Those very ships, and put under wheels: we believe deep That indeed was rather mild, that not worthy a mark also Bloody waves, and, with slow prow, thro' thick carcases. Give length of life, give, O Jupiter, many years! 185 This with upright countenance, and this, pale, alone you wish.But with what continual, and with how great evils is old age 190 Full! See the countenance deform'd, and hideous beyond every thing, See that he presided over the waters of the sea, which made their way into the earth, and caused earthquakes. From Gr. 1995, concussio, and ya, terra. GELLIUS. See the Orphic hymn, quoted in PARKH. Heb. Lex. under, No. 1. 183. Rather mild, &c.] The poet ironically says, "that, to be sure, all this "was very gentle in Xerxes, and that he "did not carry the matter farther, must "be considered as very gracious in a "man who might have thought proper "to have marked him as his slave." Stigma signifies a brand or mark set on the forehead of fugitive slaves, to which, no doubt, this passage alludes. 184. Any of the gods.] As well as Neptune, would, doubtless, without murmuring, have served so mild and gracious a prince! Still speaking ironically, in derision of the pride and folly of Xerxes. 185. What manner, &c.] After all this extravagance of pride. See note on 1. 179. -One vessel.]Navis signifies any vessel of the sea or river. The vessel in which Xerxes made his escape, after his defeat near Salamis, was a poor fishing-boat. 186. Bloody waves.] Made so by the slaughter of such numbers of the Persian army. -Slow prow, &c.] The sea was so crowded with the floating carcases of the slain, that the boat could hardly make its way. 187. Glory, &c.] This haughty prince, who had collected so vast a force together, in order to carry on the war with the Athenians, begun by his father Darius,andinvading Greece with seven hundred thousand men of his own kingdoms, three hundred thousand auxiliaries, and with twelve thousand ships, after beating Leonidas and taking Sparta, is defeated by Themistocles, his army cut to pieces, his fleet destroyed, and himself forced to escape in a wretched fishing-boat. All this might well be called the just demand of vengeance against his pride, and mad thirst after glory. 188. Give, &c.] The poet now satirizes the folly of wishing for long life : he supposes one praying for it. 189. Upright countenance, &c.] i. e. Looking up to heaven-pale, with fear of death, or lest the petition should be refused. But, perhaps, recto vultu may here be a phrase to express one in youth and health; and the following pallidus may denote a state of old age and sickness : comp. 1. 191. "Both sick and healthful,old and young, "conspire "In this one silly, mischievous desire.” DRYDEN. E Dissimilemque sui, deformem pro cute pellem, 195 200 205 Nunc damnum alterius; nam quæ cantante voluptas, 210 Sit licet eximius, citharœdo, sive Seleuco, Et quibus auratâ mos est fulgere lacernâ? 192. Itself.] Its former self. -Unsightly hide.] Here is a dis. tinction between cutis and pellis, the former signifying the skin of a man, the other the hide of a beast; to the last of which, by an apt catachresis, the poet compares the coarse and rugged appearance of an old man's skin. 193. Pendent checks.] It is observable, that, in old persons, the cheeks, not only in that part of them which is immediately below the eyes, hang in purses downwards, but also in that part which, in youth, forms the roundness, and contributes so much to the beauty and comeliness of the face, hang downwards in a relaxed and pendent state. 194. Tabraca, &c.] Now called Tunis, on the Mediterranean, near which was a wood, wherein was a vast quantity of apes. 195. Her old cheek.] Bucca properly signifies the cheek, or that part of it which swells out on blowing; but here it seems (by synec.) to denote the whole face, every part of which, in the animal 215 he speaks of, especially when old, is in a wrinkled state. Dryden has well preserved the humour of this simile: Suchwrinkles as a skilful handwould draw, For an old grandam-ape, when, with a grace, She sits at squat, and scrubs her leathern face. 196. The differences, &c.] The poet is here to be understood as observing, that, however, in the days of youth, one is distinguishable from another by different beauties of countenance, and strength of body, old age renders all distinctions void; and, in short, one old man is too like another, to admit of them, both with respect to countenance, and bodily strength. 199. Smooth head.] Bald with the loss of hair. -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. And unlike itself, an unsightly hide instead of a skin : And pendent cheeks, and such wrinkles, As, where Tabraca extends its shady forests, 195 gum: 200 The differences of youths are very many, one is handsomer than Tho' every means be used to restore them. Has this important state any thing to hope for? What, but that the desire be deservedly suspected, 205 The loss of another part-for what pleasure (has he) when a 210 Harper (tho' even the best) or Seleucus performs, And those whose custom it is to shine in a golden habit? What signifies it in what part of a great theatre he may sit, Who can hardly hear the cornets, and the sounding of the Trumpets? There needs a bawling, that the ear may perceive 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 trumpets. 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 hourglasses, which a boy was to watch, and acquaint the master how the time went." Horas quinque puer nondum tibi nun tiat et tu Jam conviva mihi, Cæciliane, venis, Quem dicat venisse puer, quot nunciet horas. 220 225 Pallida labra cibum capiunt digitis alienis. Ipse ad conspectum cœnæ diducere rictum 230 Suetus, hiat tantum, ceu pullus hirundinis, ad quem Ore volat pleno mater jejuna. Sed omni Membrorum damno major dementia, quæ nec 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. Gelidus tardante senecta Sanguis hebet, &c. EN. v. l. 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. En, i. 86. from whence our poet borrows this expression. See sat. iii. 162, and note. 220. Hippia.] See sat. vi. 82. a wo man famous for her debaucheries. 221. Themison.] A physician much commended by Pliny and Celsus, though here spoken of in no very favourable light. Perhaps Juvenal gives this name to some empiric, in derision. - Autumn.] The autumn was usually a sickly time at Rome. See sat. iv. 1. 56, 7, and notes. 222. 'Allics, &c.] When the Romans had conquered any people, they reduced 235 them into the form of a province, which, being subject to Rome, was governed by a Roman prætor, 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 prætors, 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. 1. 306, note. 224. Hamillus.] A school-master, famous for unnatural practices with his .scholars. 226. Who clipping.] See sat. i, 25, and notes. Whom his boy may say bring word of. Beside, the very little blood, now in his cold body, Is only warm from fever: there leap around, form'd into a troop, All kind of diseases, the names of which were you to ask, 221 I could sooner unfold, how many adulterers Hippia has loved, Sooner run over how many country-houses he may now possess, his hip, Another has lost both his eyes, and envies the blind of one: The pale lips of this take food from another's fingers: He, at the sight of a supper, accustomed to stretch open his 230 Jaw, only gapes, like the young one of a swallow, to whom The fasting dam flies with her mouth full. But, than all the loss Of limbs, that want of understanding is greater, which neither Knows the names of servants, nor the countenance of a friend, With whom he supp'd the night before, nor those 235 Whom he hath begotten, whom brought up: for, by a cruel will, He forbids them to be his heirs; all his goods are carried 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 1. 218, 19. are here represented as making their attacks on different parts of the body. 229. Of this.] Hujus-i. c. hominis. 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 knows.] i. c. Recol lects; his memory now failing. 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 possession 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, of which they used to write; hence any writing, as a deed, will, &c. See sat. vii. 110. 237: Forbids them.] He excludes them |