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The Flaminian way: for the boy Automedon was holding the

reins,

When he boasted himself to his cloaked mistress.

Doth it not like one to fill capacious waxen tablets in the middle of a

Cross-way-when now can be carried on a sixth neck
(Here and there exposed, and in almost a naked chair,
And much resembling the supine Mæcenas)

A signer to what is false; who himself splendid and happy
Has made, with small tables, and with a wet gem?
A potent matron occurs, who soft Calenian wine

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About to reach forth, her husband thirsting, mixes a toad, 70 And, a better Locusta, instructs her rude neighbours, Through fame and the people, to bring forth their black husbands.

Dare something worthy the narrow Gyaræ, or a prison,

Here it means a species of cheat, who im posed false wills and testaments on the heirs of the deceased, supposed to be made in their own favour, or in favour of others with whom they shared the spoil. See sat. x. 1. 336. and note. Some suppose this to be particularly meant of Tigellinus, a favourite of Nero's, who poisoned three uncles, and, by forging their wills, made himself heir to all they had.

68. By small tables.] Short testaments, contained in a few words. Comp. note on 1. 63.

-A wet gem.] i. e. A seal, which was cut on some precious stone, worn in a ring on the finger, and occasionally made use of to seal deeds or wills-this they wetted to prevent the wax sticking to it. This was formerly known among our forefathers by the name of a sealring.

69. A potent matron occurs.] Another subject of satire the poet here adverts to, namely, women who poison their husbands, and this with impunity. The particular person here alluded to, under the description of matrona potens, was, probably, Agrippina, the wife of Claudius, who poisoned her husband, that she might make her son Nero emperor.

-Occurs.] Meets you in the public street, and thus occurs to the observation of the satirist. Comp. 1. 63, 4.

69. Calenian wine.] Calenum was a city in the kingdom of Naples, famous for a soft kind of wine.

70. About to reach forth.] Porrectura

the husband is supposed to be so thirsty, as not to examine the contents of the draught; of this she avails herself, by reaching to him some Calenian wine, with poison in it, which was extracted from a toad.

71. A better Locusta.] This Locusta was a vile woman, skilful in preparing poisons. She helped Nero to poison Britannicus, the son of Claudius and Messalina; and Agrippina to dispatch Claudius. The woman alluded to by Juvenal, 1. 69. he here styles, melior Locusta, a better Locusta, i. e. more skilled in poisoning than even Locusta herself.

-Her rude neighbours.] i. e. Unacquainted, and unskilled before, in this diabolical art.

72. Through fume and the people.] Setting all reputation and public report at defiance; not caring what people should say.

To bring forth.] For burial-which efferre peculiarly means. See TER. And. act i. sc. i. l. 90.

72. Black husbands.] Their corpses turned putrid and black, with the effects of the poison.

73. Dare.] i. e. Attempt-presume— be not afraid to commit.

-Something.] Some atrocious crime, worthy of exile, or imprisonment.

-The narrow Gyara.] Gyaras was an island in the Agean sea, small, barren, and desolate, to which criminals were banished.

Si vis esse aliquis: PROBITAS LAudatur, et alget.
Criminibus debent hortos, prætoria, mensas,
Argentum vetus, et stantem extra pocula caprum.
Quem patitur dormire nurûs corruptor avaræ ?
Quem sponsæ turpes, et prætextatus adulter?
Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum,
Qualemcunque potest: quales ego, vel Cluvienus.
Ex quo Deucalion, nimbis tollentibus æquor,
Navigio montem ascendit, sortesque poposcit,
Paulatimque animâ caluerunt mollia saxa,
Et maribus nudas ostendit Pyrrha puellas:
Quicquid agunt homines, votum, timor, ira, voluptas
Gaudia, discursus, nostri est farrago libelli.
Et quando uberior vitiorum copia? quando
Major avaritiæ patuit sinus? alea quando
Hos animos? neque enim loculis comitantibus itur

74. If you would be somebody.] i. e. If. you would make yourself taken notice of, as a person of consequence, at Rome. A severe reflection on certain favourites of the emperor, who, by being informers, and by other scandalous actions, had enriched themselves.

-Probity is praised, &c.] This seems a proverbial saying, and applies to what goes before, as well as to what follows, wherein the poet is shewing, that vice was, in those days, the only way to riches and honours. Honesty and innocence will be commended, but those who possess them be left to starve.

75. Gardens.] i. e. Pleasant and beautiful retreats, where they had gardens of great taste and expence.

-Palaces.] The word prætoria denotes noblemen's seats in the country, as well as the palaces of great men in the city.

-Tables.] Made of ivory, marble, and other expensive materials.

76. Old silver.] Ancient plate-very valuable on account of the workmanship.

-A goat standing, &c.] The figure of a goat in curious bas relief-which animal, as sacred to Bacchus, was very usually expressed on drinking cups.

77. Whom.] i. e. Which of the poets, or writers of satire, can be at rest from writing, or withhold his satiric rage?

-The corrupter.] i. e. The father, who takes advantage of the love of money in his son's wife, to debauch her.

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80

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78. Base spouses.] Lewd and adulte

rous wives.

-The noble young adulterer.] Prætextatus, i. e. the youth, not having laid aside the prætextata, or gown worn by boys, sons of the nobility, till seventeen years of age-yet, in this early period of life, initiated into the practice of adultery.

79. Indignation makes verse.] Forces one to write, however naturally without talents for it.

80. Such as I, or Cluvienus.] i. e. Make or write. The poet names himself with Cluvienus, (some bad poet of his time,) that he might the more freely satirize him, which he at the same time does, the more severely, by the compari

son.

81. From the time that Deucalion.] This and the three following lines relate to the history of the deluge, as described by Ovid. See Met. lib. i. 1. 264-315.

82. Ascended the mountain, &c.] AlJuding to Ovid:

Mons ibi verticibus petit arduus astra duobus,

Nomine Parnassus

Hic ubi Deucalion (nam cætera texerat æquor)

Cum consorte tori parvâ rate vectus ad

hæsit.

-Asked for lots.] Sortes here means the oracles, or billets, on which the answers of the gods were written. Ovid, (ubi supra,) I. 367, 8. represents Deu

If you would be somebody. PROBITY IS PRAISED

STARVES WITH COLD.

To crimes they owe gardens, palaces, tables,

AND

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Old silver, and a goat standing on the outside of cups.
Whom does the corrupter of a covetous daughter-in-law suf-
fer to sleep?

Whom base spouses, and the noble
and the noble young adulterer?

If nature denies, indignation makes verse,

Such as it can: such as I, or Cluvienus.

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85

From the time that Deucalion (the showers lifting up the sea)
Ascended the mountain with his bark, and asked for lots,
And the soft stones by little and little grew warm with life,
And Pyrrha shewed to males naked damsels,
Whatever men do-desire, fear, anger, pleasure,
Joys, discourse-is the composition of my little book.
And when was there a more fruitful plenty of vices? when
Has a greater bosom of avarice lain open? when the die
These spirits?-they do not go, with purses accompanying,

calion, and his wife Pyrrha, resolving to go to the temple of the goddess Themis, to enquire in what manner mankind should be restored.

-placuit cæleste præcari Numen, et auxilium per sacras quærere

sortes.

And 1. 381. Mota Dea est, sortemque dedit.

Again, 1. 389. Verba datæ sortis. To this Juvenal alludes in this line; wherein sortes may be rendered, oracular answers.

83. The soft stones, &c.] When Deucalion and Pyrrha, having consulted the oracle how mankind might be repaired, were answered, that this would be done by their casting the bones of their great mother behind their backs, they picked stones from off the earth, and cast them behind their backs, and they became men and women.

Jussos lapides sua post vestigia mittunt:
Saxa-

Ponere duritiem cœpêre, suumque rigo

rem,

Mollirique mora, mollitaque ducere for-
mum, &c.
Ib. 1. 399-402.

Hence Juvenal says, mollia saxa.

It is most likely that the whole account of the deluge, given by Ovid, is a corruption of the Mosaical history of that event. Plutarch mentions the dove

sent out of the ark.

86. The composition, &c.] Farrago signifies a mixture, an hodge-podge, as we say, of various things mixed together. The poet means, that the various pursuits, inclinations, actions, and passions of men, and all those human follies and vices, which have existed, and have been increasing, ever since the flood, are the subjects of his satires.

88. Bosom of avarice.] A metaphorical allusion to the sail of a ship when expanded to the wind, the centre whereof is called sinus, the bosom. The larger the sail, and the more open and spread it is, the greater the capacity of the bosom for receiving the wind, and the more powerfully is the ship driven on through the sea.

Thus avarice spreads itself far and wide; it catches the inclinations of men, as the sail the wind, and thus it drives them on in a full course when more than at present? says the poet.

gaming; put here for gaming itself. -The die.] A chief instrument of

ΜΕΤΟΝ.

89. These spirits.] Animus signifies spirit or courage; and in this sense we are to understand it here. As if the poet said, when was gaming so encouraged? or when had games of hazard, which were forbidden by the law, (except only during the Saturnalia,) the courage to

Ad casum tabulæ, positâ sed luditur arcâ.
Prælia quanta illic dispensatore videbis
Armigero! simplexne furor sestertia centum
Perdere, et horrenti tunicam non reddere servo?
Quis totidem erexit villas? quis fercula septem
Secreto cœnavit avus? nunc sportula primo
Limine parva sedet, turbæ rapienda togatæ.
Ille tamen faciem prius inspicit, et trepidat ne
Suppositus venias, ac falso nomine poscas :
Agnitus accipies. Jubet a præcone vocari
Ipsos Trojugenas; nam vexant limen et ipsi
Nobiscum: da Prætori, da deinde Tribuno.

appear so open and frequently as they do now? The sentence is elliptical, and must be supplied with habuit, or some other verb of the kind, to govern, hos animos.

-They do not go, with purses, &c.] Gaming has now gotten to such an extravagant height, that gamesters are not content to play for what can be carried in their purses, but stake a whole chest of money at a time; this seems to be implied by the word posita. Pono sometimes signifies, laying a wager, putting down as a stake. See an example of this sense, from Plautus, AINSW. pono, No. 5. 91. How many bottles, &c.] i. e. How many attacks on one another at play.

-The steward.] Dispensator signifies a dispenser, a steward, one that lays out money, a manager.

92. Armour-bearer.] The armigeri were servants who followed their masters with their shields, and other arms, when they went to fight. The poet still carries on the metaphor of prælia in the preceding line. There gaming is compared to fighting; here he humourously calls the steward the armour-bearer, as supplying his master with money, a necessary weapon at a gaming-table, to stake at play, instead of keeping and dispensing it, or laying it out for the usual and honest expenses of the family.

-Simple madness, &c.] All this is a species of madness, but not without mixture of injury and mischief; and therefore may be reckoned something more than mere madness, where such immense sums are thrown away at a gaming-table, as that the servants of the family cannot be afforded common

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decent necessaries. The Romans had their sestertius and sestertium. The latter is here meant, and contains 1000 of the former, which was worth about 1d. See 1. 106. n.

93. And not give a coat, &c.] The poet here puts one instance, for many, of the ruinous consequences of gaming.

Juvenal, by this, severely censures the gamesters, who had rather lose a large sum at the dice, than lay it out for the comfort, happiness, and decent maintenance of their families.

94. So many villas.] Houses of pleasure for the summer-season. These were usually built and furnished at a vast expence. The poet having inveighed against their squandering at the gamingtable, now attacks their luxury, and prodigality in other respects; and then, the excessive meanness into which they were sunk.

95. Supped in secret, &c.] The ancient Roman nobility, in order to shew their munificence and hospitality, used, at certain times, to make an handsome and splendid entertainment, to which they invited their clients and dependents. Now they shut out these, and provided a sumptuous entertainment for themselves only, which they sat down to in private. Which of our ancestors, says the poet, did this?

-Now a little basket, &c.] Sportula, a little basket or pannier, made of a kind of broom called sportum. KENNET, Antiq. p. 375. In this were put victuals, and some small sums of money, to be distributed to the poor clients and dependents at the outward door of the house, who were no longer invited, as formerly, to the entertainment within.

To the chance of the table, but a chest being put down is

played for.

How many battles will you see there, the steward
Armour-bearer! is it simple madness an hundred sestertia
To lose, and not give a coat to a ragged servant ?

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Who has erected so many villas? What ancestor on seven dishes

Has supped in secret? Now a little basket at the first 95
Threshold is set, to be snatched by the gowned crowd.
But he first inspects the face, and trembles, lest

Put in the place of another you come, and ask in a false name. Acknowledged you will receive. He commands to be called by the crier

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The very descendants of the Trojans; for even they molest the threshold Together with us: "Give to the Prætor-then give to the "Tribune."

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-And trembles.] At the apprehension of being severely reproved by his master, the great man, if he should make a mistake, by giving people who assume a false name, and pretend themselves to be clients, when they are not.

99. Acknowledged, &c.] Agnitus, owned, acknowledged, as one for whom the dole is provided.

Perhaps, in better days, when the clients and dependents of great men were invited to partake of an entertainment within doors, there was a sportula, or dole-basket, which was distributed, at large, to the poor, at the doors of great men's houses. Now times were altered; no invitation of clients to feast within doors, and no distribution of doles, to the poor at large, without: none now got any thing here but the excluded clients, and what they got was distributed with the utmost caution, 1. 97, 98.

VOL. J.

-He commands to be called.] i. e. Summoned, called together. The poet is now about to inveigh against the meanness of many of the nobles and magistrates of Rome, who could suffer themselves to be summoned by the common crier, in order to share in the distribution of the dole-baskets.

100. The very descendants of the Trojans.] Ipsos Trojugenas; from Troja, or Trojanus, and gigno. The very people, says he, who boast of their descent from neas, and the ancient Trojans, who first came to settle in Italy; even these are so degenerate, as to come and scramble, as it were, among the poor, for a part of the sportula. The word ipsos makes the sarcasm the stronger.

100. Molest the threshold.] Crowd about it, and are very troublesome. So Hor. lib. i. sat. viii. 1. 18.-hunc vexare locum.

101. With us. Avec nous autres, as the French say.

Give to the Prætor.] In Juvenal's time this was a title of a chief magistrate, something like the lord-mayor of London; he was called Prætor Urbanus, and had power to judge matters of law between citizen and citizen. This seems to be the officer here meant: but for a further account of the Prætor, see AINSW. Prætor.

101. The Tribune.] A chief officer in Rome. The tribunes, at their first in

E

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