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Sed cum summus honor finito computet anno,

Sportula quid referat, quantum rationibus addat :
Quid facient comites, quibus hinc toga, calceus hinc est,
Et panis, fumusque domi? densissima centum
Quadrantes lectica petit, sequiturque maritum
Languida, vel prægnans, et circumducitur uxor.
Hic petit absenti, notâ jam callidus arte,

Ostendens vacuam, et clausam pro conjuge sellam :
Galla mea est, inquit; citius dimitte : moraris?
Profer, Galla, caput. Noli vexare, quiescit.

Ipse dies pulchro distinguitur ordine rerum ;
Sportula, deinde forum, jurisque peritus Apollo,
Atque triumphales, inter quas ausus habere
Nescio quis titulos Egyptius, atque Arabarches;
Cujus ad effigiem non tantum mejere fas est.

alludes to the chattering noise made by these birds, particularly when the old ones revisited their nests, after having been out to seek food for their young. See AINSW. Salutatus, No. 2.

117. The highest honour, &c.] i. e. People of the first rank and dignity.

-Can compute, &c.] i. e. Can be so sunk into the most sordid and meanest avarice, as to be reckoning, at the year's end, what they have gained out of these doles which were provided for the poor.

119. The attendants, &c.] The poor clients and followers, who, by these doles, are, or ought to be, supplied with clothes, meat, and fire. What will these do, when the means of their support is thus taken from them by great people? -From hence.] i. e. By what they receive from the dole-basket.

-A shoe.] Shoes to their feet, as we say.

120. Smoke of the house.] Wood, or other fuel for firing; or firing, as we say. The effect, smoke; for the cause, fire. METON.

Crowd of litters.] The word densissima here denotes a very great number, a thick crowd of people carried in litters.

121. An hundred farthings.] The quadrans was a Roman coin, the fourth part of an as, in value not quite an halfpenny of our money. An hundred of these were put into the sportula, or dolebasket and for a share in this paltry sum, did the people of fashion (for such

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126. Don't vex her.] "Don't disturb her," replies the husband; "don't disquiet her, she is not very well, and is taking a nap.' By these methods he imposes on the dispenser, and gets a dole for his absent wife: though, usually, none was given but to those who came in person; and in order to this, the greatest caution was commonly used. See 1. 97, 8.

The violent hurry which this impostor appears to be in (1. 125.) was, no doubt, occasioned by his fear of a discovery, if he stayed too long.

Thus doth our poet satirize not only the meanness of the rich in coming to the sportula, but the tricks and shifts which they made use of to get at the contents of it.

127. The day itself, &c.] The poet having satirized the mean avarice of the

But when the highest honour can compute, the year being finished, What the sportula brings in, how much it adds to its accounts, What will the attendants do, to whom from hence is a gown,

from hence a shoe,

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And bread, and smoke of the house? A thick crowd of litters An hundred farthings seek; and the wife follows the husband, And, sick or pregnant, is led about.

This asks for the absent, cunning in a known art,

Shewing the empty and shut-up sedan instead of the wife. 124 "It is my Galla," says he, "dismiss her quickly: do you delay?" "Galla, put out your head"-" don't vex her-she is asleep." The day itself is distinguished by a beautiful order of things: The sportula, then the forum, and Apollo learned in the law,

And the triumphals: among which, an Egyptian, I know not who,

Has dared to have titles: and an Arabian prefect;
At whose image it is not right so much as to make water.

higher sort, now proceeds to ridicule their idle manner of spending time.

128. The sportula.] See before, 1. 95. The day began with attending on this.

The forum.] The common place where courts of justice were kept, and matters of judgment pleaded. Hither they next resorted to entertain themselves with hearing the causes which were there debated.

-Apollo learned in the law.] Augustus built and dedicated a temple and library to Apollo, in his palace on mount Palatine; in which were large collections of law-books, as well as the works of all the famous authors in Rome.

HOR. lib. i. epist. iii. 1. 16, 17. mentions this;

Et tangere vitat

Scripta Palatinus quæcunque recepit Apollo. But I should rather think, that the poet means here the forum which Augustus built, where, it is said, there was an ivory statue of Apollo, which Juvenal represents as learned in the law, from the constant pleadings of the lawyers in that place. Here idle people used to lounge away their time.

129. The triumphals.] The statues of heroes, and kings, and other great men who had triumphed over the enemies of

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the state. These were placed in great numbers in the forum of Augustus, and in other public parts of the city.

-An Egyptian, &c.] Some obscure low wretch, who for no desert, but only on account of his wealth, had his statue placed there.

130. An Arabian prefect.] Arabarches. So Pompey is called by Cic. Epist. ad Attic. 1. 2. epist. xvii. because he conquered a great part of Arabia, and made it tributary to Rome. But Juvenal means here some infamous character, who had probably been prefect, or viceroy, over that country, and had, by rapine and extortion, returned to Rome with great riches, and thus got a statue erected to him, like the Egyptian above mentioned, whom some suppose to have been in a like occupation in Egypt, and therefore called Ægyptius. Arabarches from Agay or A gabios and agxn.

131. To make water.] There was a very severe law on those who did this at or near the images of great men. This our poet turns into a jest on the statues above mentioned. Some are for giving the line another turn, as if Juvenal meant, that it was right, or lawful, not only to do this, non tantum mejere, but something worse. But I take the first interpretation to be the sense of

Vestibulis abeunt veteres, lassique clientes,
Votaque deponunt, quanquam longissima cœnæ
Spes homini: caules miseris, atque ignis emendus.
Optima sylvarum interea, pelagique vorabit
Rex horum, vacuisque toris tantum ipse jacebit :
Nam de tot pulchris, et latis orbibus, et tam
Antiquis, una comedunt patrimonia mensâ.
Nullus jam parasitus erit: sed quis feret istas
Luxuriæ sordes? quanta est gula, quæ sibi totos
Ponit apros, animal propter convivia natum ?
Pœna tamen præsens, cum tu deponis amictus
Turgidus, et crudum pavonem in balnea portas :
Hinc subitæ mortes, atque intestata senectus.

the author, by which he would intimate, that the statues of such vile people were not only erected among those of great men, but were actually prevented, like them, from all marks of indignity. So PERS. Sat. i. 1. 113. Sacer est locus, ite prophani, extra mejite.

132. The old and tired clients.] The clients were retainers, or dependents, on great men, who became their patrons: to these the clients paid all reverence, honour, and observance. The patrons, on their part, afforded them their interest, protection, and defence. They also, in better times, made entertainments, to which they invited their clients. See before, note on 1. 95. Here the poor clients are represented as wearied out with waiting, in long expectation of a supper, and going away in despair, under their disappointment. Cliens is derived from Greek xλuw, celebro, celebrem reddo; for it was no small part of their business to flatter and praise their patrons.

-Vestibules.] The porches, or entries of great men's houses.

Vestibulum ante ipsum, primoque in li

mine.

VIRG. Æn. ii. l. 469.

134. Pot-herbs.] Caulis properly denotes the stalk or stem of an herb, and, by synecdoche, any kind of pot-herb, especially coleworts, or cabbage. See AINSW. Caulis, No. 2.

-To be bought.] The hungry wretches go from the patron's door, in order to lay out the poor pittance which they may have received from the sportula in

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some kind of pot-herbs, and in buying a little fire-wood, in order to dress them for a scanty meal.

The poet seems to mention this by way of contrast to what follows.

135. Their lord.] i. e. The patron of these clients. Rex not only signifies a king, but any great or rich man so a patron. See Juv. sat. v. 1. 14. This from the power aud dominion which he exercised over his clients. Hence, as well as from his protection and care over them, he was called patronus, from the Greek wargwv, wvos, from warng, a fa

ther.

-Meanwhile.] i. e. While the poor clients are forced to take up with a few boiled coleworts.

-The best things of the woods, &c.] The woods are to be ransacked for the choicest game, and the sea for the finest sorts of fish, to satisfy the patron's gluttony: these he will devour, without asking any body to partake with him.

136. On the empty beds.] The Romans lay along on beds, or couches, at their meals. Several of these beds are here

supposed to be round the table which were formerly occupied by his friends and clients, but they are now vacant— not a single guest is invited to occupy them, or to partake of the entertainment with this selfish glutton.

137. Dishes.] Which were round, in an orbicular shape; hence called orbes.

-Beautiful.] Of a beautiful pattern ancient-valuable for their antiquity; made, probably, by some artists of old time.

The old and tired clients go away from the vestibules,

And lay aside their wishes, altho' the man has had a very long

Expectation of a supper: pot-herbs for the wretches, and fire is to be bought.

Meanwhile their lord will devour the best things of the woods, and of the sea,

And he only will lie on the empty beds:

For from so many beautiful, and wide, and ancient dishes, They devour patrimonies at one meal.

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There will now be no parasite: but who will bear that Filthiness of luxury? how great is the gullet, which, for itself, puts

Whole boars, an animal born for feasts?

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Yet there is a present punishment, when you put off your clothes,
Turgid, and carry an indigested peacock to the baths:
Hence sudden deaths, and intestate old age.

138. At one meal.] Mensa-lit. table which (by meton.) stands here for what is set upon it. Thus they waste and devour their estates in this abominable and selfish gluttony.

139. No parasite.] From raga, near, and roy, food.

These were a kind of jesters, and flatterers, who were frequently invited to the tables of the great; and who, indeed, had this in view, when they flattered and paid their court to them. Terence, in his Eunuch, has given a most spirited and masterly specimen of parasites, in his inimitable character of Gnatho.

But so fallen were the great into the meanest avarice, and into the most sordid luxury, that they could gormandize by themselves, without even inviting a parasite to flatter or divert them. But who, even though a parasite, would endure (feret) such a sight?

140. Filthiness of luxury.] Sordes, nastiness; a happy word to describe the beastliness of such gluttony with regard to the patron himself, and its stinginess and niggardliness, with respect to others. -How great is the gullet.] The gluttonous appetite of these men.

-Puts.] Ponit, sets, places on the table.

141. Whole bours, &c.] A whole boar at a time, the wild boar, especially the

Tuscan, was an high article of luxury at all grand entertainments. The word natum is here used as the word natis. HOR. lib. i. od. xxvii. 1. 1. See also OVID. Met. lib. xv. 1. 117.

Quid meruistis, oves, placidum pecus, in-
que tuendos
NATUM homines?

Juvenal speaks as if boars were made and produced for no other purpose than convivial entertainments.

142. A present punishment.] Of such horrid gluttony.

-Put off your clothes.] Strip yourself for bathing.

143. Turgid.] Turgidus, swoln; puffed up with a full stomach.

-An indigested peacock.] Which you have devoured, and which is crude and indigested within you.

-To the baths.] It was the custom to bathe before meals; the contrary was reckoned unwholesome. See PERS. sat. iii. 1. 98-105. and HOR. Epist. lib. i. Ep. vi. 1. 61.

144. Sudden deaths.] Apoplexies and the like, which arise from too great repletion. Bathing with a full stomach must be likely to occasion these, by forcing the blood with too great violence towards the brain.

-Intestate old age.] i. e. Old gluttons thus suddenly cut off, without time to make their wills.

It nova, nec tristis per cunctas fabula cœnas:
Ducitur iratis plaudendum funus amicis.
Nil erit ulterius, quod nostris moribus addat
Posteritas eadem cupient, facientque minores.
OMNE IN PRÆCIPITI VITIUM STETIT: utere velis,
Totos pande sinus. Dicas his forsitan, "unde
"Ingenium par materiæ ? unde illa priorum
"Scribendi quodcunque animo flagrante liberet
"Simplicitas, cujus non audeo dicere nomen?
"Quid refert dictis ignoscat Mutius, an non?
"Pone Tigellinum, tædâ lucebis in illâ,
"Quâ stantes ardent, qui fixo gutture fument,
"Et latum mediâ sulcum deducis arena.

145. A new story, &c.] A fresh piece of news, which nobody is sorry for.

146. A funeral is carried forth.] The word ducitur is peculiarly used to denote the carrying forth a corpse to burial, or to the funeral pile. So VIRG. Geor. iv. 256.

Exportant tectis, et tristia funera DU

CUNT.

Owing, perhaps, to the procession of the friends, &c. of the deceased, which went before the corpse, and led it to the place of burning, or interment.

146. Applauded by angry friends.] Who, disobliged by having nothing left them, from the deceased's dying suddenly, and without a will, express their resentment by rejoicing at his death, instead of lamenting it. See PERS. sat. vi. 33, 4.

148. To our morals.] Our vices and debaucheries, owing to the depravity and corruption of our morals.

-Those born after us.] Minores, i. e. natu, our descendants; the opposite of majores natu, our ancestors.

149. All vice is at the height.] In præcipiti stetit, hath stood, hath been for some time at its highest pitch, at its summit, so that our posterity can carry it no higher. Compare the two preceding lines.

Vice is at stand, and at the highest flow. DRYDEN.

On tip toe. A:NSW.

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opportunity for satire to display all its powers.

150, 1. Whence is there genius, &c.] Here he is supposed to be interrupted by some friend, who starts an objection, on his invocation to Satire to spread all its sails, and use all its powers against the vices of the times.

Where shall we find genius equal to the matter? equal to range so wide a field? equal to the description and due correction of so much vice?

151. Whence that simplicity, &c.] That simple and undisguised freedom of reproof, which former writers exercised. Alluding, perhaps, to Lucilius, Horace, and other writers of former times.

153. A burning mind.] Inflamed with zeal, and burning with satiric rage against the vices and abuses of their times.

-Of which I dare not, &c.] It is hardly safe now to name, or mention, the liberty of the old writers; it is so sunk and gone, that the very naming it is dangerous.

154. Mutius.] Titus Mutius Albutius, a very great and powerful man. He was satirized by Lucilius, and this most severely by name. See note on PERS. sat. i. I. 115.

Lucilius feared no bad consequences of this, in those days of liberty.

155. Set down Tigellinus.] i. e. Expose him as an object of satire-satirize this creature and infamous favourite of Nero's, and most terrible will be the consequence.

149, 50. Use sails, Spread, &c.] A metaphor taken from sailors, who, when they have a fair wind, spread open their sails as much as they can. The poet In that torch.] This cruel punishhere insinuates, that there is now a fair ment seems to have been proper to in

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