CARMEN XIV. AD POSTUMUM. Horace urges his friend Postumus (respecting whom the commentators have been able to ascertain nothing beyond what is stated in this Ode) to banish anxiety, sorrow, and melancholy, and enjoy that life which, however carefully preserved, must, in the case of all, whether high or low, come to a close. EHEU fugaces, Postume, Postume, Afferet indomitaeque morti; CARM. 14.-5. tricenis, some Codd.-8. Geryonem, some Codd. Carm. 14.-1. Postume, Postume, emphatic repetition (Anadiplosis). 2. labuntur, 'glide away '-pietas, the Greek evσéßeia, 'piety.' 5. quotquot eunt dies, poetic. = quoque die, quotidie. 6. illacrimabilem, formed like the Greek ἀδάκρυτος, ἄκλαυστος, but here in the meaning of 'not to be moved by tears, pitiless, inexorable' (different from C. 4, 9, 26, where it means 'unwept, unlamented'). 15 7. ter amplum, poetic. =тprowμatov, triplici eodemque ingenti corpore praeditum, 'possessing a triple body, and that of enormous size.' 8. Tityon, comp. below, C. 3, 4, 77; 3, 11, 21; 4, 6, 2, and Virg. A. 6, 595 sq. 10. terrae munere vescimur, imitation of Hom. Il. 6, 142: οἱ ἀρούρης καρπὸν ἔδουσιν, and id. Odyss. 8, 222: ὅσσοι νῦν βροτοί εἴσω ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες. 12. inopes coloni, comp. above C 1, 35, 6: pauper ruris colonus. Visendus ater flumine languido Linquenda tellus et domus et placens Úlla brevem dominum sequetur. 20 Absumet heres Caecuba dignior 25 Servata centum clavibus, et mero CARMEN XV. IN SAECULI SUI LUXURIAM. Dated probably A. U. c. 726. A denunciation of the luxury prevalent among the poet's contemporaries-luxury which showed itself in the construction of splendid mansions and immense fish-ponds; the discontinued cultivation of the vine and olive; and the formation of large parks or pleasure-grounds. The Ode closes with a contrast between this reckless extravagance and the rigorous frugality of earlier times. === 18. Cocytus, some Codd.-27. superbum, some Codd. 17 and 18. flumine languido errans, poetic. languide fluens (comp. Virg. G. 4, 479 Cocyti tardâque palus inamabilis undâ-Danai genus (= filiae), comp. below C. 3, 11, 23 sq. 19 and 20. damnatus longi laboris = ad longum laborem damnatus, " condemned to eternal toil;' the construction of damnatus with the genitive in analogy with the usual term damnari capitis, &c. 21. linquenda tellus, &c., the same idea above C. 2, 3, 17 sq.: Cedes coëmptis saltibus, &c.-placens = cara, grata, beloved.' 23. invisas, odious, hated,' as sacred to Pluto, and planted in buryinggrounds or beside tombs, &c. 24. (te) brevem dominum, Seσtótηv oλiyoxρóviov, 'short-lived master.' 25. Caecuba, &c., see Excurs. to C. 1, 20-dignior, sc. quam tu (because he will enjoy them). 28. (mero) potiore coenis (ablat. compar.) Pontificum, i. e. (wine) 'superior to that drunk at the banquets of the pontiffs.' JAM pauca aratro jugera regiae Stagna lacu, platanusque caelebs == Carm. 15.-1. regiae dignae rege, 'magnificent, palace-like.' 2. moles of large buildings, also below C. 3, 29, 10: Desere molem propinquam nubibus arduis - undique latius extenta, &c., i. e. the waters will be seen extended on all sides for fish-pondsstagna ingentes piscinae (fish-ponds). 4. caelebs, i. e. not employed for rearing the vine. 5. evincet (= cedere coget) ulmos, 'will supplant the elms.' 6. copia narium, poetic. metonymy for copia florum delectantium nares, 'all kind of nosegays.' 7. olivetis, ablat. loci, 'where formerly were olive-yards.' 9. laurea, for the usual laurus, 'laurel-tree.' 20 10. fervidos ictus, sc. solis-Romuli, auspiciis, by the example of Romulus, under whose reign two acres of land were deemed a sufficient possession. 11. intonsi Catonis, i. e. of the elder Cato (Censorius), 'unshorn, unshaved,' here as a sign of ancient simplicity. 13. census, 'fortunes'-brevis tenuis, exiguus, 'small.' 14. sq., construe: nulla porticus, metata privatis decempedis, excipiebat opacam Arcton-metata, in passive sense, 'measured' (by private ten-foot rods) excipiebat Arcton, poetic. = spectabat ad Septentriones, 'looked, i. e. was situated towards the shadowy, cool North.' 17. fortuitum, poetic. ubivis obvium, vilem. 20. novo saxo, i. e. recens e lapici CARMEN XVI. AD POMPEIUM GROSPHUM. An Ode addressed to Pompeius Grosphus, a Roman knight belonging to Sicily. Orellius is of opinion, that either this Grosphus, the friend of Horace, or his father, obtained the right of Roman citizenship through Gneius or Sextus Pompey. The assumed dates of this composition vary between A.U.C. 726 and 731. The object of the ode is to show that true happiness arises from contentment with competent means, and not from the eager pursuit of wealth or honours. OTIUM divos rogat in patenti Prensus Aegaeo, simul atra nubes Otium bello furiosa Thrace, Otium Medi pharetrâ decori, Grosphe, non gemmis neque purpurâ ve- 5 Non enim gazae neque consularis 10 Mentis et curas laqueata circum Vivitur parvo bene, cui paternum Nec leves somnos timor aut cupido 15 CARM. 16.-2. pressus, some Codd.-3. lumen, few Codd.-8. nec auro, some Codd., Bentl. dinis exciso, newly-hewn, new' (sc. for the restoration of dilapidated public buildings, temples, &c.) Carm. 16.-2. prensus = deprehensus, a nautical term, 'caught by a storm'-simul simulac. 7 and 8. ve-nale, divided, like C. 1, 2, 19: u-xorius-construe: (otium) venale non gemmis neque purpurâ neque auro. 10. tumultus, poetic. perturbationes animi (comp. below S. 2, 3, 208: sceleris tumultu). เ 11 and 12. curas volantes circum laqueata tecta, cares hovering around the splendid ceilings;' for laqueata tecta comp. below C. 2, 18, 1 and 2: aureum lacunar. 13. vivitur, sc. ab eo, cui, &c. Laetus in praesens animus quod ultra est Temperet risu; nihil est ab omni Parte beatum. Abstulit clarum cita mors Achillem, Te greges centum Siculaeque circum 20 25 30 21. puppes, Excerpta Bodlejana ap. Bentl.-26. laeto, some Codd.; leni, Bentl conj. lem somnum below C. 3, 21, 4-cupido sordidus, thus cupido with Horace always of masculine gender; comp. in the foll. C. 3, 16, 39; 3, 24, 51; S. 1, 1, 61; Ep. 1, 1, 33. 17. brevi aevo-oλıyoxpóvioi, although of short life-fortes belongs to jaculamur = omni virium contentione, 'with all our strength, strongly;' note the expressive juxtaposition of brevi and fortes-jaculamur acerrimo studio petimus, do we aim at.' 18 and 19. construe: quid mutamus terras calentes alio sole (sc. nostrâ), 'why do we exchange our own for other countries warmed by another sun' (comp. Virg. G. 2, 512: alio patriam quaerunt sub sole jacentem; and, as for the construction of mutare quâ re, comp. above C. 1, 17, 2: Lucretilem mutat Lycaeo Faunus). 19. exsul patriae (genitive) poetic. == qui suâ sponte patriam relinquit (comp. the Greek ἔκδημος χθονός, Eurip. Hippol. 281). 21. sq., the same idea see below C. 3, 1, 37 sq.-vitiosa = morbosa,' unhealthy.' 25. quod ultra (i. e. ultra praesens) est quod futurum est, rà πóррw. 26. oderit, poetic. like fugerit nolit -lento, poetic. = quieto, moderato, 'moderate.' 33. circum, belongs to te. 34 and 35. hinnitum Apta, to be scanned hinnit' | apta hypermetr. verse, comp. above 2, 2, 18; 2, 3, 27-apta idonea, ' well adapted for'bis, belongs to tinctae the Greek Síßa.. po, twice-dipped, double-dyed (the |