Vilibus in fcopis, in mattis, in fcobe, quantus HORATIUS. Docte Cati, per amicitiam Divofque rogatus, 85 Ducere me auditum, perges cumcunque, memento. 95 SAT. 81. In mattis,] Is a Conjecture of Mr. Le Fevre. Mappa fignifies a Napkin, but cannot be defigned here, where the Poet speaks only of the Cleanliness of a Floor. When they had not Mats, they threw Saw duft on the Floor to foak the Wine. 85. Oblitum, quanto.] It is worth remarking, that Horace does not make this Philofopher fo ridiculous, but that he fays fome excellent Things. The Poet would not only divert, but instruct us. DAC. 88. Dote Cati.] Our Author ends the Satire with an Irony of the laft Malignity. He difplays his Gratitude in the most lively Ex preflions; Brooms, Mats and Saw-duft are fo cheaply bought, Catius, by Friendship, by the Powers divine, Nor mean that Ardour, which my Breast enflames, SAT. preffions; he admires the uncommon Wifdom of Catius; he dies to be perfonally known to the Author of this enchanting Morality, that he may ftudy his Principles, which he calls the Springs and Fountains of Happiness. SAN. 89. Cumcunque.] Quandocunque, quotiefcunque, as often as. Mr. Cuningham propofed this natural, eafy Correction, and it is received by Mr. Sanadon. 92. Adde vultum babitumque bominis.] Catius had declared, that he would not name the Author of this fingular Morality; and Horace, perceiving that it was Catius himself, maliciously preffes to be introduced to him. SAN. Hi SAT. V. ULYSSES. TIRESIAS. ULYSSES. OC quoque, Tirefia, præter narrata, petenti Refponde: quibus amiffas reparare queam res Artibus atque modis ? Quid rides ? TIRESIAS. Jamne, dolofe, Non fatis eft Ithacam revehi, patriofque penates Afpicere? ULYSSES. O nulli quidquam mentite, vides ut Nudus inopfque domum redeo, te vate: neque illic Aut apotheca procis intacta eft, aut pecus. Atqui Et genus & virtus, nifi cum re, vilior algâ eft. Tranflated by Dr. DUNKIN. 5 TIRE We have here a Dialogue in the delicate and lively Tafte of Lucian. It is true the Poet recommends to Ulyffes fome Practices not extremely agreeable to the Spirit of à General, and a King; but, befides that the Knowledge we have of the Characters of the two Perfons ought to make us perceive the Pleafantry concealed in the-Satire, the Poet hath taken Care not to violate the Rules of Probability. Ulyffes preferves his Honour unblemished by rejecting thofe infamous Methods of making his Fortune; and although he bath Fatience to hear the Prophet, yet he does not condefcend to anfwer him, or inform him, whether he would follow his Advice. We may conclude, by the fixty-fecond Verfe, that the Satire was not written before the Year 734, when Auguftus recovered the Roman Eagles from Phraates, King of Parthia. SAN. Verf. 1. Hoc quoque, Tirefia.] Homer made Ulyffes defcend into Hell to confult Tirefias concerning the Succefs of his Voyage. Our Poet fuppofes, that when he had landed at Ithaca, and feen the melancholy State of his Affairs, he raises the Spirit of the Pro phet BES SAT. V. ULYSSES. TIRESIAS. ULYSSES. ESIDES the Precepts which you gave before, How now, Tirefias? whence thofe leering Smiles Already vers'd in double-dealing Wiles, Are you not fatisfied to reach again, Your native Land, and view your dear Demaine? How poor and naked I return, behold, TIRE phet to direct him how to put them into better Order. This Converfation is not a Continuance of the firft, but only præter narrata. fuppofes it, SAN. 7. Neque illic aut apotheca.] Ulyffes must have been in Ithaca, by his knowing the Condition of his House and Family. This Remark is neceffary, because many of our Commentators imagine this Satire is a Continuation of the Dialogue between Ulyffes and Tirefias in Homer. TIRESIAS. Quando pauperiem, miffis ambagibus, horres: ULYSSES. Utne tegam fpurco Damæ latus? Haud ita Troja 10 15 Pauper eris. TIRESIAS. ULYSSES. Ergo Fortem hoc animum tolerare jubebo: 20 Et quondam majora tuli. Tu protinus, unde Divitias ærifque ruam, dic, augur, acervos. TIRE 9. Miffis ambagibus.] Tirefias pleasantly means that oratorial Circumlocution of Ulyffes, Et genus & virtus, when he might more fimply have expreffed his Fears of being poor. Nor is this Apprehenfion of Poverty quite out of Character, but seems to be taken from a Speech of Ulyffes to the Phæacians in the Odyfley. DAC 11. Privum] Horace puts prius in Oppofition to communis. Thrushes, and all Kinds of wild Birds, were of common Property, Communis & publici juris, but tame Fowl belonged to particular Perfons, funt aliquid domefticum, proprium, privum. The Beauty of devolet is happily preferved in the Tranflation. 17. Comes exterior.] In walking with a Companion, the Side, which is moft expofed, as in walking near a River, or a Precipice, was called the outward Side. This, in general, is the left Side, because the Perfon, with whom we walk. has his right Hand at Liberty for his Defence in any unlucky Accidents. When three People walk together, the middle is, for the fame Reason, the most honourable Place, and is therefore always given to the Perfon of moft Distinction, interior comes, 20. Forter |