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

double the regulation weight.

[256] Veræ. Cf. ad i., 22.

[257] Manicæ. If the proper reading is not "tunicæ" (as tunicati fuscina Gracchi, ii., 117. Cedamus tunicæ, viii., 207), the manicæ are probably "the sleeves of the tunic." Cf. Liv., ix., 40.

[258] Diversa. i.e., as a Retiarius instead of a Mirmillo.

[259] Duræ. "Pallade placata lanam mollite puellæ!" The process of softening the wool hardened the hands. Ov., Fast., iii., 817.

[260] Concha, a large drinking-cup, shaped like a shell; or, not improbably, some large shell mounted in gold for a cup, like the Nautilus of Middle Ages.

[261] Compare the well-known epigram on Pitt and Henry Dundas:

      "I can't see the Speaker, Hal, can you?"

       "Not see the Speaker? I see two!"

[262] Cf. Shaksp., Othello, Act iii., sc. iii. "In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks they dare not show their husbands!"

[263] Cf. ix., 117.

[264] Amicas. Lubinus explains it, "Quas tanquam dives habeat loco clientarum." In Greece and Italy blonde hair was as much prized as dark hair was among northern nations. Hence Helen, Achilles, Menelaus, Meleager, etc., are all ξανθοὶ. The ladies, therefore, prided themselves as much as the men on the personal beauty of their attendants. Cf. v., 56, "Flos Asiæ ante ipsum," etc. The nutrix is the intriguing confidante who manages the amours. The flava puella, the messenger.

      "A trim girl with golden hair to slip her billets." Gifford.

[265] Novissima. Cf. xi., 42, "Post cuncta novissimus exit annulus."

      "She who before had mortgaged her estate,

       And pawn'd the last remaining piece of plate." Dryden.

[266] Pullulet.

      "As if the source of this exhausted store

       Would reproduce its everlasting ore." Hodgson.

[267] Crispo, actively, "Crispante chordas." The pecten was made of ivory. Vid. Virg., Æn., vi., 646, seq.

      "Obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum, Jamque eadem digitis jam pectine pulsat eburno." "Decks it with gems, and plays the lessons o'er, Her loved Hedymeles has play'd before." Hodgson.

[268] Lamiarum. Cf. iv., 154.

[269] Capitolinum. This festival was instituted by Domitian (Suet., Domit., 4), and was celebrated every fifth year in honor of Jove.

[270] Dictata. The repeating the exact formula of words (carmen) after the officiating priest was a most important part of the sacrifice.

[271] Otia.

      "Is your attention to such suppliants given?

       If so, there is not much to do in heaven." Gifford.

[272] Varicosus. His legs will swell (like Cicero's and Marius's) from standing so long praying.

      "The poor Aruspex that stands there to tell

       All woman asks, must find his ankles swell." Badham.

[273] Paludatis. Cf. Cic., Sext., 33.

[274] Seres. What country these inhabited is uncertain, probably Bocharia. It was the country from which the "Sericæ vestes" or "multitia" (ii., 66) came.

[275] Instantem. Cf. Hor., iii., Od. iii., 3, "vultus instantis tyranni." Trajan made an expedition against the Armenians and Parthians A.D. 106; and about the same time there was an earthquake in the neighborhood of Antioch (A.D. 115), when mountains subsided and rivers burst forth. Dio Cass., lxviii., 24. Trajan himself narrowly escaped perishing in it. The consul, M. Verginianus Pedo, was killed. Trajan was passing the winter there, and set out in the spring for Armenia.—Cometem. Cf. Suet., Ner., 36, "Stella crinita quæ summis potestatibus exitium portendere vulgo putatur."

[276] Excipit.

      "Hear at the city's gate the recent tale,

       Or coin a lie herself when rumors fail." Hodgson.

[277] Niphates. Properly a mountain in Armenia, from which Tigris takes its rise, and which, in the earlier part of its course, may have borne the name of Niphates. Lucan, iii., 245, and Sil. Ital., xiii., 765, also speak of it as a river. Gifford thinks it is a sly hit at the lady, who converts a mountain into a river.

[278] Exorata implies that their prayers were heard, otherwise their punishment would have been still more cruel.

[279] Fastes.

      "Ho whips! she cries; and flay that cur accurst,

       But flay the rascal there that owns him first!" Gifford.

[280] Œnophorum. A vessel of any size. The Urna is a determinate measure, holding 24 sextarii, or about 3 gallons, i.e., half the amphora. Cf. xii., 45, "Urnæ cratera capacem, et dignum sitiente Pholo, vel conjuge Fusci."

[281] Orexim; cf. iv., 67, 138. This draught was called the "Trope." Mart., xii., Ep. 83. Cf. Cic. pro Deiotaro, 7, "Vomunt ut edant: edunt ut vomant."

[282] Marmoribus. Cf. xi., 173, "Lacedæmonium pytismate lubricat orbem." Hor., ii., Od. xxiv., 26, "Mero tinguet pavimentum superbum."

[283] Præco.

      "Dumfounders e'en the crier, and, most strange!

       No other woman can a word exchange." Hodgson.