2. Sic fratres Helenae] Castor and Pollux had among other titles that of apwyóvavrat, sailor-helpers.' The appellation 'lucida sidera' is supposed to be derived from certain meteoric appearances after storms, which the ancients supposed to indicate the presence of Castor and Pollux. Similar phenomena are still called by the Italian sailors the fire of St. Elmo, a corruption (it is believed) from Helena, sister of Castor and Pollux. Compare Eurip. Helen. 1495, sqq., and C. iv. 8. 31.

3. pater, olus is steward of the winds in Homer (Odyss. x. 21), king in Virgil, and father here.

4. prueter lapyga:] The Iapygian or northwest wind, so called from Iapygia in Apulia, whence it blows down the Adriatic, was favorable for a voyage from Brundisium, where Virgil would embark for Greece.

6. finibus Atticis] Deliver him safe on the shores of Attica'; 'finibus ' being the ablative caseX Reddere' is the word for delivering a letter.

8. animae dimidium meae.] See C. ii. 17. 5. The definition of a friend ἥμισυ τῆς ψυχῆς is attributed to Pythagoras.

9. Illi robur et aes triplex] This too is an imitation of the Greek, as Aesch. Prom. 242 : σιδηρόφρων τε κἀκ πέτρας εἰργασμένος. We are to understand a man whose heart is hard, as if cased in oak and a triple coat of bronze.

13. Aquilonibus] The dative, depending on 'decertantem.'

14. tristes Hyudas,] These were three stars in the head of Taurus, whose name (derived from vew, to rain) explains the epithet tristes, 'dull,' 'unhappy.'

15. arbiter] This may be rendered 'tyrant.' 'Notus' is called 'dux turbidus Hadriac' (C. iii. 3. 5). 'Ponere freta' is like Virg. (Aen. i. 66), "placide straverunt aequora venti"; and Soph. Aj. 674: dewwv d' anpa πνευμάτων ἐκοίμισε στένοντα πόντον. Sive is omitted before tollere, as the Greeks frequently omitted ere in the first clause. This is common in Horace.

17. gradum] This is not 'degree,' but step.' It must be rendered in some such way as this: in what shape should he fear the approach of death.'

18. siccis oculis Enpois ȧkλavσrois oppaσiv (Aesch. S. c. Theb. 696). The ancients were less exact in ascribing the proper signs to emotion, or they wept less sparingly than men do now. Cæsar, describing the effect of fear on his men, says, "Hi neque vultum fingere neque interdum lacrimas tenere potuerunt" (B. G. i. 39); and Ovid (Met. xi. 539), describing sailors in a storm, says:

"Non tenet hic lacrimas: stupet hic: vocat ille beatos

Funera quos maneant":

It was enough to make them weep, to think that their bodies could not meet
with burial. Sicci occuli' are fitting accompaniments of a heart so hard
as this venturous discoverer is said to have had.

20. Acroceraunia?] 'Ceraunii montes' was the ancient name for the
range of mountains that runs down the coast of Epirus, the northern ex-
tremity of which was the promontory called 'Acroceraunia.' The naviga-
tion in the neighborhood of this promontory appears to have been dangerous.*
Vessels going from Italy to Greece were liable to be driven upon it, which
accounts for its mention here.

22. dissociabili] Used actively, as penetrabile telum " (Aen. x. 48), "genitabilis aura Favoni" (Lucret. i. 11), and in Horace 'amabilem' (C. i. 5. 10), 'illacrimabilem' (ii. 14. 6), which is used passively C. iv. 9. 26. Tacitus uses 'dissociabilis' passively (Agr. 3), res olim dissociabiles miscuerit principatum et libertatem." Prudens" is providens,' foreseeing the

evil to come.

& more likel, the Dat.com

in VIII, 170; in arma

arma, X, 684!

Virg. Aex. 11,18

25. Audax omnia perpeti] Presumptuous (enough) to endure all suffer ings.' Compare with this Soph. Antig. 332, sqq.:

πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ, κοὐδὲν ἀν

θρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.

τοῦτο καὶ πολιοῦ πέραν
πόντου χειμερίῳ νότῳ

χωρεί, περιβρυχίοισιν
περῶν ὑπ ̓ οἴδμασιν.

:

'Perpeti' means to endure to the end. "Vetitum' with 'nefas' is not altogether redundant. It expresses crimes which are obviously forbidden, as shown by the obstructions thrown in the way of their commission.

27. Tapeti genus] 'Son of Iapetus' (Prometheus). This is after the use of yévos, which occurs not rarely in the Tragedians. Eurip. (Cyclops 104) has dpuv Zioúpou yévos, for Ulysses; and Virg. (Aen. iv. 12) "genus esse Deorum." Compare S. ii. 5. 63. Prometheus also claimed to be the in

--

ventor of ships (Aesch. P. V. 467).

28. fraude mala] 'Mala' means mischievous or fatal theft, referring to its consequences. Technically 'dolus malus' means a fraud with bad intent, and 'dolus bonus' with good intent, a pious fraud.

30. Subductum] 'stolen.' 'Sub' in composition has sometimes that force of úró which signifies 'suppression,' and so 'deception' in every form. But it does not always convey a bad meaning.

31. incubuit] This word does not always take a dative case after it. Lucret. vi. 1141:

"Mortifer aestus

Incubuit tanden populum Pandionis omnem."

In what follows' prius' belongs to 'semoti,' and 'tarda necessitas leti' are one subject. Translate, tardaque necessitas leti, prius semoti, corripuit gradum, the power, once slow, of death remote before, hastened its step.' So that 'prius' also affects tarda.' The story of the discases and ills which issued from Pandora's box, and which were a punishment for the theft of Prometheus, will be found in any classical dictionary.

36. Herculeus lab. So Odyss. xi. 600, Biŋ Hpakλnein for Hercules. "Catonis virtus" (Ć. iii. 21. 11), "virtus Scipiadac et mitis sapientia Lacli" (S. ii. 1. 72), may be taken in the same way. The descent of Hercules to Hades, for the purpose of bringing up Cerberus, was the twelfth labor imposed on him by Eurystheus.

ODE IV.

L. SESTIUS, whose name is used in this Ode, was one of those who served with Horace under Brutus, and they were no doubt on terms of intimacy. The Ode professes to be written at the beginning of spring, and its subject is the uncertainty of life and the duty of enjoying it.

ARGUMENT.- The winter is thawing; the spring is returning; the ships are being launched; the herds quit their stalls and the ploughman his fireside; and the meadows are no longer white with frost. Venus and the Graces are leading the dance, and the Cyclops' forge is burning. Let us bind the head with myrtle or the earth's first flowers, and sacrifice a lamb or kid to Pan. Death calls on rich and poor alike. Life is short, O Sestius! and our hopes we must contract. The grave awaits thee; and when there, no more shalt thou preside at the feast, or sigh for the fair young Lycides.

2. machinae] The machines here mentioned are called by Cæsar (B. C. ii. 10) phalangae.' They were rollers. Vessels were drawn up on shore from the Ides of November to the Ides of March, during which time "Defendens pisces hiemat mare (S. ii. 2. 17). As to Favonius' see C. iii. 7. 2. The usual word for 'to launch' (for which trahunt' is here used) is deducere,' the reverse of which, to haul up on shore,' is 'subducere.'

"

3. neque―aut-nec] The two first of these form one branch of the sentence, and the last the other. Neque (pecus aut arator) gaudet nec prata albicant." See C. ii. 3, at the beginning.

4. canis-pruinis] The hoar-frost.

5. imminente Luna,] 'with the moon overhead.' 'Cytherea Venus' is unusual, but is analogous to Poiẞos 'Aπóλλwv.

6. Junctaeque Nymphis] Nymphis' is dative. 'comely. See C. 30. 5, and 7, n.

Translate decentes'

7. graves] This epithet may have a variety of meanings. Perhaps Horace meant laborious.' The eruptions of Ætna, where the thunderbolts of Jove were supposed to be forged, taking place chiefly in the summer and early autumn, the Cyclops are fitly represented as preparing these bolts in spring.

8. urit] This seems to be an adaptation of pλéyeɩ, 'lights up,' and is an unusual sense for uro.' Ovid (Fast. iv. 473) has " Antraque Cyclopum, positis exusta caminis," which was possibly imitated from this.

9. nitidum i. e. with oil. C. ii. 7. 22, n.; Epp. i. 5. 14, n.

11. Fauno decet immolare] The Faunalia took place on the Ides of December. But a lesser festival was observed on the Ides of February, at the advent of Faunus (Pan, the two being identified by the later Romans). See C. iii. 18. At that time the flocks and herds went out to graze, and the god was invoked for their protection. 'Immolare' admits of two constructions with an ablative, as (Livy xli. 14) "immolantibus Jovi singulis bubus"; and with an accusative, as (Virg. Aen. x. 519) "inferias quas immolet umbris." Horace himself has the latter construction elsewhere (S. ii. 3. 164): "Immolet aequis hic porcum Laribus." So Virgil (Ecl. iii. 77), "facias vitula."

13. pulsat] Ovid, Heroid. xxi. 46, “Persephone nostras pulsat acerba

fores.'

14. Reges] This word is commonly applied to the rich by Horace, and by Terence too, as Phormio (i. 2. 20): “O! regem me esse opportuit." The Romans, after the expulsion of the kings, used the terms 'rex,' 'regnum,' 'regnare,' for the most part, in an invidious sense. Beatus' means one who is rich and lives free from misfortunes. Sestius shared the defeat of Brutus at Philippi, but returning to Rome he was favored by Augustus, and rose to be consul.

15. inchoare] To enter upon.' This word means properly to begin a thing and not to bring it to an end. The derivation is uncertain.

16. premet] From this word, which belongs more properly to 'nox,' we must understand appropriate words for 'Manes' and domus.' Orelli supplies circumvolitabunt' and 'teget.'

fabulaeque Manes] This is explained by Juv. S. ii. 149:

"Esse aliquid (or aliquos) Manes —

Nec pueri credunt nisi qui nondum acre lavantur." Persicus has imitated Horace, S. v. 152: "cinis et Manes et fabula fies." 'Fabulae,' therefore, signifies unreal.' See Epp. ii. 2. 209, n. - 'Exilis' is 'barc,' as in Epp. i. 6. 45: "Exilis domus est qua non et multa supersunt." -‘Simul' is used commonly by Horace for simul ac, 'Mirabere,' as expressing affection, savors of the Greek Oavμáčew. It occurs again Epod. iii. 10. As to 'talis,' 'dice,' see S. ii. 3. 171, n.

as soon as.'

It was usual

at feasts for one to be chosen by lot, or by throw of dice, president, called by the Greeks ovμπоσiaрxоs, and by the Romans 'rex bibendi' or 'magister bibendi,' his office being principally to regulate the quantity and quality of wine to be drunk. Compare C. ii. 7. 25.

ODE V.

THIS is a graceful fancy poem. It expresses a lover's jealousy, under the pretence of being glad to escape from the toils of an inconstant mistress. He supposes her to be at this time engaging the affections of some inexperienced youth unknown, who is embarked on the dangerous sea from which he has himself barely escaped. Milton has made a good translation of this Ode.

ARGUMENT. What slender youth art thou toying with now, Pyrrha ? He thinks, poor, credulous boy, it will always be thus with thee, and will timidly wonder when the tempest ariseth. I pity those who have no experience of thee; for my part, I have escaped out of the storm, as the walls of the Sea-god show, whereon my dripping garments and the picture of my wreck are hung.

5. Simplex munditiis?] 'Munditia,' in the singular and plural, signifies elegance of dress without pretension. Translate plain in thy neatness.' 6. Mutatosque deos] 'Mutatos' applies equally to 'fidem' and 'deos.' See C. ii. 1, n.

8. Emirabitur] This word is not found in other good authors. It is a stronger form of miror,' which is a common effect of 'e' and 'de' in composition, as, among many other instances, decertantem' in the third Ode. Demiror' is a word used by Cicero and others, and adopted here by some editors. Insolens' is either used absolutely or with a genitive.

9. aurea:] All gold' is Milton's translation, and none other that I know of will do. It implies perfection, just as 'aurea mediocritas' signifies that perfect state which transgresses neither to the right nor to the left. So Homer calls Venus xpvoéa frequently.

10. vacuam,] heart-free.' Elige de vacuis quam non sibi vindicet alter," Ov. Herod. xx. 149. See also C. i. 6. 19: “ Cantamus vacui sive quid urimur."'-'Amabilem' Gesner understands actively. It may be either, or both. Sce C. i. 3. 22.

13. tabula] This practice of persons escaped from shipwreck hanging up in the temple of Neptune or other sea-god a picture representing their wreck and the clothes they escaped in, is mentioned twice again by Horace, S. ii. 1. 33; A. P. 20. Also, among many others, by Virgil, Aen. xii. 768: "Servati ex undis ubi figere dona solebant

Laurenti divo, et votas suspendere vestes."

The temples of Isis in particular were thus adorned, after the introduction of her worship into Rome, which was not till quite the latter years of the Republic. She was worshipped in Greece as Ieλayia, and the Romans placed themselves under her protection at sea. Juvenal asks (S. xii. 28): "Pictores quis nescit ab Iside pasci?" There is a little confusion in the sentence; for Horace says, 'the wall shows with its votive picture that he has hung up his clothes to the sea-god.' This may be accounted for if we suppose that he meant to say, 'the wall with its picture shows that he has

escaped drowning,' to which the other is equivalent, but expresses more, namely, the hanging up of the clothes.

15. potenti-maris]Potenti' governs 'maris,' as "potens Cypri," C. L 3. 1.

ODE VI.

THIS Ode is addressed to M. Vipsanius Agrippa, the friend and general, and at a later time the son-in-law, of Augustus. It was probably written after the battle of Actium, where Agrippa coinmanded the fleet of Augustus against M. Antonius. He may have asked Horace to write an ode in his honor, and he declines in a modest way, professing to be unequal to such high exploits, which he places on the same level with those of Homer's heroes.

ARGUMENT. Varius shall sing in Homeric strain of thy victories by sea and land. My humble muse does not sing of these, of the wrath of Achilles, or the wanderings of Ulysses, or the fate of Pelops's house, nor will she disparage thy glories and Cæsar's. Who can fitly sing of Mars, mailclad, of Meriones, black with the dust of Troy, of Diomed, a match for gods? I sing but of feasts, and of the battles of boys and girls.

1. Scriberis] See next Ode, v. 1, n. L. Varius Rufus was a distinguished epic and tragic poet frequently mentioned by Horace, with whom he was intimate, and whom he introduced to Mæcenas. He was popular with his contemporaries, and much admired by them. Augustus also had an affection for him (see Epp. ii. 1. 247).

2. carminis alite,] 'Alite' is in apposition with 'Vario.' Translate, 'bird of Homeric song.' In prose the ablative of the agent without a preposition is not admissible. But Horace has the same construction, C. iii. 5. 24. S. ii. 1. 84. Epp. i. 1. 94. It is most frequently found in Ovid. Homer is called 'Maeonius' from the fact that Smyrna, a town of Lydia, more anciently called Mæonia, was one of those that claimed to be his birthplace.

3. Quam rem cunque] The construction is by attraction. The full expression would be 'scriberis et scribetur omnis res quamcunque.' Agrippa's great successes up to this time had been in the Perusian war against L. Antonius, B. C. 41 (in which he had the principal command under Augustus), in Gaul and Germany, by land; and against Sex. Pompeius and at Actium, by sea.

4. te duce] See next Ode, v. 27, n.

5. neque haec

nec gravem] This is as if he had said: 'I should not think of singing of these victories, any more than I should of the wrath of Achilles.' Compare C. iii. 5. 27–30:

"Neque amissos colores

Lana refert medicata fuco,

Nec vera virtus cum semel excidit

Curat reponi deterioribus."

'As the stained wool does not recover its lost color, so true virtue once lost will not be restored to the degenerate.' 'Gravem stomachum' is a translation of μnviv ovλoμévŋv (Il. i. 1), and 'cedere nescii' is explained by 'inexo rabilis,' A. P. 121. This construction with 'nescius' is not uncommon. Virgil, Aen. xii. 527: "Rumpuntur nescia vinci pectora." Ovid, Ep. ex Pont. ii. 9. 45: "Marte ferox et vinci nescius armis."

7. duplicis] dinλous, double-minded or double-tongued,' as he is described by Hecuba in Euripides's play of the Trojan Women (v. 285); —