Q CARMEN XIX. AD TELEPHUM. UANTUM diftet ab Inacho Ccd us, pro patriâ non timidus mori, Narras, & genus Æaci, Et pugnata facro bella fub Ilio: Quo Chium pretio cadum Mercemur, quis aquam temperet ignibus, Quo præbente domum, & quotâ Pelignis caream frigoribus, taces. Da Lunæ properè novæ, Da noctis mediæ, da puer, augur 's Murenæ : While Horace proposed some Diverfion in Honour of Murena, who had been chofen Augur, a young Greek, called Telephus, continually entertained the Company with the ancient History of his Country. The Poet interrupted him, telling him, that it were better to enquire where the beft Wine was to be had, with all other Requifites for a Feaft, that they might drink their Friend's Health, and do him Honour in his new Employment. The gay Propofal fucceeded. Horace put it into Verfe, and his Ode is written with that fpirited Delicacy, which Men of Wit and Pleasure give to every thing they say. DAC. Verf. 4. Pugnata facro fub Ilio.] Euftathius tells us, that Troy was called facred, not only because it was built by Gods, but because it contained a Number of Temples, from whence Virgil calls it the Houfe of Gods, Divum domus. 6. Quis aquam temperet ignibus.] This warm Water must have been intended for Bathing. The Ancients never fat down at their Entertainments until they had bathed. BOND. 7. Quota.] It is hard to fay what this refers to; fome underftand borá; others domo. Some even change the Text, and read quotus; but this is neither authorifed, nor neceffary. Mr. Sanadon thinks that fummâ or collectâ, or fymbolâ fhould be understood, and that Horace demands to what Expence their Wine, their Bath, and Fire would amount, 8. Pelig W ODE XIX. To TELEPHUS. HEN Inachus reign'd to Thee is notorious, When govern'd the Monarchs from Peleus defcended, Come 8. Pelignis caream frigoribus.] The Country of the Pelignians was mountainous, and confequently cold, from whence Horace fays Pelignum frigus, as in the twenty fixth Ode he fays nive Sithonia, to exprefs an extreme Coldness in the northern Snow. Such a manner of Expreffion is lively, poetical, and underflood without Difficulty; yet Mr. Dacier, after Torrentius, thinks it unjust, nor ever to be imitated. But in this Place he allows it not unpardonable, fince it might have been defigned as a particular Raillery on Telephus, who probably had an Houfe in that Country, to which he was inviting the Company; or where Horace had already been. Thus it might be a pleasant Hint that he should provide for their Entertainment, or a Reproach for the Manner in which he had treated the Poet. 9. Da Lunæ nova.] We must here understand poculum. Telephus was preparing to find Reafons against the Poet's Propofal, when Horace interrupts him, and with an Air of Authority bids the Company drink, as if he had been the King of the Feaft. He directs what Number of Cups they should drink, and, that he may fupport his Orders by his own Example, he begins the Toaft. This Detail is natural and lively, nor could any thing better diffipate that Uneafinefs, which the Chronological Narration of Telephus had occafioned. He drinks an Health to the new Moon, because perhaps Murena had been then created Augur, or because that was the ufual Time when Augurs were created. TORR. 10. Noctis media.] Horace here drinks to Midnight, because he was determined not to leave off fooner. CRUBS Murenæ tribus aut novem Mifcentor cyathis pocula commodis. Qui Mufas amat impares, Ternos ter cyathos attonitus petet : Rixarum metuens tangere Gratia, Infanire juvat: Cur Berecynthiæ Cur pendet tacitâ fistula cum lyrâ ? Odi: fparge rofas. Audiat invidus Et vicina feni non habilis Lyco. 15 20 Spifsâ 12. Mijcentor.] The ufual Reading miscentur, appeared to Rutgerfius too weak and languid. His Correction has been received by Doctor Bentley and Mr. Sanadon, as it is a more fpirited Expreffion, and continues that Air of Command, which the Poet hath affumed. Mr. Dacier thinks, that the cyathus and poculum were the fame Measures, and then his laboured Explication muft end in this unintelligible Conclufion; mifcentor pocula tribus aut novem poculis. We are obliged to a French Gentleman, Mr. Boivin, for the best Explanation of this Paffage. He fays, we muft diftinguish between poculum and cyathus, between which Horace himself perfectly diRinguishes. Pocula were properly Cups, of which there were different Sizes, and Cyathus was a very little Goblet, with which they measured their Wine and Water, when they poured them into the Cups. When therefore the Poet fays, mifcentor pocula tribus aut novem cyathis, he commands the Waiters to pour, into the fame Cup, either three or nine Cyathi, and orders that the Guests shall drink them at one Draught. Cyathis commodis.] The ancient Interpreter explains commodis by aptis, as if every one fhould drink according to his prefent Situa tion and Circumftances; whether he lived under the Protection of the Graces, or was a Favourite of the Muses. But it feems more natural to think, that Horace, in his prefent Chearfulness, call's for Bumpers for all the Company without Diftinction. The Latins ufed the Word commodus to fignify whatever was perfect in its kind. Talentum commodum; res commodas; alimenta commoda. RUTGER. 13. Qui Come fill up the Bowl, then fill up your Bumpers, Let three, or thrice three, be the jovial of Numbers. His Brimmers thrice three to his odd-number'd Muses; 13. Qui Mufas amat impares.] Mr. Dacier makes here an ingenious Remark, which gives to this Paffage a particular Connexion with the Defign of the Ode. In drinking three, or nine Goblets to the Health of the new Augur, the Poet artfully praifes his Politeness and Erudition, as if the Graces and Mufes interested themfelves in his Glory. Thus he pays a very delicate Compliment to Murena, and fhews his own Refpect for the Goddeffes, who had raised his Friend to an Employment fo honourable. 16. Gratia nudis juncta fororibus.] The Custom of painting the Graces naked was not of firft Antiquity, although very ancient. Paufanias writes, that he could not difcover the Painter or Sculptor, who firft reprefented them naked; for all the Ancients painted them in Clothes. They, who made the Alteration would infinuate, that the Graces could only please by their Simplicity, and that they had not any Occafion for Ornaments. DAC. 18. Infanire juvat.] Horace now leaves the too modeft Graces, and rifes in his Good-humour. Having ordered a certain Number of Glaffes, he now drinks without Number or Meafure. CRUQ. 20. Fiftula.] The Fiflula was made of seven unequal Reeds for the Diverfity of Sounds. As we have not any fuch Inftrument, the Tranflation hath followed the French Commentators, who make ufe of the Word Hautboy. 24. Et vicina feni.] Such is the Manner of Horace to start away from his Subject with fome unexpected Stroke of Raillery or Satire. The Tranfition here is particularly fpirited, but who the Perfons are, whom he aims at, is yet unknown. SAN. Spifsâ te nitidum comâ, Puro te fimilem, Telephe, vefpero, Tempeftiva petit Chloë: Me lentus Glyceræ torret amor meæ. 25 N CARMEN XX. AD PYRRHUM. ON vides quanto moveas periclo, Dura poft paulò fugies inaudax Prælia raptor; Quum per obftantes juvenum catervas Interim dum tu celeres fagittas. Sub pede palmam Fertur, & leni recreare vento Sparfum odoratis humerum capillis ; This Ode does not want its Beauties, but it is difficult to explain them with Decency. The Poet laughs at a Woman, who is in violent Apprehenfions of lofing her Lover. She is compared to a Lionnefs, when an Hunter attempts to rob her of her Whelps. Pyrrhus is armed with a Bow and Arrows, to fhew that he chufes a diftant Combat, while the young Lover fits regardless of the Battle, and indifferent to whom the Victory fhall fall. |