Et centum Græcos curto centusse licebit. 191. "And cheapens."] Liceor -eri, dep. to cheapen a thing, to bid money for it, to offer the price. "Greeks."] i. e. Philosophers, most of which first came to Greece. ----"A clipped centussis."] Centussis, a rate of Roman money, amounting to about six shillings and three-pence of our money. 66 Clipped."] Curtailed, batteredshort of its nominal value, like bad money among us. "And cheapens an hundred Greeks at a clipped centussis." q. d. If Pulfenius, the centurion, were to hear what I have said on the subject of liberty, he would not only laugh at it, but, if he were asked what he would give for an hundred philosophers, he would not offer a good six and three penny piece for them all. However, though you may be of the same mind, Dama, yet what I have said is not the less true, nor are philosophers the less valuable in the eyes of all the wise and good. SATIRA VI. ARGUMENT. Persius addresses this epistolary Satire to his friend Casius Bassus, a lyric poet. They both seem, as was usual with the studious among the Romans, in the beginning of winter, to have retired from Rome to their respective country-houses; Persius to his, at the port of Luna, in Liguria; Bassus to his, in the territories of the Sabines. The Poet first enquires after his friend's manner of life and AD CESIUM BASSUM. ADMOVIT jam bruma foco te, Basse, Sabino? Line 1. Sabine fire-hearth.] The ancient Sabines were a people between the Umbrians and Latins, but, after the rape of the Sabine women, incorporated into one people with the Latins, by agreement between Tatius and Romulus. This part of Italy still retained its name; and here Bassus had a country-house, to which he retired at the beginning of winter, for the more quiet and convenient opportunity of study. This was not far from Rome. --Fire-hearth.] So focus literally signifies, quod foveat ignem-AINSW. but it is sometimes used for the whole house, by synec. and, perhaps, is so to be understood here. Sometimes, by meton. for the fire. 2. Does now the lyre.] The lyre was a stringed instrument, which gave a soft and gentle sound when touched with fingers; but when struck with a quill, which, when so used, was called pecten, gave a louder and harsher sound. The language here is figurative-the lyre stands for lyric, or the softer and gentler kind of poetry; and the strings, or chords, being struck tetrico pectine, with the rough or harsh quill, denote the sharper and severer style of verse. The poet inquires whether Bassus, in his retirement, was writing lyric verses, and whether he was also employing himself in graver or severer kinds of composition. Live to thee.] When an instrument lies by, and is not played on, it may be said to be dead, and when taken up and played on, the strings may be said to be alive, from their motion and sound. 3. Admirable artist!] Opifex-lit. a workman: it also means an inventor, deviser, and framer. SATIRE VI. ARGUMENT. studies, then informs him of his own, and where he now is. He describes himself in his retirement, as quite undisquieted with regard to care or passions; and, with respect to his expences, neither profuse nor parsimonious. He then treats on the true use of riches; and shews the folly of those who live sordidly themselves for the sake of leaving their riches to others. TO CESIUS BASSUS. HAS winter already moved thee, Bassus, to thy Sabine firehearth? Does now the lyre, and do the strings, live to thee with a rough quill? Admirable artist! in numbers the beginnings of things Mox juvenes agitare jocos; et, pollice honesto, Hic ego securus vulgi, et quid præparet auster 5. Then to agitate young jokes.] Then, in light and lively strains, to describe the amours and frolics of young men. -Honest thumb.] Meton. with truth and faithfulness, representing the actions and worthy deeds of older men, who have distinguished themselves in a more advanced time of life. 6. Ligurian.] i. e. Being now removed from Rome into Liguria. Ligus ora, for Ligustica ora. 6,7. Coast grows warm.] Either from its situation near mountains, which kept off the cold blasts of wind, or from the circumstance next mentioned, the agitation of the sea, which causes a warmth in the water. 66 TULLY, Nat. Deor. lib. ii. says, “Seas 66 agitated by the winds grow so warm, as easily to make us understand, that "in those large bodies of water there is "heat included: for that heat which we "perceive, is not to be accounted merely "external and adventitious, but excited "by the agitation which is in the inner"most parts of the water; this also "happens, to our bodies, when by motion "they grow warm." 7. My sea is rough.] That is, the sea near Volaterra, a city of Tuscany, where Persius was born, and near which he now was. -Large side, &c.] The rocks running out far into the sea, present an extensive side to the water, by which the waves are stopped, and a quiet bay formed. 8. The shore draws itself in, &c.] The shore retires, and forms a large circular valley between the mountains; which is 5 10 15 another reason of the warmth of my situation; my house which is situated in that valley being sheltered from the wintry storms. 9." Port of Luna."] So called from the shape of the bay in which it was situate, which, from the circular form of the shore, was like an half-moon-Lunaï, per diæresim, for Lunæ. “It is worth while," &c.] This line is from Ennius, who began his annals of the Roman people with Est operæ pretium, O cives, cognoscere portum Lunæ. 10. The heart of Ennius, &c.] He was an ancient poet, born at Rudiæ, a tower of Calabria: he wrote annals of the Roman people; also satires, comedies, and tragedies; but nothing of his is come to us entire. He died 169 years before Christ. Cor. means, literally, the heart; and, by meton. the mind, wisdom, judgment. Perhaps the poet means to say, that Ennius, when in his right mind and sober senses, recommended the port of Luna to his countrymen, after he came out of his vagaries after mentioned. -Dreaming, &c.] See Prologue to sat. i. 1. 2, and note. Mæonides was a name given to Homer, on account of his supposed birth at Smyrna, in the country of Mæonia, i. e. Lydia. 11. Fifth from the Pythagorean peacock.] Some are for supposing Quintus, here, to be understood as a prænomen of Ennius--but it should rather seem, as if Persius were here laughing at the extravagant idea of the Pythagorean doctrine |