Haec opera atque hae sunt generosi Principis artes, Quid, Catilina, tuis natalibus atque Cethegi Inveniet quisquam sublimius? Arma tamen vos Nocturna et flammas domibus templisque parastis, Ut Braccatorum pueri Senonumque minores, Generosi' is abrupt end through the hatred created by his savage conduct. The praetorian troops were induced by their commander Nymphidius Sabinus to revolt in favour of Galba, and being entirely deserted by soldiers and friends he destroyed himself. 224. generosi Principis] used ironically. See note on v. 30. 225. peregrina ad pulpita] Besides Naples (219, n.) Suetonius says he went through Achaia, and various parts of Greece, reciting in the theatres and contending for the prizes at the Olympic games. He was highly delighted with the flattery of the Achaeans, who sent him all the crowns of the musicians as if he were Apollo and the guardian of the Muses (says Casaubon). He declared therefore that the Greeks were the only persons who had ears, and were worthy of him and his genius. 'Cantu,' 'cantare' (220) mean only recitation. See Salmasius' note on Suetonius (Nero 21, Burmann's edition): "Inter caetera cantavit Canacem parturientem, Orestem matricidam, Oedipodem excaecatum, Herculem insanum." 226. apium meruisse coronae.] Parsley was used for crowning the head at feasts, as we see repeatedly in Horace, as C. ii. 7.24: Quis udo Deproperare apio coronas iv. 11. 3: "est in horto, Phylli, nectendis apium coronis." It was used for the crown of the victors in the Isthmian and Nemean games, wherefore Pindar calls it Dorian and Corinthian, Oáλnor Kopivlions oɛλivos (Nem. iv. 88, Böckh.), Awpiwv oтepávaμa Geλivov (Isth. ii. 16). See also Olymp. xiii. 32, and Isth. vii. 64. The Olympic crown was of olive, and the Pythian of laurel. Pliny speaking of parsley says, "honos 225 230 ipsi in Achaia coronare victores sacri certaminis Nemeae " (xix. 8). 228. Ante pedes Domiti] The Emperor Nero was so named when adopted by his stepfather Claudius. He was before L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, and in that branch of the Domitia gens there were many distinguished persons (see Smith's Biog. Dict.) whose busts were in his palace. The poet tells him to hang up by their images his stage dresses and harp, as soldiers hung their armour and spoils. Syrma' was a train attached to the 'palla,' worn by tragic actors, from ovptv, to sweep. Horace refers to it, A. P. 215: "traxitque vagus per pulpita vestem " (where see note); and see below xv. 30, " quanquam omnis syrmata volvas." Varius' tragedy of Thyestes is referred to by Horace, C. i. 6. 8, "saevam Pelopis domum." Ennius and Accius each wrote a tragedy on Menalippe the daughter of Aeolus, after two tragedies of Euripides, of which fragments still exist. By 'marmoreo colosso' he means a colossal statue of one of his ancestors. Suetonius says that he ordered a harp (or a crown, for the readings vary) awarded him on some occasion as a prize to be taken and placed by a statue of Augustus (Nero, c. 12), and for this reason some commentators think the statue here is that of Augustus, but that is against the context. Nero had a statue of himself in his palace called the golden house, which statue was 120 feet high, but it was of bronze (Suet. Ner. c. 31). 231. Quid, Catilina, tuis] Catilina was of the Sergia gens, one of the oldest patrician families; and Cethegus, his chief companion in his conspiracy, was of the Cornelia gens. A very complete account of the conspirators and their designs will be found in Mr. Long's Introduction to Cicero's orations against Catilina (Vol. III.). 234. Ut Braccatorum pueri] As sons Ausi quod liceat tunica punire molesta. of the Braccati or descendants of the Senones. 'Minores' is used in this sense before (S. i. 148). Before the formation of the separate province Gallia Narbonensis, it appears the Romans gave the inhabitants the name 'Braccati' (as they called themselves togati') from their wearing, like nearly all other nations not Greek or Roman, 'braccae,'' breeches,' which has been mentioned before (ii. 169, n.). See Pliny iii. 4, init. The Senones were an ancient Gallic tribe on the Seine. (See Long's note on Caesar, B. G. ii. 2, and Intr. p. 21, and art. 'Senones,' Dict. Geog.) They were among the Gauls who invaded Italy in the time of the Tarquins, according to Livy (v. 33, 34), and they remained in Umbria till the Romans destroyed them all B. c. 283. Juvenal says the conspirators were like descendants of these savages, who only came to ravage and destroy. 235. tunica punire molesta.] This has been alluded to above (i. 155), where the Scholiast says: "Nero maleficos homines teda et papiro et cera supervestiebat et sic ad ignem admoveri jubebat ut arderent." This is repeated in the Scholium here: "Vestis ex charta facta, pice illita in qua ignibus poenae addicti ardere solent." Seneca (Epp. xiv.) speaks of "illam tunicam alimentis ignium et illitam et intextam." The familiar name for this seems to have been 'tunica molesta;' Martial uses it (x. 25). 237. Hic novus Arpinas,] Arpinum (Arpino) was a town of Latium and a municipium, and there Cicero was born, B. C. 106. He was the first of his gens (Tullia) that had curule honours, and was therefore novus homo' and 'ignobilis.' After him his family became 'nobilis.' He was consul B. c. 63, and in that year the conspiracy of Catilina was formed. Cicero often alludes to his own connexion with the equestrian order. See particularly his letter ad Qu. Fr. 235 240 i. 1. 'Modo,' but the other day (as we say), he was only a municipal eques living at Rome. Galeatum,' with their helmets on ready for action, as in i. 169, “ Galeatum sero duelli Poenitet." Attonitis' refers to the people, who knew nothing of the reasons for such measures. In omni gente laborat' means he cares for all people.' 'Gentes,' for the people about Rome, is opposed to the inhabitants of the city by Horace (C. i. 2.5): Terruit Urbem, Terruit gentes." (See below, xv. 10.) 240. toga contulit illi] "Toga' is equivalent to peace, as is common. • Nominis et tituli' is a common way of speaking, where a general term is put first and a particular form of it follows. The title was pater patriae' (243), respecting which see note on Horace, C. i. 2. 50: "Hic ames dici pater atque princeps." It was conferred by the senate for the first time on Cicero. And at that time,' Juvenal adds, they were free.' He means that afterwards, when they gave it to Augustus and to other emperors after him, they were not free. Ruperti says it means they were freed from danger, which destroys one of the chief points of the contrast Juvenal is drawing between Cicero and Octavius. By Leucade he means the battle of Actium, which was about thirty miles north of the island of Leucas or Leucadia. The other battle referred to is Philippi, which was in Thrace, but was included in the province of Macedonia. Thessaliae campis' therefore is an inaccuracy; similar mistakes will be found in the places quoted in Heyne's note on Virgil, Georg. i. 489-492: "Romanas acies iterum videre Philippi." The original name of Augustus was C. Octavius; but he dropped this at his great uncle's death, and then he became C. Julius Caesar Octavianus, to which the title of Augustus was added B. C. 27. Arpinas alius Volscorum in monte solebat Hic tamen et Cimbros et summa pericula rerum 242. Octavius abstulit] The 'non' which belongs to this clause must be supplied from the preceding. 245. Arpinas alius] This was C. Marius, who was also born at Arpinum of poor parents, who Plutarch says got their living by the labour of their hands; and that is what Juvenal means to say he did himself, "solebat Poscere mercedes, alieno lassus aratro." He worked at the plough as a 'mercenarius.' He entered the army as a private soldier, and served during the siege of Numantia under Scipio Africanus Minor, who promoted him. The vine switch was commonly used for military floggings; and he says Marius had the switch broken over his head if he did his work lazily, which he was not likely to do. See note on vi. 479, "hic frangit ferulas," where the way of speaking is the same. 248. muniret castra dolabra.] Although a body of 'fabri,' ' engineers,' was attacdeh to every Roman army, each ordinary foot soldier carried a hatchet, an axe, a saw, a basket, a mattock, a knife, a leather strap, a chain (see note on Hor. C. ii. 13. 18: "catenas Parthus et Italum Robur "), besides a stake for entrenchments and three days' provision, so that as Josephus, who gives these particulars (Bell. Jud. iii. 5), observes, the infantry were almost like baggage mules. 'Securis,' the hatchet, was a distinct thing from 'dolabra,' which was a hatchet on one side, but had a pick on the other. "Forma est securis sed unica et simplici acie; parte altera in mucronem acuminata, quae serviebat maxime muris diruendis ut prior illa vallo et lignis caedendis." This is what Lipsius says (Poliorc. i. 9, fin.), and he adds that there are many representations of the 'dolabra' on Trajan's column, with which the soldiers are cutting wood for entrenching. Josephus in the above chapter speaks of the great severity of the military discipline: oï Te yàp vóμo παρ' αὐτοῖς οὐ λειποταξίας μόνον ἀλλὰ 245 250 rai paorovns oλiyns Davarikoi, oï TE στρατηγοὶ τῶν νόμων φοβερώτεροι. 249. Hic tamen et Cimbros] For about six years the Romans were kept in a state of great alarm by barbarian tribes from the north, among whom the Cimbri were the most important. Marius was recalled from Africa to oppose them. In B.c. 102, in his fourth consulship, he defeated and utterly destroyed the army of the Teutones at Aquae Sextiae (Aix, near Marseilles; and in the following year, being again consul, he defeated and annihilated the Cimbri on a plain called Campi Raudii, in Gallia Cisalpina, of which Q. Lutatius Catulus was proconsul. He shared the command with Marius. Plutarch records that there was more credit given to Marius than to Catulus, though the soldiers of Catulus had done more to get the victory. He adds that the soldiers were prepared to prevent his triumph for his two victories, which the people thought he ought to celebrate alone, if Catulus were not allowed to share it (Marius, c. 27). Marius had the title of third founder of Rome given him on this occasion. See x. 280, n. 251. postquam ad Cimbros] This is only a way of saying after the battle. Plutarch's description of the slaughter is very painful. The greater part of the army was cut to pieces on the field. Those who fled to their camp were massacred by their women, who strangled their own children and then hanged themselves; and many of the men did the same, or tied themselves to the horns of oxen and then goaded the beasts till they trampled them to death. About 120,000 fell and 60,000 were made prisoners. Plutarch describes their great strength as well as courage, saying, that having to dam up the stream of the Adige, they tore up the hills like the giants of old, carrying away whole trees with their roots, and fragments of rock. 254. Plebeiae Deciorum animae,] The P Nomina: pro totis legionibus hi tamen et pro Decii were, as Juvenal says, a plebeian 255. pro totis legionibus] The formula of devotion, after calling on the Dii Magni and others, finished with these words: "Pro republica Quiritium, exercitu, legionibus, auxiliis populi Romani Quiritium legiones auxiliaque hostium mecum diis Manibus Tellurique devoveo." Juvenal says though they were plebeians they were enough for all the army and allies, and were worth more than those they saved. In the formula 'auxiliis' included all the auxiliaries. Juvenal says 'auxiliis atque omni pube Latina,' in which he means by auxiliis' the Italian auxiliaries, who were not strictly called 'auxilia' but socii,' until the Social War, when by the extension of the Roman 'civitas' to those states they ceased to be 'socii' and became a constituent part Populi Romani Quiritium. Previously to this the Latini were always distinguished from the other 'socii' (as here), the collective formula being socii et Latini,' or its equivalent socii Latini,' where 'et' is understood, as in 'Romani Quiritium,'' Patres 255 260 conscripti.' The common reading plebe Latina' is not so good as 'pube,' which is in P., the Scholiast, and some other MSS. 259. Ancilla natus] This is Servius Tullius, of whom he says in the last satire (v. 201) "Servis regna dabunt (fata)." The 'trabea' was a white toga with waving stripes of purple embroidered on it. It differed from the 'praetexta,' which had only a single border of purple round the edges. It was supposed to have been worn by the kings. Pliny (H. N. ix. 39,) says, "Purpurae usum Romae semper fuisse video, sed Romulo in trabea." Diadema' was a band, originally no doubt of plain materials, which was worn by the kings of Rome, and is found on busts of Bacchus commonly. It came afterwards to be highly ornamented with gold and precious stones. Tullius was succeeded by Tarquinius Superbus, and so is not called the last king, but the last good king, as Livy says "cum illo simul justa ac legitima regna occiderunt" (i. 48). He is said to have earned the throne, that is by his bravery and the virtues he showed while exercising the power given him by his father-in-law Tarquinius Superbus during his lifetime. Livy gives him a high character as a young man: "Juvenis evasit vere indolis regiae" (i. 40). He relates the stratagem by which Tanaquil secured the succession for her son (i. 41). 261. Prodita laxabant] He refers to Titus and Tiberius Junius Brutus, sons of Brutus the first consul, who were in the conspiracy for restoring Tarquinius, and who were scourged and put to death by the sentence and under the eyes of their own father. The conspirators met at supper, and their conversation was betrayed by one of the slaves to the consuls. Juvenal says they ought to have been distinguishing themselves in the strengthening of liberty only partially established, and exciting the admiration of such men as Horatius Cocles (who defended the bridge), Mucius Scaevola (who put his hand in the fire before Tarquinius, having vowed with 300 others to kill him), and Cloelia who, being a prisoner with other women in Tarquinius' camp, Exsulibus juvenes ipsius Consulis et quos Malo pater tibi sit Thersites, dummodo tu sis swam with her companions across the Tiber, 265 270 275 or repeating. What Juvenal says about the scourge or axe is put into prose by Heinrich thus: "at illos prima lex justis poenis affecit per verbera et securim." This gives the meaning. Juvenal says the blows and the axe were the first ordered by the 'leges,' which name therefore he refuses to the king's laws. Under the republic' leges' properly were only such laws as were passed at the comitia centuriata' or 'tributa.' Hor. Epp. i. 16. 41, n. 270. Vulcaniaque arma capessas,] And handle the armour of Vulcan as he did.' As Heinrich says, similiter' may be supplied from similis.' As to this armour which Hephaestus made for Achilles at the instance of Thetis, see Il. xviii. 369 sqq. 272. Et tamen, ut longe repetas] And yet be what you may, trace back your name as far as you can, still you can but get back to Romulus' asylum,' which Livy says was the first foundation of the Roman power: "Eo ex finitimis populis turba omnis sine discrimine liber an servus esset avida novarum rerum profugit; idque primum ad coeptam magnitudinem roboris fuit" (Livy, i. 8). Niebuhr denies that "in ancient times this rabble can have been conceived to have formed any considerable part of the population, for the asylum was a small inclosure on the Capitoline hill, and could only afford protection within its precincts (vol. i. p. 227, note), as if any one would suppose that men lived in the asylum all their days. They took refuge there till assured of protection, and then left it. volvas' has reference to a scroll on which a man's pedigree might be written, a 'stemma' (v. 1). He calls the Romans 'Latii pastores' in S. ii. 127. He says the founder of this man's family may have been lower than that. Re |