Hence applied by
Tiberius
to Caligula.
Satires
Ter.
, And.
, v.
, 4, 38.
Enn.
ap.
Fest.
,
"Quæritur in scirpo soliti quod dicere nodus. " Plaut. , Men. , II. , i. ,
22. The modern Italian is equally expressive, "_Cercar l'osso nel
fico_. "
[1612] ἀρύταινα, from ἀρύτω, "any vessel for drawing up water. "
[1613] _Vulturius_ is the _older_ Latin form for _vultur_, which
is found in the days of Virgil. (In Plaut. , Curc. , II. , iii. , 77,
"Vulturios quatuor" is a bad throw at dice, like the "damnosa Canicula"
of Persius, iii. , 49, and is said to be called so for the same reason,
because vultures devour, i. e. , ruin men. )
[1614] Cf. Pers. , i. , 1.
BOOK II.
ARGUMENT.
On the subject of this book the commentators differ: some supposing
that it was directed against luxury and effeminacy. But the
avarice and licentiousness of the times form a considerable
portion of the writings of Lucilius, and there are very few of
his Satires in which these are not incidentally glanced at.
From the sixth Fragment, which after all is a very obscure one,
Ellendt supposed it was written to expose Æmilius Scaurus. Corpet
maintains that it contained the description of a sanguinary
brawl, in which many persons were engaged; that one person
was taken up for dead, his house purified (Fr. 22), and all
preparations made for his funeral, when some one saw another
lying in his bier. Fr. 1. It is quite clear that Fr. 14, 24,
and perhaps 2, refer to luxury; if by Manlius, in the second
Fragment, is intended Cn. Manlius Vulso. (Vid. note. )
1 . . . whom, when Hortensius and Posthumius had seen, the rest,
too, saw that he was not on his bier, and that another was
lying there.
2 Hostilius . . . against the plague and ruin which that halting
Manlius, too, «introduced among» us. [1615]
3 . . . which were all removed in two hours, when the sun set, and
was enveloped in darkness. [1616]
4 . . . that he, having been ill-treated, attacked the other's
jaws, and beat the breath out of him.
5 Now for the name: next I will tell you what I have got out of
the witnesses, by questioning. [1617]
6 . . . which I charm and wrest and elicit from Æmilius. [1618]
7 I say not. Even though he conquer, let him go like a vagabond
into exile, and roam an outlaw. [1619]
8 The prætor is now your friend; but if Gentilis die this year,
he will be mine--[1620]
9 . . . if he has left on his posteriors the mark of a thick and
large-headed snake. [1621]
10 Of a rough-actioned, sorry, slow-paced jade--[1622]
11 . . . that unclean, shameless, plundering fellow. [1623]
12 Sleeved tunics of gold tissue, scarfs, drawers, turbans. [1624]
13 What say you? Why was it done? What is that guess of yours?
14 . . . who may now ruin you, Nomentanus, you rascal, in every
thing else!
15 So surrounded was I with all the cakes. [1625]
16 . . . to penetrate the hairy purse. [1626]
17 . . . for a man scarce alive and a mere shadow. [1627]
18 . . . as skilled in law.
19 . . . he would lead these herds--
20 . . . for what need has he of the amulet and image attached to
him, in order to devour fat bacon and make rich dishes by
stealth. [1628]
21 . . . her that shows light by night. [1629]
22 . . . purified--expiated--
23 . . . a journey from the lowermost (river) to be told, and heard.
24 Long life to you, gluttons, gormandizers, belly-gods. [1630]
25 . . . him that wanders through inhospitable wastes there
accompanies the greater satisfaction of things conceived in his
mind. [1631]
FOOTNOTES:
[1615] There are two persons of the name of Hostilius mentioned by
Livy, as contemporary with Cn. Manlius Vulso. Hostilius is Gerlach's
reading for the old _hostilibus_. Cn. Manlius got the nickname of Vulso
from _vellendo_, plucking out superfluous hairs to make his body more
delicate. (Plin. , xiv. , 20. Juv. , viii. , 114; ix. , 14. Pers. , iv. ,
36. ) He was consul B. C. 189, and marched into Gallo-Græcia, and for
his conquests was allowed a triumph, B. C. 186. Livy enters into great
detail in describing all the various luxuries which he introduced into
Rome, such as sofas, tables, sideboards, rich and costly vestments
and hangings, foreign musicians, etc. Liv. , xxxix. , 6. Plin. , H.
N. , xxxiv. , 3, 8. Cf. Bekker's Gallus, p. 294. Catax (quasi cadax a
cadendo) is explained by coxo, "one lame of the hip. " There is probably
an allusion to his effeminacy. Corpet considers Manlius Verna to be
intended, who had the sobriquet of Pantolabus, i. e. , "grasp-all. "
[1616] Leg. _obducto tenebris_. Dusa's conjecture, adopted by Gerlach.
[1617] _Exsculpo. _ So Fr. incert. 49, "Esurienti Leoni ex ore
_exsculpere_ prædam. " Ter. , Eun. , IV. , iv. , 44, "Possumne hodie ego ex
to _exsculpere_ verum. "
[1618] All the commentators agree that no sense can be elicited from
this line. Ellendt (vid. sup. ) supposes Æmilius Scaurus to be meant;
others, Æmilius the præco, by whom Scipio, when candidate for the
censorship, was conducted to the forum, for which he was ridiculed by
Appius Claudius. _Præcantare_ is applied to singing magic hymns and
incantations by the bed of one sick, to charm away the disease. Cf.
Tibull. , I. , v. 12, "Carmine cum magico præcinuisset anus. " Macrob. ,
Somn. Scip. , II. , iii. _Excantare_ is "to elicit by incantation. " Vid.
Lucan, vi. , 685, "Excantare deos. "
[1619] Corpet says, this obviously refers to Scipio Africanus major.
But, as Gerlach says, it may apply equally well to Scipio Nasica, or
Opimius, who killed the Gracchi; perhaps even better to the latter than
to Scipio Africanus, who went _voluntarily_ into exile.
[1620] Cf. Ter. , Andr. , V. , vi. , 12, "_Tuus est_ nunc Chremes. "
Gerlach's reading and punctuation are followed. _Gentilis_ is a proper
name, on the authority of Appuleius.
[1621] _Natrix_, properly "a venomous water-serpent. " Cic. , Acad. ,
iv. , 38.
Hence applied by Tiberius to Caligula. (Suet. , Calig. , xi. )
It means here a thong or whip (scutica), which twists about and stings
like a snake. So Anguilla, Isidor. , Orig. , v. 27.
[1622] _Succussatoris. _ Gr. ὑποσειστής, "one that shakes the rider in
his seat. " _Caballi. _ Vid. Pers. , Prol. i. , 1.
[1623] _Impuratus. _ Ter. , Phorm. , IV. , iii. , 64. _Impuno_, "one who
dares all, through hope of impunity. " _Rapister_ is formed like
magister, sequester, etc.
[1624] Cf. Bähr ad Herod. , vii. , 61 (which seems to confirm the
conjecture, χειροδύται), and the quotation from Virgil below. Herod. ,
vi. , 72. Schneider's note on Xen. , Hell. , II. , i. , 8. _Rica_ is a
covering for the head, such as priestesses used to wear at sacrifices,
generally of purple, square, with a border or fringe; cf. Varro, L. L. ,
iv. , 29; but worn sometimes by men, as Euclides of Megara used one. A.
Gell. , vi. , 10.
_Thoracia. _ Properly "a covering for the breast," then "an apron"
(Juv. , v. , 143, "viridem thoraca jubebit afferri"), then "a covering
for the abdomen or thigh," like the fasciæ. Cf. Suet. , Aug. , 82, "Hieme
quaternis cum pingui togâ tunicis et subuculâ _thorace_ laneo et
feminalibus et tibialibus muniebatur. "
_Mitra_ was a high-peaked cap, worn by courtesans and effeminate men.
Vid. Juv. , iii. , 66, "Ite quibus grata est pictâ lupa barbara mitrâ. "
Virg. , Æn. , ix. , 616, "Et _tunicæ manicas_ et habent redimicula mitræ. "
iv. , 216. Ov. , Met. , xiv. , 654.
[1625] _Ferta. _ Rich cakes, made of flour, wine, honey, etc. , which
formed part of the usual offerings. Cf. Pers. , ii. , 48, "Attamen hic
extis et opimo vincere ferto intendit. "
[1626] _Bulga_ is properly "a traveling bag of leather, carried on
the arm. " See the amusing Fragment, lib. vi. , 1. Hence its obvious
translation to the meaning in lib. xxvi. , Fr. 36, and here.
[1627] _Monogrammo. _ A metaphor from painting, "drawn only in outline. "
Used here for a very thin emaciated person. (Cf. lib. xxvii. , 17. )
Epicurus applied this epithet to the gods (Cic. , Nat. Deor. , ii. , 23),
as being "tenues sine corpore vitæ. " Virg. , vi. , 292. Cf. Pers. , vi. ,
73, "trama figuræ. "
[1628] _Mutinus_, or _Mutunus_, is the same deity as Priapus. The form
is cognate with Muto. He appears to have been also called Mutinus
Tutinus, or Tutunus. The emblem was worn as a charm or phylactery
against fascination, and hung round children's necks. Cf. Lactant. , i. ,
20. August. , Civ. D. , iv. , 7.
_Lurcor_ is "to swallow greedily. " _Lardum. _ Cf. Juv. , xi. , 84,
"Natalitium lardum. "
_Carnaria_ is probably the neuter plural of the adjective. Carnarius
homo, is one who delights in flesh. Carnarium is either "an iron rack
with hooks for hanging meat upon," or "a larder where provisions are
kept. "
[1629] _Noctilucam. _ An epithet of the moon. Hor. , iv. , Od. vi. , 38,
"Rite crescentem face Noctilucam. " (Cf. Var. , L. L. , v. , 68, "Luna
dicta Noctiluca in Palatio, nam ibi _noctu lucet_ templum. ") Hence used
for a lantern, and then for a "minion of the moon," a strumpet, because
they suspended lights over their doors or cells. (Juv. , vi. , 122. Hor. ,
ii. , Sat. vii. , 48. ) This last appears from Festus to be the sense
intended here.
[1630] _Lurco_ is derived by some from λαῦρος, "voracious;" but by
Festus from _Lura_, an old word for "the belly. " Cf. Plaut. , Pers. ,
III. , iii. , 16, "Lurco, edax, furax, fugax. " Lurco was the cognomen of
M. Aufidius, who first introduced the art of fattening peacocks, by
which he made a large fortune. Varro, R. R. , iii. , 6. Plin. , x. , 20, 23.
[1631] _Inhospita tesqua. _ Horace has copied this sentiment in his
epistle to his Villicus, "Nam quæ deserta et inhospita tesqua credis,
amæna vocat mecum qui sentit. " i. , Ep. xiv. , 19. Tesqua is derived from
δάσκιος, "very wooded. " (Lucan, vi. , 41, "nemorosa tesca. ") Varro says
_tesca_ are "places inclosed and set apart as _templa_ for the purposes
of augury. " L. L. , vi. , 2.
BOOK III.
ARGUMENT.
We have not only much more ample and satisfactory information
respecting the subject of this Satire from ancient writers, but
the Fragments which have come down to us give sufficient evidence
that their statements are correct. It is the description of a
journey which Lucilius took from Rome to Capua, and thence to the
Straits of Messina; with an account of some of the halting-places
on his route, and incidents of travel. Besides this, which was
the main subject, he indulged by the way in a little pleasing
raillery against some of his contemporaries, Ennius, Pacuvius,
Cæcilius, and Terence, according to the old Scholiast. This
Satire formed the model from which Horace copied his Journey to
Brundusium, i, Sat. , v. The special points of imitation will be
seen in the notes; from which it will appear that the particular
incidents mentioned by Horace, are probably fictitious. As to
the journey itself, Varges and Gerlach are both of opinion
that it was a _real_ one, and undertaken solely for purposes
of pleasure; as it was not unusual for the wealthier Romans of
that day to travel into Campania, or even to Lucania, and as far
as the district of the Bruttii. (Cf. Hor. , i. , Sat. vi. , 102,
_seq. _) These journeys were occasionally performed on foot: as we
hear of Cato traveling on foot through the different cities of
Italy, bearing his own arms, and attended only by a single slave,
who carried his baggage and libation-cup for sacrificing. But
Lucilius probably on this occasion had his hackney (canterius),
like Horace, which carried not only his master's saddle-bags, but
himself also. (Cf. Fr. 9. Hor. , i.
"Quæritur in scirpo soliti quod dicere nodus. " Plaut. , Men. , II. , i. ,
22. The modern Italian is equally expressive, "_Cercar l'osso nel
fico_. "
[1612] ἀρύταινα, from ἀρύτω, "any vessel for drawing up water. "
[1613] _Vulturius_ is the _older_ Latin form for _vultur_, which
is found in the days of Virgil. (In Plaut. , Curc. , II. , iii. , 77,
"Vulturios quatuor" is a bad throw at dice, like the "damnosa Canicula"
of Persius, iii. , 49, and is said to be called so for the same reason,
because vultures devour, i. e. , ruin men. )
[1614] Cf. Pers. , i. , 1.
BOOK II.
ARGUMENT.
On the subject of this book the commentators differ: some supposing
that it was directed against luxury and effeminacy. But the
avarice and licentiousness of the times form a considerable
portion of the writings of Lucilius, and there are very few of
his Satires in which these are not incidentally glanced at.
From the sixth Fragment, which after all is a very obscure one,
Ellendt supposed it was written to expose Æmilius Scaurus. Corpet
maintains that it contained the description of a sanguinary
brawl, in which many persons were engaged; that one person
was taken up for dead, his house purified (Fr. 22), and all
preparations made for his funeral, when some one saw another
lying in his bier. Fr. 1. It is quite clear that Fr. 14, 24,
and perhaps 2, refer to luxury; if by Manlius, in the second
Fragment, is intended Cn. Manlius Vulso. (Vid. note. )
1 . . . whom, when Hortensius and Posthumius had seen, the rest,
too, saw that he was not on his bier, and that another was
lying there.
2 Hostilius . . . against the plague and ruin which that halting
Manlius, too, «introduced among» us. [1615]
3 . . . which were all removed in two hours, when the sun set, and
was enveloped in darkness. [1616]
4 . . . that he, having been ill-treated, attacked the other's
jaws, and beat the breath out of him.
5 Now for the name: next I will tell you what I have got out of
the witnesses, by questioning. [1617]
6 . . . which I charm and wrest and elicit from Æmilius. [1618]
7 I say not. Even though he conquer, let him go like a vagabond
into exile, and roam an outlaw. [1619]
8 The prætor is now your friend; but if Gentilis die this year,
he will be mine--[1620]
9 . . . if he has left on his posteriors the mark of a thick and
large-headed snake. [1621]
10 Of a rough-actioned, sorry, slow-paced jade--[1622]
11 . . . that unclean, shameless, plundering fellow. [1623]
12 Sleeved tunics of gold tissue, scarfs, drawers, turbans. [1624]
13 What say you? Why was it done? What is that guess of yours?
14 . . . who may now ruin you, Nomentanus, you rascal, in every
thing else!
15 So surrounded was I with all the cakes. [1625]
16 . . . to penetrate the hairy purse. [1626]
17 . . . for a man scarce alive and a mere shadow. [1627]
18 . . . as skilled in law.
19 . . . he would lead these herds--
20 . . . for what need has he of the amulet and image attached to
him, in order to devour fat bacon and make rich dishes by
stealth. [1628]
21 . . . her that shows light by night. [1629]
22 . . . purified--expiated--
23 . . . a journey from the lowermost (river) to be told, and heard.
24 Long life to you, gluttons, gormandizers, belly-gods. [1630]
25 . . . him that wanders through inhospitable wastes there
accompanies the greater satisfaction of things conceived in his
mind. [1631]
FOOTNOTES:
[1615] There are two persons of the name of Hostilius mentioned by
Livy, as contemporary with Cn. Manlius Vulso. Hostilius is Gerlach's
reading for the old _hostilibus_. Cn. Manlius got the nickname of Vulso
from _vellendo_, plucking out superfluous hairs to make his body more
delicate. (Plin. , xiv. , 20. Juv. , viii. , 114; ix. , 14. Pers. , iv. ,
36. ) He was consul B. C. 189, and marched into Gallo-Græcia, and for
his conquests was allowed a triumph, B. C. 186. Livy enters into great
detail in describing all the various luxuries which he introduced into
Rome, such as sofas, tables, sideboards, rich and costly vestments
and hangings, foreign musicians, etc. Liv. , xxxix. , 6. Plin. , H.
N. , xxxiv. , 3, 8. Cf. Bekker's Gallus, p. 294. Catax (quasi cadax a
cadendo) is explained by coxo, "one lame of the hip. " There is probably
an allusion to his effeminacy. Corpet considers Manlius Verna to be
intended, who had the sobriquet of Pantolabus, i. e. , "grasp-all. "
[1616] Leg. _obducto tenebris_. Dusa's conjecture, adopted by Gerlach.
[1617] _Exsculpo. _ So Fr. incert. 49, "Esurienti Leoni ex ore
_exsculpere_ prædam. " Ter. , Eun. , IV. , iv. , 44, "Possumne hodie ego ex
to _exsculpere_ verum. "
[1618] All the commentators agree that no sense can be elicited from
this line. Ellendt (vid. sup. ) supposes Æmilius Scaurus to be meant;
others, Æmilius the præco, by whom Scipio, when candidate for the
censorship, was conducted to the forum, for which he was ridiculed by
Appius Claudius. _Præcantare_ is applied to singing magic hymns and
incantations by the bed of one sick, to charm away the disease. Cf.
Tibull. , I. , v. 12, "Carmine cum magico præcinuisset anus. " Macrob. ,
Somn. Scip. , II. , iii. _Excantare_ is "to elicit by incantation. " Vid.
Lucan, vi. , 685, "Excantare deos. "
[1619] Corpet says, this obviously refers to Scipio Africanus major.
But, as Gerlach says, it may apply equally well to Scipio Nasica, or
Opimius, who killed the Gracchi; perhaps even better to the latter than
to Scipio Africanus, who went _voluntarily_ into exile.
[1620] Cf. Ter. , Andr. , V. , vi. , 12, "_Tuus est_ nunc Chremes. "
Gerlach's reading and punctuation are followed. _Gentilis_ is a proper
name, on the authority of Appuleius.
[1621] _Natrix_, properly "a venomous water-serpent. " Cic. , Acad. ,
iv. , 38.
Hence applied by Tiberius to Caligula. (Suet. , Calig. , xi. )
It means here a thong or whip (scutica), which twists about and stings
like a snake. So Anguilla, Isidor. , Orig. , v. 27.
[1622] _Succussatoris. _ Gr. ὑποσειστής, "one that shakes the rider in
his seat. " _Caballi. _ Vid. Pers. , Prol. i. , 1.
[1623] _Impuratus. _ Ter. , Phorm. , IV. , iii. , 64. _Impuno_, "one who
dares all, through hope of impunity. " _Rapister_ is formed like
magister, sequester, etc.
[1624] Cf. Bähr ad Herod. , vii. , 61 (which seems to confirm the
conjecture, χειροδύται), and the quotation from Virgil below. Herod. ,
vi. , 72. Schneider's note on Xen. , Hell. , II. , i. , 8. _Rica_ is a
covering for the head, such as priestesses used to wear at sacrifices,
generally of purple, square, with a border or fringe; cf. Varro, L. L. ,
iv. , 29; but worn sometimes by men, as Euclides of Megara used one. A.
Gell. , vi. , 10.
_Thoracia. _ Properly "a covering for the breast," then "an apron"
(Juv. , v. , 143, "viridem thoraca jubebit afferri"), then "a covering
for the abdomen or thigh," like the fasciæ. Cf. Suet. , Aug. , 82, "Hieme
quaternis cum pingui togâ tunicis et subuculâ _thorace_ laneo et
feminalibus et tibialibus muniebatur. "
_Mitra_ was a high-peaked cap, worn by courtesans and effeminate men.
Vid. Juv. , iii. , 66, "Ite quibus grata est pictâ lupa barbara mitrâ. "
Virg. , Æn. , ix. , 616, "Et _tunicæ manicas_ et habent redimicula mitræ. "
iv. , 216. Ov. , Met. , xiv. , 654.
[1625] _Ferta. _ Rich cakes, made of flour, wine, honey, etc. , which
formed part of the usual offerings. Cf. Pers. , ii. , 48, "Attamen hic
extis et opimo vincere ferto intendit. "
[1626] _Bulga_ is properly "a traveling bag of leather, carried on
the arm. " See the amusing Fragment, lib. vi. , 1. Hence its obvious
translation to the meaning in lib. xxvi. , Fr. 36, and here.
[1627] _Monogrammo. _ A metaphor from painting, "drawn only in outline. "
Used here for a very thin emaciated person. (Cf. lib. xxvii. , 17. )
Epicurus applied this epithet to the gods (Cic. , Nat. Deor. , ii. , 23),
as being "tenues sine corpore vitæ. " Virg. , vi. , 292. Cf. Pers. , vi. ,
73, "trama figuræ. "
[1628] _Mutinus_, or _Mutunus_, is the same deity as Priapus. The form
is cognate with Muto. He appears to have been also called Mutinus
Tutinus, or Tutunus. The emblem was worn as a charm or phylactery
against fascination, and hung round children's necks. Cf. Lactant. , i. ,
20. August. , Civ. D. , iv. , 7.
_Lurcor_ is "to swallow greedily. " _Lardum. _ Cf. Juv. , xi. , 84,
"Natalitium lardum. "
_Carnaria_ is probably the neuter plural of the adjective. Carnarius
homo, is one who delights in flesh. Carnarium is either "an iron rack
with hooks for hanging meat upon," or "a larder where provisions are
kept. "
[1629] _Noctilucam. _ An epithet of the moon. Hor. , iv. , Od. vi. , 38,
"Rite crescentem face Noctilucam. " (Cf. Var. , L. L. , v. , 68, "Luna
dicta Noctiluca in Palatio, nam ibi _noctu lucet_ templum. ") Hence used
for a lantern, and then for a "minion of the moon," a strumpet, because
they suspended lights over their doors or cells. (Juv. , vi. , 122. Hor. ,
ii. , Sat. vii. , 48. ) This last appears from Festus to be the sense
intended here.
[1630] _Lurco_ is derived by some from λαῦρος, "voracious;" but by
Festus from _Lura_, an old word for "the belly. " Cf. Plaut. , Pers. ,
III. , iii. , 16, "Lurco, edax, furax, fugax. " Lurco was the cognomen of
M. Aufidius, who first introduced the art of fattening peacocks, by
which he made a large fortune. Varro, R. R. , iii. , 6. Plin. , x. , 20, 23.
[1631] _Inhospita tesqua. _ Horace has copied this sentiment in his
epistle to his Villicus, "Nam quæ deserta et inhospita tesqua credis,
amæna vocat mecum qui sentit. " i. , Ep. xiv. , 19. Tesqua is derived from
δάσκιος, "very wooded. " (Lucan, vi. , 41, "nemorosa tesca. ") Varro says
_tesca_ are "places inclosed and set apart as _templa_ for the purposes
of augury. " L. L. , vi. , 2.
BOOK III.
ARGUMENT.
We have not only much more ample and satisfactory information
respecting the subject of this Satire from ancient writers, but
the Fragments which have come down to us give sufficient evidence
that their statements are correct. It is the description of a
journey which Lucilius took from Rome to Capua, and thence to the
Straits of Messina; with an account of some of the halting-places
on his route, and incidents of travel. Besides this, which was
the main subject, he indulged by the way in a little pleasing
raillery against some of his contemporaries, Ennius, Pacuvius,
Cæcilius, and Terence, according to the old Scholiast. This
Satire formed the model from which Horace copied his Journey to
Brundusium, i, Sat. , v. The special points of imitation will be
seen in the notes; from which it will appear that the particular
incidents mentioned by Horace, are probably fictitious. As to
the journey itself, Varges and Gerlach are both of opinion
that it was a _real_ one, and undertaken solely for purposes
of pleasure; as it was not unusual for the wealthier Romans of
that day to travel into Campania, or even to Lucania, and as far
as the district of the Bruttii. (Cf. Hor. , i. , Sat. vi. , 102,
_seq. _) These journeys were occasionally performed on foot: as we
hear of Cato traveling on foot through the different cities of
Italy, bearing his own arms, and attended only by a single slave,
who carried his baggage and libation-cup for sacrificing. But
Lucilius probably on this occasion had his hackney (canterius),
like Horace, which carried not only his master's saddle-bags, but
himself also. (Cf. Fr. 9. Hor. , i.
