SAT. IV. HORATIUS. CATIUS. HORATIUS. UNDE, NDE, & quò Catius ? CATIUS. Non eft mihi tempus aventi Ponere figna novis præceptis; qualia vincant Peccatum fateor, quum te fic tempore lævo Quòd This Satire is fufficiently fingular, both for the Subject, and the Manner in which it is treated. An Actor appears upon the Scene, who is a perfect Original. He pretends to be an able Philofopher and an excellent Cook, but we find him as ignorant in the Science of the Kitchen, as in Philofophy. Our Poet treats him with much Refpect, and begs he may be received, as a Difciple, into a School of fuch fuperior Wisdom, as hath at last found, that the fupreme Happiness of Mankind confifts in good eating. It would have been ridiculous, gravely to refute a Doctrine of this extraordinary Kind, and therefore the Poet pleasantly takes his Leave of the Doctor, in folemn Admiration of his profound Wisdom. SAN. Verf. 1. Catius.] All the learned Enquiries of our Commentators only convince us, that it is impoffible to know who Catius was. Nor are there any Marks in the Satire itself, by which we may fix the Date of it. Non eft mibi tempus.] His firft Words are in a Style of Importance, and his Philofophy hath taken fuch Poffeffion of him, that he hath not Time for the common Forms of faluting a Friend. SAN. 2. Ponere figna novis præceptis.] Nova præcepta in animo confignare, to imprefs on my Memory fome admirable Precepts, which I SAT. IV. HORACE. CATIUS. HORACE. HENCE comes my Catius? Whither in fuch WHENCE CATIUS. I have no Time in idle Prate to waste. I ask your Pardon, and confefs my Crime, To interrupt you at fo cross a Time. But yet, if aught escap'd through strange Neglect, Whether bave just now beard. Much good Learning hath been employed to render this Expreffion obfcure, which is in itself clear and open. SAN. Novis præceptis.] This Philofopher, fo bufy, as not to be able to ftop a Moment, is however impatient to difplay his Doctrine, and makes the first Advances to raise our Poet's Curiofity. Præcepta are Principles of Conduct, thefe Principles are just now discovered, nova; they are above all the Precepts of other Philofophers, qualia vincant Pythagoran, and they require a Penetration of Spirit to underftand them, which few People poffefs, res tenues tenui fermone pera&tas. SAN. 3. Anytique reum.] Socrates, whom Anytus and Melitus accufed. 12. Longa Quòd fi interciderit tibi nunc aliquid, repetes mox; CATIUS. Quin id erat curæ, quo pacto cuneta tenerem ; Ede hominis nomen; fimul & Romanus, an hofpes. 10 Ipfa memor præcepta canam: celabitur auctor. 20 Natura 12. Longa quibus facies.] Catius preferves at least fome Order in delivering his Precepts, for we fhould not wrong him of the only good Thing he has taken from Philofo hy He begins with the firft Courfe of the Roman Tables; he proceeds next to the Fruit, which was called the fecond Table, and ends with fome general Reflexions upon Neatnefs and Elegance. But he opens with a Precept, which is contradicted by Experience. The round are male Eggs, and their Shell is harder, than that of the long. However, the Decifion of this new Legiflator hath impofed upon Columella, Pliny, and other great Authors, who look upon these Words of Catius as the real Opinion of Horace. SAN. Our Doctor opens his Lecture with much Solemnity, which the Tranflator hath endeavoured to preserve by a more numerous Pomp of Burlesque 13. Migis alta rotundis.] Alta for nutrita, from the Verb alere. Horace hath ufed altum in the fame Senfe in his Odes. Magis alba is ridiculous. CUN. SAN. 35. Caule Whether you boaft, from Nature or from Art, I meant to ftore them total in my Head, The Matter nice, and wrought of fubtle Thread. But prithee, Catius, what's your Sage's Name: CATIUS. His Precepts I fhall willingly reveal, And fing his Doctrines, but his Name conceal. Beft Greens and 15. Caule fuburbano.] Another falfe Principle. Roots of a natural Soil have always more Salts, and confequently an higher Relish; on the contrary, thofe which are raised by Force of watering are ufually flat and infipid. But Catius heightens the Abfurdity, by the Reafon he gives for his Opinion, irriguo nibil eft elutius borto, which is directly contrary to Matter of Fact. Pliny is again deceived in following our Philofopher. TORR. SAN. 19. Mufto merfare Falerno.] The Character of Catius is perfectly well fupported. This Precept is true, but his Expreffion is faulty. To make a Fowl tender, it was fuffocated in Wine; but merfare, which fignifies only to dip into Water, is not full to his Meaning. Mufto for mifto is a Correction received by four of our late Editors. 20. Pratenfibus optima fungis. Nothing is more falfe. The best Mushrooms, generally fpeaking, are thofe gathered in Woods, Heaths, or Downs. They are more wholefome, and better flavoured than thofe of Meadows. TORR. DAC. Natura eft; aliis malè creditur. Ille falubres Æftates peraget, qui nigris prandia moris Et lapathi brevis herba; fed albo non fine Coo. 25 30 Nec fibi cœnarum quivis temerè arroget artem, 35 Nec fatis eft carâ pifces averrere mensâ, 40 22. Qui nigris prandia moris finiet.] The Ancients had only one Meal, but they, who could not wait for Supper, ufually eat Bread, Grapes, Figs, or Mulberries in the Morning. But our Doctor, who loved to dine in Form, taught another Method, and in contradiction to Galen and the Faculty, would have his Disciples eat Mulberries after Dinner. 23. Ante gravem legerit.] The Juices of tenderer Fruit evaporate by the Heat of the Sun, but are collected and confined by the Coldness of the Night. On the contrary, harder and firmer Fruit, fuch as Apples, fhould be gathered in the middle of the Day, when the Sun hath ripened and concocted their Juices. 25. Mendosè Marcus Aufidius Lurco was a Man extremely knowing in the Science of good Eating. Our Doctor Adventurer here hazards a Decifion with his ufual Spirit. Aufidius invented a Morning Draught of ftrong Wine mixed with Honey, to fortify the Stomach and promote Digeftion. Catius pleasantly steals the Honour of this Invention from him, and condemns the Cuftom in Aufidius, even while he recommends it himself. 30. Lü |