Ad sextam. Facere hoc non possis quinque diebus 206. You could not, &c.] i. e. Fre- tuousness. quent feasts, and indulge in idleness; 208. Rarer use, &c.] The poet conhowever these may be occasionally plea- cludes with a general sentiment, very sant, a continuance of them for a week applicable to all pleasures of sense, together would grow irksome. which, by continual use, pail and grow 207. Such a life.] Of ease and volup- tiresome : To the sixth. You could not do this for five days For frequent use would the delight ex clude, Pleasure's a toil when constantly pur. sued. CONGREVE. Shakespeare, 2d part of Hen. IV. act i, scene 2. has finely expressed the like sentiment: If all the year were playing holidays, for come. SATIRA XII. ARGUMENT. The Poet having invited Corvinus to assist at a sacrifice, which he intended to offer up by way of thanksgiving for the safety of his friend Catullus from the danger of the seas, professes his disinterestedness on the occasion, and, from thence, takes an NATALI, Corvine, die mihi dulcior hæc lux, 5 Line 1. This day.) On which I am gods. See Æn. i. l. 60. The fabled going to offer sacrifices, on account of wife of Jupiter, the supreme deity of my friend Catullus, the merchant's the Romans. escape from the dangers of the sea. - snowy lamb.] They offered white -Corvinus.]Juvenal's friend, to whom animals to the superior gods, black to this Satire is addressed. the inferior. See Hor. lib. i. sal. viii. -Birth-day.) Which was a day of l. 27; and Virgil, Æn. iv. I. 61. great festivity among the Romans; ihey 4. Equal fleece.) A like fleece, i. e. a celebrated it yearly, offering thanksgiv- white one; or fleece, here, may, by sying-offerings tothe gods, and made feasts, nec. be put for the whole animal offered ; to which they invited their friends, who a like offering. made them presents on the occasion. -Minerva.] Lit. the fighter with the See sat. xi. I. 84, note. See Hor. ode Moorish gorgon. The gorgons were supe xi. lib. iv. 1. 1—20. Virg. ecl. iii, 1. 76. posed to be three, who inhabited near 2. Festal turf. ] The altar of green turf, mount Atlas, in Mauritania. Medusa is which our poei had built on the occasion, said to have been beloved by Neptune, thus suiting his devotion to his circumn-who lay with her in the temple of Mi. stances. Comp. Hor. lib. iii. od. viii. nerva, at which the goddess, being an1. 2-4. gry, changed the hair of Medusa into -The animals promised.] i. e. To be serpents, and so ordered it, that whoever offered in sacrifice to the gods. beheld her should be turned into stone. 3. Queen.] Juno, the queen of the She was killed by Perseus, the son of SATIRE XII. ARGUMENT. opportunity to lash the Hæridepetæ, or Legacy-hunters, who flattered and paid their court to rich men, in hopes of becoming their heirs. THIS day, Corvinus, is sweeter to me than my birth-day, Jupiter and Danae, (with the help of joint, in the hinder leg. Minerva,) as she lay asleep, who cut off 8. Sprinklei, &c.) They used to pour her head : this was afterwards placed in wine on the heads of the sacrifices, bethe ægis, or shield, of Minerva. tween the horns. So VIRG. Æn. iv. I. Hyginus says, that Medusa was not 60, 1. slain by Perseus, but by Minerva. Bri. Ipsa tenens dextrâ pateram pulcherrima tannic. in loc. Dido, Sometimes the head of Medusa was Candentis vaccæ media inter cornua supposed to be worn in the breast-plate fundit. of Minerva. See n. viii. 1. 435–8. Hence the Greek epigram on the vine 5. Petulant victim, &c.] The wanton and the goat. ness and friskiness of the calf leading Κ' ην με φαγης επι ριξαν ομως οτι καρποalong in a rope is here very naturally pogrow described. Οσσον επισπιισαι σοι, Τραγε, θυομενω. 6. Tarpeian Jove.) On the mons Ca ANTHOL. ep. i. pitolinus, otherwise called the Tarpeian “ Though thou eatest me doton to the hill, from the vestal virgin Tarpeia, who very root, yet I shall bear fruit betrayed it to the Sabines, Jupiter had Sufficient to pour on thee, O goat, a temple, whence his titles; Tarpeian “ rchen thou art sacrificed.” and Capitoline. 8. Is now ashamed, &c.] Hath left off 7. Ripe, &c.] The beasts were reckoned sucking; is grown above it. of a proper age and size for sacrifice, 9. Tcazes, &c.] It is usual for the when the tail reached the hough, or young of all horned animals to butt VOL, II. L 10 15 Si res ampla domi, similisque affectibus esset, 20 25 against trees, as if practising for future -Clitumnus.) A river dividing Tusfight; sometimes we see them in sport cany and Umbria, whose water, says engaging one another. Pliny, makes the cows, that drink of it, 10. If my fortune, &c.] The poet, bring white calves: whence the Rothroughout the above account of his sa mans, as Virgil and Claudian observe, critices, as well as of the altar on which were plentifully furnished with white they were to be offered, shews his prie sacrifices for Jupiter Capitolinus. See dence and frugalily, as well as his friend- Virg. Georg. lib. ii. 146–8. ship for his preserved friend Catullus. 14. A greil minister. ] Some interpret He professes to shew his affection, not this, as referring to the quality of the as he would, but as his fortune could af person giving the blow, as if it were to ford it. Instead, therefore, of a white be the chief pontiff, or sacrificer, and not bull to Jupiter, and white cows to Juno one of his popæe, or inferior officers. and Minerva, he offers a white ewe Others think, that it refers to the size lamb to Juno, tbe same to Minerva, and and strength of the person officiating, & calf to Jupiter. able to perform his office at 11. A bull.] The usual sacrifice to Ju. blow. piter was a white bull. 15. Yet trembling friend, &c.] This is -Fatler than Hispullu.] A fat, sen a very nalural circumstance, that a man, sual lady, noted as infamous for keeping for some time after a narrow escape a player. Sat. vi. 1. 74. from an horrible danger, should shudder -Drawn.) Dragged, by ropes fixed to at the very thoughts of it, and stand the horns, to the altar. aniazed at his deliverance. 11, 12. Wilh its very bulk slow.) So 17. The hazard of the sca.] i.e. The fat that he could hardly stir. danger of the waves. 12. In a neighbauring pasture.] Not 17, 18. Lightning escaped.] By which bred or fatted in the neighbourhood of he might have been killed in an instant, Rome. but happily escaped the blow. 13. His blood shewing, &c.] By the 18. Thick larkness, &c.) So that they colour and richness, as well as quantity could take no observation, nor know of it. where they were, or which way to steer. one |