Qualis in Oceani fluctu testudo nataret, Clarum Trojugenis factura ac nobile fulcrum : Sed, nudo latere, et parvis frons ærea lectis 95. Clarum] Splendidum. P. 95 100 105 96. Nudo latere et parvis lectis] i. e. On the small couches with plain sides.-Frons] That part of the couch which fronted the table. 97. Vile] Rude, uncouth, ill-carved.-Coronati aselli] The ass was a favorite with Silenus, the foster-father of Bacchus; its head, therefore, crowned with clusters of grapes, was cast in brass, and fixed upon the front of the couches on which they reclined at meals, as a provocative to hilarity and good fellowship. Some of these vine-crowned heads have been discovered at Herculaneum. G. 98. Ad quod] Circa quod. L.-Lascivi ruris alumni] Jocosi infantes rustici. 100. Tunc, rudis, &c.] Ordo est, Tunc miles, rudis et nescius mirari, &c. 101. Pradarum in parte reperta] Found in his share of booty. 102. Magnorum artificum pocula] Goblets enchased by great artificers. 103. Calataque cassis, &c.] Ordo est, cælataque cassis ostenderet perituro hosti, &c. 104. Romulea simulacra fera] The helmet was adorned with a relievo in gold or silver, representing Romulus and Remus suckled by the she-wolf, and Mars descending and hovering over the children. Juvenal has in view that passage from his favorite poet, describing the same ornament on the shield of Æneas: Fecerat et viridi fœtam Mavortis in antro Mulcere alternos, et corpora fingere linguâ. Æn. viii. 630. 105. Imperii futo] That destiny which had appointed Romulus Ac nudam effigiem clypeo venientis et hastâ Illa domi natas nostrâque ex arbore mensas 110 115 to be the founder of the city and commonwealth of Rome, ordered also the means of his preservation when an infant, by commanding that a savage beast should grow tame. M. 108. Argenti quod erat] Quicquid argenti habebant. 109. Ponebant] Apponebant. P.-Farrata] Porridge.-Tusco catino] Tuscany was famous for its earthen-ware. 110. Quibus invideas, si lividulus sis] If enviously disposed, you may justly envy our simple ancestors, as infinitely happier than all the luxurious gluttons of the present day. 111. Majestas] Numen. P.-Præsentior] Magis propitia. R. -Vor] This alludes to a circumstance recorded by the writers of Roman history. M. Cæditius, as he was passing by one of the temples in the dead of night, heard a loud and alarming voice from the sanctuary distinctly cry, " The Gauls are at hand." Liv. v. 32. G. 114. His] From thence, i. e. from the temples. So Mr. Gifford understands it: And solemn sounds, heard from the sacred walls, At midnight's solemn hour, announced the Gauls. 116. Fictilis] In those days of plainness and simplicity, the images of Jupiter, and of the other gods, were made of potters' clay. M. 117. Nostráque ex arbore] In opposition to the luxury of his own times, when citron tables were the fashion, and were purchased at an immense price. Any wood served the ancients for tables. The walnut was luxury, and only used when no longer useful; annosam, dejecerit. O. 118. Hos stabat in usus] His usibus inserviebat. M. 119. Nucem] A walnut tree. At nunc divitibus cœnandi nulla voluptas; Sed nec structor erit, cui cedere debeat omnis 121. Nil sapit] Nil saporis habet. M. 122. Orbes] See on Sat. i. 128. 120 125 130 135 123. Grande ebur, et magno, &c.] A supporter or pedestal of massive ivory, carved into the shape of a leopard. 124. Dentibus ex illis] Elephantinis scilicet.-Porta Syenes] Syene was a city on the Nile, a celebrated mart of ivory. 125. Obscurior] Nigrior. 126. Deposuit] The elephant is said to shed his teeth every second year.-Nabathæo saltu] Arabia was called Nabathæa, from Nebaioth, the first-born of Ishmael, the supposed father of the Arabs. 127. Hinc] From splendid tables with ivory claws. 128. Nam pes argenteus, &c.] A silver pedestal to a table, heing quite unfashionable, appears to our rich men as vile and vulgar, as an iron ring on the finger would be. 130. Caveo] Fugio, non invito.-Res exiguas] My plain and frugal manner of living, according to the smallness of my fortune. M. 131. Adeò nulla uncia, &c.] I am so far from possessing a single inch of ivory, that neither, &c. W. 132. Tessella] The chess-board; from the small squares of which the surface is composed.-Calculus, a chess-man. O. 136. Structor] See on Sat. v. 120.-Omnis pergula] i. e. Omnes discipuli, qui pergulas frequentant. A.-Pergula (from pergo or porrigo) is, properly, a part of a house projecting beyond the rest it also means any room, hall, or school; here, a carvingJuv. Sat. N Pergula, discipulus Trypheri doctoris, apud quem 140 145 150 school, where slaves were sent to be instructed in the art, by practising on wooden models of the various dishes. The most eminent professor of that important accomplishment was "Doctor Trypherus." 137. Apud quem] In cujus pergulâ vel scholâ. L. 139. Scythica volucres] Pheasants, which came originally, it is said, from the banks of the Phasis, a river of Colchis, (now Mingrelia,) the country on the east of the Euxine, and not far from Scythia-Phoenicopteros] From powikeos crimson, and πeрov a wing: the flamingo. 141. Sonat] The hacking of their carving-knives resounds through the street. V. It is supposed that the different joints and parts of these wooden models were slightly glued together, so as to separate easily, on the knife being applied in the right direction. 142. Subducere] Dissecare, abscindere.-Latus Afræ avis] The wing of a Guinea-fowl. 143. Noster tirunculus] Servulus meus rerum ignarus.—Rudis omni Tempore] Untaught from his cradle to this hour, M. 144. Exigua furtis, &c.] Servants are too often dishonest, in proportion to their adroitness: but the peculations of Juvenal's little novice are as limited as his talents. All he ventures at, is now and then to purloin a little cutlet or tit-bit. 146. Incultus] Non ornatus. R.-Atque a frigore tutus] Yet sufficiently well clad to defend him from the cold. 147. Petitus] Emptus. 148. Magno] sc. Pretio. Compare Sat. v. 56. et seqq.-Cum posces aliquid vini aut cibi, posce Latinè: nam servi mei sunt Itali. R. 150. Tantum peri] Only just smoothed with the comb: not curled, or adorned with garlands. Pastoris duri est hic filius, ille bubulci: 155 160 165 155. Quales esse, &c.] q. d. It would be well if the same could be said of our young Nobility. M. 159. Gaditana] A Spanish girl from Gades, now Cadiz. M. 160. Prurire] To wanton. M.-Canoro choro] Argutâ saltatione: P.-Ut simul cantet et saltet. L. 161. Spectent hoc nupta] These two lines in some Mss. are placed here; in others below, after the description of the Circensian games. This is certainly their proper place; for there was nothing impure in the Circus-Exhibitions. 0. 163. Non capit has nugas] Non admittit has vanitates. P. 164. Testurum] The castanets. 167. Lacedæmonium orbem] The pavement of the dining-room, inlaid with orbs of Lacedæmonian marble.-Pytismate] Some odious trick of spirting wine between the teeth after tasting it; or, more probably, the vomiting of wine from excess. Thus Cicero, in describing the revels of M. Antony: Ab horâ tertiâ bibebatur, ludebatur, vomebatur.—Natabant pavimenta vino. Philipp. ii. 41. Horace also has a similar passage: Absumet hæres Cæcuba dignior Servata centum clavibus; et mero Od. ii. 14. 25. 169. Illi] Divites. |