genitive, in imitation of the See A. & S. 217; Z. § 447. Class. Dict. 23. Cupressos. the moderns, with thoughts of

expressions damnatus capitis, furti. On the punishment of Sisyphus, see Associated, with the ancients as with sadness, and always hung up in houses of mourning, as well as on funeral piles and sepulchres. Hence the poet beautifully says, that this alone of all the trees shall accompany their short-lived lord. -27. Superbo. This is the reading of the best MSS. The readings superbis, superbum, superbus, Orelli, Dillenb., Jahn, and Süpfle reject as merely conjectural. -28. Pontificum. Comp.

note, O. i., 37, 2, with n. O. i., 36, 12.

ODE XV.

The poet condemns the luxury of his own age, in comparison with the simplicity and frugality of earlier times.

2. Moles. Piles; in reference to the magnificent houses then so common. So moles is also used, of the palace of Maecenas, O. iii., 29, 10.- 4. Stagna. Pools; the fish-ponds on the estates of the rich Romans, sometimes vast sheets of water, well-nigh equal in extent to the Lucrine lake. The Lucrine was on the coast of Campania, near Cumae and Baiae, and was celebrated for its oysters. Most of the space formerly occupied by this lake, is now covered by the Monte Nuovo, a hill about two miles in circumference, and two hundred feet high, which was formed by an earthquake in 1538.- -4. Platanusque coelebs. The unmarrying plane-tree. So called, because the vine was not trained up on it, as on the elm and the poplar. The same metaphor in another form occurs in Epod. 2, 9, vitium propagine Altas maritat populos so also Martial, 3, 57, uses the epithet vidua with platanus. The Romans were fond of groves of plane-trees, on account of the dense shade which they afforded. 7. Olivetis. In the olive-grounds; i. e. the grounds where formerly grew the olive. Thus, the poet says, will also the productive olive soon give way to beds of myrtles, roses, and other flowers. Olivetis is used here as an abl. of place. -10. Romuli; “quo regnante, bina jugera populo Romano satis erant." Plin. 18, 2 (quoted by Orelli). -11. Intonsi Catonis. Cato Major; commonly called the Censor, and here associated with the manners of earlier times, because, more than any of his contemporaries, he resisted the introduction of foreign refinements. In respect to the word intonsi, it may be remarked that the Romans had no barbers until A. U. c. 454. 13. Privatas-magnum. Their private estates were small, the property of the state was large. A truth illustrated throughout the whole history of the

early ages of the republic. "The state, not the individual," was the Roman sentiment and principle; in advancing the public welfare, all private considerations were forgotten and kept out of sight. The word commune, To Koivóv, respublica, here for divitiae reipublicae, aerarium. 15. Metata. Used passively. - Privatis. Dative; for the use of private individuals. 16. Arcton. Porticoes for summer use, faced the north, and for winter, the south; a natural arrangement in a mild climate.· 17. Fortuitum cespitem; the chance turf, i. e. every where found, and consequently cheap, for the roofs of cottages. Another feature of the simpler life of earlier days. Comp. Virg. Ecl. 1, 69, tuguri congestum cespite culmen.-But while the poet ascribes to leges this contrast between public and private buildings, he must mean by the word the established usage of those primitive times, which was stronger than all statutes.

ODE XVI.

Repose all men seek for; but they seek it, where it can never be found, out of themselves. For not honors nor riches can get it, but humble desires, and a quiet soul (1-16). Why then seek elsewhere for peace, when it can dwell only within ourselves? For if in our own souls are care and a guilty conscience, these must go with us, wherever we ge (17-24). Be glad, then, in the joys of life, and temper its ills with a quiet smile; for nothing earthly is completely blest, nor may all enjoy the same, but each has a different, lot (25-end).

Thus does the poet describe the fatal error of men in the pursuit of repose, and show where alone true repose is found.

The ode is addressed to Pompeius Grosphus, a Sicilian knight, to whom Horace also alludes in Epist. 1., 12, 22.

10. Lictor; whose business it was to put away the crowd from before the way of the consul; an admirable illustration here, for not the highest honors may avail to put away care from the breast of man.. 11. Laqueata tecta. Fretted ceilings. The panels (lacus, lacunar, laquear) in the ceilings of the Roman houses, especially of the dining-rooms, were variously ornamented with stucco work, and also inlaid with ivory, and gilding. These panels were made by the beams and rafters crossing each other at right angles.-See Becker's Gallus, Exc. 1, to Sc. 2.

13. Vivitur parvo; sc. ei. He lives well upon a little. Parvo is in abl. The following relative cui belongs both to splendet and aufert.— By salinam and tenui mensa the poet indicates things at once simple and indispensable. 15. Cupido. Always with Horace of masculine gender. See A. & S. § 59, 2; Z. § 75. - -17. Quid-multa. Fortes may be translated as if it were fortiter, vigorously, with all vigor; brevi aevo join with jaculamur. - 18. Terras mutamus; sc. terra; in accordance

with the construction explained in note, O. i., 16, 25. Exchange our

land for lands warmed by another sun. of course must be joined with exsul.

the ills of life.· -29. sentiment, nihil est, etc. brief, clarum—cita mors; longa senectus-minuit.·

Patriae is the true reading, and

22. Turmas equitum relinquit.

34. Observe

36. Murice.

The same striking figure occurs again in O. iii., 1, 37, post equitem sedet atra cura.- 26. Lento; quiet; the smile of one who is unmoved by Abstulit, etc. Illustrations of the preceding The career of Achilles was brilliant, but it was Tithonus lived long, but his powers declined, 31. Et mihi, etc. In like manner to thee are given some things, to me others; to thee riches, and abundant possessions; to me a small estate, with the poetic gift. the elision at the end of the line, hinnit(um) Apta. From the murex, a shell-fish found on the coast of Gaetulia, was obtained an extract for a fine purple dye. It was also found near Tyre, and near Taenarus, a promontory on the coast of Laconia; whence the Tyrian and Laconian purple. The twice-dyed purple, dißapos, here referred to, was very valuable and expensive, and was chiefly used for the lacerna, an open dress-mantle. 38. Tenuem; fine; "subtilem et ingeniosum." Dillenb. 39. Non mendax; i. e. verax, tenax veri, unerring.

ODE XVII.

Pliny relates (N. H. 7, 52), that Maecenas suffered from continual fever, and that for three before his death, he had not a moment's sleep. years 66 Quibusdam perpetua febris est, sicut C. Maecenati. Eidem triennio supremo nullo horae momento contigit somnus." In this beautiful ode, Horace seeks to soothe the distress of his noble friend, and to check his anxious complaints. In the language of faithful friendship, he declares that he will not survive him; that they shall be one in leath, as they have been in life: he seeks to cheer his spirit, by assuring him, that to both of them is yet destined continuance of life; and to this end reminds him of the similar experience which they had each had of the divine interposition, when in circumstances of imminent peril

4. Grande decus. Comp. O. i., 1, 2. - -5. Partem animae. Comp. O. i., 3, 8, where occurs a similar expression of endearment. 6. Altera, sc. pars; the other half. -7. Nec carus aeque; i. e. atque prius. Neither as dear as before. 10. Dixi sacramentum. In allusion to the oath taken by the Roman soldiers to be faithful to their commander, even to death; for which dicere sacramentum was the regular expression. -12. Carpere iter. A poetic expression; the journey (so OreHi explains) is done gradually, each step taking something from the whole. Comp. Sat. i., 5, 94.-The repetition, so forcible, in ibimus, ibimus, must be preserved in translation.-This singular language was well nigh lit

erally verified, for Maecenas and Horace died in the same month; in the year of Rome 746; B. c. 8.-See Life of Horace. - 13. Chimaeram. A fire-breathing monster, at once goat, lion, and dragon. Gyas, with Briareus and Cottus, sons of Earth, having each a hundred hands, and fifty heads. These, with other monsters, Scylla, and Gorgons, and Hydras, Virgil describes in the passage, Aen. 6, 285–290, as guarding the gates of the lower world; a passage which Milton imitated in the expression, Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimaeras dire." Paradise Lost, 2, 628.

- 17. Seu Libra, etc. Astrology Horace repudiates in O. i., 11; and this language is not inconsistent with that ode; for here he says, that whatever be his natal star, whether one or another, it is certainly the same as that of Maecenas; that whatever Astrology may teach, his destinies are linked indissolubly with those of his patron and friend. 22. Impio Saturno. Malignant Saturn; as Saturn was so regarded in Astrology. 23. Refulgens. “Gleaming with an opposite influence. Technically; in opposition." Girdlestone and Osborne. -26. Laetum, etc. Made the theatre thrice ring with sounds of joy; the applause in the theatre, alluded to in O. i., 20, on the appearance of Maecenas, after a dangerous illness. -28. Sustulerat. For sustulisset. The indicative is more animated. So in English, had taken away. See A. & S. ◊ 259, R. 4; Z. 519, b. -29. Mercurialium. Comp. n. O. ii., 7, 13.

ODE XVIII.

An ode, which beautifully sets forth some of the poet's favorite sentiments. With an honest heart and a poet's soul within him, he covets none of the gifts of fortune, content with the humble domain of his Sabine farm; he leads a wiser and happier life than the avaricious rich, who are ever has:ing to increase their stores, unmindful how soon all must be given up, and they, with the poor and the oppressed, share in death the common lot of mortals.

2. Lacunar. See n. O. ii., 16, 11.- -3. Trabes Hymettiae. Beams of Hymettian marble; i. e. the architrave of the column was of the marble of Hymettus, a mountain in Attica. Of the white marbles, the Hymettian ranked after the Parian, the Pentelican, and the Italian marble of Luna, now the Carrara. -4. Columnas-Africa; i. e. columns of Numidian marble, one of the variegated marbles; the Italians now call it giallo antico, as it is of a golden-yellow color. Other variegated marbles were the Phrygian, Mygdonian, or Synnadic, which had red spots and veins; the Laconian or Taenarian, the modern verde antico, green; and the Carystian, which had green spots and veins. -5. Attali. See O. i., 1, 12. Ignotus, in allusion to the unexpected bequest of his wealth to the Roman people. There seems to be something of

irony in the poet's words. -7. Laconicas. See note, O. ii., 16, 36. 8. Trahunt-purpuras. Spin the purple; purpuras; i. e. lanas purpura tinctas; trahere is used, though the usual verb for spinning is deducere. Honestae in the sense of nobiles, because not of the lowest rank; of high degree. 10. Benigna vena. Abundant; may be translated, a kindly vein. On the whole expression, comp. O. i., 17, 13. - -14. Sabinis, sc. praediis. The poet's Sabine farm.-See Life of Horace. 15. Truditur dies die, etc. Beautiful poetic language for the rapid succession of days and months. I give Robinson's translation, venturing to change a single word, in translating pergunt:

Day treads upon the heel of day,

And new moons haste to wane away.

With this passage compare Epod. 17, 25, Urget diem nox, et dies noctem. -20. Baiis. A town on the coast of Campania, and the great wateringplace of the Romans, in the time of Horace. "Situated within a little winding recess of the most enchanting bay of the Mediterranean, under a delicious southern sky, in the midst of all the consecrated scenery of Virgil's muse, its seas ever calm and unruffled, and its soil rich in healing springs, it far surpassed in its means of health and pleasure, all the resorts of antiquity."-Bibliotheca Sacra, for 1846, p. 234.- -21. Summovere litora. To push out the shore. The Romans built their villas on moles, piers, projecting into the sea. The shore of Baiae, in the Bay of Naples, is lined with ruins of these villas; and in fine weather, they may be seen under the water. Indeed, along the whole shore, and on the adjacent hill-sides, lie thickly strewn and fast imbedded in the earth, the ruins of temples, and villas, and baths. Comp. O. iii., 1, 36; iii., 24, 3. 22. Parum locuples. Not rich enough. Dillenb. says concisely and and truly, Eo luxuriae pervenerant Romani, ut in terra navigare, in mari habitare vellent. 23. Quid, quod. Nay even. See Z. 769.25. Limites-salis. The Roman laws were explicit on such violation of right; patronus si clienti fraudem fecerit, sacer esto; (from the twelve Tables.)· 26. Pellitur. On the number, see note, O. ii., 13, 38.-27. Ferens deos. A picture of poor clients, forcibly ejected from their homes by their avaricious lord, and robbed of every thing save their household gods and wretched children, carrying these with them, prompted by piety and natural affection. 30. Fine destinata. To be joined together, as the whole line is equivalent to fine, quam rapax Orcus destinavit. Finis occurs as a feminine noun also in Epod. 17, 36; and in Virg. Aen. 2, 554; Livy, 22, 57; and Cic. Leg. 2, 22.32. Aequa, etc. Comp. the passage with O. i., 4, 13.- -36. Hic. Orcus, not Charon. 38. Levare, depending upon vocatus, and equiva40. Vocatus-audit. Said per brachylogiam, because

lent to ut levet.