NOTE S. The chief Merit of this Satire feems to be its giving fo exact an Account of a Roman Entertainment, and the Manner of Feafting eighteen hundred Years ago. 1 Fundanius was an excellent Writer of Comedy, and is celebrated as fuch by our Poet, in Satire X. Book I. This humorous Account of Rufus's Feaft is therefore, with great Propriety, put into his Mouth. What 2 Darier tells us, that the Boar was tainted. Authority he has for this Affertion we know not. Horace fays no fuch thing. Rufus's pretending that its being Caught when the Wind was Southerly had made the Flesh more tender and delicate, afforded Matter enough for Ridicule, without this arbitrary Conjecture. 3 Chium maris expers.] This may fignify Chian Wine, which had not paffed the Seas, or which had not been diluted with Sea Water. For the Greeks often mixed a little of this Water with their Wines, to refine and purify them. The Tranflator has taken it in the former Senfe. It seems probable that Rufus endeavoured to impofe on his Guefts, by giving them ftrong Italian for the true Chian Wine. 4 Divitias miferas !] The Wines of Falernus and Alba were esteemed the beft. Horace here calls them wretched Wealth, or wretched Hoards, becaufe Rufus had not the Heart to produce them, "unless they should be called for by his Guests. 5 The Beds on which the Romans reclined to eat were ufually of the fame Shape and Make, and held no more than three Perfons. Över thefe they threw a Quilt, ftuffed with Feathers. On this Pillows were laid, to fupport the Backs of the Guests. Being fettled on the Beds, they wafhed their Hands; and then were ferved with Garlands of Rofes and other Flowers. The middle Bed was the most honourable; and the Middle of that the highest Place. 6 infra to lie below any one," as St. John is faid whence fome have Varius.] Infra aliquem cubare, is the fame as to lie in one's Bofom; to have done in our Saviour's; thought that either the fame Custom was observed in almoft all Nations, or else that the Jews, having been lately conquered by Pompey, conformed themfelves in this, as in many other Refpects, to the Example of their Masters. KENNET's Roman Antiq. Part II. BookV. Chap. 9. 7 Porcius and Nomentanus were two Buffoons, who were invited by Rufus to entertain Macenas and the Company. 8 poft hoc me docuit melimela, &c.] The Sides of the Dish were probably garnished with thefe Apples, as was cuftomary with the Romans. See Seneca de Providentiâ. 9 Et foleas pofcit.] The Solea was a Sort of Sandal without any Upper Leather, fo that it covered only the Sole of the Foot, being fastened above with Straps and Buckles. They properly belonged to the Ladies, and were looked upon as effeminate in the other Sex. Cicero. exposes Verres and Clodius for wearing them; and Scipio was cenfured on the fame Account. DUNSTER. Rufus called for his Sandals, in order to go out and give Directions for more Victuals to be brought in. The Ridicule in this Satire feems to be chiefly pointed at the Impertinence and falfe Delicacy of Rufus, and not at the Badness of his Provision. It is of the Dramatic Kind, and may be confidered as the Scene of a Comedy. There is one Particular very remarkable, which is this; though the Friends of Macenas are very free in their Raillery, he himself does not utter a Word. Herein Horace has obferved what the French call la Bienfeance, Decency, or Decorum, (a Rule not always practifed by the Ancients) with great Addrefs. For though Rufus was in fact a Babbler and a Coxcomb, it would not have become Macenas to railly his Friend at his own Table for an Entertainment which was intended to do him Honour. Dacier and other Critics have taken a great deal of Pains (but, I think, without Succefs) to prove that every Difh was wretched, and ill-chofen. We fhall conclude thefe Remarks with exhibiting, at one View, the Situation of Rufus's Guests, and his Bill of Fare, collected from this Satire. The Order in which the Dishes are placed, being merely conjectural, is submitted to the Ladies, who may range them according to their own Taste. A Boar, with Anchovy Sauce ; The Dish garnished with Lettuce, Radishes, and Carrots. (To repair the Lofs fuftained by the Falling of the Livers of Geefe; Canopy) A Crane ; Wings of Hares; Blackbirds and Doves. The The MISER's FEAST; Being the SAME SATIRE Imitated. By EDWARD BURNABY GREENE, Efq; A Dialogue between one of the GUESTS and his FRIEND. "TW FRIEND. WAS faid, you fhar'd, a jovial Guest, Or I expected you at Three, To eat fome Ham and Fowl with Me. GUEST. Oh! 'twas the fineft Scene of Mirth, But fay, what Dishes deck'd the Board? First on the Table's lower Station And And now, to cloak the Mifer's Cheat, To tire our loathing Palates out; The Crumbs now swept with skilful Care (Such Slaves, you know, are cheaply kept) Such Wines (our Niggard cries) as these And, as the beft, I dare commend it. John, |