THE Epistles, as the name implies, are addressed to particular individuals, and on various subjects. They are probably all among the poet's later productions, and are generally regarded as the most perfect of his works. As in case of the Satires, Epodes, and Odes, the first is addressed to Mæcenas.

EPISTLE I.-The poet's excuse for renouncing the composition of Lyrics, to prosecute the study of Moral Philosophy.

Franke supposes it to have been written in 20; Weichert and Grotefend, in 17; Walckenaer, in 16; and Kirchner, in 15 B.C.

1. Prima, &c.-ludo-" Mæcenas, sung by my earliest, and having a right to be celebrated by my latest muse, you seek to shut me up once more in the old place of exercise, after having been tried sufficiently, and already gifted with the rod of freedom." Dicte-Cp. Ars Poet., 141. Summa ultima, as in Ode iii. 28, 13.

2. Spectatum satis-The poet compares himself to a gladiator who has been sufficiently tried in exhibitions of skill, and has at last received his discharge (exauctoratio, or missio) by favour of the people. Donatum rude - Gladiators, when discharged from fighting, received a rod, along with a ticket (tessera), inscribed with their name, the letters SP (spectatus), and the date, as a mark of their exemption. This was either obtained at the expiration of the years of service for which they had engaged, or was granted, at the desire of the people, by the person who exhibited them (editor), to an old gladiator, or even to a novice, for some uncommon act of courage. Those who received it (rude donati) susH

pended their arms, as an offering, at the
entrance of the temple of Hercules, and
were called Rudiarii.
again be compelled to fight, but were some-
They could not
times induced to do so for hire. The fol-
lowing cut is supposed to represent a gia-
diator with a rudis in his hands.

3. Antiquo-ludo--"to my old school,"

of writing lyrics. The metaphor is continued from the ludus gladiatorius, or school where the gladiators were trained. Those who were dismissed on account of age, or As any other cause, were said delusisse. Horace began to write about twenty-six years of age, and is now about forty-six, the expressions antiquo ludo and non eadem est aetas are here used with great propriety. 4. Non eadem est aetas, non mens-"my age is not the same, my habits of thinking are changed." Cp. Ode iv. 1, 3, and 10, 7. Veianius-A celebrated gladiator of the day, who, having obtained his discharge, retired into the country, in order to avoid all risk of again engaging in the combats of the

6. Ne, &c-arena-"that he may not so often entreat the favour of the people from the extremity of the arena." Extremaarena-The arena was the oval space in the centre of the amphitheatre, where the gladiators fought with one another or with wild beasts. See illustration at the com

7. Est, &c-aurem-"I have a monitor that keeps frequently ringing in my cleansed ear," i.e., in my ear that hears distinctly what is said. The poet's monitor on this occasion is his own better judgment. Purgatam-Cp. Persius, Sat. v. 96. PersonetCp. Virgil, Æn. vi. 418.

8. Solve, &c.-ducat-"if you are wise, release, in time, from the chariot, the horse advancing in years, lest he make a ridicu lous failure (lit., lest he fail, deserving to be laughed at) at last, and become broken

winded."

9. Ilia ducat, lit., "should draw his flanks together." Cp. Virgil. Geo. iii. 506, 10. Nunc itaque · -"wherefore, now," yielding obedience to this monitor. Et cetera ludicra-“and other things of a spor

tive nature."

11. Et omnis in hoc sum-"and am wholly engaged in this." Cp. Sat. i 9, 2.

12. Condo, &c.-possim-"I treasure up and digest what I may at some future period draw forth into action." The reference is to the precepts of philosophy. With condo, depromere, compare condus promus, "a steward," or "housekeeper."

13. Quo me duce, quo lare tuter—“ under what guide, under what sect I take shelter." Lar is here equivalent to familia, a term frequently applied by the Roman writers to denote a philosophical sect. Cp. Ode i. 29, 14

mencement of the Epistle. For the security 14. Nullius, &c.—magistri—"bound to of the spectators, it was sunk about 18 feet swear to the tenets of no particular master," below the level of the lowest seats. The wall around it had several doors for the con- ie, blindly addicted to the tenets of no particular sect. The addicti were debtors whom venience of the combatants, and was surmounted by a balustrade, behind which the the prætor had adjudged to their creditors, to be committed to prison or otherwise emperor, curule magistrates, and vestal virgins, sat on ivory stools (sellae curules). secured, until satisfaction should be made. Both the wall and the seat were styled Soldiers also were called addicti, in allusion podium. Orelli thinks that extrema refers to the military oath which they took when enrolled. It is in this last sense that Horace to the side nearest the most honoured spec-here uses the word. Cp. Sat. ii. 7, 58, and tators. The word itself suggests the opposite side, where, it must be admitted, they

Epode, 15, 4. Addictus jurare is a Grecisi for addictus ut jurem.

15. Quo, &c. -— hospes -"whithersoever the tempest hurries me, thither am I borne The poet here describes himself guest." as a species of eclectic philosopher, culling from the doctrines of different sects whatever appears nearest to the truth, while blindly following the authority of noue. Cp. Sat. ii. 1, 80.

would be better seen by those whose atten-
tion they would specially wish to attract,
Keightley says, "We must understand, by
extrema arena, the edge of the arena alla
round, and suppose the gladiator to have
gone round the whole of it, supplicating
the spectators as he came before them.'
Toties snows the popularity of Veianius, and
the difficulty he had in obtaining his dis-
charge. Exoret-Some would translate
this by
beg his life of," though it does
not appear that he was wounded. Disabled
gladiators supplicated their lives by lower-
ing their arms, and holding up their finger.
The people testified their approbation by
shouting and raising their thumbs (vertebant
pollices). When they were dissatisfied, they
depressed their thumbs (premebant pollices)
in silence, and the vanquished was des-
patched by the conqueror. Cp. Epist. i. 18,
16.

16. Nunc, &c.—undis-"now I become an active man, and plunge into the waves of public life," ie., now I follow the precepts of the Stoic sect, and lead an active life amid the bustle of public affairs. The Stoics inculcated the propriety of their wise man's exerting his best endeavours for the general welfare of those around him. Agilis, gaTixós-Cp. Epist. i. 18, 90, and ii. 2, 84.

17. Virtutis verae-" of true (or abstract) virtue." Cp. Epist. ii. 2, 230.

18. Nunc, &c.-relabor—"now I glide breasts every avaricious and covetous feelback insensibly into the precepts of Aristip-ing, are here beautifully compared to the pus." Aristippus, the founder of the Cy- incantations and charms by which, accordrenaic sect, made the summum bonum con- ing to the popular belief, diseases were sist in pleasure. See Notes, Sat. ii. 3, 100. thought to be expelled from the human 19. Mihi, &c.-subjungere (=væosvyvú frame. va)—"to make circumstances subservient to me, and not me to circumstances," i.e., to pursue pleasure rather than duty, like the Cyrenaics.

21. Opus debentibus-"to those who owe the performance of a daily task," either for hire, or from situation and circumstances. Ut piger (videtur), &c.—matrum—as the year seems slow to minors, whom the strict

watchfulness of mothers restrains." Minors

long for their majority, and all the more if unduly restrained by their mothers; while parents are bound to restrain, as far as they are able, their offspring from the paths of dissipation, and to teach them the lessons of frugality and virtue.

with the love of praise." Tumes-si tumes. 36. Laudis amore tumes-"you are swelling Tumeo is thus frequently applied to denote any strong affection or desire, under the swells forth. Cp. Sat. ii. 3, 213. Sunt, &c. influence of which the mind, as it were, libello-"there are sure and cleansing remedies, which will restore you to moral health, if some treatise of philosophy be thrice read over with purity of mind." Piacula-" Medicamenta purgantia, nabagoies, i.e., praecepta philosophica." Comm. Cruq.

37. Ter-Three was one of the mystic numbers of antiquity, indicating perfection. Cp. Ode i. 28, 36. Pure-άyvas naì xaθαρῶς.

38. Amator "the libidinous man," or

24. Id quod-The pursuit of virtue is here truly stated to be equally important to all," the libertine." whether rich or poor, young or old.

27. Restat (mihi), &c.—elementis-Since, then, I cannot reach that wisdom which I so earnestly desire, "it remains for me to govern and console myself by these first principles of philosophy," i.e., to do as much

as I can.

28. (Quanquam) non possis. Oculo Some MSS. give oculos; others oculum, and one has oculis. Elementis-See Notes, Sat. i. 1, 26. Lynceus (a dissyllable) Though you are not so keen-sighted as Lynceus, who could see through the earth, you should not disdain to take care of your eyes. Cp. Sat. i. 2, 90.

29. Lippus-3ee Notes, Sat. i. 1, 120. Inungi-Cp. Sat. i. 5, 30, 49.

30. Glyconis-Glycon, of Pergamos, was a famous gladiator in the time of Horace.

31. Nodosa-cheragra-See Notes, Sat. ii. 7. 15. Prohibere-Cp. Epist. i. 8, 10.

32. Est, &c.-ultra-"it is in our power to advance to a certain point, if it is not permitted us to go farther." Est is here equivalent to licet, as, in Greek, or for

T. See Notes, Sat. ii. 5, 103. Quadam -tenus-A tmesis for quadamtenus. Cp. quatenus, aliquatenus, hactenus, eatenus, illatenus.

33. Fervet-Cp. Sat. iL 3, 79. Avarice is here regarded as a fever. Miseroque cupidine and with a wretched desire for more." Cp. Ode ii. 16, 10. Avarice and ambition are here contrasted, as in Sat. i. 4, 26; ii. 2, 187; and Epist. ii. 2, 205, &c. 34. Sunt verba et voces-"there are words and charms." Cp. Epist. i. 2, 23, and Ars Poet., 216. The precepts of philosophy, by which we are instructed to drive from our

Cp. Doering, "Culturae: praeceptis, qui-
40. Culturae-" to the lessons of wisdom."
bus animus excolatur," and Cicero, Tusc.
ii. 5, 13, Cultura animi philosophia est.

merely negative. It is something positive
41. Virtus-"a virtue." Virtue is not
and active. See Ephes. iv. 21, 29. Sapientia
titia-Cp. Sat. i. 2, 24.
prima-"the beginning of wisdom.' Stul-

43. Exiguum censum--" a small fortune.
2, 17.
Turpemque repulsam-See Notes, Ode iii.

44. Capitisque labore-" and risk of life."

45. Curris mercator ad Indos-The pastells us, that while Ælius Gallus governed sage to India was through Egypt. Strabo chantmen set sail from Myos Hormus, (i.e., Egypt, B. C. 27, a fleet of twenty-six merMuscle Port, probably Kosseir,) on the Sinus Arabicus, for India. Mercator-Cp. Ode iii. 24, 26, and i. 1, 16.

46. Per mare-per saxa, per ignes-A proverbial form of expression, equivalent to per summa quaeque pericula. Cp. Ode iv. 14, 24; Sat. i. 1, 39; ii. 3, 56.

willing to learn, and to hear, and to trust
47. Ne cures, &c.--vis?—"are you un-
yourself to the guidance of some wiser
friend, that you may no longer care for
and wish for?" Miraris-Cp. Epist. i. 6, 1.
those things which you foolishly admire

tained by perusing the works of philos.
48. Discere applies to instruction ob-
phers; audire to that which is received by
listening to oral teaching.
8. Meliori sapientiori-Cp. Epist. i. 2, 68.
Cp. Epist. i. 8,
49. Quis, &c.-palmae?-The question is
simply-"Who would prefer the ignoble
and laborious life of an itinerant boxer to
the honour of a crown at the Olympic

37. Cara pisces avertere mensa (pisca- | into, was apparent to no palate before toria) to carry off (or appropriate) the mine." Natura (optima) —Cp. line 20. fish from a dear stand," i.e, to pay dear for 46. Meum--palatum, here used pomfish. Cara, by enallage, for caros, as it pously for me. was the fish, and not the counter, that was expensive. For avertere, some MSS give averrere-" to sweep off as with a net."

79. Excipiantque, &c.-mittant -"and catch old men, whom they may send to their ponds." Old men are here compared to fish, as in Sat. ii. 5, 44, plures annabunt thunni, et cetaria crescent. Excipere, like indexsoba, is used to denote the securing of any prey or game. Cp. Ode iii. 12, 12. Vivaria-places where living animals are kept for future use. Cp. Sat. ii. 5, 44.

many changes as Proteus was capable of assuming forms. See Notes, Sat ii. 3, 71.

91. Quid pauper? ride, ut mutat, &c.This inconsistency is the folly of human nature, to which rich and poor are equally liable. Coenacula, lectos, balnea, tonsores"his garrets, couches, baths, barbers." Coenaculum properly denoted "the dining room " of a private house; but, as it became customary to dine up stairs, the plural was commonly used to signify the upper rooms, or attics, which, at Rome, in consequence of the greatness of the population, and the the poorer sort of people. Cp. Vitruvius, ii. want of suitable dwellings, were filled by 8, ad fin. and the following representation of

a Roman house. Lectos is meant to refer to

80. Oculto-fenore· -"with illegal interest," i.e., with usury. See Notes, Sat. i. 2, 14. Verum, esto (sv), &c.—probantes?—" but grant that different men are engaged in different employments and pursuits; can the same persons continue for a single hour some eating-house or tavern, which the praising the same things?" It were of little consequence that mankind differed from poor man changes with as much fastidious each other, if they could agree with them-caprice as the rich do the scenes of their selves, and consistently pursue what is public baths used by the poor, as the rich splendid entertainments. The balnea were right. Sat. 1. 3, 137. had private ones of their own. See Notes, As there were many tonstrinae, barbers' shops, at Rome, a person might easily consult variety in changing

83. Nuilis, &c.-amoenis-"no bay in the world surpasses in beauty the delightful Baiæ." See Notes, Ode ii. 18, 20.

84. Lacus, &c.-heri-"the lake and the sea experience the eagerness of the impatient master," in the erection of buildings. See Notes, Ode ii. 15, 3, and 18, 21; and compare Ode iii. 1, 33.

85. Cui, &c.-fabri-"to whom, if sickly caprice shall give the omen, he will cry, To-morrow, workmen, you will convey your tools to Teanum," i.e., for a mere whim, he will abandon his plans at Baiæ, in the vicinity of the sea, and leave for Teanum, in the interior of the country.

86. Teanum-There were two towns of this name in Italy-one in Apulia, on the right bank of the river Frento (now Fortore), and called for distinction's sake Appulum; the other in Campania, now Teano, about fifteen miles north-west of Capua. The latter, which is the one here alluded to, was famed for the beauty of the surrounding country, and became one of the favourite resorts of the Roman nobility and men of wealth, who erected splendid villas in its neighbourhood. There were some cold acidulous springs in its vicinity, now called Aqua delle Caldarelle. It received the epithet of Sidicinum, from its being situate among the Sidicini.

87. Lectus genialis in aula est-"the nuptial couch stands in his hall," i.e., he is a married man. The nuptial couch was placed in the hall, opposite the door, and covered with flowers.

89. Si non est-"if it does not stand there," i.e, if he is not married. Bene solis esse maritis-See Notes, Sat. ii. 2, 120, and Ode iii. 16, 43.

90. Protea-The rich man is full of capricious fancies, and his opinions undergo as

from one to another.

92. Conducto, &c.-triremis-"he is as fastidious in a hired boat, as the rich man whom his own galley conveys.' " Nauseat is here equivalent to oppletur fastidio. Some commentators give it a much plainer signification. Priva-See Notes, Sat. ii. 5, 11. Triremis-See Notes, Ode iii. 1, 37.

94. Curatus, &c.-capillos -"with my hair cut by an uneven barber," i.e., in an uneven manner. Curatus-tonsore capillos is a Grecism for curatis a tonsore capillis. Cp. Ode i. 6, 2, and Epist. i. 19, 13. Horace, in this as well as in what follows, applies to himself, not what properly belongs to him, but to any individual who comes forth into public in the state here described.

95. Si, &c.-tunicae -"if I chance to have a threadbare shirt under a new tunic." The subucula, or, as it was also called interula, was a woollen garment, worn next the skin, like the modern shirt. The outer tunic was of linen, and was called indusium or supparus. The former is understood to be illustrated by the following cut. Linen clothes were not used by the