ears and sowing it with Cleanthes' corn. Yes! it is thence that all, young and old alike, should get a definite aim for their desires, and a provision for the sorrows of old age.' 'So I will, to-morrow.' 'To-morrow will tell the same tale as to-day.' 'What? do you

mean to call a day a great present to make a man?' 'Aye, but when next day comes, we have spent what was to-morrow yesterday already; and there is always a fresh to-morrow baling out these years of ours and keeping a little in advance of us. Near as the tire may be, revolving, in fact, under the same carriagepole as you, you will never overtake it, for yours is the hind wheel, and your axle not the first but the second.

'The thing wanted is freedom-it is not this freedom which enables

which all the commentators, from the Scholiast downward, have taken care to guard, some mentioning it expressly. 'Egero' is used variously of emptying out earth, carrying out goods, baling out water, etc., from which it is easily transferred to the constant consumption of time, as in Val. Fl. 8. 453 tota querelis Egeritur luctuque dies,' quoted by König, ib. 5. 299 'Nox Minyis egesta metu.'

hos annos, which you have before you, and reckon on in advance.

paulum erit ultra changes the metaphor.

70. A metaphor instead of a simile, as in v. 59.

quamvis, etc., if you are behind it, it does not signify how near you may be -like our proverb, a miss is as good as a mile.'

71. cantum, the tire or rim of a wheel, instead of rotam,' as it would be the outside which a person behind would naturally hope to touch.

72. cum, instead of 'si,' as giving more rhetorical force, and more completely identifying the person with the thing to which he is compared.

rota posterior curras, you run in the character of the hind wheel-your running is that of the hind wheel.

in axe currere, like in cardine verti.'

73-90. Men want freedom-not civil

freedom, a thing that in these blinded times is conferred on any one, no matter on whom. Take a miserable debased slave, enfranchise him, and he becomes a Roman at once, enjoys all the privileges, and is honoured with all the compliments. Well, he will reply, and am I not free-free to do as I please? No, you are not. How so? surely my enfranchisement gave every right that the law allows.'

73. non hac qua, ut quisque, is the usual reading, but it appears to be supported by a single MS. only, five others having hac quam ut,' which comes to the same thing. Heinr. adopts the reading of several copies, hac qua' or • quam quisque,' understanding 'quisque' quicunque.' The great majority of MSS. however read 'non hac ut quisque,' which Casaubon and Jahn follow, the one supposing that the relative can be omitted, and quoting Virg. Aen. 1. 530 Est locus, Hesperiam Graii cognomine dicunt;' the latter giving as his explanation 'ut (qua, quasi dixerit ita ut) scabiosum tesserula far possidet, quisque (quicunque) Publius emeruit Velina,' where surely possideat' would be required. A far simpler way is to make non hac the beginning of an independent sentence. It is not by this freedom that every fire-new citizen who gets his name enrolled in a tribe, is privileged to receive a pauper's allowance for his ticket.'

ut quisque..emeruit.. possidet, 'he receives it upon serving-as surely as he has served,' a common construction, for instances of which see Freund s. v. 'ut,' Madvig § 495. For the two ablatives, 'hac' and 'tesserula,' attached to the same predicate, see Madvig § 278 a. The

3

.

"by means of a little cornlicksh? Publius emeruit, scabiosum tesserula far possidet. heu steriles veri, quibus una Quiritem "a stable boy" vertigo facit! hic Dama est non tresis agaso,

"a snigle twirl" "good for nothing? vappa lippus et in tenui farragine mendax:, worth 3 amas ← OUR AGIOS TOIW Bórov verterit hunc dominus, momento turbinis exit

'Prodigious'

Marcus Dama. papae! Marco spondente recusas credere tu nummos? Marco sub iudice palles? Marcus dixit: ita est; adsigna, Marce, tabellas. haec mera libertas! hoc nobis pillea donant capsliberty? 'An quisquam est alius liber, nisi ducere vitam cui licet, ut voluit? licet ut volo vivere: non sum sabapos SATI & Suor us Borderu.

74. Puplius.

76. damma.

79. damma.

81. asigna.

former is to be compared with 'facere ali-
quid lege,' the latter with 'emere aliquid
pretio.'

73. Velina, probably chosen because
instanced by Hor. 1 Ep. 6. 52 'hic multum
in Fabia valet, ille Velina.'

74. Publius, 'Quinte, puta, aut Publi (gaudent praenomine molles Auriculae'), Hor. 2 S. 5. 32, of a similar case. The object of 'emeruit' is apparently involved in the sentence which follows: scabiosum tesserula far possidere,' after the analogy of 'mereri stipendia,' so that we may render it has served.' 'Velina' defining the service, as if it were the legion in which the soldier had served. 'He has only to enter the service of the tribe in order to entitle himself to the allowance.'

scabiosum, like 'vilis tessera frumenti' Juv. 7. 174.

tesserula, a contemptuous diminutive of tessera,' the ticket which entitled the holder to a share in the frumentatio,' or monthly distribution of corn among the poorer citizens. See Dict. Ant., and Mayor's note on Juv. 7. 174. Julius Caesar limited the number of recipients (Suet. Iul. 41): Augustus complained of the demoralizing effect of the custom, which at one time he wished to abolish altogether (Aug. 42), and attempted to restrict the distribution to three times a year: but was deterred by the unpopularity of the step (ib. 40). On one occasion he resented this very practice of manumitting slaves, in order to entitle

75

80

them to an extraordinary bounty ('congiarium '), by refusing to admit the new claimants, and giving the rest less per head than he had promised.

75. heu steriles veri, compare 2. 61, and the metaphor in v. 63 of this Satire.

sterilis, with gen. like 'virtutum sterile saeculum' Tac. H. 1. 3 (Jahn), also found in Pliny and Vell. Paterc.

Quiritem, 3. 106, rare in the sing. as the Scholiast remarks, found in poets and in some legal formulae;' Mayor on Juv. 8. 47.

76. vertigo, explained by 'verterit,' v. 78. The reference is to the manumissio per vindictam,' which made a slave a full citizen, the lictor touching him with the vindicta,' the master turning him round and dismissing him from his hand,' with the words Hunc hominem liberum esse volo.'

facit. In prose we should have expected faciat,' as the sentence, though expressed in an independent form, is really meant to give the reason of the address 'Heu steriles veri.' Compare Virg. G. 2. 458 foll. O fortunatos nimium.. quibus ipsa.. Fundit humo facilem victum iustissima tellus.” [Ὅταν οὖν στρέψῃ τις ἐπὶ στρατηγοῦ τὸν αὑτοῦ δοῦλον, οὐδὲν ἐποίησεν; Ἐποίησεν. Τί; Ἔστρεψε τὸν αὑτοῦ δοῦλον ἐπὶ στρατηγοῦ. Αλλο οὐδέν; Ναί· καὶ εἰκοστὴν αὐτοῦ δοῦναι ὀφείλει. Τὶ οὖν; ὁ ταῦτα παθὼν οὐ γέγονεν ἐλεύθερος; Οὐ μᾶλλον ἢ ἀτάραχος. Epictetus 2. 1. 26,]

every new recruit for citizenship enlisting in the Veline tribe to get a quota of spoiled corn for his ticket. What an unproductive soil for truth, where a single twirl makes a citizen of Rome! Look at Dama here, a stable-slave for whom you would not give twopence, blear-eyed from low tippling, and ready to tell a lie about a slight feed of corn; suppose his master to give him a turn,-presto, by the mere act of twirling he is turned out Marcus Dama. Prodigious! What, Marcus surety, and you refuse to lend money? Marcus judge, and you feel uneasy? Marcus has given

This is

his word, it is so. Pray, Marcus, witness this document. freedom pure and simple; this is what caps of liberty give us. 'Why? can you define a free man otherwise than a man who has the power of living as he has chosen? I have the power of living

hic Dama est, etc. It matters little whether we put a stop at 'est' or make agaso' the predicate.

Dama (Demetrius), used repeatedly by Horace as a slave's name, I S. 6. 38, 2 S. 5. 18, 101., 7. 54. ['Dama Vetti' (servus) Corpus Inscr. Lat. I. no. 602.]

non tresis, οὐκ ἄξιος τριωβόλου, Casaubon. Jahn compares Vatinius in Cic. Ep. Fam. 5. 10 'non semissis homo.'

agaso, 'a stable-boy.' 'Si patinam pede lapsus frangat agaso' Hor. 2 S. 8. 72, of the waiter at Nasidienus' table.

77. It is difficult to decide between 'Vappa et lippus,' the common reading, supported by about half the MSS., and Vappa lippus,' which Jahn prefers. 'Vappa' is twice coupled by Horace with 'nebulo,' I S. 1. 104., 2. 12, [comp. Priap. 13. 6 Nos vappae sumus et pusilla culti Ruris numina '], and 'lippus ' may be explained as in 1. 79, 2. 72, as a contemptuous term, probably implying disease brought on by sensuality: on the other hand, the stable-helper would be naturally enough described as 'blear-eyed from tippling swipes,' as in Hor. 1 S. 5. 16 'multa prolutus vappa nauta;' 'farrago appellatur id quod ex pluribus satis pabuli caussa datur iumentis' Festus, p. 91; 'in the matter of a slight feed of corn,' with reference to agaso.' Freund unaccountably supposes farrago' here to have the sense of a trifle.'

78. verterit. . exit, compare v. 189,

'Dixeris . . videt.'

·

79. Marcus, like Publius,' v. 74. M. FVFIVS M. L. DAMA actually occurs in an inscription in Buonarotti (vetri p. 136), Jahn.

papae is understood by Jahn as an expression of wonder that Dama continues the same as he was-no more trusted as a citizen than he was as a slave: but this would destroy the whole spirit of the passage, which is clearly ironical. Persius throws up his hands with wonder at the transformation. After this can anybody think of his antecedents-hesitate about lending money on his security-feel qualms when he is on the bench? Impossible-he is a Roman-his word is good for anything-so is his signature.'

80. palles, of fear,' Hor. 1 Ep. 7. 7. 81. dixit: ita est, a contrast to 'mendax.'

adsigna, 'put your seal to,'' as a witness.' Compare Mart. 9. 88. 3 foll. (König).

82. Vult libertas dici mera' Hor. 1 Ep. 18. 8.

pillea. note on 3. 106.

83. The humour is increased by making the man argue in a formal syllogism, and advance as his major premiss the definition of liberty given by the Stoics themselves, [after the popular opinion quoted by Aristotle, Pol. 7 (6). 2 τὸ ζῆν ὡς βούλεταί τις· τοῦτο γὰρ τῆς ἐλευθερίας ἔργον εἶναί φασιν. Comp. Cic. de Off. 1. 20, Par. 5. Ι. 34· [Ελεύθερός ἐστιν ὁ ζῶν ὡς βούλεται . Τίς οὖν θέλει ζὴν ἁμαρτάνων ; Οὐδεὶς ἄρα τῶν φαύλων ὡς βούλεται· οὐ τοίνυν οὐδ ̓ ἐλεύθερος Epictetus 4. I. I. On the subject of the emancipation of slaves under the empire,

Οὐδείς .

nasurius Sabinus a distinguished jurist

distinguished jurist in the time of
Tiberius.

PERSII

You draw a false inference

liberior Bruto?' Mendose colligis,' inquit

stoicus hic aurem mordaci lotus aceto.

'haec reliqua accipio; licet illud et ut volo tolle.'
my own property

Vindicta postquam meus a praetore recessi,

cur mihi non liceat, iussit quodcumque voluntas,
excepto si quid Masuri rubrica vetavit?'
'Disce, sed ira cadat naso rugosaque sanna, redo

dum veteres avias tibi de pulmone revello.grimace whichhing up
the nostrils.

non praetoris erat stultis dare tenuia rerum
permittere ut uterentur istä

officia atque usum rapidae permittere vitae:

'dulcimes' sambucam citius caloni aptaveris alto. "rulking camp follows95 stat contra ratio et secretam garrit in aurem, ne liceat facere id quod quis vitiabit agendo.

97. uitiauit.

as I choose; am I not more of a freeman than Brutus, the founder of freedom?' 'A false inference,' retorts our Stoic friend, whose ear has been well rinsed with good sharp vinegar. 'I admit the rest, only strike out the words power and choose.' 'Why, after the rod enabled me to leave the praetor's presence my own man, why should not I have power over whatever I have a mind for, except where the statutes of Masurius come in the way?'

'Attend, then, but drop that angry wrinkled snarl from your nostrils, while I pull your old grandmother out of the heart of you. It was not in the praetor's province to give fools command over the delicate proprieties of relative duty, or grant them the entry of the rapid race-course of life; you will get a hulking camp-follower to handle a dulcimer first. No, reason steps in your way and whispers privately in your ear that no one be allowed to do what he will spoil in the doing. It is a statute contained in the general

92. veteres avias; as we should say, prejudices which you imbibed with your mother's milk. Compare 2. 31, where the grandmother is made to utter foolish wishes.

pulmone, mentioned as the seat of pride (3. 27), as Casaubon thinks, more probably than as the seat of wrath, which is Jahn's view.

93. tenuia (trisyll. as in Virg. G. 1. 397., 2. 121., 4. 38). . officia, not as distinguishing them from other broader duties, but expressing the nature of right doing, which is an art made up of innumerable details, and requiring exact study. ['Erat,' was not as you thought it was: the imperfect common in dialogue.] rerum, equivalent to 'vitae.' permittere vitae: permittere ut uterentur vita.'

94. usum

=

rapidae appears to be a metaphor from a race-course, as in 3.67, 8, the notion being that there is no power of stopping in the career of life, which consequently is no place for a man who cannot conduct himself.

95. sambuca; Dict. of Antiq.

citius potius;' citius dixerim' Cic. 2 Phil. II.

'Calones militum servi dicti, qui ligneas clavas gerebant, quae Graeci kâλα vocant Festus, p. 47; elsewhere of other slaves, Hor. 1 S. 6. 103, 1 Ep. 14. 42, here in its original sense, as Persius would naturally choose a soldier's slave as the lowest specimen of degraded humanity. note on 3. 77.

See

alto, points the same way, compare • Pulfennius ingens' v. 190.

aptare sambucam .. caloni, like 'aptantur enses dexteris' Hor. Epod. 7. 2, to make him use it gracefully, as if it were his natural instrument.

96. stat contra, confronts you,' 'stops your way.' 'Stat contra, dicitque tibi tua pagina, Fur es' Mart. I. 53 (54). 12, quoted by Jahn. Stat contra, starique iubet' Juv. 3. 290.

'Ratio tua coepit vocife ari' Lucr. 3. 14.

The MSS. are divided between garrit and gannit. Jahn is perhaps right in preferring the former, as garrire in aurem ' occurs in Mart. 1. 89 (90). I., 3. 28. 2, etc. seemingly in the sense of whispering. [But Afranius fr. v. 283 (Ribbeck) has gannire ad aurem.] With the general expression of the line, compare Hor. I Ep. 1. 7 Est mihi purgatam crebro qui personet aurem,' of an inward monitor.