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315

Dedecus ille domûs sciet ultimus! Intereà tu
Obsequere imperio, si tanti est vita dierum
Paucorum. Quicquid levius meliusque putâris,
Præbenda est gladio pulchra hæc et candida cervix.
VIII. Nil ergò optabunt homines? Si consilium vis,
Permittes ipsis expendere Numinibus, quid
Conveniat nobis, rebusque sit utile nostris :
Nam pro jucundis aptissima quæque dabunt Dii.
Carior est illis homo, quàm sibi. Nos, animorum
Impulsu, et cæcâ magnâque cupidine ducti,
Conjugium petimus, partumque uxoris : at illis
Notum, qui pueri, qualisque futura sit uxor.

Ut tamen et poscas aliquid, voveasque sacellis
Exta, et candiduli divina tomacula porci :
Orandum est, ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.
Fortem posce animum, mortis terrore carentem,
Qui spatium vitæ extremum inter munera ponat
Naturæ, qui ferre queat quoscunque dolores,

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325

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314. Sciet ultimus] In allusion to the sottish stupidity of Claudius, who was with great difficulty persuaded to credit the report of Messalina's infamy, after it had been long notorious to all the world; and with greater still, induced to issue the final orders for her punishment. Compare Sat. xiv. 330, 331. G.

315. Imperio] Messalinæ.-Tanti] Tanti pretii.

317. Gladio] Seu Messalinæ, seu Claudii. P.

319. Expendere] Considerare, dijudicare.-This wise and pious. sentiment (as Owen observes) is almost a paraphrase of that petition in the Christian prayer: "THY WILL BE DONE."

321. Pro jucundis] Instead of what we may esteem pleasant. W. 322. Animorum] Of our passions. Affectuum. L.-See on

Sat. i. 81.

324. Partum uxoris] Offspring.-Illis] Diis.-The gods only can foresee how either the wife or children may turn out, consequently, whether the gratification of our wishes may be for our happiness. M.

326. Sacellis] Templis, aris.

327. Candiduli] Candidi.-Divina (i. e. sacra) tomacula] Sausages, made from the chopped flesh of the victim: from TEμVW TEToμa, scindo.

330. Spatium vitæ extremum] See on 1. 267.-Munera] Beneficia. P.

331. Dolores] This is the reading of some editions, instead of labores; and is preferred (though not adopted) by Ruperti. Juv. Sat.

M

Nesciat irasci, cupiat nihil, et potiores
Herculis ærumnas credat sævosque labores
Et Venere et cœnis et plumis Sardanapali.

Monstro, quod ipse tibi possis dare. Semita certè 335 Tranquilla per virtutem patet unica vitæ.

Nullum numen habes, si sit prudentia; nos te,
Nos facimus, Fortuna, Deam, coloque locamus.

332. Cupiat] Covets.

334. Venere] Debauchery-Plumis] Downy couches.-Sardanapali] The last king of Assyria, infamous for luxury and effemi

nacy.

335. Monstro quod ipse tibi possis dare] This has been thought to savour of the self-sufficiency of Stoicism, but without reason: since it must, in fairness, be restricted to the independence of the wise and virtuous man on Fortune. Juvenal thought indeed, with the rest of the heathen world, that men could attain wisdom and virtue by their own exertions; but (as Madan well observes) there were some at Rome, at that time, who could have taught him, that EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS.

G.

337. Nullum numen habes, &c.] O Fortuna, nullam divinitatem, nullam in nos potestatem habes, si modò nobis adsit prudentia. M. -Nos te, &c.] i. e. We attribute all our miscarriages and troubles, not to our own neglect, folly, and mismanagement, but to the power and influence of this imaginary deity. M.

The conclusion of Dr. Johnson's admirable paraphrase is here subjoined.

Nil ergò optabunt homines? &c.—

Where, then, shall hope and fear their objects find?Must dull suspense corrupt the stagnant mind?

Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate,

Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate?

Must no dislike alarm? no wishes rise?
No cries attempt the mercies of the skies?
Enquirer, cease; petitions yet remain,

Which Heav'n may hear; nor deem Religion vain.
Still raise for good the supplicating voice,

But leave to Heav'n the measure and the choice.
Safe in His pow'r, whose eyes discern afar
The secret ambush of a specious pray'r,
Implore His aid, in His decisions rest,
Assur'd, whate'er He gives, He gives the best.

Yet when the sense of Sacred Presence fires, And strong devotion to the skies aspires, Pour forth thy fervors for a healthful mind, Obedient passions, and a will resign'd; For love, which scarce collective man can fill ; For patience, sov'reign o'er transmuted ill; For faith, that, panting for a happier seat, Counts death kind Nature's signal of retreat.These goods for man the laws of Heav'n ordain, These goods He grants, who grants the pow'r to gain; With these Celestial Wisdom calms the mind, And makes the happiness she does not find.

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SATIRA XI.

ARGUMENT.

This satire consists principally of an invitation to Persicus, the poet's friend, to pass the day with him; but it is made the vehicle of much valuable information and pleasing description. Its parts are four.-I. The first contains some valuable maxims with regard to oeconomy and self-government. II. The second contains the poet's invitation to his friend, and a short detail of the intended frugal entertainment.-III. The third gives some pleasing views of old Roman simplicity, in contrast with the extravagance prevalent in his own age.-IV. And the fourth concludes with the principal ingredients of (what good sense and virtue would call) a rational entertainment; affording also a most amiable picture of the poet in domestic life. It appears from line 203, that he wrote it in his old age, and, therefore, probably under Adrian. From Gifford and Owen.

AD PERSICUM.

I. Atticus eximiè si cœnat, lautus habetur;
Si Rutilus, demens: quid enim majore cachinno
Excipitur vulgi, quàm pauper Apicias? Omnis
Convictus, thermæ, stationes, omne theatrum
De Rutilo. Nam, dum valida ac juvenilia membra
Sufficiunt galeæ, dumque ardent sanguine, fertur,

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1. Atticus] A rich and noble Roman, intimate with Cicero: here put for any man of rank and wealth.-Lautus] Liberalis. 2. Rutilus] Some spendthrift of the day, who had ruined himself by aping the extravagance of his superiors.-Majore cachinno Excipitur vulgi] "Is more laughed at by the rabble."

3. Pauper Apicius] See on Sat. iv. 22. and 131.

4. Convictus] Convivium, h. e. omnes qui in conviviis sunt.Stationes] Places of resort, chiefly round the forum, where idle people used to meet and talk together.

5. De Rutilo] sc. Loquuntur.

6. Sufficiunt galea] Ad galeam portandam apta sunt.-Fertur] He is reported. W.

Non cogente quidem, sed nec prohibente Tribuno,
Scripturus leges et regia verba lanistæ.

Multos porrò vides, quos sæpè elusus ad ipsum
Creditor introïtum solet expectare macelli;
Et quibus in solo vivendi causa palato est.
Egregiùs cœnat meliùsque miserrimus horum,
Et citò casurus, jam perlucente ruinâ.
Interea gustus elementa per omnia quærunt,
Nunquam animo pretiis obstantibus: interiùs si
Attendas, magis illa juvant, quæ pluris emuntur.
Ergò haud difficile est perituram arcessere summam,
Lancibus oppositis, vel matris imagine fractâ,
Et quadringentis nummis condire gulosum
Fictile: sic veniunt ad miscellanea ludi.

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7. Non cogente, &c.] Nero had forced on the stage, men of noble family as gladiators. The magistrate does not, indeed, compel as formerly, (says the poet;) but yet he does not (as he might and ought) prohibit men of family from thus disgracing themselves. V-Compare Sat. viii. 192.

8. Scripturus] To be about to write down or copy out, i. e. to learn.-Leges] Regulas, præcepta.-Regia verba] The words of command: such as attolle, declina, percute, urge, cade.

10. Macelli] Hoping to catch them on their way to purchase dainties, and to secure the money they are about to squander, 11. Et quibus in solo, &c.] WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY. Phil. iii. 19. Socrates quidem dicebat, homines multos propterea velle vivere, ut ederent et biberent; se bibere atque esse, ut viveret. Macrob. R. 12. Egregiùs] Magis egregiè, splendidiùs.

13. Perlucente] Apparente, manifestâ.-A metaphor from a building in decay, through the chinks of which the light appears. V.

14. Intered] While they have anything left. M.-Gustus] Delicacies. W.-Elementa per omnia] Ex aëre volucres, ex aquis pisces, e terrâ feras et fructus delicatissimos exquirunt.

15. Animo] Appetitui et desiderio. L.-Interiùs si Attendas] Si propiùs et penitùs rem examines.

17. Haud difficile est] They make no difficulty. M.-Perituram] Brevi disperdendam.

18. Lancibus oppositis] Lancibus argenteis pignori datis.-Fractá] Purposely, that it may not be known; and sold for the value of the metal only.

19. Nummis] See on Sat. i. 84.

20. Fictile] In opposition to lancibus.Miscellanea ludi] The

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