Roma Patrem Patriae Ciceronem libera dixit, Nodosam post haec frangebat vertice vitem, Hic tamen et Cimbros et summa pericula rerum 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. Juvenal says, "solebat Poscere mercedes alieno lassus aratro :” he worked at the plough as a hired labourer; but all this declamation has no historical value. Marius was in fact a country lad, the son of a poor peasant who cultivated his bit of land, and he would work with his father until he was summoned by the conscription to join the Roman armies. He served in the cavalry at the siege of Numantia under Scipio Africanus Minor. His military abilities raised him to high estate, and he married a great lady, Julia, the aunt of him who was afterwards the Dictator C. Caesar. 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 attached 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 intrenchments 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 245 250 representations of the 'dolabra' on Trajan's column, with which the soldiers are cutting wood for intrenching. Josephus in the above chapter speaks of the great severity of the military discipline: of Te yàp vó παρ ̓ αὐτοῖς οὐ λειποταξίας μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ῥαστώνης ὀλίγης θανατικοί, οἵ τε 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 Marseille); and in the following year, being again consul, he and Q. Lutatius Catulus defeated the Cimbri on a plain called Campi Raudii, near Vercellae in Gallia Cisalpina. Plutarch records that there was 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, 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. more 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; but probably there is great exaggeration in the numbers. Plebeiae Deciorum animae, plebeia fuerunt 254. Plebeiae Deciorum animae,] The Decii were, as Juvenal says, a plebeian family, but a very old one, for at the secession of the plebs, B.C. 494, M. Decius was one of the deputies sent by them to treat with the senate. P. Decius Mus was the first consul of the family, B.C. 380; in that year he commanded the Roman forces, in conjunction with his colleague, T. Manlius Torquatus, in the Latin War. How and why he devoted himself to death in battle, and how he thereby secured the victory to the Romans, are told by Livy, viii. 9, who there gives the formula of devotion. His son, who had the same name, acted as his father had done, when he was consul for the fourth time, B.C. 295, at the battle of Sentinum against the Gauls (Liv. x. 28). His son 'also was consul B.C. 279, and commanded in the war against Pyrrhus. At the battle of Asculum it was given out that he meant to devote himself as the others had done; and to prevent a panic in his own army Pyrrhus gave orders that he should be taken alive. Cicero says he did devote himself, but that is generally believed to be a mistake (Quaest. Tusc. i. 37; de Fin. ii. 19). 255. pro totis legionibus] The formula of devotion, after calling on the Dii Magni and others, finished with these words: "Pro re publica 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. When Juvenal says 'auxiliis atque omni pube Latina,' he means by 'auxiliis' the Italian auxiliaries, who were not strictly called 'auxilia' but 'socii,' until the Social War, B.C. 90, when by the extension of the Roman' civitas' to those states they ceased to be 'socii' and became a constituent part of the Roman people. Previously to this the Latini were always distinguished from 255 260 259. Ancilla natus] This is Servius Tullius, of whom he says (S. vii. 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 was afterwards 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). Tullius 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 Priscus 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, the wife of Tarquinius Priscus, secured the succession for her son-in-law (i. 41). دو 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 Superbus, 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 Exsulibus juvenes ipsius Consulis et quos Malo pater tibi sit Thersites, dummodo tu sis 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 King Porsena, having vowed with 300 others to kill him), and Cloelia who, being a prisoner with other women in Porsena's camp, swam across the Tiber, and escaped. Juvenal seems to have had Livy's narrative in his mind (ii. 5), for he describes the people as gazing in wonder at these youths, "illos eo potissimum anno, patriam liberatam, patrem liberatorem, consulatum ortum ex domo Junia, Patres, plebem, quicquid deorum hominumque Romanorum esset, induxisse in animum ut superbo quondam regi tum infesto exsuli proderent." The force of the imperfect laxabant' must be attended to. 265. Imperii fines Tiberinum] Before the attack of Porsena the Romans had some land on the north bank of the Tiber which Romulus (according to the story) had taken from the Veientes. They had also possession of the hill Janiculum. Porsena drove them across the river, and when the war was finished by the defeat of the Romans, peace was given on the condition that the Veientes should have back their land. Livy (ii. 13) puts the case favour ably for Rome, " de agro Veientibus restituendo impetratum;" on which Niebuhr remarks that "one cannot read such arrogant language without indignation" (i. 546). 267. Matronis lugendus:] Livy says of Brutus, who fell in battle against the Tar 66 265 270 275 quinii, that his funeral was celebrated with much pomp; but that which graced it most was the public mourning, eo ante omnia insignis quia matronae annum ut parentem eum luxerunt, quod tam acer ultor violatae pudicitiae fuisset." Taking his word from this Juvenal says the slave deserved to be mourned after his death by matrons, while the young men were justly punished with stripes and the axe. The contrast throughout is between the slave and the aristocrats. 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 enclosure 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 as Re sured of protection, and then left it. SATIRA IX. INTRODUCTION. THIS satire will not be read with any pleasure. It is nevertheless written with much power. It is a dialogue between two acquaintances, one of whom has been making a livelihood by the vilest services rendered to effeminate men. His friend expresses surprise at his melancholy appearance, which he explains by the scantiness of his wages and the hopelessness of his prospects. The humour and severity of the satire consist in the gravity of the man's complaints against Fortune and against his filthy employer, whom he upbraids with meanness and reproachfully reminds of the great services he had rendered him, particularly in getting him children, which he was unable to get for himself. The character of injured innocence and unrequited industry which the man acts throughout, and the affected seriousness of the friend's sympathy and counsel, are sufficiently amusing. But the subject is disgusting, and only the surpassing iniquity of the age could have justified the author to himself for devoting another satire to it. I have given no argument. SCIRE velim quare toties mihi, Naevole, tristis 2. fronte obducta ceu Marsya victus.] Horace (Epod. xiii. 5) has "obducta solvatur fronte senectus." Marsyas was according to the common story a Phrygian shepherd, who having got possession of Athene's flute challenged Apollo to a musical contest. The victory was adjudged to Apollo, who flayed his adversary alive. The allusion here is to a statue of Marsyas with a very piteous face which was in the forum. To this Horace refers (S. i. 6. 120, &c., and the note): 5 "Surgendum sit mane, obeundus Marsya, qui se Vultum ferre negat Noviorum posse minoris." 5. Nos colaphum incutimus] This verse is nothing to the purpose. I have no doubt it is spurious, and so Heinrich judges. It is as old as the Scholiast; but it is evidently the work of a reader, and has got in from the margin. [Ribbeck omits it.] 6. Crepereius Pollio,] Pollio is men Vernam equitem, conviva joco mordente facetus tioned below (xi. 43), if it be the same. He Non es, crede mihi: quid ergo? verna es.' Ruperti says the man was son of an eques by a slave in his family, because Martial speaks of equitibus vernis' begotten on slave girls (i. 85). Juvenal means that the man was of equestrian family though he had not an equestrian fortune, and that he was in the habit of letting out his wit for the price of a dinner, which was the wages of a 'scurra.' His humour was of the home-bred kind, it had the stamp of city refinement upon it; like Horace's Maenius, of whom he says (Epp. i. 15. 26, sqq.): rebus maternis atque paternis Fortitur absumptis urbanus coepit haberi, Scurra vagus non qui certum praesepe teneret." The 'pomerium,' as Livy describes it (i. 44), was a space on each side of the city wall which ought to have been left free from buildings. But it was not so in later times. 14. Bruttia praestabat] He says that he has no longer that fine complexion which he used to get by applying rouge or something of that sort to his face. Fascia' is a bandage, and viscum' is some sort of gummy substance, such as face washes or dyes were mixed with. Bruttia' belongs properly to the gum or whatever it was. Pliny (H. N. xvi. 11) says coagulated pitch was called 'Bruttia;' that this sort was much used for medicinal purposes, and that it had a red tinge (xxiv. 7). The name was from the Bruttii in the south of Italy, where it was got. He says the man had a forest of dry hair on his head and a shrubbery of the same on his legs. 16. Quid macies aegri veteris,] What means this leanness, as of a sick old man who at length is burning with a quartan, and with fever which has made him long its home?' like a man recovering from a fever, and in the first stage of recovery. (See note on S. iv. 57: "jam quartanam sperantibus aegris.") 'Aegri veteris' is like 'mollis avarus' (below, v. 38), 'veteres caecos' (vii. 170), 'nobilis indocti' (viii. 49), plurimus aeger' (iii. 232), 'dubii aegri' (xiii. 124), 'nocentibus aegris' (ib. 234). Both are adjectives: the man is sick and he is also old. Olim' for a long continuous time is used before, vi. 346. 19. deprendas et gaudia:] 'Aegro' applies only to the first clause, 'corpore' to both. 22. Nuper enim, ut repeto,] 'Repeto' means I remember.' 'Nuper' does not always mean that which was very lately, but in former years. Hor. Epod. ix. 7: |