put to death, as concerned in the conspiracy.

84. Lest Ajax conquer'd, &c.] Alluding to the story of Ajax, who, being overcome in his dispute with Ulysses about the armour of Achilles, (see Ovin. Met. lib. xiii.) went mad, fell upon man and beast, and afterwards destroyed himself.

These seem to be the words of Brutidius, expressing his fears of being suspected to have been concerned in the conspiracy with Sejanus; and, in order to wipe off all imputation of the kind, not only from himself, but from the person he is speaking to, he advises, that no time should be lost, but that they should hasten to the place where the corpse of Sejanus was exposed, and do some act which might be construed into an abhorrence of Sejanus, and consequently into a zeal for the honour and service of the emperor.

"How I fear," says Brutidius, looking aghast, "lest the emperor, thinking his "cause not cordially espoused, and that

he was badly defended, should wreak "his vengeance on such as he suspects "to have been too remiss, and, like the "furious Ajax, when overcome, like an"other victus Ajax, destroy all that he

"takes to be his enemies, as Ajax de"stroyed the sheep and oxen, when he "ran mad on his defeat, taking them "for the Grecians on whom he vowed "revenge." Other expositions are given to this place, but I think this suits best with 1. 82, 3.

85. Let us run, &c.] As precipitately, as fast as we can; let us lose no time to avoid the emperor's suspicion of our favouring Sejanus, and wreaking his vengeance upon us.

-While he.] Sejanus-i. e. his corpse. 86. Lies on the bank.] i. e. Exposed on the bank, before it is thrown into the river Tiber.

-Trample, &c.] Set our feet upon his corpse, to shew our indignation against this supposed enemy of Tiberius.

87. Let the slaves see, &c.] That they may be witnesses for their masters, in case these should be accused of not having done it, or of having shewn the least respect to Sejanus, and so be brought under the displeasure of the emperor, and hurried to judgment.

88. "Shackled neck."] Those who were dragged to punishment, had a chain or halter fastened about the neck: this was the condition of some when brought to trial; so, among us, felons, and others accused of capital offences, are usually brought to their trial with gyves or fetters upon their legs.

88, 9. The discourses, &c.] Thus do

Tunc de Sejano: secreta hæc murmura vulgi.
Visne salutari sicut Sejanus? habere
Tantundem, atque illi summas donare curules?
Illum exercitibus præponere? tutor haberi
Principis Augustâ Caprearum in rupe sedentis
Cum grege Chaldæo ? vis certe pila, cohortes,
Egregios equites, et castra domestica-quidni
Hæc cupias? et qui nolunt occidere quenquam,
Posse volunt. Sed quæ præclara, et prospera tanti,
Cum rebus lætis par sit mensura malorum ?
Hujus, qui trahitur, prætextam sumere mavis,
An Fidenarum, Gabiorumque esse potestas,
Et de mensurâ jus dicere, vasa minora
Frangere pannosus vacuis Edilis Ulubris ?
Ergo quid optandum foret, ignorâsse fateris
Sejanum: nam qui nimios optabat honores,
Et nimias poscebat opes, numerosa parabat
Excelsæ turris tabulata, unde altior esset
Casus, et impulsæ præceps immane ruinæ.

the people talk about poor Sejanus, the remembrance of his greatness being all passed and gone, and his shameful sufferings looked upon with the most ignominious contempt.

90. Saluted, &c.] You, who think hap. piness to consist in the favour of the prince, in great power, and high preferment, what think you? do you now wish to occupy the place which Sejanus once held, to have as much respect paid you, to accumulate as many riches, to have as many preferments and places of honour in your gift?

91. Chief chairs, &c.] Summas curules. The poet speaks in the plural number, as each of the great offices of Rome had a chair of state, made of ivory, carved, and placed in a chariot-curru― in which they were wont to be carried to the senate; so the prætor had his sella curulis, in which he was carried to the forum, and there sat in judgment. See before, 1. 35, n. No. 4. When an ædile was a person of senatorial dignity, he was called curulis, from the curule chair in which he was carried.

Summas curules, here, is used in a metonymical sense, like curule ebur, HOR. lib. i. epist. vi. 1. 53, 4. to denote the chief offices in the state, which had all been in the disposal of the once-pros

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perous Sejanus. See the last n. ad fin.

92. Guardian, &c.] Who, in the absence of Tiberius, at his palace on the rock at Capreæ, (see note on 1. 71, 2, ad fin.) amidst a band of astrologers from Chaldæa, (who amused the prince with their pretended knowledge of the stars, and their government of human affairs,) governed all his affairs of state, and managed them, as a tutor or guardian manages the affairs of a youth under age. Thus high was Sejanus in the opinion. and confidence of Tiberius; but do you envy him?

94. Javelins.] Pila were a kind of javelins with which the Roman foot were armed: therefore the poet is here to be understood as saying to the person with whom he is supposed to discourse, "You certainly wish to be an officer, "and to have soldiers under your com"mand."

—Cohorts.] A cohort was a tenth part of a legion.

95. Domestic tents, &c.] The castra domestica were composed of horse, who were the body-guards of the prince or prætor; hence called also prætoriani. These seem to have been something like our life-guards.

—" Why should you not," &c.] What

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