EPISTLE VIII.

This epistle is addressed to Celsus Albinovanus, the secretary of Tiberius, who is mentioned Book I. Ep. III. 15. Horace describes himself as laboring under hypochondriac affections, inconstant, contradictory, and unreasonable.

1. Celso... Neronis: the construction is, O Musa rogata, refer Celso Albinovano, comiti scribæque Neronis, gaudere et gerere rem bene. This is an imitation of the Greek form of salutation, χαίρειν καὶ εὐπράττειν: ' give joy and success.

3. Minantem: 'promising,' 'intending.'

10. Cur... veterno: 'because they strive to rouse me from this fatal lethargy.' Cur is equivalent to ideo, quòd. Doer. 12. Ventosus: inconstant,'' changeful.'

13. Rem gerat: ut scriba apud Neronem.

14. Ut placeat juveni: how he stands with the youthful prince,' Tiberius Claudius Nero.-Cohorti: 'to the courtiers,' about the prince.

17. Ut tu... feremus: the poet bids the muse to remind his friend Celsus, that their future intimacy will depend upon himself: if in his high station he does not forget his old friend, neither will that friend forget him: 'as thou bearest thy high fortune, Celsus, so will we conduct ourselves towards thee.'

EPISTLE IX.

This is a letter of introduction and commendation to Tiberius Claudius Nero in behalf of Septimius, the poet's particular friend. The great delicacy necessary on such an occasion is manifestly felt by Horace, who pleads the importunity of his friend, as an excuse for what he does, with modesty and seeming reluctance. 1. Septimius... facias: 'O Claudius, Septimius alone, forsooth, knows how high I stand in your esteem.'

6. Quid ipso he sees and understands how much influence I have with you much better than I do myself.'

10. Sic ego... præmia: so I, to avoid the appearance of a greater crime (unwillingness to serve a friend), have taken upon myself a little modest assurance.' Descendi expresses his unwillingness, and that he did not at first intend to do it.

EPISTLE X.

There are few persons insensible to the pleasures of the country. In Horace the love of rural retirement became a kind of passion; and the praises he bestows in this epistle on a country life, and on contentment with one's lot, are pleasing and instructive.

5. Vetuli notique columbi: sc. ut: 'like a pair of old and constant doves.'

8. Quid quæris: 'what would you more ?'

10. Sacerdotis fugitivus: the priest's slave, tired of the cakes and delicacies offered at the altar, runs away from his master that he may get a little common bread. So our poet would retreat from the luxuries and artificial pleasures of the city to the simple and natural enjoyments of the country.

13. Ponendæque . primùm and if in the first place a situation is to be selected for building a house.'

19. Deteriùs... lapillis: 'does a verdant carpet of grass and flowers smell less sweetly or look less beautiful than a tesselated pavement of Libyan marbles?'

24. Naturam...victrix: 'you will banish nature by violence, yet she will always return, and, victorious, will insensibly triumph over unreasonable disgusts.'-Furcâ: 'with a pitchfork ;' a figure derived from rural employments.

26. Non...falsum: 'the merchant, who has not skill to distinguish the fleeces that drink the dye of Aquinum from the real Sidonian purple, will not suffer a more sure, or more deeply affecting loss, than he who cannot distinguish falsehood from truth.' At Aquinum a dye was made in imitation of the far-famed purple of Tyre and Sidon.

31. Pones invitus: 'you will resign it with reluctance.'

32. Licet... amicos: beneath an humble roof one may enjoy life better than kings and the favorites of kings.'

49. Fanum putre Vacuna: Vacuna was the goddess of ease and leisure, and had an old temple in the Sabine country, not far from Horace's country seat.-Putre: vetustate obsoletum. 50. Excepto sc. eo; except this,' that you are absent.

EPISTLE XI.

It is not known who Bullatius was, to whom this letter was addressed. But he is supposed to have retired to Asia when the last quarrel was breaking out between Augustus and Antony, that he might not again behold the horrors of a civil war. When it was ended, our poet invites him to return to Rome; and gives such excellent maxims as might be useful to a person too much inclined to despondency. Sanadon.

1. Quid... Lesbos: 'how does Chios Lesbos, O Bullatius ?'

appear to you, and famed

5. Attalicis... una: 'one of the cities ruled by Attalus.' 7. Desertior... vicus: sc. nunc; i. e. though now but a deserted village; it was once a very celebrated city.

14. Ut fortunatam... vitam: as fully completing a happy life.' 17. Incolumi... solstitio: 'to a sound mind Rhodes and fair Mitylene are about the same as a great coat in summer.'

21. Roma : i, e. when you are at Rome, let Samos, Chios and Rhodes be praised.

25. Nam si... aufert: 'for if reason and prudence only, and no situation, however commanding its prospect over the expanded ocean, can dispel our cares.'

EPISTLE XII.

This epistle is addressed to the same person to whom Horace addressed the XXIVth Ode of the first Book. He there rallies Iccius with some humor on turning soldier, and abandoning his literary and philosophical pursuits. He now ridicules his love of money, blended with those pursuits.

1. Fructibus Agrippa Siculis: Iccius was, at the time this epistle was addressed to him, agent and superintendent of the estates of Agrippa in Sicily; an office of no trifling emolument.

7. In medio positorum: 'in the midst of abundance spread out before you.'

12. Miramur si: i. e. can we wonder that the fields and crops of Democritus became the prey of flocks, while his mind was searching for the hidden causes of things; when you, amidst so corrupt an age, where the love of gain spreads like a contagion, withdraw your mind from all low inquiries, and employ yourself in the sublime study of nature? This is probably irony, for the poet's amusement.

21. Seu pisces, seu porrum: a humorous allusion to the doctrines of Pythagoras, who taught that the soul, in its transmigrations, passed into plants as well as animals.

22. Utere... ultro defer: 'give a kind reception to Pompeius Grosphus; and if he request anything, grant it readily.'

24. Vilis... deest: 'the harvest of friends to be acquired is cheap, when good men need anything.' Because they can be gained by a trifling favor, wanting nothing but what is just and

honorable.

28. Accepit genibus minor: has received on bended knees.'

EPISTLE XIII.

It seems our poet had intrusted several rolls of his writings, volumina, to his friend Vinius Asella, to be carried to Augustus, But he was anxious that they should be presented at a proper time, when he might not be employed by more weighty concerns; and that they should not, through too much zeal on the part of his friend, be urged upon the emperor unseasonably.

2. Signata: he wished them to be delivered sealed, that they might not be the subject of impertinent curiosity to the courtiers

...

4. Odiumque. minister and by too much zeal bring odium on my works, as an officious agent.'

8. Asina: Horace humorously reminds Asella not to stumble awkwardly with his budget into Caesar's presence; lest the courtiers should make a joke of him, and of his surname, which signifies a little ass.

12. Sub ala: 'under your arm.'

14. Ut... lana: 'as drunken Pyrrhia carries her bottoms, or balls, of stolen yarn.' A character in a comedy by Titinnius.

15. Conviva tribulis: a tribe-guest.' This word signifies a guest of humble condition, perhaps from the country, who, being invited to an entertainment by a more wealthy individual of the same tribe, proceeds thither barefoot, with his slippers and cap under his arm. He carries his slippers, or sandals, that they may be clean when he enters the house of his kinsman, and his cap, as is usually supposed, to wear home in case of rain, or to protect his head from the dampness of the night.

EPISTLE XIV.

This epistle is addressed by Horace to his steward in the country, showing him the folly of preferring a life in the city to one in the country. He says this preference arises from inconstancy of mind, and a love of change. For this steward had been transferred, at his own earnest request, from Rome to his present situation.

2. Quem... patres: which, though you despise it, has five dwelling houses upon it, and was wont to send five good senators to Varia.' This estate was within the jurisdiction of Varia, where the most respectable commoners convened to consult on public affairs. Some commentators understand by patres, heads of families who went to Varia occasionally about their own affairs. 10. Ego: sc. dico.

14. Tu mediastinus: 'you when a slave of the lowest rank.' 19. Tesqua: 'wilds.'

22. Et quòd... uvâ: 'and because this farm of mine produces pepper and frankincense rather than the grape.'

28. Disjunctum : 'when, unyoked.'

32. Quem: sc. me :-tenues toga: 'fine garments.'

35. Sed... ludum: 'but not to set bounds to indulgence.' 38. Moventem: sc. me videntes.

41. Calo this means a slave of the lowest order, that is employed in bringing wood and water, and performing other similar offices in a family.

43. Quam... artem: 'I shall decide that each of you pursue contentedly the business he understands,'

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EPISTLE XV.

Antonius Musa, physician to Augustus, had recommended the cold bath to Horace, who practised cold bathing in Clusium and Gabii. But finding the winter too severe, he resolved to go to some warmer climate, and try sea-bathing. For this reason, he writes to his friend Numonius Vala, who had been using the baths at Velia and Salernum, to give him some account of the climate, people, accommodations, &c. The beginning of this epistle is very much transposed and confused. We must look as far as the twenty-fourth verse before we can get the natural arrangement of the thoughts.

1. Quæ sit hiems: before taking in this, it seems necessary to bring in the twenty-fourth verse : Par est te scribere nobis, ac nos accredere tibi, quæ sit hiems Velia; i. e. you must write to me, Vala, what kind of winter you have at Velia, and what the climate of Salernum; what is the character of the inhabitants, and how the roads are; for Antonius Musa assures me that the waters of Baiæ are useless to me.

3. Illis i. e. to the people at Baiæ, for slighting their warm baths.

5. Sanè . . . gemit: 'indeed the village is vexed that their myrtle groves and sulphur baths should be neglected, so long famed for driving away maladies settling on the nerves.'

13. Sed... in ore: but to horses the ear is in the bitted mouth.' 21. Tractus uter . . . apros: i. e. utra regio, Veliane an Salerni? 'which region produces hares in greatest abundance, and which wild boars.'

23. Pinguis Phæarque: 'plump, and a real Phæacian;' i. e. similis Alcinoo luxurioso regi Phœacum.

32. Timidis: these are they who, fearing the slanderous disposition of Mænius, entertained him in hope of escaping his calumnies.

35. Scilicet... Bestius: forsooth, like the reformer Bestius, he would declare all the while that the bellies of gluttons ought to be branded with a hot iron.'-Nepotum: 'of gluttons.' The Greeks and Romans branded the belly of a gluttonous slave; the feet of a fugitive; the hands of a thief and the tongue of a babbler. Dacier.

39. Bona: 'their estates.'

41. Nimirum . . . sum: ‘in fact, just such a one am I.'

EPISTLE XVI.

We may suppose that Quinctius had rallied Horace on the extent and magnificence of his country-seat, that had charms sufficient to detain him so long from Rome. The poet, after giving