The Satires of Juvenal, Persius, Sulpicia, and Lucilius. Sulpicia

Dimisit nostras purpura vestra togas."

[133] Collega; alluding to the two prætors, "Urbanus" and "Peregrinus."

[134] Claudit latus. This is the order Britannicus takes. "Claudere latus" means not only to accompany, as a mark of respect, but to give the inner place; to become his "comes exterior." Horace, ii., Sat. v., 18. So Gifford, "And if they walk beside him yield the wall."

[135]

      "For one cold kiss a tribune's yearly pay." Hodgson.

      i.e., forty-eight pieces of gold. Cf. Suet., Vesp., xxiii.

[136] P. Scipio Nasica (vid. Liv., xxix., 10) and L. Cæcilius Metellus. Cf. Ov., Fasti, vi., 437.

[137] Possidet. Vid. Niebuhr.

[138] Cf. Mart., v., Ep. 8 and 25, who speaks of one Lectius as an officious keeper of the seats.

[139] Sat. x., 323.

[140]

      "Long, long ago, in one despairing band,

       The poor, self-exiled, should have left the land." Hodgson.

[141]

      "A menial board and parsimonious fare." Hodgson.

[142] "Negavit." Some commentators imagine Curius Dentatus to be here alluded to. It seems better to take it as a general remark. Read "culullo," not "cucullo," with Browne.

[143] Cf. Mart., ix., 588.

[144] Herboso, the first permanent theatre even in Rome itself, was built by Pompey. Cf. In gradibus sedit populus de cæspite factis. Ov., Art. Am., i., 107. Cf. Virg., Æn., v., 286.

[145]

      "In the state show repeated now for years." Hodgson.

[146] Libis. So many of these "complimentary cakes" are sent in honor of this event, that they are actually "sold" to get rid of them.

      "Good client, quickly to the mansion send

       Cakes bought by thee for rascal slaves to vend." Badham.

[147] Gabii, renowned for the ease with which Sex. Tarquin duped the inhabitants.

[148] Pronum, i.e., supinum. Hor., iii., Od. iv., 23, on a steep acclivity.

[149]

      "And 'tis the village mason's daily calling,

       To keep the world's metropolis from falling." Dryden.

[150]

      "Then bid the tenant sleep secure from dread,

       While the loose pile hangs trembling o'er his head." Gifford.

[151] Opici. Cf. vi., 455. Opicæ castigat amicæ verba; i.e., barbarous, rude, unlearned, "the Goths of mice;" from the Opici or Osci, an Ausonian tribe on the Liris, from whom many barbarous innovations were introduced into Roman manners and language. "Divina" may either refer to Homer's poems, or to Codrus' own, which in his own estimation were "divine." Cf. Sat. i., 2, "rauci Theseide Codri."

[152] Horrida. In all public misfortunes, the Roman matrons took their part in the common mourning, by appearing without ornaments, in weeds, and with disheveled hair. Cf. viii., 267. Liv., ii., 7. Luc., Phars., ii., 28, seq.

[153] Candida. Cf. Plin., xxxiv., 5. The Parian marble was the whitest, hence Virg., Æn., iii., 126, "Niveamque Paron."

[154] Polycletus. Cf. viii., 103. His master-piece was the Persian body-guard (cf. Ælian., V. H., xiv., 8), called the "Canon." Vid. Müller's Archæol. of Art, § 120. Euphranor the painter belonged, like Polycletus, to the Sicyonic school.

[155] Foruli or plutei, cases for holding MSS. Cf. ii., 7. Suet., Aug., xxxi.

[156] Cf. Mart., iii., Ep. 52.

[157] Circus. Cf. x., 81, duas tantum res anxius optat Panem et Circenses.

[158] Cf. Milton.

      "And add to these retired leisure,

       That in trim gardens takes his pleasure."

[159] i.e., "Only the very rich can afford to buy 'Insulæ,' in the quiet part of the city, where their rest will not be broken by the noise of their neighbors, or the street."

[160] Mandra; properly "a pen for pigs or cattle," then "a team or drove of cattle, mules," etc.; as Martial, v., Ep. xxii., 7, "Mulorum vincere mandras." Here "the drovers" themselves are meant.

[161] Drusum. Cf. Suet., Claud., v., "super veterem segnitiæ notam." Seals are proverbially sluggish. Cf. Plin., ix., 13. Virg., Georg., iv., 432.

[162] Officium; attendance on the levees of the great.

[163] Cf. i., 64; v., 83; vi., 477, 351. Plin., Pan., 24.

[164] i.e., of a litter. Cf. vii., 132.

[165] Culina, "a double-celled chafing-dish, with a fire below, to keep the 'dole' warm." The custom is still retained in Italy.