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NOTE S.

Horace fhows in this Satire, that true Nobility does not confist in being defcended from a long Train of illustrious Ancestors, but in right Sentiments and Probity of Man

mers.

The Gratitude he testifies to his Father's Memory, does more Honour to his own, than the Friendship of Macenas, or even that of Auguftus.

If this Satire was written after the Death of Virgil and Varius, as it probably was, by the 54th Verfe, &c. Optimus olim Virgilius-it was after the Year of Rome 735, and Horace must have been above forty-feven Years old. DACIER and SANADON.

1 Ante poteftatem Tulli atque ignobile regnum.]

Servius Tullius, the fixth King of Rome. He was the Son of Ocrifia, who was taken Captive by the Romans at the Sacking of Corniculum. Because his Mother was in a State of Servitude when he was born, he was called Servius. It is on this Account only, and in Allufion to the Opinion of the Populace, that Horace here applies the Epithet ignobile (ignoble) to his Reign; for he was in fact a wife and valiant Prince, and his Reign was glorious. This Paffage is thus tranflated by Dacier: You justly 'think, that before the glorious Reign of Tullius, who was the Son of a Slave, there have been many Perfons ' obfcurely born, who have lived with Honour, and by 'their Merit obtained the highest Dignities.'

2 Quam Decio mandare novo.] Publius Decius Mus was the first of his Family who diftinguished himself, and obtained the Confulfhip by his Merit. He devoted himself for his Country in a Battle against the Latins, in the Year of Rome 417, three hundred and thirty-four Years before the Birth of Chrift. His Son followed his Example forty Years afterwards.

3

Appius.]

Cenforque moveret

Appius Claudius Cacus, who was chofen Cenfor in the Year of Rome 443. He was diftinguished by the Severity with which he exercifed this Office for five Years.

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The Business of the Cenfor was to furvey the People, and to cenfure their Manners. He had Authority to punish Immoralities in any Ferfons, of what Rank foever, Senators themselves not excepted.

4

Quoniam in propriâ non pelle quieffem.] He here alludes to the Fable of the Afs in the Lion's Skin.

5 - Tilli.] This Reading is found in the most ancient Copies: Others read, Tulli. Tillius was a Person of an obfcure Birth and bad Morals, and was obliged by Cæfar to lay afide the Purple Robe, for having joined with Pompey; but after Cafar's Death he refumed it, and was created Tribune; all things being then in fo great Confufion, that the vileft Slaves were fometimes created Senators.

6 quo morbo Barrus.] Titus Veturius Barrus. All that we know of this pretty Fellow is, that he was an egregious Coxcomb, (a Woman's Man, to be fure,) and fo extravagant, that he ruined himself. He was at put to Death for corrupting one of the Vestal Virgins.

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7 Paulus & Meffala.] Paulus Æmilius and Meffala Corvinus, two illuftrious Romans.

8 Mihi pareret legio Romana Tribuno.] Horace ferved in the Civil Wars as a Tribune in Brutus's Army, and was prefent at the Battle of Philippi, where, however, he gained no Honour, as he himself owns, in Book II. Ode 17.

Philippos, & celerem fugam

Senfi, relicta non bene parmula.

The Legion confifted of thirty Manipuli, or Bands, which made about fix thousand Men, and was commanded by fix Tribunes, or Colonels.

9 Ipfe mihi Cuftos incorruptiffimus omnes Circum doctores aderat.]

It was very difficult to preferve the Morals of thofe Boys untainted, who were fent to the great Schools. Therefore they never went abroad without being accompanied by a fort of Guardian, or Governor, who was styled Cuftos

and

and Rector. But as fuch Perfons too often connived at the Vices and Extravagances of their Pupils, the Vigilance of our Poet's Father fupplied that Office himself, well knowing, that Learning would be too dearly purchafed at the Expence of Morals.

10 Laus illi debetur, &c.] In the fame amiable Manner Mr. Pope speaks of his Father:

II

Born to no Pride, inheriting no Strife,
Nor marrying Difcord in a noble Wife,
Stranger to civil and religious Rage,

The good Man walk'd innoxious through his Age:
No Courts he faw, no Suits would ever try,

Nor dar'd an Oath, nor hazarded a Lye, &c.
Epift. to Dr. Arbuthnot.

Uque Tarentum.] Now Taranto, a City of the Province of Otranto, in the Kingdom of Naples. Brace was fo pleafed with it, that he would have been glad to have spent the latter Part of his Life there. ' It abounds, fays he, with excellent Honey, delicate Oyl, and Wine little inferior to that of Falernus: An early Spring, and a foft Winter, render it a delightful Habitation for an • old Man.' See Book II. Ode 6.

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I 2

ulceret atque eques armos.]

The Critics puzzle themfelves about the Meaning of thefe Words. Datier fays, he galled his Mule by his awkward Manner of fitting. Sanadon contends for the Poet's good Horfemanship, and is of Opinion, that it was occafioned by his Weight only; for he was fat and unwieldy. The Tranflator dares not pretend to decide this important Queftion.

13 Fallacem Circum, &c.] Mr. Creech here introduces thefe Lines:

Through cheating Rome, about the Clofe of Day,
I freely walk; I go to Church and pray.

It is to be fuppofed that Horace was a good Chriftian.

14 - Lachanique catinum.] But other Copies read, Laganique catinum, A Plate of Pancakes. The Reader may chufe which Difh he likes beft.

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15 Obe

15

Obeundus Marfya.] Marfyas was a Phrygian Musician, who, prefuming to challenge Apollo to play with him on the Flute, was conquered, and flayed alive.

His Statue was placed in the Forum, facing the Bench where the Judges fat, and the Lawyers pleaded.

The Pain Marsyas felt to fee fuch a fordid Wretch as Novius among the Judges, made him forget what he had fuffered from Apollo. This Thought is the more happy, as his Statue had one Hand raifed: And Horace afcribes this Polture to his Indignation against Novius. DACIER.

16 Ad quartam jaceo.] I lie a-bed 'till the fourth Hour, i e. 'till ten o' th' Clock. But we are not to understand by thefe Words, that he flept fo long; for none but Sluggards indulged themfelves in Sleep even 'till fix o' th' Clock. See Epift. I. ver. 17, & 18. No, he ap plied himself to Reading or Writing on his Couch, which was a common Practice among the Ancients.

Neque enim cum le&tulus, aut me

Porticus excepit, desum mibi.

Book I. Sat. IV.

Nor when my Bed or Portico receives me,

Do I forbear to commune with myself.

Thus Seneca in his 72d Epiftle:

Some Things may be written, even in a Chariot; but others require the Bed, Leisure, and Retirement." And Pliny:

• Caius Fannius dreamed one Night, that he lay on his Couch, in an Undrefs fit for Study, with a Desk, as ufual, ' before him.' B. V. Ep. 5. Tranflated by the late Earl `of CORKE.

17 Natta.] This was a famous Mifer, who is also mentioned by Juvenal, Sat. VIII. 95. and by Perfius, Sat. III.

31.

Non pudet ad morem discinēti vivere Natta?

Are you not ashamed to lead fuch a Life as that dif folute Spendthrift Natta?'

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18

Fugio rabiofi tempora figni.]

But, according to Cruquius, a very ancient Manufcript reads,

Fugio campum lufumque trigonem.

This Reading is adopted by Bentley, Cuningham, and Sanadon, and followed by the Tranflator. Horace plainly intends to point out here the Hour of the Day, and not the Seafon of the Year. It is ridiculous to fuppofe with Dacier, that he bathed only in the Dog-days. By Campus he means the Campus Martius, or Martian Field, where the public Exercises were performed; and this Line explains the preceding Words, Ungor olivo; for he was anointed, to make his Limbs the more pliant for Exercife.

19

Hæc ef

Vita folutorum mifera ambitione gravique.]

Horace has Reason to boast of his Happinefs. What a Contraft? On one Side, we fee the conftrained and reftlefs Life of the Great, whom Ambition drags along, chained, like Slaves, to the Chariot of Fortune; on the other Side, the free and peaceable Life of a private Man, who tastes, in his moderate State of Competence, Repofe without Troubles, and Pleasure without Solicitude; and whofe Labours afford him an useful and agreeable Amusement. SANADON.

20

-viðurum fuaviùs, ac fi

Quaftor avus.]

The Quaftor was the Treasurer of the Commonwealth. This Office is put here for any confiderable Charge. It was the first Step to mount higher. SANADON.

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