What fear, or shame, is there ever of a hastening miser?"Live contented with those little cottages and hills, "O youths," said the Marsian and Hernician formerly, 180 And the old Vestinian, "let us seek bread by the plough, "Which is enough for our tables: the deities of the country 66 approve this, "By whose help and assistance, after the gift of acceptable corn, "There happen to man loathings of the old oak. "He will not do any thing forbidden, who is not ashamed 185 "Thro' ice to be cover'd with an high shoe; who keeps off "the east wind "With inverted skins. Purple, foreign, and unknown to us, "Leads to wickedness and villany, whatsoever it may be." These precepts those ancients gave to their posterity: but now, After the end of Autumn, from the middle of the night, the noisy 190 Father rouses the supine youth: "Take the waxen tablets, "Write, boy, watch, plead causes, read over the red "Laws of our forefathers, or ask for a vine by a petition. "But your head untouched with box, and your hairy nostrils, on 1. 30.. 192. "Write."] Pen something that you may get money by. -"Watch."] Set up all night at study. Plead causes."] Turn advocate 187. "Purple," &c.] q. d. The Tyrian purple, with which the garments of the rich and great are dyed, is a foreign piece of luxury, and unknown to us. The introduction of this, as well as other articles of foreign luxury, is the forerunner of all manner of vice and wick- be called to the bar. edness for when once people cast off a simplicity of dress and manners, and run into luxury and expence, they go all lengths to supply their vanity and extravagance. It cannot be said of any such-nil velitum fecisse volet. 189. These precepts, &c.] Such were the lessons which those rustic veterans taught their children, and delivered to the younger part of the community, for the benefit of posterity. -But now.] i. e. As matters are now, fathers teach their children very different lessons. 190. After the end of Autumn.] When the winter sets in, and the nights are long and cold. -From the middle of the night.] As soon as midnight is turned. 190, 1. The noisy father.] Bawling to wake his son, who is lying along on his back (supinum) in his bed fast asleep. 191. "The waxen tablets."] See note VOL. II. law. "Read over," &c.] Study the 192, 3. The red laws."] So called, because the titles and beginnings of the chapters were written in red letters. Hence the written law was called rubrica. See PERS. sat. v. 1. 90. 193."Ask for a vine," &c.] For a centurion's post in the army--draw up a petition for this. The centurion, or captain over an hundred men, carried, as an ensign of his office, a stick or batoon in his hand, made out of a vine-branch; as our captains do spontoons, and our serjeants halberds. See sat. viii. 1. 247, note.-If. a man were to advise another to petition for an halberd, it would be equivalent to advising him to petition to be made a serjeant. So here, the father advising his son to petition for a vine, i. e. vinebranch, is equivalent to his petitioning to be made a centurion. 194. Untouched with box."] Your U Annotet, et grandes miretur Lælius alas. QUALIBET. Illa tuo sententia semper in ore Versetur, Dîs atque ipso Jove digna, poëtæ : UNDE HABEAS QUÆRIT NEMO; SED OPORTET HABERE. rough and martial appearance, owing to your hair lying loose, and not being combed. The Romans made their combs of box-wood. 194," Hairy nostrils."] Another mark of hardiness; for effeminate and delicate people plucked off all superfluous hairs. See sat. ii. 11, 22. where hairiness is mentioned as a mark of hardiness and courage. 195. "Lælius."] Some great general in the army may notice these things, as bespeaking you fit for the army. "Huge arms."] Probably rough with hair. See above, note 2. on 1. 194.Ala signifies the armpit, also the arm.See AINSW. 196. "Destroy the tents of the Moors."] Go and do some great exploit-distinguish yourself in an expedition against the people of Mauritania. . Attegiæ (from ad and tegere, to cover) signifies cottages, huts, cabins, tents, and the like, in which people shelter themselves from the weather. "Castles of the Brigantes."] Of the inhabitants of Britain. The people of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and other northern parts of England, were called Brigantes; they had strong castles. 197." That a rich eagle," &c.] The Roman ensign was the figure of an eagle, which was carried at the head of every regiment. The care of this standard was 195 200 205 210 committed to the eldest captain of the regiment, and was a very rich post. The father is here exhorting his son to go into the army; in order to which, first, he is to petition for the vine-rod, or centurion's post; then he exhorts him to go into service, and distinguish himself against the enemy, that, at sixty years old, he may be the eldest captain, and enrich himself by having the care of the standard, which was very lucrative. Hence Juvenal calls it locupletem aquilam. 198.“ Or if to bear," &c.] If you dislike going into a military life. 199." The horns," &c.] If the cornets and trumpets throw you into a panic at the sound of them, so that you are ready to befoul yourself when you hear martial music. 200. "You may purchase," &c.] You may go into trade, and buy goods which you may sell for half as much more as they cost you. 201." Nor let the dislike," &c.] Don't be nice about what you deal in, though ever so filthy, though such as must be manufactured on the other side of the Tiber. 202. "Sent away beyond the Tiber."] Tanning, and other noisome trades, were carried on on the other side of the river, to preserve the city sweet and healthy. 203. "Do not believe," &c.] Do not "Lælius may take notice of, and admire your huge arms. 195 "Destroy the tents of the Moors, the castles of the Brigantes, "That a rich eagle to thee the sixtieth year "May bring: or if to bear the long labours of camps 200 "It grieves you, and the horns heard with the trumpets loosen "Your belly, you may purchase, what you may sell "For the half of more, nor let the dislike of any merchandise, "Which is to be sent away beyond the Tiber, possess you. "Do not believe there is any difference to be put between "Ointments and an hide. THE SMELL OF GAIN IS SWEET "FROM ANY THING WHATSOEVER. Let that sentence of the " poet 205 "Be always in your mouth, worthy the gods, and of Jove him "self: "NOBODY ASKS FROM WHENCE YOU HAVE, BUT IT BEHOVES "YOU TO HAVE." This, the old women shew to the boys asking three farthings: This, all the girls learn before their Alpha and Beta. Whatsoever parent is instant with such admonitions, 210 I might thus speak to: "Say, (O most vain man,) who com"mands "Thee to hasten? I warrant the scholar better than take it into your head that one thing, which you may get money by, is better than another. So as you do but enrich yourself, let it be the same thing to you, whether you deal in perfumed ointments, or stinking hides. 204." The smell of gain," &c.] He alludes to the answer made by Vespasian to his son Titus, who was against raising money by a tax on urine. Titus remonstrated with him on the meanness of such an imposition; but he, presenting to his son the first money that accrued to him from it, asked him whether the smell offended him. ANT. Univ. History, vol. xv. p. 26. 205."Sentence of the poet," &c.] i. e. Of the poet Ennius, quoted 1. 207. 206." Be always in your mouth."] Be always at your tongue's end, as we say. "Worthy the gods," &c.] Juvenal very naturally represents this old covetous fellow as highly extolling a maxim so exactly suited to his sordid principles. See MOLIERE's Avare, act iii. sc. v. where the miser is so pleased with a saying which suits his principles, as to want it written in letters of gold. 207." Nobody asks," &c.] T" have money is a necessary task, From whence 'tis got the world will never ask. J. DRYDEN, jun. And therefore only take care to be rich, nobody will inquire how you came so. The poet, in the next two lines, humourously observes the early implanting this doctrine in the minds of children. 208. This, the old women, &c.] This maxim, old women, when their children ask them for a trifle to buy playthings, or some trash to eat, always take care to instil into their minds; they take this opportunity to preach up the value of money, and the necessity of having it, no matter how; nobody will trouble their head about that. The Roman As was about three farthings of our money. 209. This, all the girls, &c.] In short, children of the other sex too are taught this before their A B C. No marvel then, that avarice is so general and so ruling a principle. 210. Is instant.] Takes pains to impress such maxims upon his children. 211. Thus speak to.] Thus address myself to. 212. "To hasten."] Who bid thee be Discipulum securus abi: vincêris, ut Ajax ́ 215 220 Mortiferâ cum dote subit: quibus illa premetur Per somnum digitis? nam quæ terraque marique Acquirenda putes, brevior via conferet illi: Nullus enim magni sceleris labor. Hæc ego nunquam 225 Mentis causa malæ tamen est, et origo penes te : Nam quisquis magni censûs præcepit amorem, n such a hurry to teach your son such principles? why begin with him so young, and take so much pains? 212."I warrant."] So præsto signifies here. See AINSW. Præsto, No. 8. -"The scholar better," &c.] A greater proficient than yourself in avarice, and in every other vice, in which you may instruct him. 213." Depart secure."] Make yourself quite secure and easy upon this subject. -"As Ajax," &c.] Your son will outdo you in avarice, as much as Ajax surpassed his father Telamon, or as Achilles surpassed his father Peleus, in valour and warlike achievements. 215."You must spare," &c.] You must make allowance for the tenderness of youth, and not hurry your son on too fast; have patience with him, he'll be bad enough by-and-by. -“ Their marrows," &c.] The evil dispositions and propensities with which they were born (mala nativæ nequitia) have not had time to grow to maturity, and to occupy their whole minds, marrow fills the bones. The marrow, which is placed within the bones, like the bowels, which are placed within the body, is often figuratively, and by analogy, made use of to signify the inward mind. 230 populi Romani, ac visceribus hærebant -they were very dear to the Roman people. 217." To comb his beard.”] i. e. When he is grown up to maturity. -To admit the point," &c.] The edge of a razor-a periphrasis for being shaved. See sat. i. 25; and sat. x. 226. 218. "Sell perjuries," &c.] He will forswear himself for a very small price. 219." Touching both the altar," &c.} It was the custom among the Romans, on occasion of solemn oaths, to go to a temple, and, when they swore, to lay their hand upon the altar of the god. Here, to make his oath the more solemn, the miser's son is represented, not only as laying his hand upon the altar of Ceres, but also on the foot of her image. See sat. iii. 1. 144, and note. 219. " Of Cercs."] The altar of Ceres was reckoned the most sacred, because, in the celebration of her worship, nothing was to be admitted that was not sacred and pure. Sat. vi. 1. 50. 220." Your daughter-in-law."] Your son's wife-pronounce her dead, if she comes within your doors with a large fortune, for your son, her husband, will murder her, in order to get the sole possession of it. Tully says, Fam. xv. 16. Mihi hæres in medullis-I love you in my heart. Carried forth."]i. e. To be buried, And again, Philip. i. 15. In medullis or, as the manner then was, to be burned "The master: depart secure you will be outdone, as Ajax "Surpassed Telamon, as Achilles outdid Peleus. 214 "You must spare the tender ones: as yet their marrows the evils "Of native wickedness have not filled: when he has begun "To comb his beard, and to admit the point of a long knife, He will be a false witness, he will sell perjuries for a small "Sum, touching both the altar and foot of Ceres." "Already believe your daughter-in-law carried forth, if your "thresholds 220 "She enters with a deadly portion. By what fingers will she "be pressed "In her sleep?-for, what things you may suppose to be acquired By sea and land, a shorter way will confer upon him: "For of great wickedness there is no labour. These things "I never "Commanded, may you some time say, nor persuaded such "things, 225 "But the cause of a bad mind, nevertheless, and its origin, is ❝ in you: "For whoever has taught the love of a great income, on the funeral pile. See TER. Andria, act i. sc. i. 1. 90. See sat. vi. 1. 566. 221. "With a deadly portion."] Mortifera cum dote-i. e. which is sure to occasion her death, by the hands of her covetous husband. 44 —“ By what fingers," &c.] How eager will his fingers be to strangle her in her sleep! 222. "For, what things," &c.] What you may suppose others to get by traversing land and sea, in order to trade and acquire riches, your son will find a shorter way to come at, by murdering his wife. 224. "There is no labour."] There is very little trouble in such a business as this, it is soon done. 224, 5. "I never commanded," &c.] The time may come, when, seeing your son what I have been describing, you will be for exculpating yourself, and you may say, "I never gave him any such "orders; this was owing to no advice "" of mine." 226. “But the cause," &c.] The poet answers--No, you might not specifically 230 order him to do such or such an action, but the principle from which he acts such horrid scenes of barbarity and villany is owing to the example which you have set him, and originates from the counsel which you have given him to enrich himself by all means, no matter how; therefore all this is penes te-lies at your door. 227. "Whoever has taught," &c.] Whoever has given a son such precepts as you have given yours, in order to instil into him an unbounded love of wealth. 228. "Foolish admonition," &c.] So Lævus seems to be used, En. ii. 54; and eclog. i. 16. Si mens non læva fuisset. See AINSW. Lævus, No. 2. But perhaps it may mean unlucky, unfortu nate, like sinistro. See this Satire, l. 1, and note. Or lævo may be here understood, as we sometimes understand the word sinister, when we mean to say, that a man's designs are indirect, dishonest, unfair. "Produces covetous boys."] Brings up his children with covetous principles. 230. "Gives liberty," &c.] i. e. So far |
