Expiates, skilled to inhibit destructive eyes. Then shakes him in her hands, and her slender hope, with suppliant wish, 35 She now sends into the fields of Licinius, now into the houses of Crassus. May a king and queen wish this boy their son-in-law; may the girls Seize him; whatever he shall have trodden upon, may it become a rose !' But to a nurse I do not commit prayers: deny, O Jupiter, these to her, tho' cloth'd in white she should ask. 40 You ask strength for your nerves, and a body faithful to old age: Be it so go on: but great dishes, and fat sausages, Have forbidden the gods to assent to these, and hinder Jove. You wish heartily to raise a fortune, an ox being slain, and Mercury You invite with inwards-" grant the household gods to make "me prosperous! 45 "Give cattle, and offspring to my flocks!"-Wretch, by what means, his body may not fail him when he comes to be old. 42. Be it so go on.] I see no harm in this, says Persius; you ask nothing but what may be reasonably desired, therefore I don't find fault with your praying for these things-go on with your petitions. -Great dishes.] But while you are praying for strength of body, and for an healthy old age, you are destroying your health, and laying in for a diseased old age, by your gluttony and luxury. -Sausages.] Tuceta, a kind of meat made of pork or beef chopped, or other stuff, mingled with suet. 43. Have forbidden, &c.] While you are praying one way, and living another, you yourself hinder the gods from granting your wishes. -Hinder Jove.] Prevent his giving you health and strength, by your own destroying both. The poet here ridicules those inconsistent people, who pray for health and strength of body, and yet live in such a manner as to impair both. Nothing but a youth of temperance is likely to ensure an old age of health. This is VOL. 11. finely touched by the masterly pen of our Shakespeare: Though I look old, yet I am strong and For in my youth I never did apply As you like it, act ii. sc. iii. 44. You wish, &c.] Another is endeavouring to advance his fortune by offer ing costly sacrifices, little thinking that these are diminishing what he wants to augment. -Ox being slain.] i. e. In sacrificein order to render the god propitious; but you don't recollect that by this you have an ox the less. -Mercury.] The god of gain. 45. You invite.] Arcessis-send for, as it were invite to favour you. With inwards.] Extis, the entrails of beasts offered in sacrifice. -" The household gods," &c.] "Grant "O Mercury," say you, that my do"mestic affairs may prosper!" See AINSW. Penates. Give cattle," &c.] Grant me a 2 I Mentis, et incoctum generoso pectus honesto. 74. A breast imbrued, &c.] Incoctum -metaph. taken from wool, which is boiled, and so thoroughly tinged with the dye. It signifies that which is infused; not barely dipped, as it were, so as to be lightly tinged, but thoroughly soaked, so 75 as to imbibe the colour. See VIRG. G. iii. 307. 75. That I may bring to the temples.] Let me be possessed of these, that I may with these approach the gods, and then a little cake of meal will be a sufficient Of the mind, and a breast imbrued with generous honestyThese give me, that I may bring to the temples, and I will sacrifice with meal. offering. Comp. VIRG. Æn. v. 1. 745; and HOR. lib. ii. ode xxiii. 1. 17, &c. Lito not only signifies to sacrifice, but, by that sacrifice, to obtain what is sought for. Tum Jupiter faciat ut semper 75 PLAUT. in Persa. ! |