SATIRE XII. ARGUMENT. opportunity to lash the Hæridepetæ, or Legacy-hunters, who flattered and paid their court to rich men, in hopes of becoming their heirs. THIS day, Corvinus, is sweeter to me than my birth-day, But the petulant victim shakes his long extended rope, 5 And to be sprinkled with wine; which is now ashamed to draw Its mother's dugs, and teazes the oaks with its budding horn. Jupiter and Danae, (with the help of Minerva,) as she lay asleep, who cut off her head this was afterwards placed in the ægis, or shield, of Minerva. Hyginus says, that Medusa was not slain by Perseus, but by Minerva. Britannic. in loc. Sometimes the head of Medusa was supposed to be worn in the breast-plate of Minerva. See En. viii. 1. 435-8. 5. Petulant victim, &c.] The wantonness and friskiness of the calf leading along in a rope is here very naturally described. 6. Tarpeian Jove.] On the mons Capitolinus, otherwise called the Tarpeian hill, from the vestal virgin Tarpeia, who betrayed it to the Sabines, Jupiter had a temple, whence his titles; Tarpeian and Capitoline. 7. Ripe, &c.] The beasts were reckoned of a proper age and size for sacrifice, Candentis vaccæ media inter cornua fundit. Hence the Greek epigram on the vine and the goat. Κ' ην με φαγης επι ρίξαν όμως· ετι καρπο Όσσον επισπεισαι σοι, Τραγς, θυομένω. 8. Is now ashamed, &c.] Hath left off sucking; is grown above it. 9. Teazes, &c.] It is usual for the when the tail reached the hough, or young of all horned animals to butt Si res ampla domi, similisque affectibus esset, against trees, as if practising for future fight; sometimes we see them in sport engaging one another. 10. If my fortune, &c.] The poet, throughout the above account of his sacrifices, as well as of the altar on which they were to be offered, shews his prudence and frugality, as well as his friendship for his preserved friend Catullus. He professes to shew his affection, not as he would, but as his fortune could afford it. Instead, therefore, of a white bull to Jupiter, and white cows to Juno and Minerva, he offers a white ewelamb to Juno, the same to Minerva, and a calf to Jupiter. 11. A bull.] The usual sacrifice to Ju. piter was a white bull. -Fatter than Hispulla.] A fat, sensual lady, noted as infamous for keeping a player. Sat. vi. 1. 74. -Drawn.] Dragged, by ropes fixed to the horns, to the altar. 11, 12. With its very bulk slow.] So fat that he could hardly stir. 12. In a neighbauring pasture.] Not bred or fatted in the neighbourhood of Rome. 13. His blood shewing, &c.] By the colour and richness, as well as quantity of it. audi, 10 15 20 25 Clitumnus.] A river dividing Tuscany and Umbria, whose water, says Pliny, makes the cows, that drink of it, bring white calves: whence the Romans, as Virgil and Claudian observe, were plentifully furnished with white sacrifices for Jupiter Capitolinus. See VIRG. Georg. lib. ii. 146-8. 14. A great minister.] Some interpret this, as referring to the quality of the person giving the blow, as if it were to be the chief pontiff, or sacrificer, and not one of his popæ, or inferior officers. Others think, that it refers to the size and strength of the person officiating, able to perform his office at one blow. 15. Yet trembling friend, &c.] This is a very natural circumstance, that a man, for some time after a narrow escape from an horrible danger, should shudder at the very thoughts of it, and stand amazed at his deliverance. 17. The hazard of the sea.] i. e. The danger of the waves. 17, 18. Lightning escaped.] By which he might have been killed in an instant, but happily escaped the blow. 18. Thick darkness, &c.] So that they could take no observation, nor know where they were, or which way to steer. 10 If my fortune had been ample, and like my affection, Suffer'd dreadful things, and wondering that he is safe. 15 For, beside the hazard of the sea, and the stroke of lightning Escaped, thick darkness hid the sky In one cloud, and a sudden fire struck the sail-yards; When every one might believe himself struck with it, and presently, Astonish'd, might think that no shipwreck could be 20 25 Such a circumstance is awfully related, 19. A sudden fire, &c.] A flash of lightning struck the sail-yards, and set the sails on fire. 20. Might believe, &c.] Each person on board might think it levelled at him, it was so near him. 21. Astonish'd, might think, &c.] For in case of a shipwreck, some might escape on parts of the broken ship (comp. Acts xxvii. ult.); but if the ship were burnt, all must be consumed together therefore, horrible as a shipwreck might be in the expectation, there could be no comparison, in point of horror, between this and a ship on fire. 22. All things become, &c.] The above circumstances of the danger from the waves, and of the greater horror of the ship's being struck with lightning, and the rigging set on fire, are ingredients in a poetical description of a tempest; even the imagination of the poet could not invent any thing more dreadful and grievous. 24. Another kind of danger.] i. e. Which Catullus was in. This, as afterwards appears, was from the ship's being half full of water, (1. 30.) and he forced to lose his property to save his life. 25. The rest, &c.] Of my friend's disasters, which I shall relate, are of the same unfortunate nature. 26. Known to many.] Who have been in a like situation. 27. Many temples, &c.] Persons that escaped shipwreck used to have a painting made of the same scene which they had gone through, drawn upon a tablet, which they vowed to Neptune during their distress, and hung up in some temple near the sea-coast. s; Cum plenus fluctu medius foret alveus, et jam 30 35 40 45 30. Middle hold, &c.] i. c. The hold was half full, or full up to the middle. 31. Alternate side, &c.] Heeling her from side to side, by dashing against them alternately.. 32. Uncertain wood.] It being now doubtful, whether the timbers could much longer stand the force of the beating waves upon her sides, or whether she would not go to pieces. -The prudence, &c.] All the skill and care of the old experienced master of the ship could afford no help. 33. He.] i. e. Catullus. -Began to compound, &c.] To bargain (as it were) for his life at the expence of his goods. by throwing them overboard. See AINSW. Decido, No. 4. 34. Imitating the beaver, &c.] This notion of the beaver is very ancient, and well introduced by our poet; but it is to be reckoned among those vulgar errors which have no foundation in truth. In the first place, the liquid matter, which is called in medicine castoreum, is not found in the testicles, but inclosed in bags, or purses, near the anus of the animal. In the next place, such an instance of violence upon itself was never known to be committed by the beaver. See CHAMBERS-and BROWN's Vulg. Err. book iii. c. iv. 38. To throw over.] Into the sea. -The most beautiful things.] His finest and most valuable merchandize. See Job ii. 4. 39. Tender Mæcenases.] Mæcenas, the favourite of Augustus, was a very delicate and effeminate person, from whom people of such character were denominated Mæcenates. See sat i. 1. 66, note. Such persons were very finical and expensive in their dress, and therefore poor Catullus lost a good market for his purple dress, by throwing it overboard in the storm. 40. The very sheep, &c.] In this place the poet means, that the wool, of which these other garments were made, had a native tinge of a beautiful colour, owing to the particular nature of the soil, and water, and air, where the sheep were bred, so that the garments were made up without receiving any artificial dye. 41. A remarkable fount, &c.] The water of which, as well as the pasture where the sheep fed, was supposed to contribute to the fineness and colour of their wool. 42. Bætic air.] The air of Bætica, now Andalusia, in Spain, through which ran When the middle hold was full of water, and now 30 With the winds by throwing overboard, imitating the beaver, who Makes himself an eunuch, desiring to escape with the loss 35 Of his testicles thus medicated does he understand his groin. Throw out all things which are mine, says Catullus, Willing to throw over even the most beautiful things, a garment Of purple, fit also for tender Mæcenases: And others, the very sheep of which the nature of 40 The generous herbage dyed, but also a remarkable fount Nor did he hesitate to throw away his plate; dishes And worthy Pholus thirsting, or the wife of Fuscus. 45 Of wrought-work, in which the cunning buyer of Olynthus had drunk. But who now is the other, in what part of the world, who dares the river Bætis, is here assigned its share in the improvement of the wool. 43. Dishes.] Lanx signifies a great broad plate, or deep dish, to serve up meat in, which the Romans had carved and embossed at a great expence. 44. Parthenius.] Some curious artist, whose works were in high estimation. -An urn.] A measure of liquids containing four gallons. 45. Pholus.] A drunken Centaur, who, when he entertained Hercules, produced a tun of wine at once. -Wine of Fuscus.] Fuscus was a judge, noted by Martial for drunkenness, as his wife is here, in the good company of Pholus the drunken Centaur. 46. Baskets.] The bascaudæ were a kind of baskets which the Romans had from the ancient Britons. Vox Britannica. AINSW. Barbara de pictis veni bascauda Britannis. MART. xiv. 99. -A thousand dishes.] Escaria, from esca, seems to denote vessels of all shapes and sizes, in which meat was served up to table; also plates on which it was eaten. 47. Wrought-work.] Cælati, from cælo, to chase, emboss, or engrave. This wrought-work here mentioned is thought, from what follows, to have been the large wrought, i. e. chased or embossed, gold cup, that Philip, king of Macedon, used to drink out of, and to put under his pillow every night when he went to sleep. This must have been a very great, as well as valuable curiosity. But as it is said multum cælati, one should rather think, that the poet means a great quantity of wrought plate, which had once been the property of Philip; a set of plate, as we should say. Philip was killed by Pausanias three hundred and thirty-six years before Christ. Juvenal flourished about the latter end of the first century: so that this plate was very old. -Buyer of Olynthus.] This cup, and other pieces of valuable plate, he gave to Lasthenes, governor of Olynthus, a city of Thrace, to betray it into his hands. It was, from this, said of Philip, that what he could not conquer by iron (i. c. his arms) he gained by gold. 48. But who now, &c.] This implied commendation of Catullus seems here to be introduced by the poct, in order to lash the prevailing vice of covetousness, which was so great, as to make men love |